SPL Hand Coloured Rare Book Collection Featuring Norman R Bobins

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HAVELL, Robert.
A Panorama of London.

Published
London:, Havell & Co., n.d.[1824]
References
Abbey Life 485; Bobins supplementary list 08/14; Marlborough Rare Books - California book fair catalogue 2013, entry 98.
Plates
1
Binding/Size
Unknown
Value
0-5000
Published
London:, Havell & Co., n.d.[1824]
Ref
5503

PANORAMA. Hand-coloured aquatint strip panorama on six conjoined sheets (c. 3" x 156" inches). Housed in a modern wood case, with a bone knob, replaced with a new period-style rosewood case. The view commences at Vauxhall to show the recently built Vauxhall Bridge (opened 1816) and Millbank Penitentiary (opened 1822). It extends as far east as the London Docks and St John Wapping. The recently built Waterloo and Southwark Bridges (opened in 1817 and 1819, respectively) are depicted. There is no sign of the New London Bridge, the building of which commenced in 1823. River traffic featured in the print includes the Richmond Steam Yacht, the Margate Steam Yacht, the French Steam Yacht, the Leith Steam Yacht, all crowded with excursionists, and the personal yacht of the eccentric Wapping biscuit-maker, Alderman Sir William Curtis M.P. Off Millbank are to be seen six 'four-oared pleasure galleys' partaking in a rowing match (presumably the Doggett's Coat and Badge Race?) and off Bank Side a civic procession of City ceremonial barges. The river is crowded with yachts, colliers, hay barges, Thames barges, and Peter boats. The copper plate for this panorama was auctioned at Geo. Jones & Co. on 27 May 1828 (91), on the dissolution of Robert Havell Senior and Robert Havell Junior's partnership. Robert Havell Junior, however, appears to have retained the plate, for it also features in S. Leigh Sotheby's sale on 18 July 1838 (36). On this latter occasion, Havell was disposing of copper plates and copyrights prior to emigrating to the United States.