Included in a picture auction at Mallams (22.5% buyer’s premium) on February 27, the 19th century album, offered alongside two smaller Victorian scrap albums from the same source, more than doubled the top guide to sell to the trade for £6800.
The drawings were made between c.1855-70s by amateur artist Colonel PR Holmes, presumably while travelling with the British Army. A selection of locations depicted include Madeira, Curaçao, Port Royal Jamaica, Panama, Vancouver Island, Cuba, Rio de Janeiro, Falkland Islands, California and Gibraltar.
Rupert Fogden, picture specialist at Mallams, said: “This was a really interesting album from a topographic perspective, covering such a diverse range of areas – anything from Scandinavia to the Falkland Islands.
“The album itself was falling apart but the watercolours were in pretty good condition.”
