Winter British and Continental Premier Sale | February 24, 2026
Tue, Feb 24, 2026 10:00AM EST
Live Auction
Lot 29
Charles Empson Botanical Watercolor
Estimate: $1,000 - $2,000
Sold for
$1,500
Sold Price excludes BP
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $100 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
(British, 1794-1861)
Rafflesia arnoldii (Corpse Flower), a native plant of Sumatra, inscribed with Latin name bottom left as currently oriented, circa 1830s, watercolor with gum arabic on cream wove paper, sheet 16-3/4 x 11-1/4 in., mounted on his gray/buff gilt-edged album page with the number "30" inscribed upper right, 20 x 14 in. modern gilt wood frame, 25-1/2 x 20 x 1-1/2 in.
Provenance: Sotheby's Monaco, December 12, 1984, lot 3341; W. Graham Arader III, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (labels verso); Private Collection, Atlanta
Note: This appears to be extracted from the volume of original watercolors of mostly South American plants sold by Sotheby's Monaco, December 12, 1984, lot 3341, Empson's Narratives of South America; illustrating Manners, Customs. and Scenery: containing also numerous facts in Natural History was published for the author by William Edwards in 1836 (Abbey Travel 702; Sabin 22548). This particular work bears some resemblance to the one by Franz Andreas Bauer (Austrian, 1758-1840).
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Sotheby's Monaco, December 12, 1984, lot 3341; W. Graham Arader III, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (labels verso); Private Collection, Atlanta
mounted to album sheet at corners, light toning to wove paper and some more pronounced on album sheet, handling grimeï¼› frame with minor wear
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