About this Item
Original hardback Folder with original printed label with details to centre in fair/good condition, minor edge wear, still retains material flaps, if a little split where attached, corner dents, spine with some damage, splits, but holding good, lacks cord to hold tight. pencil inscriptions to label. Contents 15 loose mezzotint plates as issued (each 34 x 51cm), mostly in very good clean condition, title plate with 2 small corner/edge folds, and a few with very tiny corner tip dents, plate 10 with some minor foxing above image (not on or by). One of the images shows the plate with minor foxing, but as not dark does not show. The cover label states set of 12 plates, this unique copy contains 15. written in pencil to front cover title is; 1 Complete Trial Proof Set 7 guineas ( unable to read next 3 words then) with 2 surplus Plates, ( unable to read next 3 words). All may have been written c1883 as so faded, So looks like 2 plates may have been made but publishers decided not to use them. So they may be unique. Not sure which ones as unable to find another set online with details of contents, only found one set sold in auction over 10 years ago, but does not state how many plates in, presume only the set of 12. Same with a set in the National Galleries of Scotland. Here in this set we have for sale it starts with title plate with portrait of Girtin, then next 12 are numbered at base in pencil 2 to 13 with title, then one with title only in pencil, then last plate shows one of the original plates cut into 12 parts and printed/ titled to centre "200, printed-plates destroyed November 1883" . printed base of this original plate is " T. Girtin . Delin Published by S.W. Reynolds Bayswater May 7.1824"; presume this means after the limited edition of 200 printed (100 on India paper & 100 on plate paper) the original plates were destroyed (well cut up). 5 of the plates have printed below in base of plate is T. Girtin Selin Published by S.W. Reynolds Bayswater ( + month & 1823 & or 1824) S. W. Reynolds Sculp. Not sure if this copy is one of the India paper sets or plate paper sets. It looks like all plates were made 1823-24, except title plate whitch is dated 1883. Thomas Girtin 1775-1802, was an English artist, he was a friend and rival of J. M. W. Turner, after Girtin's early death aged only 27, Turner reportedly remarked "Had Tom Girtin lived I should have starved." As normal with this type of print set, most were purchased over the years by print dealers and then sold separately up to the 1980 s. At time of listing only found 2 other sets listed on the net, one in the National Gallery of Scotland & one sold at auction over 10 years ago, so no other copy for sale, Even some museums only hold one or 2 prints. So this set is now a very rare set, but with the extra plates this set also unique. Size: Folio 37 x 53cm Approx First Edition / Limited Edition / Unique. Seller Inventory # 002652
Contact seller
Report this item
