Historical and Art Medals, Numismatic Books

19th Century, A complete series of the Art Union of London medals in copper, viz:
Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1845, by A.J. Stothard, 58mm (BHM 2207; E 1399; Beaulah 2); Sir Francis Chantrey, 1846, by W. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 2227; E 1381; B 1); Sir Christopher Wren, 1846, by B. Wyon, 58mm (BHM 2232; E 1411; B 3); William Hogarth, 1848, by L.C. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 2302; E 1427; B 4); Inigo Jones, 1849, by C.F. Carter, 54mm (BHM 2348; E 1437; B 5); John Flaxman, 1854, by H. Weigall, 56mm (BHM 2530; E 1479; B 6); William Wyon, 1854, by L.C. Wyon, 56mm (BHM 2535; E 1480; B 7); Sir John Vanbrugh, 1855, by B. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 2572; E 1500; B 8); William Chambers, 1857, by B. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 2596; E 1516; B 9); Thomas Banks, 1858, by L.C. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 2633; E 1523; B 10); Thomas Gainsborough, 1859, by E. Ortner, 55mm (BHM 2653; E 1529; B 11); Thomas Lawrence, 1860, by G.G. Adams, 56mm (BHM 2676; E 1539; B 12); Sir David Wilkie, 1861, by L.C. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 2704; E 1549; B 13); Sir Charles Barry, 1862, by L. and J. Wiener, 60mm (BHM 2712; E 1558; B 14); John Bacon, 1864, by J.S. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 2797; E 1573; B 15); Benjamin West, 1866, by W. Wilson, 55mm (BHM 2862; E 1589; B 16); William Dyce, 1867, by G.G. Adams, 57mm (BHM 2873; E 1594; B 17); Sir Richard Westmacott, 1868, by L.C. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 2894; E 1600; B 18); Charles Leslie, 1870, by A.B. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 2911; E 1608; B 19); William Etty, 1872, by G.G. Adams, 57mm (BHM 2938; E 1621; B 20); John Gibson, 1874, by J.S. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 2982; E 1636; B 21); David Roberts, 1875, by G.T. Morgan, 56mm (BHM 3016; E 1649; B 22); John Turner, 1876, by L.C. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 3030; E 1655; B 23); William Mulready, 1877, by G.G. Adams, 55mm (BHM 3037; E 1657; B 24); 3047; E 1659; B 25); Daniel Maclise, 1878, by A.B. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 3047; E 1659; B 25); David Cox, 1879, by G.T. Morgan, 57mm (BHM 3053; E 1666; B 26); Thomas Stothard, 1880, by L.C. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 3080; E 1672; B 27); Edward Baily, 1882, by A.B. Wyon, 55mm (BHM 3115; E 1691; B 28); Sir Gilbert Scott, 1884, by G.G. Adams, 57mm (BHM 3170; E 1709; B 29); Victoria, Golden Jubilee, 1887, unsigned [by Sir A. Gilbert], 63mm (BHM 3246; E 1735; B 30) [30]. Wilkie with two light scratches on obverse and Maclise a trifle spotted, otherwise all extremely fine and better, many virtually as struck, a most attractive and carefully assembled set (£1,200-1,500)

Turner medal only illustrated. The planning of a series of medals by the Art Union of London dated back to 1842. The first medal in the series was intended to commemorate Sir Francis Chantrey (1781-1841) and to be issued in 1845, but a problem with dies cracking in the hardening process delayed its production until 1846. In its stead the Joshua Reynolds medal became the first in the series to be issued to subscribers from April 1845. Only 40 struck of the last. Sold with an offprint of the article by G.K. Beaulah, ‘The Medals of the Art Union of London’, reprinted from BNJ 1967