Rare Book Monthly
Book Catalogue Reviews - April - 2010 Issue
Book Arts, Printing, Hoaxes and More from The Veatchs Arts of the Book
One of D.R. Wakefield's fish.
Item 9 is A Portfolio of Thomas Bewick Wood Engravings. One Hundred Prints Made from the Original Blocks Engraved by Thomas Bewick. Turn of the 18th century engraver Thomas Bewick is still generally regarded as the greatest wood engraver. Fortunately, many of his blocks have been preserved over the centuries, allowing for portfolios such as this to be printed. This one was published in 1970 by R. Hunter Middleton, who made a career producing fine printings from Bewick's engravings. It includes an introduction by James M. Wells and is inscribed by Wells and Middleton. Among the illustrations are 50 of Bewick's birds. Bewick was also an ornithologist and his bird engravings are the ones for which he is most noted. $2,500.
Item 146 is a collection of beautiful etchings of Sporting Fishes of the British Isles. The drawings were created by D.R. Wakefield, and this portfolio was printed by the Chevington Press in 1985. There are 33 loose leaves in a tray case, including 20 of the fish, some with hand coloring. Text is taken from 19th and early 20th century writers. $1,600.
The Veatchs Arts of the Book can be reached at 413-584-1867 or veatchs@veatchs.com. Their website is www.veatchs.com.
