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John Frederick Lewis collection of autographs of engravers
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Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]Philadelphia, PA, 19103
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
John Frederick Lewis was a Philadelphia lawyer, philanthropist, and collector of writing samples. He donated several collections to the Free Library of Philadelphia. In addition to his collection of autographs of engravers, he also donated a collection of cuneiform tablets, an oriental manuscript collection, and many of the Free Library's medieval manuscripts. The engravers in this collection range from the obscure to the relatively well-known. Presidents and members of the Society of Engravers are represented, most notably the first president Francesco Bartolozzi, and later president John Samuel Agar. The engraver and art dealer R. H. Cromek, who has become known as William Blake's nemesis, is also well-represented in this collection.
This collection contains letters, receipts, and other documents by British engravers. Most of the material was written in England between 1775 and 1850. Significant correspondents include: William Bromley, R. H. Cromek, F. J. DuRoveray, Thomas Holloway, John Landseer, James Neagle, Luigi Schiavonetti, Edward Scriven, James Stow, Isaac Taylor, Charles Edward Wagstaff, and Charles Warren. The collection also includes items from many other engravers such as Samuel Palmer, Jane Ireland, James Watson, J. P. Neale, and Benjamin West. F. J. (Francis Isaac) Du Roveray is the most represented engraver with 229 individual items as either correspondent or recipient. Many of the letters discuss artistic matters and contain references to well-known engravings. This collection covers a large number of engravers, and the letters primarily talk about the artists' work and could be useful for questions of provenance.
Items are arranged in alphabetical order by engraver’s last name (either as an author or as a subject), and then in chronological order.
Finding aid entered into the Archivists' Toolkit by Garrett Boos.
People
- Agar, John Samuel, ca. 1773-1858
- Angus, William, 1752-1821
- Arrowsmith, Aaron, 1750-1823
- Basire, James, 1730-1802
- Bromley, William, 1769-1842
- Burnet, John, 1784-1868
- Byrne, John, 1786-1847
- Byrne, William, 1743-1805
- Cook, John William
- Cooke, George, 1781-1834
- Cooke, William Bernard, 1778-1855
- Cooper, Robert
- Cromek, R. H. (Robert Hartley), 1770-1812
- Daniell, William, 1769-1837
- Du Roveray, Francis Isaac, 1772-1849
- Engleheart, Francis, 1775-1849
- Evans, William
- Facius, Johann Gottlieb, b. ca. 1750
- Fittler, James, 1758-1835
- Fry, William Thomas, 1789-1843
- Heath, Charles, 1785-1848
- Heath, James, 1757-1834
- Holloway, Thomas, 1748-1827
- Landseer, John, 1769-1852
- Landseer, Thomas, 1795-1880
- Le Keux, Henry, 1787-1868
- Le Keux, John, 1783-1846
- Medland, Thomas, 18th/19th cent.
- Michel, Jean-Baptiste, 1748-1804
- Milton, Thomas, 1743?-1827
- Moses, Henry, 1782?-1870
- Neagle, James, 1760?-1822
- Parker, James, 1750-1805
- Raimbach, Abraham, 1776-1843
- Reynolds, Samuel William, 1733-1835
- Schiavonetti, Luigi, 1765-1810
- Scott, John, 1774-1827
- Scriven, Edward, 1775-1841
- Sharp, William, 1749-1824
- Sherlock, William P., b. ca. 1780
- Skelton, Joseph, fl. 1820-1850
- Smith, Anker, 1759-1819
- Stadler, Joseph Constantine
- Stow, James, b. ca. 1770
- Taylor, Isaac, 1759-1829
- Thew, Robert, 1758-1802
- Tomkins, Peltro William, 1759-1840
- Turner, Charles, 1774-1857
- Wagstaff, Charles Edward, 1808-1850
- Walker, John George
- Warren, Charles Turner, 1767-1823
Subject
- Publisher
- Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department
- Finding Aid Date
- 2010.11.15
- Sponsor
- The creation of the electronic guide for this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources’ “Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives” Project.
- Access Restrictions
-
This collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
-
The right of access to material does not imply the right of publication. Permission for reprinting, reproduction, or extensive quotation from the rare books, manuscripts, prints, or drawings must be obtained through written application, stating the use to be made of the material. The reader bears the responsibility for any possible infringement of copyright laws in the publication of such material. A reproduction fee will be charged if the material is to be reproduced in a commercial publication.
Collection Inventory
Date postmarked.
With seal.
With seal.
With seal.
In Italian.
With manuscript note by W.B. Cooke.
Date postmarked.
Date postmarked.
Postscript dated "1st : Novr." on second page.
Date postmarked.
Newspaper clipping laid in.
Attached to Burton, Edward. Autograph document signed, Jany 11, 1783.
Alternate address, 23 Mornington Place, Hampstead Road, at head of letter.
In Italian. With seal.
In French.
In French.
Statement of this account dated 1st of Sepr. 1794 is attached.
Signature is possibly J. Basire junr, with seal.
In French. Place postmarked.
With seal.
Originally attached.
Cosigned by the artist's brother Rocco Bovi.
With seal.
With seal.
Cosigned by Charlotte Thorp, plaintiff, and by R. Clark, Mayor.
Signed Jno. Boydell Junr.
Signed J.B.
Envelope with seal.
Date postmarked.
Date postmarked.
AMS by DuRoveray on recto of integral address leaf.
Date postmarked.
Autograph letter (possibly draft) by DuRoveray in reply to Bromley on verso, 1802 Sep 20.
Date postmarked.
Date postmarked.
Piece missing from head of letter, with loss of text.
Dated in DuRoveray's hand on verso.
Date postmarked.
Dated in DuRoveray's hand on verso.
Date supplied from postmark. Two pieces missing with loss of text.
Dated in DuRoveray's hand on verso.
Date postmarked.
Date postmarked.
Date postmarked.
Piece missing from foot with loss of text. Dated in DuRoveray's hand on verso.
Dated in DuRoveray's hand on verso.
Author and date supplied, in unidentified hand, at head.
Torn with slight loss of text.
Cosigned by J.J. Smith.
Signed twice by Browne; another receipt to an unidentified recipient, from Sarah Read "for the use of my Husband", Monday May 31, on verso.
With four other receipts to Mr. Boydell, from William Bryan, 10mo 2d. 1782, at foot; and from J.G. Facius, Oct. 5 1782; D. Lerpiniere, Octr. 8th; and Edwd. Burton, October the 12/1782, on verso.
Attached to Burton, Edward. Autograph document signed, Jany. 11. 1783.
Three other receipts to Mr. Boydell, from Michel, ce 7 novembre, at foot, and from Benjamin Coward, Novr 9th 1783, and from D. Lerpiniere, Novr. 13th, on verso.
Two other receipts to Mr. Boydell, from John Browne, Decr. 11th 1782, at foot, and from John Murphy, Decr. 23d. 1782, on verso.
With seal.
Burnet published a memoir in Art Journal in 1850.
Torn at foot with loss of text.
Includes three other receipts to Mr. Boydell: from D. Lerpiniere, Jany: 11th; from John Browne, Jany. ye 13 1783; from J. Baldrey, Jany 15th; 1783. Latter two receipts on separate pieces of paper, attached to this item.
Date postmarked.
Signature illegible.
Signed C. & D.
Small hole with loss of text.
Date postmarked.
Autograph notes (author unknown) laid in.
Also signed by Thomas Caulfield.
With seal.
In German.
Date postmarked.
Printed leaf with illustration by Cole laid in.
Signature illegible.
With seal.
Original signed sketch laid in.
With seal. Engraved receipt laid in.
Engraved receipt laid in.
Autograph notes by J. Mayer added on second page.
With seal.
Piece cut from head with loss of text.
With seal.
With seal.
Paper watermarked 1818.
With seal.
Foot of each page damaged with loss of text.
With seal.
Signed R.M. Date postmarked.
Newspaper clippings laid in.
With seal.
Dated in unidentified hand on verso.
Date postmarked.
Scott was editor of the Champion from 1814 to 1816.
Envelope with seal.
Date from postmark.
Date postmarked.
Another receipt to Mr. Boyde.., from D. Lerpiniere, May 10th: 1782, on verso.
Piece cut from foot with loss of text.
Piece missing with loss of text.
Date postmarked.
Date postmarked.
Dated in DuRoveray's hand on verso.
Date postmarked. Autograph letter (possibly draft) by DuRoveray in reply to Cromek, Saturday Evg. 19 Jany 1805, on recto of integral address leaf.
Date postmarked.
Date postmarked.
Dated in unidentified hand on verso of integral address leaf.
With seal.
Autograph letter signed by Davis in reply on verso.
Piece missing with loss of text.
With seal.
With seal.
Dated in DuRoveray's hand on verso.
In French.
Transcription of the signatures of Detanger, Sebright, and Shearman is uncertain. Possibly records a meeting of the Artists and Amateurs Conversazione.
Piece cut from head with loss of text.
With two other receipts, from Benj. Coward, Feb. 7th 1784; and James Fittler, Feby. 9. 1784, on verso.
Piece cut from foot with loss of text.
Receipt from Dupont to Tomkins, Feby. 11th 1793, attached.
Autograph letter signed (possible draft) from DuRoveray, apparently to Warren, Wednesday Evg 7 Novr., on verso.
See also: 86-2153.
Autograph letter signed. Draft of same letter on verso.
One other receipt to Mr. Boydell from John Ogborne, March 2d, on verso.
One other receipt to Mr. Boydell from John Farley, Feby 8 1779, on verso.
Attached to biography of Earlom, in an unidentified hand, copied from the Gentleman's Magazine. Newspaper clipping attached.
Date potstmarked.
Date from postmark. With seal.
With seal.
Autograph notes by Cooke at head. With seal.
Autograph letter (possible draft) by DuRoveray in reply to Engleheart, 17 March 1806, on recto of integral address leaf.
Autograph notes by Howard to Mr. Vaughan, on verso of integral address leaf.
With seal. Part of cover torn away, with loss of text.
In French. One other receipt to Mr. Boydell from John Farley, Decr 13 1783, on verso.
In French. One other receipt to Mr. Boydell, from Michel, ce 14 Octobre 1780, on verso.
In French.
Salutation from Messrs. Facius.
Signed "Facius".
Signed "G. & G. Facius".
Signed "G. & G. Facius". With seal.
Signed "G. & G. Facius".
Signed "J. G. & G. S. Facius".
Signed "Facius".
One other receipt to Mr. Alderman Boydell, from Lake Young, Jany 8, 1783 on verso.
Signed by William Brown and James Finden. On vellum. With seal.
One other receipt to Mr. Boydell from John Farley, April 17 1783, on verso.
Three other receipts, from P.W. Tomkins, Sept 20. 1779, at foot, and from William Bloxam, 7 Oct. 1779; and from F. Noble to Mr. Cadell, July 1 1779, on verso.
With seal.
Date from note in Harding's (possibly) hand on verso.
With seal.
With seal.
With seal.
With seal.
Date from postmark.
Date postmarked.
Witnessed by John Pye and Fredk. Martin.
With seal.
Final digit of date appears to be 8.
With seal. AMS by Grimaldi, four pages, giving biographical memoir of Thomas Worlidge, is bound in Volume 10 but belongs with this letter. See also 86-2717.
Piece cut from foot with loss of text.
With seal. Printed prospectus laid in.
Date postmarked. Mourning stationery. With seal.
Written on the verso of his printed advertisement.
One other receipt to Mr. Boydell from John Murphy, Feb. 7 1783, on verso.
Autograph notes, statement of account with Mayer, December 1845, laid in.
Another receipt from Haynes, first March 1721, on verso.
Date from note on verso.
Small hole with loss of text.
Signed by Johnson. Endorsed by Heath and Chrisr. Binks on verso.
Date from postmark.
Witnessed by Corbould and E. DuRoveray.
Concerns a plan to aid the widow of R. H. Cromek, who died in 1812.
With seal.
With seal.
Date from postmark. With seal.
With seal.
Date from postmarked.
With seal.
Engraving by Holloway laid in.
Signed P.S.
Dated in unidentified hand on verso.
With seal.
Engraving by Ireland laid in.
With seal.
Cut into two pieces.
With seal.
With seal.
Date postmarked.
Date postmarked.
Piece missing from head, with loss of text.
Date postmarked. Autograph note by DuRoveray on verso of integral address leaf.
Date from note DuRoveray's hand on verso.
Written on verso of printed notice from the estate of the late Mr. Alderman John Boydell, dated 31 Decr. 1805.
With seal.
Small hole with loss of text.
Identity of author uncertain.
Note has been cut into pieces. Signature laid in.
Date postmarked.
Another receipt to Mr. Boydell from Sarah Read, "for the use of my Husband", Decbr 20 1779, on verso.
Two other receipts to Mr. Boydell from William Sharpe, June 27. 1782, and from William Paxton, June 28th 1782, on verso.
Written below Burton, Edward. Autograph document signed, Jany 11. 1783.
Another receipt to Mr. Boydell, from Benj.in Coward, Dec. 13. 1783, on verso.
Two other receipts, to Mr. Boydell from D. Lerpiniere, Feby: 2d: 1784, and to Mr. John Boydell from John Luffman, Feby: 2d: 1784, on verso.
Autograph letter signed by E. Mandel to an unidentified recipient, Berlin no. 24 Neu Colln, Mai the 23 1847, laid in.
Autograph notes by "B." (i.e. Buchan), Edr. March 31st 1812, on verso of integral address leaf.
In Italian.
In Italian.
Fragment of envelope attached.
Autograph Document signed. Receipt from Luffman to Messrs. Cadell & Davies, April 20th 1797, attached.
Mourning stationery. With seal.
In French. With seal.
AMS in Mayer's hand, five pages, laid in. This is a copy of Stacey Grimaldi's memoir of Thomas Worlidge; see also 86-1752. With seal.
Autograph Document signed. Receipt from Medland to Messrs. Cadell & Davies, 30 Augst. 1805, attached.
Pencil sketch on verso. Engraving by T. Medland laid in.
Signed "Md. Michel femme Michel". Another receipt to Mr. Boydell from Benjn. Coward, "for the youse of my father", June 15 1782, on verso.
Another receipt, from Sarah Read, "for the use of my Husband", Decemr. 24th 78, on verso.
In French.
Two other receipts to Mr. Boydell, from G.S. Facius, 1780 Febr 19, and from Josiah Boydell, Feby 26th 1780, on verso.
Endorsed on verso by Legoux, and signed by George March.
In French. Another receipt to Mr. Boydell from Saml. Bundy, Augst. 9 1782, on verso.
In French. Another receipt to Mr. Boydell, from Edwd. Burton, Feby the 22 1783, on verso.
Fragment of another receipt, signed by Michel, on verso.
Another receipt to Mr. Aldn. Boydell, from John Browne, March ye 22 1784, on verso.
Copy of an etching by Milbourne laid in.
Date postmarked.
Concerns arrangements for paying last respects to Anker Smith, who died June 23, 1819.
Date postmarked.
Dated in unidentified hand.
Attached to 86-2031.
Attached to 86-2032.
Dated in unidentified hand. Newspaper clipping laid in.
With seal. Mr. Minasi's calling card laid in.
With seal.
Damaged, with loss of text.
Signature illegible, possibly W. Might.
In Italian.
In Italian. Head of letter cut away with loss of text. Address on verso inked out.
In French.
With seal.
Another receipt, from Thos. Lagen by May ye 3d. 1779, on verso.
Another receipt, from Sarah Read, "for the use of my Husband", Saturday April 29th, 1780, on verso.
Damaged, with loss of text.
Damaged, with loss of text.
Effaced sales receipt on verso.
Date postmarked.
Date from note in DuRoveray's hand.
Date postmarked. With seal.
Engraving by Newton laid in.
Four other receipts to Mr. Boydell, from Edward Burton, June the 3/1783, and from Benjamin Coward, June ye 3d: 1783, at foot; and from D. Lerpiniere, June 3d. 1783, and Michel, ce treize juin 1783, on verso.
Piece cut away with loss of text.
With seal. Date postmarked.
Another receipt from Sarah Read, "for the use of my husband', Decbr. 24th: 1779.
Date postmarked.
With seal.
Autograph notes by J. Linnell on verso.
Autograph notes. from E. Baker, Islington, Jany. 31st, on recto of integral address leaf.
In French. Signed E. Panne, aine. administrateur de l'hoirie de feu P.G.L. Panne.
Autograph letter by DuRoveray, in reply to Parker, on recto of integral address leaf.
In Italian.
With seal.
With seal.
With seal.
Date postmarked.
Dated on verso in DuRoveray's hand.
Autograph letter (draft) by DuRoveray, in reply to Raimbach, on recto of integral address leaf. See also 86-2626.
Dated in unidentified hand on verso.
Autograph letter signed from J. Walboork "for Jno. McRivar" to Messrs. Richard & Wilson, March 4th 1837, on verso.
With seal.
Envelope with seal.
Newspaper clipping laid in.
Right margin of third page damaged with loss of text.
Printed advertisement laid in.
Autograph letter (draft) by DuRoveray in reply to Rhodes on recto of integral address leaf. A second draft by DuRoveray, 8 April 1803, laid in.
Annotations in unidentified hand at head.
Another receipt, to an unidentified recipient, from L. Sailliar, Aug. 2nd. 1780, on verso.
Another receipt to Mr. Boydell, from William Paxton, May 16th 1782, on verso.
Signed twice by Robertson. Receipt for payment, by unidentified recipient, from James Hawkins, July 19 1783, on verso.
With seal.
Signed "R". Autograph notes by T. Dodd identifying signature.
Engraving by Rolls laid in.
With seal.
Another receipt to an unidentified recipient, from Thomas Bowles, Decr. 23 1782, on verso.
Clipped signature laid in.
With seal.
Autograph note by Mr. Lambe at foot.
Signed "Schiavonetti Brothers."
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Signed "Schiavonetti Brothers".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Date postmarked. Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonett".
Dated in DuRoveray's hand on verso. Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Signed "Schiavonetti Brothers".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Date postmarked. Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
Piece torn from foot with loss of text.
Dated in DuRoveray's hand on verso. Salutation from "Messrs. Schiavonetti".
In Italian. Date postmarked.
Autograph calling card laid in.
Small hole with loss of text.
Dated in unidentified hand.
Dated in an unidentified hand.
Dated in an unidentified hand.
Autograph notes, signed "J.E.", in margin.
With seal.
With seal.
With seal.
Date postmarked. With seal.
Date postmarked. With seal.
Date postmarked.
Another receipt from Jos. Staton, April 12, on verso.
Another receipt to Mr. Boydell, from Jon.n Spilsbury, 1783 Novr. 20, on verso.
Engraving laid in.
Autograph notes by W.B. Cooke at foot. Date supplied from postmark.
Autograph note by Sewell at foot. Date from postmark. With seal.
Signed "William Pengree Sherlock." Autograph document signed. Statement of account with Messrs. Cadell & Davies, attached.
Date from postmark.
With seal.
Autograph note in unidentified hand attributes this document to John Keyse Sherwin.
Date postmarked.
With seal.
Signed by Robert Tilling.
Signed "Willm. Skelton Junr."
Piece cut from head with loss of text.
Piece cut from foot with loss of text.
With seal.
Another receipt to Mr. Boydell, from J. Baldrey, Sepr. 27th: 1789, on verso.
Dated in unidentified hand on verso. With seal.
Date from postmark.
Another receipt on verso, to an unidentified recipient, from Henry Frederick Thompson.
Another receipt to Mr. Cadell from Thomas Cook, June the 12th. 1778, on verso.