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[Eyre's Fortifications of London, 1643:
Captain John Eyre's Map and 12 Views of the Defences of London During the Civil War]
Commonwealth Prints, 1852
Original 170+-year-old antique etchings on chainlaid Whatman-watermarked 1847 paper
These original antique etchings have quite an interesting backstory!
Part of a set of forgeries published by Peter Thompson in 1852 under the pseudonym 'Captain John Eyre' as part of 'Eyre's Fortifications of London, 1643.' Thompson crafted a complete biography and genealogy for Captain John Eyre, making Captain John Eyre the descendent of the real fifteenth century Lord Mayor of London, Simon Eyre, and claiming that fictional Captain John Eyre and the real Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) shared an artistic camaraderie, often sketching together, etc. The group of drawings was exhibited to the Archaeological Association in 1852. This group of drawings consists of sketches from different perspectives of the fortifications erected around London by Parliamentary forces during the Civil War in 1642- 3. Includes a map titled 'Plan of the Fortifications – 1643. Also, The Old Walls Of London'. Also a three-sheet prospect: 'A View of London from the North showing the Fortifications from Whitechapel to Tothill Fields 1642 & 1643'. Then follows 9 more detailed views of specific sections of defences, with numbers corresponding to facsimile annotations above. As the images were actually made by Peter Thompson in the nineteenth century and not by Captain John Eyre in the seventeenth century, the elaborate ramparts depicted in the set of drawings actually bear no resemblance to the hastily constructed earthwork forts built during the Civil War. Beginning in 1853, the public began to question Eyre's existence and Thompson's collection of works by Eyre and Hollar was called into question.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE THUMBNAIL IMAGES BELOW FOR AN ENLARGED VIEW. THE DARVILL'S DIGITAL WATERMARK DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE ACTUAL ANTIQUE ETCHING.
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
The Family of Eyre
original hand-coloured etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 9.125 x 15 inches
SOME RUMPLING, CREASES. ESPECIALY UPPER LEFT CORNER AND LOWER RIGHT CORNER
$49.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
The Potraiture of One John Eyre Sombimo Captain of General Cromwell's Regmt.
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 9.125 x 15 inches
Image size = about 2.5 x 4 inches, including text at bottom
MINOR RUMPLING AT BOTTOM OF PAGE
$49.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
A View of London – from the North – showing the Fortifications from Whitechapel to Tothill Fields – 1642 & 1643
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 28.75 x 15 inches (with original folds)
$299.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
Plan of the Fortifications of London 1642-43
[Shows the locations of the following depictions]
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
[St. Giles's]
1. A Redoubt with 2 Flanks near St. Giles's Round
2. A Small Fort at the east end of Tiburn Road
3. A Large Fort with 4 Half Bulwarks across the Tiburn Road
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
4. A Small Bulwark at Oliver's Mount
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
5. A Large Fort with 4 Bulwarks on the Revine Road beyond Tiburne Brook
6. A Small Redoubt and Battery on the Hill from St. James's Park
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
7. Court of Guard on Chelsey Road
8. A Battery and Bulwark on Tothill Fields
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 9.125 x 15 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR • MINOR SMUDGING AT BOTTOM (APPEARS TO BE ORIGINAL TO ETCHING/PRINTING PROCESS
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
9. A Quadrant For with a Half Bulwark at Foxhall
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR • MINOR SMUDGING AT BOTTOM (APPEARS TO BE ORIGINAL TO ETCHING/PRINTING PROCESS
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
10. A Fort with 4 Half Bulwarks in St. George's Fields
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
11. A Large Fort with 4 Bulwarks at the end of Blackman Street
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
12. A Redoubt with 4 Flanks at the end of Kent Street
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
13. A Bulwark and half on the Hill at the end of Gravel Lane
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
14. A Homwork near the Church at Whitechapel Street
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR, MINOR GRUBINESS LOWER LEFT CORNER, PAPER LOSS LOWER RIGHT EDGE
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
15. A Redoubt with 2 Flanks at Brick Lane
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
16. A Redoubt at the Hackney Corner of Shoreditch
17. A Redoubt at the corner of the Road to Edmonton at Shoreditch
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
18. A Battery and Breastwork on the Road to Islington
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
19. A Battery and Breastwork at the end of St. Johns Street
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
20 [View of London]
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 15 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR, WITH ORIGINAL FOLD (ENTIRE SHEET TOO LARGE TO SCAN, THERE IS MORE PAPER AT TOP]
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
21. A Battery east Gray's Inn Lane
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
Sheet size = approx. 15 x 9.125 inches
MINOR EDGE/CORNER WEAR
$124.95
(Click image to enlarge.
The Darvill's watermark does not appear on the print.)
22. Two Batteries at Southampton House
original etching from Eyre's Fortifications of London (1852)
