Towneley Collection of Hollar's, a catalogue of a capital collection of prints, The Work of that incomparable Artist, Wenceslaus Hollar, Formed at a considerate degree of Expense, by the late John Towneley, esq.
Being the most complete ever yet offered to the Public..., together with a Matchless Collection of Drawings in Colours, of Natural History, Inimitably Executed by Hollar; Russia Portfolios; which will be Sold by Auction by Mr. King, at his Great Room, No. 38 King Street, Covent Garden, on Tuesday, the 26th Day of May, 1818, and Four following Days,
The auction catalogue for the Towneley Collection of Hollar's prints. The catalogue is organised "...as expressed in Vertue's catalogue [of Hollar's works, 2nd ed. 1759] Besides many other additional prints, not noticed by him; and abounding throughout in Valuable Proofs and Curious Variations".
The auction contained 527 lots, which realised a total of £2,102. 10s 6d. It was widely reported at the time that the executors, in order to prevent a public sale, had o...
The auction catalogue for the Towneley Collection of Hollar's prints. The catalogue is organised "...as expressed in Vertue's catalogue [of Hollar's works, 2nd ed. 1759] Besides many other additional prints, not noticed by him; and abounding throughout in Valuable Proofs and Curious Variations".
The auction contained 527 lots, which realised a total of £2,102. 10s 6d. It was widely reported at the time that the executors, in order to prevent a public sale, had offered the collection for less than half that sum. A good proportion of the lots were acquired by the dealer John Simco on behalf of the Royal Collection.
Scarce. World cat cites only five examples in institutional holdings (BL, Bodleian, Huntington, Trinity College Connecticut, and University of Toronto). To this we are able to add an example sold at auction in 2013 (not this copy).
First state of Beck’s iconic tube map
1 × £3,000![GASTALDI, Giacomo & LAFRERI, Antonio La descrittione della prima parte dell'Asia. [and] Il disegno della seconda parte dell'Asia.](https://i0.wp.com/crouchrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/15701_1H.jpg?fit=2763%2C3500&ssl=1)
The most important maps of the Middle East and Arabia published in the sixteenth century
1 × £125,000![[ANONYMOUS] [Map of the Red Sea and Hejaz]](https://i0.wp.com/crouchrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/15648_1H.jpg?fit=899%2C1900&ssl=1)
A rare Ottoman map of the Red Sea and Hejaz region
1 × £65,000
One of the first sea charts of north-east Asia
1 × £2,000
Egypt
1 × £100![[GALLE, Philips; after Adriaen Thomaszoon KEY] Spectandum dedit Ortelius mortalib. orbem,](https://i0.wp.com/crouchrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/17783_1H.jpg?fit=1768%2C2558&ssl=1)
Abraham Ortelius
1 × £1,000
Map of Japan by Aaron Arrowsmith
1 × £235
Black Gold
1 × £15,000
Rocque’s Index to his monumental 24-sheet plan of London
1 × £1,500
The search for black gold continues
1 × £15,000
The Emperors' lineage
1 × £300![BROWN, Glen F. [Map case, maps, and ephemera belonging and related to Glen F. Brown]](https://i0.wp.com/crouchrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18320_1H.jpg?fit=3491%2C3500&ssl=1)
"His efforts contributed materially to the phenomenal economic progress development that Saudi Arabia has experienced..."
1 × £12,000
Alfaques Bay
1 × £500
A rare plan of Amsterdam
1 × £8,800
The Empire of Japan
1 × £800
![[HOLLAR]. KING, Thomas. Towneley Collection of Hollar's, a catalogue of a capital collection of prints, The Work of that incomparable Artist, Wenceslaus Hollar, Formed at a considerate degree of Expense, by the late John Towneley, esq.](https://i0.wp.com/crouchrarebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/18631_1H.jpg?fit=2562%2C3500&ssl=1)
