Art

Born in Northumberland, Timlin emigrated to South Africa, where he studied art and practised as an architect. The Ship That Sailed to Mars (1923) is his only published book, a fantastical illustrated gift book that rivalled those of Rackham, Dulac, Goble and Nielsen. The book was published by George Harrap, who had earlier published Willy Pogany, and they followed a similar format here, reproducing Timlin's original calligraphic text mounted, like the plates, on grey matte paper. Timlin's book is divided in three parts: detailing the building and outfitting of the ship, the journey, and the arrival. "The Iron Hills" is the fourteenth plate of the third part, showing a dragon flying over dark mountain peaks. Original watercolour on paper (visible image 245 206 mm; framed 410 370 mm). Together with original leaf of accompanying calligraphic text: the descriptive text to accompany this plate (text in black with initial letters and decorations in blue). Two items individually. Presented in a handmade white gold leaf frame with conservation mount and UV resistant acrylic.