Sarah Bowdich (1791-1856) [ The fresh-water Fishes of Great Britain drawn and described . London: J. Moyes for the authoress and R. Ackermann, 1828[-1836]]. 4° (350 x 290mm). 8 original watercolours by Bowdich from the work (of 44), each painted over a pencil base on Whatman paper, and heightened with gold, silver and gum arabic, captioned and signed 'S. Bowdich del' in ink, comprising: 'N21 Rud Nat.l. size', 'N23 Crucian Carp Natl size', 'N24 Bull-head Natl size', 'N25 Flounder' (paper watermarked '1833'), 'N26 Lamprey 2/3 natl size', 'N27 Shad 3/4 nat.1.', 'N31 Smelt', and 'N32 Pride' (the extreme margins slightly darkened and frayed, some light spotting or marking, short, clean tear circa 43mm long to margin of iii). Modern mounts. A selection of 8 'excellent drawings, very finely coloured by hand' (Westwood and Satchell), from one of the rarest books on fishes, limited to 50 copies. Sarah Bowdich was the wife, travelling companion, and collaborator of the African explorer and natural historian Thomas Edward Bowdich (1791-1824). Sarah Bowdich's published work was both varied and prolific, including books on zoology, botany, taxidermy, and travel, written for informed, popular and juvenile readerships. Of these works, The fresh-water Fishes of Great Britain ... is 'in artistic power and letterpress the most valuable of [her] productions. It was published in parts, which were issued to fifty subscribers, headed by the Duke of Sussex. The fish were caught on purpose for [Bowdich], who cleverly transferred with her brush their exact tints on the bank before death had dulled the colours. Only twelve parts were completed, at a guinea a part, and at present but four perfect copies are known. Cuvier called the plates ''très belles'', and no more exquisite drawings of fish coloured according to nature have yet been published' ( DNB XI, p.820). Cf. Brunet I, col.1190; Nissen Schöne Fischbcher 32; Nissen ZBI 517; Westwood and Satchell p.39 (8)
Sarah Bowdich (1791-1856) [ The fresh-water Fishes of Great Britain drawn and described . London: J. Moyes for the authoress and R. Ackermann, 1828[-1836]]. 4° (350 x 290mm). 8 original watercolours by Bowdich from the work (of 44), each painted over a pencil base on Whatman paper, and heightened with gold, silver and gum arabic, captioned and signed 'S. Bowdich del' in ink, comprising: 'N21 Rud Nat.l. size', 'N23 Crucian Carp Natl size', 'N24 Bull-head Natl size', 'N25 Flounder' (paper watermarked '1833'), 'N26 Lamprey 2/3 natl size', 'N27 Shad 3/4 nat.1.', 'N31 Smelt', and 'N32 Pride' (the extreme margins slightly darkened and frayed, some light spotting or marking, short, clean tear circa 43mm long to margin of iii). Modern mounts. A selection of 8 'excellent drawings, very finely coloured by hand' (Westwood and Satchell), from one of the rarest books on fishes, limited to 50 copies. Sarah Bowdich was the wife, travelling companion, and collaborator of the African explorer and natural historian Thomas Edward Bowdich (1791-1824). Sarah Bowdich's published work was both varied and prolific, including books on zoology, botany, taxidermy, and travel, written for informed, popular and juvenile readerships. Of these works, The fresh-water Fishes of Great Britain ... is 'in artistic power and letterpress the most valuable of [her] productions. It was published in parts, which were issued to fifty subscribers, headed by the Duke of Sussex. The fish were caught on purpose for [Bowdich], who cleverly transferred with her brush their exact tints on the bank before death had dulled the colours. Only twelve parts were completed, at a guinea a part, and at present but four perfect copies are known. Cuvier called the plates ''très belles'', and no more exquisite drawings of fish coloured according to nature have yet been published' ( DNB XI, p.820). Cf. Brunet I, col.1190; Nissen Schöne Fischbcher 32; Nissen ZBI 517; Westwood and Satchell p.39 (8)
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
