Jun 25, 2026 10:00 EST

The Collection of a Florida Bibliophile

 
Lot 216
 

216

Henry Justice Ford St. George rescues the Princess from the horrible Dragon

Collection of a Florida Bibliophile

FORD, HENRY JUSTICE (1860–1941)

St. George rescues the Princess from the horrible Dragon. [Illustration for The Book of Saints and Heroes, Andrew Lang editor, published Longmans, London 1921]. Watercolor, pen and ink on paper, 10 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches (273 x 450 mm). Framed.

Ford illustrated many of the fairytale compilations of Andrew Lang, and this work, with its maiden in distress, fierce dragon, and avenging knight, is a charming and characteristic example of his art. He was strongly influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, including Edward Burne-Jones, who was a personal friend, as were such diverse figures as J.M. Barrie, P.G. Wodehouse, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Provenance: with The Fine Art Society (label verso), dated March, 1971, noting the work was exhibited Liverpool, 1916; Christopher Wood (label verso).

Sold for $4,800
Estimated at $2,000 - $3,000

Includes Buyer's Premium


 

Collection of a Florida Bibliophile

FORD, HENRY JUSTICE (1860–1941)

St. George rescues the Princess from the horrible Dragon. [Illustration for The Book of Saints and Heroes, Andrew Lang editor, published Longmans, London 1921]. Watercolor, pen and ink on paper, 10 3/4 x 17 3/4 inches (273 x 450 mm). Framed.

Ford illustrated many of the fairytale compilations of Andrew Lang, and this work, with its maiden in distress, fierce dragon, and avenging knight, is a charming and characteristic example of his art. He was strongly influenced by the Pre-Raphaelites, including Edward Burne-Jones, who was a personal friend, as were such diverse figures as J.M. Barrie, P.G. Wodehouse, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Provenance: with The Fine Art Society (label verso), dated March, 1971, noting the work was exhibited Liverpool, 1916; Christopher Wood (label verso).

Auction: The Collection of a Florida Bibliophile, Jun 25, 2026

  • Successful Auction of The Collection of a Florida Bibliophile on June 25, 2026 Tops $550k with 97% Sell-Through Rate

  • Featuring a Wide Range of Americana and Military History Spanning the 18th through 20th Centuries

  • We Invite You to Contact Us for a Complimentary Auction Evaluation of Your Collection


NEW YORK, NY -- Doyle's highly-anticipated auction of The Collection of a Florida Bibliophile on June 25, 2026 delivered outstanding results, with trans-Atlantic bidding driving the sale total beyond expectations and an impressive 97% sell-through rate. Comprising more than 200 lots, this extensive and fascinating collection featured books, manuscripts, and original illustration art spanning centuries of antiquarian interest.

Signed Volume from Abraham Lincoln's Personal Library - Sold for $64,000
Books from Abraham Lincoln's personal library are among the great rarities of the American book trade. Leading the sale was an 1849 first edition of William W. Campbell's The Life and Writings of De Witt Clinton inscribed by Lincoln that achieved $64,000, more than doubling its $20,000-30,000 estimate. Lincoln signed the book on November 19, 1860, less than two weeks after his election to the presidency. In February 1861, he would depart Springfield by train for Washington, never returning to his hometown until his burial following his assassination.

A United States Senator, Mayor of New York City, and Governor of New York, DeWitt Clinton is best remembered for championing the Erie Canal, one of the great infrastructure projects of the 19th century. Lincoln admired Clinton's vision and leadership, looking to him as a model of a strong executive capable of undertaking and completing ambitious public works.

British Military & Naval Color Plate Books - Sold for $16,640
The wide selection of color plate books featured magnificent first editions of James Jenkins' celebrated The Martial Achievements of Great Britain from the Year 1799 to 1815 and The Naval Achievements of Great Britain from the Year 1793 to 1817. Amid trans-Atlantic bidding, this elegant two-volume set sailed its $7,000-10,000 estimate to realize $16,640. Among the finest military color plate books of the early 19th century, these large-paper editions, featuring over 100 hand-colored aquatint plates, were presented in their most desirable state, with coloring of exceptional quality and delicately tinted plate surrounds not found in the regular issue. Completing the lot was an original watercolor by William Heath, the leading British military watercolorist of the period, prepared for one of the plates in The Martial Achievements.

We Invite You to Auction!

Consignments are currently being accepted for future auctions. We invite you to contact us for complimentary auction estimates. Our Specialists are always available to discuss the sale of a single item or an entire collection.

REQUEST AN ESTIMATE

View all lots in this sale

Sell one like this

Your Details

Item Details

Current Location of Item(s)

Images (Please upload at least 1 image. You can upload 15 maximum with a limit of 20MB. This form does not accept movie or HEIC files) *

Drag and drop .jpg images here to upload, or click here to select images.


Previous Doyle Contact

Marketing Preferences