Original Signed Etching - Sydney R. Jones - "Prince Henry's Room, Fleet Street, London" - Pencil Signed, Platemark Confirmed, Framed

Original hand-pulled intaglio etching by British architectural artist Sydney R. Jones (1881-1966), depicting the famous Jacobean gateway building at 17 Fleet Street, London, with pencil signature and etched plate signature both present, genuine platemark confirmed, framed in grey-green timber frame with cream period mat and glass.



Description

Sydney Robert Jones (1881-1966) was a British architectural artist and illustrator whose meticulous etchings of historic English buildings earned him lasting recognition among collectors of architectural printmaking. His work documented surviving Tudor, Jacobean, and Georgian streetscapes at a time when many such structures faced demolition or redevelopment. Jones authored and illustrated numerous books on vernacular English architecture, and his original etchings are collected internationally.



This etching depicts Prince Henry's Room (the gateway to Inner Temple Lane) at 17 Fleet Street, London, one of the finest surviving Jacobean buildings in the city, dating from 1610-11. The "FLEET ST" street sign is legible within the composition. Jones has rendered the building's elaborate oriel bay windows with their carved heraldic panels, the projecting storeys, and the atmospheric arched passageway below with extraordinary precision. Fine intaglio line work, disciplined cross-hatching, and selective plate tone within the archway create the warm, atmospheric quality that defines Jones's best architectural etchings. This Fleet Street subject is among his most admired and well-known works.



The print shows all the hallmarks of an original hand-pulled intaglio etching. A genuine platemark - the rectangular embossed impression left by the metal plate pressed into dampened paper under the etching press - is clearly visible around the image area. Two signatures are present: Jones's name is etched into the plate itself, appearing in warm sepia-brown ink within the composition, and a hand-signed pencil signature appears in the lower right margin below the platemark, the standard practice for original artist's prints. The ink is a warm sepia-brown tone on cream wove printmaking paper, consistent with the artist's known work. A pencil inscription on the backing paper may offer additional provenance, reading what appears to be an inventory or archive reference.



Features

* Original hand-pulled intaglio etching - not a reproduction

* By Sydney R. Jones (1881-1966), British architectural artist and illustrator

* Subject: Prince Henry's Room, 17 Fleet Street, London (Jacobean, 1610-11), "FLEET ST" sign legible

* Genuine platemark confirmed - embossed rectangular impression from the printing plate

* Etched in-plate signature: "Sydney R. Jones" within the composition

* Pencil signed in lower right margin below the platemark: "Sydney R. Jones"

* Warm sepia-brown intaglio ink on cream wove printmaking paper

* Grey-green painted timber frame with cream period mat and glass

* Pencil inscription on backing (inventory/archive reference)

* Portrait format, approximately 45-50cm tall x 25-28cm framed



Condition Notes

Print and paper are in good condition with age-consistent toning. The period cream mat has toned with age and may be acidic - conservation re-matting would be advisable to preserve the print long-term. Frame shows minor chips and wear at corners and edges but is structurally sound. Glass is intact. Backing paper shows age foxing and soiling consistent with the piece's period.



Specifications

Type: Original hand-pulled intaglio etching

Artist: Sydney R. Jones (1881-1966), British

Subject: Prince Henry's Room, 17 Fleet Street, London

Signatures: Etched within plate and pencil signed in lower margin

Support: Cream/off-white wove printmaking paper

Ink: Warm sepia-brown intaglio ink

Frame: Grey-green painted timber frame with cream period mat and glass

Image dimensions: Approximately 30-35cm tall x 12-15cm wide

Frame dimensions: Approximately 45-50cm tall x 25-28cm wide (portrait format)

Condition: Good (print) / Fair (mat and frame, age-worn)

Location: 60 Marple Avenue, Villawood, NSW, Australia


Price Guide: $35 - $80 AUD

488500+18

Location of item: 60 Marple Avenue, Villawood, NSW, Australia

LLOYDS VERIFIED We take immense pride in offering you this genuine item, which exemplifies exceptional quality. It is important to note that while this is an authentic product, in rare cases provenance may be unknown or aftermarket items may have been added to enhance its overall appeal and uniqueness. We value transparency and strive to provide you with accurate information, ensuring that you are fully informed about the product you are considering. Rest assured, our commitment to offering genuine products remains unwavering, and we are dedicated to your utmost satisfaction with your purchase.