The collectors of British portraits--and there are doubtless many such
among our readers--will shortly have such an opportunity of enriching
their portfolios as rarely presents itself. Messrs. Sotheby and Co.
commence, on the 3rd of December, the sale of the second portion of the
important and valuable stock of prints belonging to the well-known and
eminent printsellers, Messrs. W. and G. Smith, whose shop in Lisle
Street, Leicester Square, has been for so many years the favourite
resort of all who were in search of the rare and curious in calcographic
art. Messrs. Sotheby describe the present Sale as "comprising one of the
most numerous and interesting collections of British Historical
Portraits ever offered for sale;" and the following Lots, which exhibit
specimens of the rarities it contains, justify their statement.
33 ARCHIBALD EARL OF ARGYLL, by _Loggan, first state, before the
inscription round the oval_, VERY FINE AND RARE.
56 SIR WM. ASHURST, _Lord Mayor of London, 1694, after Linton, by R.
White_, VERY FINE AND RARE. {62}
59 SLINGSBY BETHELL, ONE OF THE SHERIFFS OF LONDON, &c. 1680, _whole
length, W. Sherwin sculpt., sold by S. Lee, at the Feathers in Lumbert
Street_, VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE.
130 SIR RICHARD RAINSFORD, _Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench,
mezzotint after Claret, R. Tompson excudit_, MOST BRILLIANT AND VERY
RARE.
160 JAMES THE FORTH, KING OF SCOTLAND, _holding a flower in his hand,
sold by Compton Holland_, EXTREMELY FINE AND VERY RARE.
176 FREDERICK KING OF BOHEMIA, _half length, standing under an arch,
four Latin lines beneath, no engraver's name_, VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY
RARE.
184 CHARLES LEWIS, COUNT PALATINE OF THE RHINE, son of the King of
Bohemia, on horseback, with a view of London beyond him; circles
containing the dates of the births of his brothers and sisters at the
top on the left, eight English lines beneath: _a most interesting and
rare print_, BRILLIANT IMPRESSION, AND IN THE MOST PERFECT CONDITION.
328 SIR JOHN FENWICK, _of Fenwick Castle, in the Country of
Northumberland, executed in 1696, on suspicion of being engaged in a
plot to assassinate William III., after Wissing, by White_, VERY FINE
AND EXTREMELY RARE.
244 THOMAS CARTWRIGHT, _Bishop of Chester, after Soust, by Becket_, VERY
FINE AND RARE.
262 JOHN DOLBEN, BISHOP OF ROCHESTER, JOHN FELL, BISHOP OF OXFORD, AND
DR. RICHARD ALLESTRY, _called by Charles II_. CHIPLEY, CHOPLEY, CHEPLEY,
_from the picture in Christchurch Hall, by Sir P. Lely, D. Loggan
excudit_, BRILLIANT PROOF, AND EXTREMELY RARE.
304 SIR HENRY CHAUNCEY, _the historian of Hertfordshire, by J. Suvage,
fine and rare_.
365 GEORGE GORDAN, MARQUIS OF HUSTLEY, by _Sauvè_, FINE AND EXTREMELY
RARE.
374 ROBERT SIDNEY, EARL OF LEICESTER, by _Simon Passe, sold by Sudbury
and Humble_, VERY FINE AND RARE.
375 ROBERT BERTIE, EARL OF LINDSEY, after _Geldorp_, by _Voerst_,
BRILLIANT AND VERY RARE.
558 ISAAC MILERS, by _Vertue, first state, before the alterations of the
arms and inscription, very fine and rare; and the same, in the ordinary
state_.
661 THOMAS THYNN OF LONG LEATE, _murdered in Pall Mall 1682, after
Kneller, by White_, VERY FINE AND RARE.
662 THOMAS THYNN, _mezzotint after Lely, sold by A. Browne_, VERY FINE
AND RARE.
997 LOUISE DUCHESS OF PORTSMOUTH, _with her son as Cupid, after Gascar,
by Baudet_, VERY FINE AND EXTREMELY RARE, _from Mr. Ord's collection, at
the sale of which it produced 8£. 12s. 6d._
1000 LOUISE DUCHESS OF PORTSMOUTH, _reclining on a couch, oblong
mezzotint_, FINE PROOF BEFORE AND LETTERS, AND EXTREMELY RARE.
1048 _Hobson and the Cambridge Carrier, Author of "Hobson's Choice," by
J. Payne, two states, very fine and rare_.
1201 JOHN FREDERICK, Elector of Saxony, playing at chess with Ernest
Duke of Brunswick, at the moment when Charles V. sent the warrant for
his execution, A MOST CURIOUS AND INTERESTING HISTORICAL PRINT, AND
EXTREMELY RARE.
1209 ERASMUS, _sitting with a book before him_, by F. HOGENBERG, _H.
COCK excudebat_, 1555, VERY FINE AND RARE, &C.