Edwin Landseer’s proof state etching, “Woburn Abbey Game Card”, 1825

Edwin Landseer (aka [Sir] Edwin Henry Landseer) (1802–1873)

“Woburn Abbey Game Card”, 1825, proof before lettering and numbering from the series, “Landscapes with Hunting Dogs, Game and Hunters”, later published in London in 1848 by Ernest Gambart & Co (1814–1902) in “Etchings by Edwin Landseer”.

I understand that the six abutting images were used at Woburn Abbey by the hunting guests of John Russell (6^th Duke of Bedford) to record the number of their various “kills” with the tally inscribed in the space below the particular type of bird, rabbit or hare. I assume that the card on the far right, showing the Duke's hunting wagon on its way home, would be the space to show the guest’s accumulative score.

Etching on cream chine collé (China paper) on heavy wove paper with wide margins and a collector’s ink stamp (interlaced “CN” [not in Lugt]) at lower right corner.

Size: (sheet) 25.5 x 33.1 cm; (plate) 15.3 x 22.9 cm; (chine collé)14.7 x 22.1 cm; (image borderline) 13 x 21.8 cm.

Graves 100 (Algernon Graves 1874/1900, “Catalogue of an exhibition of the engraved works of the late Sir Edwin Landseer, comprising several private etchings by Her Majesty the Queen, H.R.H. the Prince Consort, and by the Duchess of Bedford, now on view at Messrs. Henry Graves & Co.'s Galleries,” London, Henry Graves & Co., p. 8, cat. no. 100; see https://archive.org/details/catalogueofexhib00grav/page/8/mode/2up).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print (not illus.):

“Second plate, with six small groups of game as headings, beginning on the left with a flying pheasant. 1825/ Etching on a sheet of chine collé” (https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_1876-1014-349).

See also the description offered by the Rijksmuseum: http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.135436.

Condition: a strong and well-printed impression in an excellent condition with no tears, holes, folds, losses, abrasions, significant stains or foxing.

I am selling this exceptionally rare proof state etching (before lettering and numbering for publication) executed by the hand of one of the most famous of the English animaliers—especially well remembered for his lion sculptures at the base of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square—for AU$289 (currently US$214.82/EUR197.32/GBP165.30 at the time of posting this print) including) postage and handling to anywhere in the world, but not (of course) any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries.

If you are interested in purchasing this genuine Landseer etching (as opposed to the large number of prints after Landseer’s designs), please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold