Fine travel and plate books, including a rare three volume folio of Oriental Scenery (1795-1808) by Thomas and William Daniell, are to auction at Sotheby's London on February 28.
Of the great European artists working on the Indian subcontinent during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, British uncle and nephew team Thomas and William Daniell played a crucial role in recording and documenting the region. Their seminal, heavily and beautifully illustrated work is estimated to be worth £150,000-250,000 ($236,223-393,469).
 One of the many striking plates inside the eminent six part, three volume work |
Featuring 144 hand-coloured aquatint plates, eight sepia engraved plans dated 1803, and a number of folding two-plate and three-plate panoramas, Oriental Scenery is considered among the finest illustrated works ever published on India.
Oriental Scenery was a pricey purchase at the time of publication, being offered at 200 guineas, which equates to around £210 ($315) in today's money. Previous sales have brought strong results, with a complete early set selling for £241,250 ($401,440) at Christie's London in June 2009.
February is set to be an exciting month for those invested in the rare books and manuscripts market, with original drawings from John James Audubon's landmark ornithological work, The Birds of America, expected to make $120,000 at Bonhams on February 17.
Although we live in a technologically advanced age, the pleasure of owning a rare or important first edition endures. A large number of book and manuscript sales take place every month across the globe, demonstrating the sector's large buyer base. For investment insights, results and more, sign up for our free weekly newsletter.
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