- 154
Collingwood, William
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- A collection of artefacts belonging to William Collingwood, surveyor of Mesopotamia, comprising:
- paper
Telescope: a presentation leather-cased 1in. three-draw leather-covered surveying telescope and compass compendium, signed "A. Ross, London", contained in leather carry case with lid enclosing a lacquered-brass compass, the telescope inscribed "From Comr. Selby, Surveyor in Mesopotamia, to Lieut. W. Collingwood, Asst. Surveyor, in kind remembrance of Services together in Babylonia & Irak Arabia", surface wear
Watercolours: three watercolour and ink drawings by Collingwood of ships built for the Honourable East India Company ("H.C."), captioned "H.C. Brigantine 'Tigris'. Persian Gulf - Entering 'Cheroo' Bay - August 1857"; "H.C. Screw Troop Ship 'Coromandel'... London to Madras Aug. to Nov. 1856"; "H.C. Schooner Georgiana, Lieut. Collingwood Comdr off 'Karack' Feb. 1858", all mounted (removed from an album?), some wear with creasing and chipping
Map: Trigonometrical Survey of a part of Mesopotamia. From Hillah to the Ruins of Niffer... by Lieut. W. Collingwood... in the autumn of 1861 and the spring of 1862. London. J. & C. Walker, [1862?], 1005 x 705mm., lithographed map, some wear, backed
Manuscript journal: "Journal of a voyage from London to Bombay, begun January 6th 1846, ended May 30th 1846, on board the ship Oriental" [title on endleaf], 8vo, 69pp., with a few ink sketches, interleaved with pink blank leaves, contemporary red roan (rubbed)
Watercolours: three watercolour and ink drawings by Collingwood of ships built for the Honourable East India Company ("H.C."), captioned "H.C. Brigantine 'Tigris'. Persian Gulf - Entering 'Cheroo' Bay - August 1857"; "H.C. Screw Troop Ship 'Coromandel'... London to Madras Aug. to Nov. 1856"; "H.C. Schooner Georgiana, Lieut. Collingwood Comdr off 'Karack' Feb. 1858", all mounted (removed from an album?), some wear with creasing and chipping
Map: Trigonometrical Survey of a part of Mesopotamia. From Hillah to the Ruins of Niffer... by Lieut. W. Collingwood... in the autumn of 1861 and the spring of 1862. London. J. & C. Walker, [1862?], 1005 x 705mm., lithographed map, some wear, backed
Manuscript journal: "Journal of a voyage from London to Bombay, begun January 6th 1846, ended May 30th 1846, on board the ship Oriental" [title on endleaf], 8vo, 69pp., with a few ink sketches, interleaved with pink blank leaves, contemporary red roan (rubbed)
Provenance
by descent from the family of Collingwood
Condition
The condition of this lot is as described in the catalogue description
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."
Catalogue Note
Collingwood succeeded Commander W.B. Selby as Surveyor of Mesopotamia having already done much valuable work in the region (as attested by the inscription on the telescope in this lot), including the large-scale, though surreptitious, mapping of Baghdad in 1855 described by him as follows:
“The survey of the city of Baghdad was completed entirely by myself and under very unpleasant restrictions... The Turkish Government were not to know anything about it... and I was left to survey the town as best I could, and under such difficulties that at times I had to note bearings and paces all over my white shirt, where best I could get the pencil at the time.”
During this same expedition, Collingwood also surveyed the Shatt-al-Arab, Basra (also by stealth) and much of the country between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.