One of eight illustrations of British birds by English ornithologist Prideaux John Selby, estimate $500-1000 at Roland Auctions.
The sale comprises the contents of more than 400 drawers from cabinets at the Phyllis Lucas Gallery (The Old Print Center) in New York.
Many lots will include multiple items - typically themed into categories such as floral, maps, botanical, birds, fashion, animals, history.
The prints all come from the archives of the gallery that, launched in 1928, has been part of the Manhattan art world for close to a century. During the 1930s-40s the gallery worked as a publishing house with owner Sydney Lucas producing editions of French artists under the label Paris Etching Society.
His wife Phyllis carried on the family business after he died, famously working with Salvador DalÍ to become his North American publisher.
A large cross-section of works from the gallery’s history is offered in this auction (which follows the Part I and Part 2 sales held in spring).
Pictured here is one from a lot of eight of the pioneering near life-sized illustrations of British birds by English ornithologist Prideaux John Selby (1788-1867). Estimate $500-1000.
