ID 1249744
Lot 152 | [KIP, Johannes (1653-1722)]
Estimate value
£ 60 000 – 90 000
Nouveau Theatre de la Grande Bretagne. London: David Mortier, 1715-1717-1713-1715-1714.
A fine set of Kip’s celebrated Nouveau theatre, surveying the country house during the Augustan Age, complete with all plates, including the rare Sadler plate of Hatfield House (vol. I, plate 24*), as well as the Atlas Anglois, with all the maps coloured by a contemporary hand. After the political and religious turmoil of the 17th century in Britain, the 18th century saw a period of stabilization that allowed a great increase in mercantile prosperity. One immediate outcome was a period of restoration, expansion and reconstruction of the seats of the English nobility, and Kip’s plates here record these in detail, and include highly detailed depictions of gardens and parks.
This iteration of Kip’s work was preceded by Leonard Knyff’s (1650-1727) proposal in 1698 to publish a series of engraved views of English country houses. However, Knyff ran into financial difficulties, so that when the work was finally published the plates, which were engraved by Kip, were owned by David Mortier. This was entitled Britannia Illustrata, and first appeared in 1707, expanded to 4 parts with 80 plates 1709.
The present lot was a much bigger project, and besides Kip’s work, there are outstanding plates by other engravers showing the Royal Palaces, naval towns (Harwich, Chatham, Rochester, Portsmouth, Plymouth and the Eddystone lighthouse), cathedrals, the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, and large panoramic views of London, Westminster, Oxford and Cambridge. The Scottish section, which includes a fine panoramic view of Edinburgh, is largely derived from Slezer's Theatrum Scotiae.
Cf. Berlin Kat 2328 (1715-1728 ed.); Brunet IV, 114-115 (1724-1728 ed.); Lewine pp. 262-263 (1724-1728 ed.); Lowndes pp. 1277-1278 (1724-1728 ed.); RIBA 389 (1716-1716-1714-1715-1714 ed.).
5 parts bound in 4 volumes, including Atlas, folio (532 x 336mm). Titles printed in red and black with engraved royal arms. 295 engraved plates in total, comprising 30 folding double-page, 202 double-page, 3 folding single-page, and 20 single-page by Johannes Kip after Kip, Leonard Knyff, and others, as well as 40 double page maps coloured by a contemporary hand after Jan Blaeu, engraved initials and tailpiece, and woodcut tailpieces. Text in French. Letterpress cancellans slip on II, p. 10 and early manuscript corrections on II, p. [15] – the RIBA set has letterpress cancellans slips on both pages – and manuscript numbering of plates in vols II and III similar to that in the RIBA set (occasional light variable spotting, browning and offsetting, one Royal genealogy plate in vol. II with very short tear along one creasefold, affecting blank area only, and the 3 following genealogy plates cropped at head just into printed area). Contemporary panelled mottled calf gilt, covers with central floral block enclosing blank cartouche, panel formed by a foliate roll with marquess crowns as cornerpieces, geometric roll outer border, gilt spines, speckled edges (extremities lightly rubbed, some light scratches to covers). Provenance: Jean-Anténor Hüe, Marquis de Caligny (1657-1731, French military engineer; engraved armorial bookplates on verso of titles).
Place of origin: | Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom |
---|---|
Auction house category: | Books and manuscripts, Printed books |
Place of origin: | Northern Europe, Europe, United Kingdom |
---|---|
Auction house category: | Books and manuscripts, Printed books |
Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
---|---|---|
Preview |
| |
Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.