Towneley Collection of Hollar's, a catalogue of a capital collection of prints, The Work of that incomparable Artist, Wenceslaus Hollar, Formed at a considerate degree of Expense, by the late John Towneley, esq. Being the most complete ever yet offered to the Public., together with a Matchless Collection of Drawings in Colours, of Natural History, Inimitably Executed by Hollar; Russia Portfolios; which will be Sold by Auction by Mr. King, at his Great Room, No. 38 King Street, Covent Garden, on Tuesday, the 26th Day of May, 1818, and Four following Days,

[HOLLAR]. KING, Thomas.

Published by W. Smith, King Street, Seven Dials. 26th May 1818, London,, 1818

About this Item

The Towneley sale catalogue 4to (235 by 175mm), 44pp, disbound. The auction catalogue for the Towneley Collection of Hollar's prints. The catalogue is organised ".as expressed in Vertue's catalogue [of Hollar's works, 2nd ed. 1759] Besides many other additional prints, not noticed by him; and abounding throughout in Valuable Proofs and Curious Variations". The auction contained 527 lots, which realised a total of £2,102. 10s 6d. It was widely reported at the time that the executors, in order to prevent a public sale, had offered the collection for less than half that sum. A good proportion of the lots were acquired by the dealer John Simco on behalf of the Royal Collection. Scarce. World cat cites only five examples in institutional holdings (BL, Bodleian, Huntington, Trinity College Connecticut, and University of Toronto). To this we are able to add an example sold at auction in 2013 (not this copy).

Seller Inventory # 18631

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Towneley Collection of Hollar's, a catalogue of a capital collection of prints, The Work of that incomparable Artist, Wenceslaus Hollar, Formed at a considerate degree of Expense, by the late John Towneley, esq. Being the most complete ever yet offered to the Public., together with a Matchless Collection of Drawings in Colours, of Natural History, Inimitably Executed by Hollar; Russia Portfolios; which will be Sold by Auction by Mr. King, at his Great Room, No. 38 King Street, Covent Garden, on...
• Publisher: W. Smith, King Street, Seven Dials. 26th May 1818, London,
• Publication Date: 1818