John William Lewin Paintings & Artwork for Sale | John William Lewin Art Value Price Guide

Mar. 19, 2024
John William Lewin 1770-1819
Est: $300 - $600
"Spotted Opossum, White (Dasyurus Viverrinus)" 1825 Hand coloured copperplate engraving, published by G.B. Whittaker, London. 12.5 x 21cm
McKenzies Auctioneers
Dec. 04, 2022
BOOKS (2) 'A Natural History of the Birds of New South Wales.' John William Lewin (1770-1819), pub. London 1838. All 26 plates r...
Est: $300 - $500
BOOKS (2) 'A Natural History of the Birds of New South Wales.' John William Lewin (1770-1819), pub. London 1838. All 26 plates removed. Together with facsimile edition of same book, pub. Queensberry Hill Press, Melbourne 1978. Limited edition 323/500.
Davidson Auctions
Jun. 05, 2022
John William Lewin, British/Australia ( 1770-1819)A Natural History of the Birds of New-South-Wales London 1822
Est: $8,000 - $12,000
John William Lewin, British/Australia ( 1770-1819)A Natural History of the Birds of New-South-Wales London 1822 26 plates, marble-boards and red Morocco spine. A combination copy of some 1822 engravings and with some restrikes done by Quaritch in London, Printed for J.H Bohte 4 York street Covent-Garden by G Schulze,13 Poland street. 1822.
Artvisory
Dec. 07, 2021
JOHN WILLIAM LEWIN (1770 - 1819), Ptilinopus Magnificus (Wompoo Pigeon), watercolour, circa 1812, signed lower right, 37 x 28 cm (visible). Provenance: Sotheby's, Fine Australian Paintings and Books, Sydney, 29/11/1993, Lot No. 153.
Est: $50,000 - $75,000
JOHN WILLIAM LEWIN (1770 - 1819), Ptilinopus Magnificus (Wompoo Pigeon), watercolour, circa 1812, signed lower right, 37 x 28 cm (visible). Provenance: Sotheby's, Fine Australian Paintings and Books, Sydney, 29/11/1993, Lot No. 153. John William Lewin, naturalist and artist, was a son of William Lewin, a fellow of the Linnean Society and author of The Birds of Great Britain (London, 1789-94). His sons, John William and Thomas worked with him at Darenth in Kent and at Hoxton, London, during the preparation of this work; plates occur with their signatures and in his preface their father acknowledges their help in the compilation of the natural history observations. About 1797 J. W. Lewin was anxious to visit New South Wales. He did not lack patrons. His first book, Prodromus Entomology, Natural History of Lepidopterous Insects of New South Wales (London, 1805) was dedicated to Lady Arden 'in grateful remembrance of that goodness which gave the Author an opportunity of employing his talents, as it were in a new world'. On 6 February 1798 the Duke of Portland informed Governor John Hunter that Lewin would sail in the Buffalo and that he should be allowed rations during his residence in the settlement. The entomologist, Dru Drury, who assisted many collectors, supplied him with an entomologist's outfit in payment for which Lewin engaged to send insects from New South Wales. Later Thomas Marsham, author of Entomologia Britannica (London, 1802) and Alexander McLeay united with Drury in sending money to Lewin in the colony. By some mischance Lewin missed the Buffalo, although his wife was already on board. She was befriended by the captain and his wife, and after reaching the colony by Rev. Richard Johnson and his wife. Lewin arrived in the Minerva on 11 January 1800 and was immediately involved in a lawsuit in defence of his wife against an accusation of misconduct with the second mate of the Buffalo. She was cleared, but in September Lewin excused himself to Drury for not repaying his debt by delays caused by this 'unfortunate Business' and by his having been 'taken with the flux' during the winter. In 1804 Governor King granted Lewin a 100-acre (40 ha) farm near Parramatta but it seems unlikely that he had the time or means to develop it. He was busy making expeditions to the Nattai River and the Cow pastures and engraving the plates for his two books on insects and birds. Conscious of his own lack of training in grammar and spelling, he tried to enlist the help of a well educated young man, John Grant, who became his close friend in 1804, though it is not known if the requested help was given. Grant's verses praising Lewin, entitled 'Panegyric on an Eminent Artist', occur in a few copies of Lewin's Birds of New Holland with their Natural History. He became a member of the Parramatta Loyal Association, in which he rose to the rank of sergeant. He was among the settlers who supported Governor William Bligh and was one of the signatories to a petition to Paterson in May 1808, expressing alarm at the governor's deposition. Lewin had hoped that the proceeds from the sale of his two books would enable him to return to England. Although this hope was not realized they greatly enhanced his fame and Drury secured his election as an associate of the Linnean Society in 1801. The books' plates are faithful and delicate representations of insects and birds which were then little known. Prodromus Entomology, published in 1805, appeared in a second edition in 1822 and the Birds, first printed in 1808, had two further editions in 1822 and 1838 as well as the variant published in Sydney in 1813. The texts of the London editions were edited by his brother Thomas with the help of eminent scientists. The collaboration of scientists and the issue of several editions, some reprinted, for watermarks later than imprints occur on plates, show the interest which these works aroused. All are rare today, especially the 1808 Birds. Only six copies of it are known, those of George III and five English subscribers. The consignment for Australia appears to have been lost and hence the curious Sydney 'edition' of 1813, with text by J. W. Lewin, perhaps using some descriptions by John Grant, and with plates made up of pulls from the engravings before the copper plates were sent to England, as well as one or two plates not in the London editions. The plates of the Insects and some of those in the Birds are the earliest copper plates known to have been engraved in New South Wales. There is a collection of Lewin's paintings in the Mitchell Library, Sydney, and a number of natural history water-colour drawings in the Rex Nan Kivell Collection in the National Library of Australia. His contemporaries esteemed him for his paintings of natural history subjects and of Aboriginals. Unfortunately few of the latter seem to have survived. [Adapted from the Australian Dictionary of Biography.]
Leski Auctions Pty Ltd
May. 05, 2019
JOHN WILLIAM LEWIN [1770 - 1819], Yellow-Ear Honey-Sucker (Plate V), hand-coloured copper-plate engraving, 1838 (from A Natural History of the Birds of New South Wales), with explanatory page, 29 x 22cm,
Est: $500 - $750
JOHN WILLIAM LEWIN [1770 - 1819], Yellow-Ear Honey-Sucker (Plate V), hand-coloured copper-plate engraving, 1838 (from A Natural History of the Birds of New South Wales), with explanatory page, 29 x 22cm,
Leski Auctions Pty Ltd
Apr. 04, 2019
John William Lewin. Swans. 1793.
Est: $100 - $200
[Ornithology] Lewin, John William (British, 1770-1819). Pair of hand-colored copper plate engravings of swans. From "The Birds of Great Britain: systematically arranged, accurately engraved and painted from nature." London, 1793. Plates are: Plate Swan ++ Whistling Swan. Framed, each: 17" x 15 1/4" Condition Under glass, not examined out of frame.
Quinn's Auction Galleries
Mar. 07, 2018
* Lewin (John William, 1770-1819). Finch on a branch, 1827,
Est: £70 - £100
pencil on wove paper, dated 2nd March 1827, lower right, and inscribed to right hand margin 'Drawn from Nature & Correct in Size & All Honors', J. Lewin, 26 x 23 cm (10.25 x 9 ins), mounted, with Folio fine Art label to verso - Quantity (1)
Dominic Winter Auctions
Nov. 30, 2016
JOHN WILLIAM LEWIN, (1770 - 1819), BOTANICAL STUDY, c.1805, pencil and watercolour on paper
Est: $25,000 - $35,000
JOHN WILLIAM LEWIN, (1770 - 1819), BOTANICAL STUDY, c.1805, pencil and watercolour on paper DIMENSIONS: 27.0 x 12.5 cm PROVENANCE: Commissioned by Phillip Gidley King, Governor of New South Wales, 1800 - 1806 Governor and Mrs King, New South Wales Thence by descent Elizabeth Goldfinch, New South Wales, granddaughter of Governor King Thence by descent Lesley Goldfinch, Sydney Thence by descent Nancy Mannix (nee Goldfinch), Sydney Private collection, Sydney
Deutscher and Hackett
May. 04, 2016
JOHN WILLIAM LEWIN, (1770 - 1819), FIVE BOTANICAL STUDIES, c.1805, pencil and watercolour on paper
Est: $10,000 - $15,000
JOHN WILLIAM LEWIN, (1770 - 1819), FIVE BOTANICAL STUDIES, c.1805, pencil and watercolour on paper (I) BOTANICAL STUDY (HANDSOME FLAT PEA), c.1805 32.5 x 23.5 cm inscribed upper right: 171 inscribed lower left: Platyfolesium formosum inscribed lower right: Platylobium formosum / X / Smith (II) BOTANICAL STUDY, (HAIRY BUSH PEA), c.1805 33.5 x 20.0 cm inscribed upper centre: 188 inscribed lower right: Pultenaea villosa Sm. X (III) BOTANICAL STUDY, (FUSCHIA HEATH), c.1805 30.0 x 20.0 cm inscribed upper centre: A inscribed upper right: 30 inscribed lower left: X Epicaris [illeg.] / Smith (IV) BOTANICAL STUDY, (NARROW-LEAVED MINT-BUSH), c. 1805 29.0 x 22.5 cm inscribed upper right:212 inscribed lower left: C. Didynamia inscribed lower right: Prostanthera linearis / a bad figure / X / oil / [illeg.] / R. Br / [illeg.] (V) BOTANICAL STUDY, (RED SPIDER FLOWER), c.1805 29.5 x 20.0 cm inscribed upper centre: a [illeg.] of 13 inscirbed upper right: 14 inscribed lower left: Embothrium inscribed lower right: Grevillia punicea PROVENANCE: Commissioned by Phillip Gidley King, Governor of New South Wales, 1800 - 1806 Governor and Mrs King, New South Wales Thence by descent Ms E. Goldfinch, New South Wales, granddaughter of Governor King Blaxland family, New South Wales, acquired from the above in 1905 Thence by descent Private collection, Sydney Private collection, Sydney, acquired from the above in 1999
Deutscher and Hackett
May. 31, 2015
John Lewin (1770 - 1819) After, Black Crown Thrush 1853 Hand-coloured engraving
Est: $40 - $60
John Lewin (1770 - 1819) After, Black Crown Thrush 1853 Hand-coloured engraving 28.5 x 21 cm
Theodore Bruce Auctioneers & Valuers
Jul. 25, 2010
Lewin. John William. Black-Crown Thrush.
Est: $600 - $800
Colour lithograph. Text on back. From A Natural History of the Birds of New South Wales. Quarto. Mounted.
Leonard Joel
May. 06, 2004
LEWIN (JOHN WILLIAM)
Est: £1,500 - £2,000
A Natural History of the Birds of New South Wales, Collected, Engraved and Faithfully Painted after Nature, third edition, 26 hand-coloured etched plates by and after Lewin, library stamp on verso of title, one text leaf and plate 26, some off-setting and spotting, a few light pencil annotations, later red half morocco, using earlier boards, original printed lettering label on upper cover [Nissen IVB 561; Fine Bird Books, p.91; Zimmer, p.394; Ferguson 873], 4to (368 by 265mm.), J.H. Bohte, 1822
Bonhams
Jul. 11, 2002
LEWIN, John William (1770-1835). Prodromus Entomology: Natural History of Lepidopterous Insects of New South Wales. London: for the author, and published by Thomas Lewin, J. White, J. Johnson [and others], 1805.
Est: $18,720 - $28,080
4o (249 x 198mm). 18 hand-coloured engraved plates by and after Lewin. (Light spotting to title and plate 10.) Later 19th-century green half calf, spine gilt with morocco lettering-piece, red speckled edges. FIRST EDITION OF LEWIN'S FIRST BOOK ON AUSTRALIA. The beautiful copperplates, which are the more effective for being on facing pages, were the earliest to be engraved in the colony. Lewin had completed his task early in 1804, when the plates were then shipped back to England together with his manuscript, and printed and published in London by his brother, Thomas Lewin. The four states of the plates were available at four different prices ranging from œ2.5.6 to 15sh. 6d. Although this copy does not have interleaves, as stated in the publisher's advertisement, it otherwise appears to conform to the second state with the engravings, priced at œ1.10.6., on Imperial Paper 'well finished, with [coloured] grounds.' VERY RARE. Ferguson 411b; Nissen ZBI 2487; Wantrup p. 277.
Christie's
Nov. 28, 2001
John William Lewin (1770-1819)
Est: $8,520 - $12,780
A Natural History of the Birds of New South Wales, collected, engraved, and faithfully painted after nature, by... Lewin, A.L.S. late of Parramatta, New South Wales. London: G. Schulze for J.H. Bohte, 1822 [text watermarked 1821, plates watermarked 1826]. 2o (366 x 265mm). 26 hand-coloured etched plates by Lewin. Contemporary half red straight-grained morocco, paper letterpress title label mounted on upper cover, titled in gilt on spine (neat repairs to head and foot of spine, modern endpapers). A fine copy of the third edition of Lewin's Birds of New Holland (1808), seen through the press by his widow Maria Lewin and including eight new plates (plates VII and XIX-XXV). John Lewin was the son of ornithological artist William Lewin (1747-1795) and arrived in Australia on 11 January 1800. 'He decided to emigrate to New South Wales, with his wife Maria, and was equpped with an entomologist's outfit by Dru Drury, to be repaid by specimens of Australian insects on his arrival in the colony. His wife got on the ship he intended to embark on, but he missed the sailing and so she had to survive in the colony alone until he arrived... He wrote a book Prodromus Entomology, 1805 and then prepared 18 plates... for his Birds of New Holland with their Natural History, printed in London 1804-08. In 1813 a few copies were printed in Sydney under the new title Birds of New South Wales and this was the first illustrated natural history book published in Australia and the earliest book of any kind with etched illustrations to be published there... After his death [in Sydney in 1819], Maria (who had drawn plants for his illustrations) took their son William Arden... to England where she saw a third edition of his birds of New South Wales through the press in 1822... In London, T.C. Eyton issued a fourth edition... in 1838' (C. Jackson Dictionary of Bird Artists p.336). BM (NH) III, p.1104; Ferguson 873; Nissen IVB 561; Whittell p.442; Zimmer p.394.
Christie's