The Light of Science

There are still some fascinating prints available as part of our Light of Science catalogue release.

Please click here to download a copy of the catalogue.

The Light of Science dispelling the Darkness which Covered the World
Henry Thomas De la Beche
Lithograph
c.1832
Image 207 x 315 mm, Sheet 226 x 330 mm

Allegorical illustration showing the figure of a woman wearing an elaborate hat, standing in clouds, shining a gas lamp on the world. The caricature depicts Lady Murchinson, wife of Sir Roderick Impey Murchinson.

Lady Cahrlotte [née Hugonin] Murchison (1788–1869), geologist. She married Roderick Murchison in 1815 and was a partner in his geological researches. She was a lielong friend with the geologist Mary Anning.

Sir Henry Thomas De la Beche FRS (10 February 1796 – 13 April 1855) was an English geologist and palaeontologist who helped pioneer early geological survey methods.

William Nicholson Prints

We currently have a wonderful collection of William Nicholson lithographs, from his famous An Alphabet series (pictured left), to a selection of prints from his An Almanac of Tweleve Sports (below). We also have in stock some of his views of  Oxford, aswell as a stunning graphic advertisement from Les Maitres de l'Affiche and a rare original woodcut.

P for Publican
William Nicholson
Lithograph
1898 [William Heinemann]
Image 247 x 197 mm
Condition: Excellent impression.

Sir William Newzam Prior Nicholson (1872 – 1949) was an English painter, also known for his work as an illustrator and author of children's books.

A student at Hubert von Herkomer's art school, Nicholson is well known for his partnership with his brother-in-law James Pryde. Known as the Beggarstaff Brothers they produced striking graphical work and woodcuts, their poster work being particularly significant historically.

Ahead of his time in his distinctive graphic style, Nicholson's prints are instantly recognisable and can appear as contemporary today as when they first appeared on the market.

Boxing (November)
William Nicholson
Lithograph
Popular edition 1897 (post-dated 1898) William Heinemann
Image 196 x 198 mm

Mapping the Stars

This fascinating celestial map forms part of a collection of magnificent stellar maps from Jamieson’s Celestial Atlas.

Alexander Jamieson’s Celestial Atlas was an attempt to produce a British version of the highly popular atlases of Jean Fortin in France and Johann Bode in Germany. Unlike his predecessors Jamieson allowed himself more artistic freedom in the depiction of his figures and his illustrations are notibly more realistic and pleasing to the eye.

These scarce maps depict the constellations and the allergorical figures associated with them in incredible detail. In the substantial accompanying text Jamieson includes descriptions of the constellations and their orgins in ancient mythology as well as lists of the main stars with positions for the year 1820 and exercises for students.

Cancer. Plate XVI.
Jamieson, Alexander
Copper engraved
Image 179 x 224 mm, Plate 210 x 265 mm, Sheet 230 x 290 mm
Published, February 1, 1822, by G & W Whittakers, Ave Maria Lane, London

Cancer, the Crab, is the first of the Summer signs. According to the Greeks, Jupiter placed this crab among the signs of the zodiac; and it is further represented as the same which Juno sent to bite Hercules while he fought the Hydra in the lake of Lerna, in the Peloponnessus. In the zodiacs of Dendera we find Scarabaeus, or Beetle. In copying the Greeks have given us a crab.

(Description taken from the accompanying text in publication.)  

The Light of Science

In our latest mini-catalogue we present a selection of weird and wonderful prints of scientific interest. The catalogue includes caricatures satirising some of the monumental scientific breakthroughs of the 19th century alongside portraits of significant academic figures and other curiosities.

Please click here to download a copy of the catalogue.





Duria Antiquior
Georg Scharf after Henry Thomas de la Beche
Lithograph
c.1830
Image 228 x 319 mm, Sheet 301 x 377 mm

Duria Antiquior, or a more ancient Dorsetshire, is the first print to illustrate prehistoric life, drawn by Georg Scharf after the water colour by the geologist and paleontologist Henry Thomas De la Beche. There is no publication line but it is thought to date to 1830 or soon thereafter.

A great supporter of the work and importance of Mary Anning, of Lyme Regis, De la Beche drew a sketch, in 1830, entitled Duria Antiquior - A More Ancient Dorset, which showed Mary Anning's finds: (three types of Ichthyosaur, a Plesiosaur and Dimorphodon). It even appears to show the production of coprolites, from a terrified plesiosaur. De la Beche assisted Anning, who was having financial difficulties, by having a lithographic print made from his watercolour, and donating the proceeds from the sale of the prints to her. This became the first such scene from deep time to be widely circulated.

CW 128

Refrences: Campbell, Michael J. John Martin, 1789-1854 Creation of Light Prints and Drawing from the Campbell Collection. Valencia Madrid and Bibao, 2006.

Rudwick, Martin. Scenes from Deep Time (1992) pp. 42-47

The first and most important derivative of the Ralph Agas Oxford city plan of 1578

Printed by E.Butler and dedicated to Henry Duke of Beaufort, this elaborate and highly detailed plan was the first and most important derivative of a plan of the city by Ralph Agas in 1578 and known only from a unique example in the Bodleian Library. It is surrounded by seventeen views of the Oxford colleges taken from drawings made by John Bereblock in 1566 for the occasion f the visit of Queen Elizabeth to Oxford, and apparently much admired by the sovereign. These views were the earliest of their kind and the originals having been lost, a copy of them was presented to the Bodleian in 1630.





Whittlesey, Robert
Oxonia Antiqua Instaurata Sive Urbis & Academiae Oxoniensis Topographica...
Copper engraved
1728
660 x 955 mm on two sheets

Team GBs most sucessful Olympics

Celebrating 116 years of the Olympic Games

This week Sanders pays homage to the history of the modern Olympic Games with a informative window display celebrating not only the sports which we all still know to be included in the Games such as Boxing, Rowing & Horse Riding, but also those which no longer have a place in the Olympics.

It may be surprising that in the last century sports such as Cricket, Golf, Polo and even an Art Competition all featured in the Olympic Games.

If you are in Oxford then why not pop down to 104 High Street to brush up on your Olympic history, alternatively you can view our collection of Sporting Prints online.