Lot 1223 , William Gawin Herdman (1805-1882), ink & watercolour, Old Custom House and Castle, Liverpool

William Gawin Herdman (1805-1882) after the etching by Daniel King
ink and watercolour,
Old Custom House and Castle, Liverpool,
8.75 x 13in.
Estimate £500-800

Note: Formerly the property of J. Bruce Ismay (Chairman of the White Star Line and Titanic survivor), with a typewritten letter affixed verso addressed to Ismay at Sandheys, Mossley Hill, dated 14 Dec 1901 and signed by Henry Young & Sons, publishers of 'Bygone Liverpool', with their authentication of the painting.

"PLATE XXVIIl

OLD CUSTOM HOUSE AND CASTLE. From a drawing by
W. G. Herdman, in the possession of Messrs. Rankin, Gilmour and Co., Ltd.

MR. HERDMAN states that he made this drawing from a rare etching by Daniel King, dated 1780 [sic], which is preserved in the Harleian MSS. in the British Museum. The drawing is of great interest, because it shows the river-front, the Castle, and a part of the tower on the left side of the picture. The building with the door in the centre, before which a cart is standing, is Liverpool's third Custom House. The first Custom House was a thatched building in High Street, and the second was situated in Moor Street. The house adjoining the Custom House was at one period the residence of Captain Dawson, who captured the "Carnatic" - the rich East-Indiaman - and whose exploit is described on page 29, his ship being shown on Plate xxviii."

'Bygone Liverpool', Henry Young & Sons, 1913


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Sold for £1,100