An Album of of Watercolours of Birds and Plants, including: Gentians; A Perriwinkle; A Passion Flower; A Poppy; An Early Persian Iris; A Maiden Pink; A Great Horned Owl from Hudson's Bay (illustrated); A Blue and Yellow Macaw; and A Cross Beak

Details

William Speechly (c.1740-1780)
An Album of of Watercolours of Birds and Plants, including: Gentians; A Perriwinkle; A Passion Flower; A Poppy; An Early Persian Iris; A Maiden Pink; A Great Horned Owl from Hudson's Bay (illustrated); A Blue and Yellow Macaw; and A Cross Beak
12 signed 'Wm. Speechly', and dated variously '1761-1766', the majority inscribed with details of the subject in Latin and English
pencil and bodycolour, the majority on watermarked paper, 16 laid down on the pages of the album, and 7 loose sheets
the album 14½ x 9 3/8in. (36.8 x 26.7cm.), overall (23)

Lot Essay

Very little is known about William Speechly: he is thought to be the same man as the author of A Treatise on the Cultivation of the Pineapple and the Management of the Hot House, together with a description of every species of insects that infest hot houses, published in 1779.

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