Lot 123: Walter Stephens Lethbridge (British, 1771/2-c.1831)

John Jackson (1772-1806), wearing blue coat with black collar, white waistcoat, frilled chemise and stock
signed on obverse with initials WSL, rectangular papier-mâché frame, inscribed on reverse with sitter's details
Oval, 74mm. (2 7/8ins.) high

John Jackson, was Governor of Cape Coast Castle, Ghana. This had been in British possession since 1664 and was one of the main slave-trading forts. When Jackson died in Essequibo, he bequeathed £635 to the poor of his parish. One of the trustees of this charity was a solicitor named William Richardson, Esq. It is interesting that the present lot has a label on the reverse inscribed "Richardson" suggesting that the solicitor may have owned the miniature after his client's death.

It is rare to find an example of Lethbridge's work signed on the obverse in such a manner.