August Acquisitions: Catalogue 139!

 

The Ladies Hero or the Unfortunate James MacLeane Esq.r. Done from the Original late in the possession of M.r Salt Keeper of the Gate House.
Printed for T. Harrison. Publish'd according to Act of Parliament Sep.r 29. 1750.
Scarce hand-coloured engraving with etching. Sheet 340 x 250mm (13½ x 9¾"). Trimmed within plate, edge black-ruled, a few stains, mounted in album paper at edges. Horizontal crease left.
Full-length portrait of James MacLaine (1724-1750), grocer-turned-highwayman, with the mask he used as a disguise on the ground to the side. With his partner William Plunkett (a bankrupt apothecary), he committed 20 robberys in six months between Hounslow Heath and Hyde Park. His most famous victim was Horace Walpole, who was grazed by an accidentally-fired bullet. Captured, Maclaine was sent to trial at the Old Bailey, where his dashing good looks created a sensation: he reputedly received nearly 3,000 guests at Newgate before he was hung. His body was handed over to surgeons for dissection: his skeleton can be seen on display in the operating theatre in the last plate of Hogarth's 'Four Stages of Cruelty'. Plunkett is said to have escaped to Pennsylvania where he fought for independence.
[Ref: 63569]   £480.00 
 
 
Happy browsing and enjoy the sunshine.
 
A few highlights:
 
 
Plan General des Chateaux, Parc et Jardins de Chantilly. Situé dans le Isle de France, à neuf lieues de Paris et à une lieue de Senlis. Appartenant à S.A.S. Monseigneur le Prince de Condé.
a Paris chez Jean Mariette rue S. Jacques aux Colonnes d'Hercules [n.d., c.1700].
Engraved plan, 18th century watermark. Two sheets conjoined, total 440 x 705mm (17¼ x 27¾"), very large margins. Sheets not joined quite straight, some creasing. Uncut.
A finely-engraved plan of Chantilly, showing the positions of the house, ornamental gardens and parkland, with an extensive key.
[Ref: 63858]   £480.00   
 

 Explanation of the arms of Napoleon Bonaparte. The Tyrant of France, who created himself Emperor of the French 18th May 1803; was dethroned by the French Senate 2d April 1814; compelled to abdicate for himself and his Family 6th April, and his Life spared on condition of being transported for the remainder of his days to the Island of Elba; whither he was sent under escort on the 20th of April, 1814.
[by George Cruikshank. Alterations of the skeleton by Rowlandson, see BM]
[Published by R. Ackermann, at his Repository of Arts, 101, Strand, London.]
Coloured etching with letterpress. Sheet 445 x 275mm (17½ x 10¾"). Trimmed at bottom, losing publication line, some cockling of paper, laid on album sheet.
A satirical heraldic set of arms for Napoleon, supported by Death and the Devil. An adaptation of a plate published by J.B.G. Vogel in 1808, with a demon on the left side replaced by Death, by Rowlandson.
BM Satires 12235; see 11057 for the original.
[Ref: 63811]   £590.00   
 
 

 [Peacocks.]
Barlow pinxit. W. Hollar fec.
[n.d., c.1660.]
Etching, 17th century watermark. 135 x 195mm (5¼ x 7¾"), with large margins. Stitch holes in left margin.
An untitled plate from the series 'Diversae avium species', showing two cocks (one in full display), a hen and three chicks.
Pennington 2132, first state of two.
[Ref: 63604]   £320.00  

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