The Spring Flood 1858 |
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Original etching.
Signed and dated twice in the plate.
S 216 x 164 mm; I 170 x 138 mm
£220
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Original C.W. Cope etching.
Early working proof impression, prior to the removal of the faint etched date beneath the image and prior to the numeral at the upper right corner.
Working proofs of this nature by C.W. Cope, or for that matter by any member of the Etching Club, are exceptionally rare.
A beautifully printed early proof impression with outstanding tonal range and exceptional clarity of line in the detailed passages of etched work. The published version of this etching was invariably very heavily inked and printed without much care when issued by the Etching Club, losing the fine tonal beauty and exceptional clarity seen in this early proof printing.
Although the etched initials and date within the image remain in the published state, the date in this area is illegible due to the etched work defining the floodwaters. For this reason, this etching has always been ascribed to the year of its only publication, 1865. This early proof impression displays a second etched date just beneath the lower left corner of the image which, although faint, reads clearly “1858”.
On fine India paper applied to original stout wove backing sheet, with margins beyond the image on all sides. Foxing verso only, otherwise generally very good original condition. |
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