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British sporting art became widely popular in the early nineteenth century, and this popularity has continued until today. Prints of the British gentry, dressed in sporting costume in the field or at a social event, have been produced and enjoyed as much as any other kind of print subject. The mid-nineteenth century was the brightest period in the history of these wonderful sporting images, but the later period, from the late nineteenth through the mid-twentieth century, had a star of considerable luminance. Cecil Aldin (1870-1935) was one of the most popular and successful of all British sporting artists. Much of Aldin's work consists of illustrations for sporting books and periodicals, but he is probably best known for his prints of hunts, coaching, races and golfing. Aldin's renown is based on his charming compositions and skilled accuracy. This is a classic golfing print from Aldin's popular and rare set of six images of famous British golf courses. $1,800
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George A. Coffin. "Regatta On Peoria Lake." From Harper's Weekly. New York: July 13, 1878. 9 1/4 x 13 1/2. Wood engraving. $110
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Abner Crossman. “Base-Ball In England.–The Match Of Lord’s Cricket Grounds Between The Red Stockings And The Athletics.” From Harper’s Weekly. New York, September 5, 1874. 9 1/4 x 13 1/2. Wood engraving.
A charming example of the Harper’s baseball prints, this one, ironically depicted in England! $250
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A.B. Frost. "Golf." From Harper's Weekly. New York: October 12, 1895. 13 5/8 x 9 5/8. Wood engraving. Very good condition.
An interesting and humorous collage of golfing images by master sporting artist, Arthur Burdett Frost. $250
"The 'Westward Ho!' Ladies' Golf Club At Biddeford, Devon." From The Graphic. London: June 7, 1873. 8 7/8 x 11 5/8. Wood engraving.
An early British wood engraved view of a ladies' golf tournament. $225
W.P. Snyder. "International Cricket Match on the Ground of the Germantown Club at Nicetown, Pennsylvania." From Harper's Weekly. New York: September 25, 1886. 9 x 13 5/8. Wood engraving.
A handsome view of a catch at a cricket match in 19th century Philadelphia. $150
Rufus F. Zogbaum. A day with the [Prairie] Chickens. From A.C. Gould (ed.) Sport, or Fishing and Shooting. Boston: Bradlee Whidden, 1889-90. Chromolithograph. 12 x 18. Small blemish in sky. Otherwise, very good condition.
A handsome sporting print from Gould's portfolio of chromolithographs after original watercolors by an impressive group of American artists including A.B. Frost, F.S. Cozzens, Frederic Remington, S.F. Denton, and Rufus T. Zogbaum. $450
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J. Cameron. "Goldsmith Maid." Rochester: Vacuum Oil Co., 1874. 17 3/8 x 24 3/4. Tinted lithograph by Donaldson Brothers, N.Y., with hand touches. Wide margins. Two old knot hole stains; print professionally conserved. Otherwise, excellent condition.
A wonderful advertising print by the Vacuum Oil Company of Rochester, New York. This image shows the famous trotter, Goldsmith Maid, setting a record of 2.14 for the mile. The proud horse is shown passing the stands in which stand a group of timers. Much of the attractiveness of this print is the result of its being drawn by James Cameron, famous for his horse prints made for Currier & Ives. Of similar style and quality to those prints, this advertising print (a sign reading "The Celebrated Vacuum Oil Blacking Fits Harness Perfectly" is shown at left) is considerably rarer than the larger and more famous New York printmakers. $875
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P.C. Canot after James Seymour. "Brushing into Cover." London: Robert Sayer, ca. 1750. 11 1/2 x 17 5/8. Engraving by P.C. Canot. Excellent condition. Framed.
James Seymour (1702-1752) was one of the best sporting artists from the first half of the eighteenth century. Much of his work was made for or turned into prints with such various subjects as fox hunting, bird hunting, racing, and other similar sports. This print is one of his rarest, a lovely scene of fox hunting engraved after a painting owned by a Mr. Ballard. The print was engraved by P.C. Canot and published by Robert Sayer, both important figures in the world of prints in eighteenth century England. The impression is excellent, as is the condition, making this rare image a real gem from this early period of sporting prints. $1,400
"The Interior of the Fives Court." Credits read, "Painted by T. Blake" and "Engraved by C[harles]. Turner." [London, 1821, but later]. Aquatint (hand coloring). [The printer was McQueen]. 15 1/4 x 21 5/8 (image) plus full margins. Laid paper. Repaired 2" chip replaced at right margins and tear into title at bottom. A clear depiction. Ref.: Siltzer, The Story of British Sporting Prints, pp. 320-1, 325.
The Five Courts was in James Street, Haymarket. According to Siltzer, it was the "great rendezvous of all the elite and the Fancy." The scene is a prize fight between Randall and Turner on 5 December 1818 in a court which was usually used for tennis. Note the corner house and the grills on the spectators' windows to the right.
The purpose of the picture was to celebrate the many famous people who attended matches over the decades. Thus, focus is not on the fight but rather centers on the crowd where a cavalry guardsman named Larkin has prominence due to his plumed hat. He was so successful as a boxer that he at one time planned to leave the guard. Another guardsman, kneeling front and center, is an anachronism because Jemmy Shaw was killed at the Battle of Waterloo three years before the event. Whether living or dead, these gentlemen are all looking out at the viewer and not at the fight. Even the Master of Ceremonies, the referee, Lennox, is looking away from the fight. Still, this is a fine sporting print because it shows the fighters in their traditional stances. At bottom, left, two boys are inspired to have their own round of fisticuffs, while the rest of the crowd engages in other important pursuits, such as drinking and conversation. A fine British sporting print that has interest for prize fighting and court tennis. $850
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