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Logyard at Hoorn 1910 Original etching. One of only two known proofs of this plate. SOLD |
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The Amstel 1910 Original etching with touches of drypoint. Outstanding early proof impression, printed in warm, brownish black ink.
An exceptionally fine impression from the only edition of 40 signed and numbered proofs. Scarce. SOLD |
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Burgos 1911 Original etching with touches of drypoint. £625 |
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The Towy at Carmarthen 1911 Original etching with touches of drypoint. Very good signed proof impression from the only edition of 30 numbered impressions. £320 |
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Rouen 1916 Original etching with drypoint. Excellent impression with exceptionally strong line and rich burr to the touches of drypoint, from the only edition of 76 signed proofs. £495 |
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The Riva at Dusk 1930 Original drypoint. Excellent impression from the only edition of 80 signed and numbered proofs. SOLD |
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Penzance 1913 Original etching. Very fine signed proof impression from the only edition of 50 signed and numbered proofs. SOLD |
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The Moonlight Attack, Jelil 1920 Original etching. Outstanding impression, printed with considerable plate tone on pale blue-green paper to enhance the atmospheric effect of moonlight. From the only edition of 76 signed proofs. SOLD |
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The Dead Sea 1921 Original drypoint. Outstanding proof impression printed in dark brown ink on blue-toned paper.
From the only edition of 76 signed and numbered proofs. SOLD |
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Gerona 1923 Original etching. Superb impression with very rich drypoint burr. From the only edition of 76 signed and numbered proofs. SOLD |
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Boys Fishing 1902 Original etching. Very good impression of this rare early plate. From the only edition of 27 signed and numbered proofs - only a very few of these proofs can be located today. SOLD |
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The Dean Bridge, Edinburgh 1904 Original etching. One of only 2 proofs printed in the first state of this rare early plate. SOLD |
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The Cowgate, Edinburgh 1904-1905 Original etching. Exceptionally strong trial proof impression printed prior to the only edition.
No other trial proof of this subject has been found. SOLD |
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Ransdorp Church 1910 Original etching. Rare – one of only 20 impressions ever printed from this early plate. Superb early proof impression, printed in warm toned black ink, with the etched lines strong and crisp. SOLD |
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Amsterdam from Ransdorp 1910 Original etching. Outstanding early proof impression, printed in warm, brownish black ink.
An exceptionally fine impression from the only edition of 40 signed and numbered proofs. Scarce. SOLD |
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The Matador 1911 Original drypoint. Rare – one of only 15 impressions ever printed from this plate. SOLD |
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Disquietude (Portrait of Mrs. Martin Hardie) 1914 Original drypoint. Excellent signed proof impression, the fresh drypoint burr printing a rich velvety black. One of only 12 lettered proofs which James McBey retained for himself.
From the only edition of 80 signed and numbered proofs. SOLD |
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A Norfolk Village 1915 Original etching. Particularly fine impression with clear etched line and skillfully applied plate tone. From the only edition of 76 signed and numbered proofs. SOLD |
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The Crucifix, Boulogne 1916 The original copperplate, etched by James McBey, together with a proof impression of the etching from the only edition. Unique.
Original etching plates by James McBey are exceptional rarities. SOLD |
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Quai Gambetta, Boulogne 1916 Original etching with drypoint. Very good signed proof impression with strong line and pronounced burr. From only edition of 76 signed and numbered proofs. SOLD |
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The Sussex 1916 Original etching with drypoint. Excellent impression of the completed image, numbered ‘III’ from the only edition of 76 signed proofs. One of the outstanding masterpieces of James McBey's early war work. SOLD |
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The Seine at Rouen 1916 Original etching. Excellent impression with exceptionally strong line and rich burr to the touches of drypoint, from the only edition of 76 signed proofs. SOLD |
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Strange Signals 1919 Original etching. Excellent impression with delicate plate tone applied to the upper sky.
From the only edition of 70 signed proofs (76 in all).
Strange Signals is one of the most famous of James McBey’s renowned desert war prints. SOLD |
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Dawn, the Camel Patrol Setting Out 1919 Original etching. Brilliant signed proof impression of this magnificent etched work with the warm brown surface ink wiped to dramatic effect. A truly outstanding example from the only edition of 70 signed and numbered proofs (76 in all).
James McBey’s masterpiece.
Dawn, the Camel Patrol Setting Out is considered to be one of the greatest works of the entire British Etching Revival.
SOLD |
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The First Sight of Jerusalem. Nebi Samwil (No.2) 1920 Original etching. Excellent impression printed with carefully wiped plate tone, from the only edition of 70 signed proofs (78 in all). SOLD |
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Zero. A Sixty-five Pounder Opening Fire 1920 Original drypoint. Superb signed proof impression with exceptionally rich drypoint burr. An outstandingly fresh impression from the only edition of 76 signed and numbered proofs.
Zero is the most dramatic of all of McBey’s great wartime prints. SOLD |
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A Flood in the Fens 1922 Original drypoint. Outstanding signed proof impression, with exceptionally rich drypoint burr.
From the only edition of 76 signed and numbered proofs. SOLD |
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Artist and Model 1925 Original etching. The best known self-portrait by James McBey.
Exceptionally fine, signed proof impression from the only edition. SOLD |
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Glass-Blowers, Murano 1930 Original drypoint. Excellent signed proof impression, the burr of the drypoint printing rich and fresh.
From the only edition of 80 signed and numbered proofs. SOLD |
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The White Palace 1930 Original etching. Beautiful signed proof impression printed in brownish-black ink. A truly fabulous impression printed with considerable plate tone, from the only edition of 80 signed and numbered proofs. Inscribed by the artist in pencil “best”. SOLD |
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James McBey was born the illegitimate son of Scottish peasants. Abandoned by his father, he was raised by his mother and her family in abject poverty, in the harsh, bleak countryside of Buchan, close to the north sea coast line. At the age of fifteen he gained employment with a bank in Aberdeen and from then on supported himself, his mother, and grandmother until his mother’s suicide in 1906. With no remaining family ties, James McBey now embarked upon a career as a professional artist – a career which was to propel him far from his humble origins to great financial success and international fame.
Self-taught as an etcher, James McBey is widely regarded as the leading figure of the British Etching Revival. His work dominated British etching during the early part of the 20th century and the popularity of his prints was without parallel. A single impression of his etching Dawn, The Camel Patrol Setting Out, realised the highest price ever attained for a living etcher’s work in this country when it sold for £445 at auction in 1928. In 1931 James McBey married the American heiress Marguerite Loeb. James Mcbey is often cited as being the most commercially successful Scottish artist between the two World Wars. [ more] |
