sotheby's london to offer a magnificent private collection of fine travel and illustrated books

7/29/2019 Sotheby's London to Offer a Magnificent Private Collection of Fine Travel and Illustrated Books

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Sothebys London To Offer A MagnificentPrivate Collection of Fine Travel and Illustrated

BooksHighlights include works on India, Sri Lanka,

Turkey and Egypt

Prisse dAvennes, Oriental Album, London 1848, est. 2,000-3000

On 28th February 2013, Sothebys London will present for auction a superb private collection of Fine

Travel and Plate Books comprising some of the most magnificent illustrated travel books on the

grandest scale together with watercolours and manuscripts - some of which are unique and contain

previously unpublished material - the 142 lots are expected to raise in excess of 1.5 million.

Assembled by a private collector who sought the best examples of travel and plate books in a variety

of media including hand coloured prints, photography, watercolour and sketches - the collection

contains a number of works that come from notable collections including 21 lots from Beriah

Botfields library (Longleat) - one of the greatest book collectors of the 19th century - and 49 from the

collection of efik Atabey -who formed one of the greatest libraries on the Ottoman Empire*.

For Immediate ReleasePress Release London

London | +44 (0)20 7293 6000 |Sarah Rustin | [email protected]

Rosie Chester | [email protected]


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Richard Fattorini, Director, Specialist Sothebys Department of Books and Manuscripts said, Thisauction represents a wonderful opportunity to acquire some of the very best books in this field, since collections

of this quality so rarely come to the market. Not only are there editions regarded as the most important in their

category and media, by the most historically significant artists and writers, but many are also magnificently

bound, in superb condition and in many cases have significant provenances.

India & Sri LankaTHOMAS AND WILLIAM DANIELLOriental Scenery, London, 1795-1807Est. 150,000 - 250,000

The finest illustrated work ever published on India (Tooley)

Of the spectacular range of books relating to India, a notable highlight is a rare, complete copy of

Daniells Oriental Scenery, the greatest book of hand-coloured views of India ever produced. It was

this important publication that was, in large measure, held responsible for the early nineteenth

century fashion for Indian-inspired architecture in England, reflected in the works of Humphry

Repton and John Nash. Thomas Daniell and his nephew William spent some nine years from 1785 to

1794 in India making studies, sketches and drawings of the countrys scenery, architecture and

antiquities. They then devoted a further thirteen years to publishing their remarkably accurate

aquatints. Previously in the collection of the Earl of Bradford, and well bound, the work is estimated

at 150,000 - 250,000.

SIR JAMES EMERSON TENNENT AND OTHERSNotes, letters, drawings and photographs for Tennents history of Ceylon, c. 1838-1855Est. 30,000 40,000


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The original documents for Tennents history of Ceylon, which was to become the most important

history of Ceylon during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, are another major auction highlight.

The important collection of manuscript notes, correspondence, watercolours and photographs

represent the major source for Tennents encyclopaedic work of the country which was so successful

that it ran to five editions in its first eight months. The photographs are among the earliest taken in

Ceylon and show topographical views, tribal objects and portraits of native peoples. From the libraryof the author, the collection includes much unpublished material.

PRINCE ALEXIS SOLTYKOFFVoyage dans lInde pendant les annes 1841-1842-1843, 1845-1846, Paris, 1850Est. 30,000 - 40,000

This enormous book by the Russian traveller, writer and artist Prince Alexis Soltykoff shows views

and ceremonial processions in India, the Himalayas and Sri Lanka in the nineteenth century. An

especially fine copy, it shows his drawings at their most spectacular, with the fine tinted lithographedplates reproduced in massive folio format. Prince Alexis Soltykoff (18061859) made several journeys

in the region between 1841 and 1846 where he produced wonderful drawings of the people,

landscapes, processions, hunting scenes and ceremonies.

EgyptFRANCIS FRITHEgypt, Sinai and Jerusalem: a series of twenty photographic views, c. 1858Est. 100,000 150,000

The largest book with the biggest, unenlarged prints ever publishedFew


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publications in the history of photography are its equal in either presentation or

ambition. (Gernsheim)

Some of the earliest and the largest photographs of Egypt taken in the 19 th century are presented in

Francis Friths ambitious work Egypt, Sinai and Jerusalem. The negatives, which measured 16 x 20inches, were developed on site in the soaring temperatures of the desert, and the large panels of glass

transported through the desert by camels. Of all the photographs Frith produced, the twenty

presented here are accompanied by descriptions composed by the mother and son duo, Sophia and

Reginald Stuart Poole.

Description de lgypte, Paris 1809-1822Est. 80,000 - 120,000

The Description de lEgypte was commissioned by Napolon

following Frances invasion of the country. Comprising 23 volumes

of text and 11 large plate volumes, it was the first scientific survey

of the region, documenting Egypts antiquities, agriculture,

language, music, costume and natural history. The numerous plates

depicting the antiquities provide a breath-taking record of the

richness of the ancient Egyptian culture. The contemporary French

armorial bindings with Egyptian motifs were designed by Jean-

Joseph Tessier the leading French binder of the period - and

would have cost the enormous sum of 2,150 francs at the time.


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TurkeyANTOINE IGNACE MELLINGVoyage pittoresque de Constantinople et des rives du Bosphore, Paris, 1819

Est. 20,000 - 30,000

This is the grandest of all books on Constantinople, comprising the most beautiful collection of

engraved views produced of the city and environs. Antoine Melling (1763-1830), having studiedarchitecture and painting, travelled to the Levant at the age of 19, and remained in Constantinople for

18 years. He was charged by the Sultans daughter to renovate her palace at Ortakeui in 1795, and

was consequently granted access to the Sultans palaces. The sketches he made of the palace,

including the Harem, are among the earliest interior views. The outstanding success of the exhibitions

of his drawings on which this book was based earned Melling the title of Painter to the Empress

Josephine. Previously in the collection of the great bibliophile, efik E. Atabey, this copy is in the

most desirable state,edge-bound, with the plates unfolded.ATTRIBUTED TO CHARLES FREDERICK DE BROCKTORFFCollection of 33 watercolour drawings depicting Turkish costume, Malta c.1840Est. 4,000 - 6,000

A Previous highlight in the collection of efik E. Atabey, and attributed to Charles Frederick deBrocktorff, this collection of 33 watercolours depicts figures from the Ottoman court dressed in

contemporary costume, as opposed to the traditional dress more commonly depicted in similarworks. Each drawing is accompanied by a descriptive caption in English.


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Europe

SwitzerlandJEAN-BENJAMIN DE LABORDE AND BARON BEAT FIDEL

ANTOINE DOMINIQUE DE ZURLAUBENTableaux topographiques, pittoresques, physiques, historiques,

moraux, politiques, littraires de la Suisse, Paris, 1780-1786

Est. 30,000-40,000

Finely bound by the French royal binder, Simier, and previously in the collection of Beriah Botfield at

Longleat, a magnificent copy of the most famous collection of views of Switzerland will be offered.

The plates depict not only the natural history of the country, but art work, mosaics, city views and

portraits of historic personages. This work is a product of the movement to unite Switzerlands

cantons as a single country, and helped to define a national identity.

SpainALEXANDRE DE LABORDE

Voyage pittoresque et historique de lEspagne, Paris, 1806-1820

Est. 15,000 25,000


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A fine copy of Labordes magnificent work on Spain that was previously in the collection of Beriah

Botfield at Longleat will feature in the sale. As a member of Lucien Bonapartes embassy to Spain in

1800-1801, Laborde (1774-1842) was able to follow up his passionate interest in Spanish art and

history. With the meticulous work of Choisel-Gouffier on Greece as his model, Laborde spent several

years amassing information relative to Spanish art, architecture, archaeology and traditions, and

aided by a team of highly talented artists assembled a huge portfolio of engravings which are

presented here.

AustriaALEXANDRE DE LABORDE

Voyage pittoresque en Autriche, Paris, 1821-1822

Est. 18,000 - 24,000

A rare hand-coloured, large paper copy of one of the greatest illustrated works on Austria previously

in the collection of Beriah Botfield at Longleat

Notes to Editors

*The Ottoman World: The Library of efik E. Atabey with a Supplement, Sothebys London, 28-30th May

2002

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Estimates do not include buyers premium and prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyers

premium.

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sotheby's london to offer a magnificent private collection of fine travel and illustrated books

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