A Book-Sale at Sotheby's Auction-House

Published by The Graphic, London, 1888

About this Item

This is a double page engraving and was the centerfold to the copy of The Graphic dated May 26, 1888. The Graphic was a British weekly illustrated newspaper founded in December 1869 to be competition for The Illustrated London News, and it did very well. This engraving, taken from a wash drawing by H.M.(Henry Marriott) Paget and probably engraved by the Scottish engraver, David Wallace Williamson while he was working in London, depicts the scene in Sotheby's auction rooms on Wellington Street, off The Strand. The engraving has been reproduced in various books, but this is its original appearance. It shows the great and the good of London book dealers gathered together for a rare book auction. Among those present are Bernard Quaritch, James Toovey, Robert Walford, William Reeves, Bartholomew Robson, etc. For a very thorough report of this picture I recommend looking up a nine-part blog called "The Book-Hunters of 1888" by Laurence Worms of Ash Rare Books. This series of posts, made between April 16, 2015 and February 11, 2016, details the story of the engraving and goes around the room to identify all those in attendance. I will include a printout of the first part of the postings, together with a copy of the outline key made by William Roberts when he reproduced the engraving in his book "The Book-Hunter in London" (1895). Since this print is pulled from a newspaper, there is text on the other side, and it is very interesting! There's the Political News from around Britain, a report on the Derby and the Oaks horse races, Foreign News (including mention of the flooding of the Mississippi), the happenings in the Royal Court, and reviews of the Royal Italian Opera. Perhaps most interesting are the various paragraphs under the heading of "Scraps". Here we learn of the plight of the buffaloes on the American Prairies, the progress of the building of the Eiffel Tower, and a brief report on efforts to locate the missing African explorer, Mr Stanley. So if the engraving doesn't fascinate you sufficiently, perhaps the text will. The Graphic was known for its high quality printing and use of fine paper, and this double page is in really excellent condition. It has never been folded, so has only the center crease. There is one small hole in the center crease. The paper remains clean and white and the engraving itself is crisp and clear. It has been kept for many years in a sturdy plastic sleeve and will be shipped flat and protected with hardboard. This original printing of this well documented engraving is very uncommon and this is a splendid copy. Image size (not including the margin notes) is 17.5" x 12" (44.5cm x 30.5cm) and the size of the paper is 23.25" x 16" (59cm x 41cm). Seller Inventory # 001336

Bibliographic Details

Title: A Book-Sale at Sotheby's Auction-House

Publisher: The Graphic, London

Publication Date: 1888

Binding: No Binding

Illustrator: H.M. Paget

Condition: Near Fine