Sharp and Fisk. Victoria Regia. 1854.

SHARP, William (1749-1824), For John Fisk Allen (1785-1865).From Victoria Regia or The Great Water Lily of America.Set of six chromolithographs.Boston, 1854-1856.dims.Comparables: Christie's, Oct 19, 1999, lot 1, $64,990; Christie's, Mar 22, 2000, lot 1, $55,300."The most refined and elegant men and women that I have known over the last 53 years have treasured hanging this series in their home" - Graham AraderIN ADDITION TO BEING THE FIRST COLOUR-PRINTED LITHOGRAPHS PRODUCED IN AMERICA, THE 'VICTORIA REGIA' IS ONE OF THE THREE GREAT FOLIO WORKS ON THE AMAZONIAN WATER-LILY.An English emigrant to America, William Sharp arrived in the United States in 1839 and worked on perfecting the recently developed chromolithographic process during the following decades. The culmination of his efforts was the publication of the illustrations for John Fisk Allen's Victoria Regia, or The Great Water Lily of America in 1854.For the publication, six illustrations in all were executed on elephant folio sh