Theophilus Johnson (1836-1919) Illustrations of the Feline Carnivora. By Theo Johnson. [? Dartford:] 1895. Folio (455 x 234mm.). Mounted on guards throughout. Letterpress title, 25 ORIGINAL WATERCOLOURS BY JOHNSON, each on brown-toned paper (approximately 293 x 234mm) mounted on card, and with facing leaf bearing letterpress plate number and title. (Five plates spotted, slight soiling to two plates.) Contemporary deep-purple half morocco gilt, spine in seven compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second 'T. Johnson Zooloogical Sketches', the others with repeat pattern of simple flower-spray tool, top edge gilt (some scuffing to extremities). A VERY RARE EXAMPLE OF ONE OF JOHNSON'S MOST AMBITIOUS 'PUBLICATIONS', ILLUSTRATED WITH 25 ORIGINAL WATERCOLOURS. This large format work includes 7 images of Lions, 5 of Tigers, 4 Leopards and 9 of other species. Theophilus (Theodore or Theo) Johnson was born in Tottenham on 23 August 1836, and after serving his apprenticeship set up as a letterpress printer. Up until the late 1880s or early 1890s he apparently lived within easy reach of the London Zoo in Regent's Park, but by 1900 had moved to Dartford Heath in Kent. His output as an naturalist and artist is impressive: Howard Radclyffe ('Theophilus Johnson: amateur naturalist, artist and publisher extraordinaire' in Archives of Natural History [1996], vol.22, pp.183-190) notes the existence of at least 46 substantial volumes, all illustrated by Johnson with original watercolours of birds, mammals, birds, molluscs and plants. He appears to have genuinely 'published' the works, in that they were evidently for sale, and he did produce multiple copies of some works, however his customers, prices and other details of their publishing history are no longer known. The present work is not recorded amongst the 31 books described in detail by Mr. Radclyffe in his article, but he does mention two similar works: the Natural History Muesum at Tring have Illustrations of the Feline Carnivora including the Tiger-Cats and Lynxes 'Folio, printed title, frontispiece (a superb portrayal of a resting lion) and 24 coloured drawings with letterpress names of species. 1900', and Bernard Quaritch's records for 1918 include Illustrations of the Feline Carnivora.. 'Oblong folio, with 16 coloured drawings, n.d.'. References to Johnson and his other works : Dance, S.P. The Art of Natural History 1978. Freeman, R.B. British Natural History Books 1495-1900 A Handlist 1980. Radclyffe, H. [ op.cit. ]. Ripley, S. Dillon, and L.L. Scibner. Ornithological Books in the Yale University Library 1961. Wood, C.A. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology 1931.
Theophilus Johnson (1836-1919) Illustrations of the Feline Carnivora. By Theo Johnson. [? Dartford:] 1895. Folio (455 x 234mm.). Mounted on guards throughout. Letterpress title, 25 ORIGINAL WATERCOLOURS BY JOHNSON, each on brown-toned paper (approximately 293 x 234mm) mounted on card, and with facing leaf bearing letterpress plate number and title. (Five plates spotted, slight soiling to two plates.) Contemporary deep-purple half morocco gilt, spine in seven compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second 'T. Johnson Zooloogical Sketches', the others with repeat pattern of simple flower-spray tool, top edge gilt (some scuffing to extremities). A VERY RARE EXAMPLE OF ONE OF JOHNSON'S MOST AMBITIOUS 'PUBLICATIONS', ILLUSTRATED WITH 25 ORIGINAL WATERCOLOURS. This large format work includes 7 images of Lions, 5 of Tigers, 4 Leopards and 9 of other species. Theophilus (Theodore or Theo) Johnson was born in Tottenham on 23 August 1836, and after serving his apprenticeship set up as a letterpress printer. Up until the late 1880s or early 1890s he apparently lived within easy reach of the London Zoo in Regent's Park, but by 1900 had moved to Dartford Heath in Kent. His output as an naturalist and artist is impressive: Howard Radclyffe ('Theophilus Johnson: amateur naturalist, artist and publisher extraordinaire' in Archives of Natural History [1996], vol.22, pp.183-190) notes the existence of at least 46 substantial volumes, all illustrated by Johnson with original watercolours of birds, mammals, birds, molluscs and plants. He appears to have genuinely 'published' the works, in that they were evidently for sale, and he did produce multiple copies of some works, however his customers, prices and other details of their publishing history are no longer known. The present work is not recorded amongst the 31 books described in detail by Mr. Radclyffe in his article, but he does mention two similar works: the Natural History Muesum at Tring have Illustrations of the Feline Carnivora including the Tiger-Cats and Lynxes 'Folio, printed title, frontispiece (a superb portrayal of a resting lion) and 24 coloured drawings with letterpress names of species. 1900', and Bernard Quaritch's records for 1918 include Illustrations of the Feline Carnivora.. 'Oblong folio, with 16 coloured drawings, n.d.'. References to Johnson and his other works : Dance, S.P. The Art of Natural History 1978. Freeman, R.B. British Natural History Books 1495-1900 A Handlist 1980. Radclyffe, H. [ op.cit. ]. Ripley, S. Dillon, and L.L. Scibner. Ornithological Books in the Yale University Library 1961. Wood, C.A. An Introduction to the Literature of Vertebrate Zoology 1931.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
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