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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  The Denis Joachim Collection
• Sale Date:
  19 Jun 2016 ~ 2pm - Session 1: Lots 1 - 321
  20 Jun 2016 ~ 10am - Session 2: Lots 322 - 480
  20 Jun 2016 ~ 2pm - Session 3: Lot 481 - 688
  20 Jun 2016 ~ 6pm - Session 4: Lots 689 - 818
• Lot #:
  176
• Lot Description:
  Prout, John Skinner. Sydney Illustrated By J.S. Prout. With Letter Press Description by J. Rae. M.A.
  Quarto, tinted lithographed title–page with a vignette of “The Tombs, Garden Island, 14 tinted lithographed plates, and a double–page map (in this copy the Hobart–printed double–page plates and double–page map of the fourth part are mounted artist’s proofs on fine india paper), bound with the rare lithographed slip “Note to Subscribers” and the illustrated wrappers of the first three parts in half brown morocco, gilt, by Morell, the H.L. White copy with his Belltrees bookplate. Sydney and Hobart, J.S. Prout, 1842–4.
• Notes:
  Prout’s earliest Australian book: one of the rarest and best Australian view books. John Skinner Prout, nephew of the noted English topographical artist, Samuel Prout, was the first important colonial artist to produce a series of fine plate books since the departure from the colony of Augustus Earle. In June 1842 Prout advertised for subscribers to a series of lithographed views of Sydney to be published in parts and to be accompanied by letterpress descriptions by John Rae, the first full–time town clerk of Sydney. Although virtually the entire work (including the tinted lithographed title–page) was printed in Sydney by “J.S. Prout, Australian Lithographic Establishment”, the last two plates and the map were printed in Hobart by Tasmanian engraver and printer Thomas Bluett. Bluett also printed a plain lithographed title–page with his imprint that is found in the collective issue of the complete work. Prout had visited Tasmania in January 1844 and determined to settle there. While in Hobart he had decided to conclude his obligations to his Sydney subscribers as quickly as possible. Completing the Sydney series on the spot, he made use of Bluett’s recently arrived press to print the final plates and double–page map in Hobart. “Artistically and historically John Skinner Prout played a most important part in the development of Australian art and of the Australian plate book. Where earlier colonial topographical art had been constrained by the paramount demands of topographical accuracy in the representation of scenery, Prout was more concerned with painting and lithography as a form of art free of the restrictions of topographical convention. Furthermore, his enthusiastic advocacy of the arts helped to educate taste and to spread the popular acceptance of art in the colonies” (Wantrup). Prout’s beautiful and seminal work is perhaps the freest and most artistically successful of all depictions of the city of Sydney. Abbey, 576; Ferguson, 3891; Wantrup, 227a (requiring revision).
• Estimate:
  A$30,000 - 40,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Books & Manuscripts

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.