John Taylor Arms, N.A. 1887-1953.
Click on the pictures for larger images.
New York
Evening. East River. New York. (East River, Night and Evening, East). 1919. Etching and aquatint printed in colors. Fletcher 41.vi. 3 7/16 x 5 1/4 (sheet 6 1/4 x 9 5/8). Edition of 50 in color in this state (there were 25 in black and white in this state. Total edition 28 known in black and white and 54 in color. Printed on cream laid paper with a partial Ar[ches] countermark. Printed by the artist himself. A rich, well-inked impression of this scarce image. Signed, titled and annotated 'sixth state' in pencil. $2,250.
New York from Staten Island Ferry (New York Skyline). 1917. Etching. Fletcher 14. 1 3/8 x 13 3/4 (sheet 6 3/8 x 10). Miniature series #1. Edition 5 printed in 1938 (total 26 proofs). A rich impression with plate tone, printed in black ink on the full sheet of 'hand made' bluisté laid paper made by the artist. Seal lower left 'Collectione E John Taylor Arms' indicating a proof reserved by Arms for his own collection. Signed, dated and annotated 'I' in pencil. Further annotated 'sp' in the lower right-hand margin indicating an impression printed by David Strang. A choice impression of this tour-de-force image. $750.
West Forty-Second Street. (Corner of Fifth Avenue toward Sixth). 1920. Etching. Fletcher 41. 13 x 10 1/2 (sheet 9 15/16 x 16 7/16). Edition 75. Printed in black ink on the full sheet of cream wove paper. Printed by Frederick Reynolds, New York. A rich, well-inked impression of this dramatic image. Signed in pencil. $9,750.
Gargoyles
Une Chimère. 1947. Etching. Fletcher 408.ii. 3 x 2 3/8. Edition 201 in this state (total edition 226). Miniature series #38. Gargoyle series #14. Awards: Miniature Print Purchase Prize, 5th Annual Exhibition, Boston Printmakers, Boston, MA. Signed, dated and annotated 'II' in pencil. $650.
A Devil of Notre Dame. 1929. Etching. Fletcher 255.ii. 7 x 4 7/8 (sheet 13 x 9). Gargoyle Series #13.Edition 255. The artist's own personal proof, apart from the edition of 100 for Churches of France by Dorothy Noyes Arms (Macmillan, NY, 1929.) An exceptionally rich impression printed on grayish laid paper with a foolscap watermark from an antique volume. Signed, dated, annotated extensively, 'Personal proof,' 'A Devil of Notre Dame', 'Frontispiece for 'Churches of France', 'Number 12 of the 'Gargoyle Series','Second (published) edition', Printed by Peter Platt at New York on old grayish paper', 'Collection "b" 'pp' [personal proof]. $1,950.
The Gothic Spirit (also called A Gargoyle, A Gothic Spirit). 1922. Etching and stipple. Fletcher 120. 11 3/4 x 7 (sheet 15 3/4 x 10 1/2). Gargoyle Series #8. Edition 130. A glowing impression printed on simili-Japan paper. Signed, dated and annotated 'I' in pencil. $2,750.
Guardians of the Spire (Amiens Cathedral Number 2). 1921. Etching. Fletcher 102. 6 3/4 x 9 7/8 (sheet 8 7/8 x 13 3/4). Gargoyle Series #4. Edition 75. Signed in pencil. Illustated in Churches of France by Dorothy Noyes Arms (Macmillan, NY, 1929), page 20. Signed in pencil. $1,750.
The Gargoyle and His Quarry, Notre Dame. 1920. Etching.Fletcher 90. 7 1/8 x 5 1/5 (sheet 9 5/8 x 7 3/4). Gargoyle series #1. Artist's proof aside from the edition of 75. A rich impression printed on cream laid paper. Signed and annotated in pencil. $2,750.
Le Penseur de Notre Dame (The Thinker of Notre Dame Cathedral). 1923. Etching. Fletcher 136.ii. 12 1/2 x 10 1/15 (sheet 17 x 12 3/8). 'Private collection b I' apart from the edition of 185. Gargoyle series #11.e collection b I' apart from the edition of 185. Gargoyle series #11. A very rich impression printed in cream laid paper. Signed, titled, annotated and initialed 'SP' in pencil. $5,500.
Sentinnels (Sentinnels in the Night). 1922. Etching and aquatint. Fletcher 123.ii. 4 3/8 x 7 3/8 (sheet 7 7/8 x 9 7/8). Annotated 'Private collection cI' apart from the edition of 135. Gargoyle series #9. A fine impression printed on blue-green laid paper. Signed in pencil. $1,750.
Watching the People Below, Amiens Cathedral. 1921. Etching. Fletcher 101. 4 7/8 x 8 (sheet 7 11/16 x 9 1/2). Gargoyle series #3. Edition 75. A fine impression printed on cream laid paper. Signed in pencil. $3,200.
Italy
The Balcony (Venetian Gateway). 1931. Etching. Fletcher 237.iii. 8 1/16 x 5 1/16 (sheet 12 5/8 x 10 1/16). Edition 110 (plus 34 trial proofs). Italian series #21. Published as the frontispiece fo the books by John and Dorothy Noyes Arms, Hill Towns and Cities of Northern Italy. A rich impression printed on handmade cream wove paper. Signed and dated in pencil. $2,750.
Dawn, Lake Como. 1920. Etching and aquatint printed in colors. Fletcher 53.ii. 7 1/8 x 5 1/8(sheet 11 9/16 x 9 1/16). Edition of 150 in color in this state and 75 printed in black and white (total edition 179). Printer: Frederick Reynolds. Illustrated: Print Connoisseur vol. 1, #2 (December 1920): 110. Printed on cream laid on the full sheet with deckle edges. Signed in pencil. $2,250.
Enchanted Doorway,Venezia (La Porta della Carta, Venezia '29). 1930. Etching. Fletcher 227.ii. 12 3/8 x 6 9/16 (sheet 15 13/16 x 10 1/16). Edition 148 in this state. Italian Series #15. Illustrated: Cortissoz, Contemporary American Prints, 1931; Anderson, American Etchers Abroad 1880-1930. A rich impression on white laid paper from an antique volume. Signed, dated and annotated 'Edition 100' in pencil. $1,500.
Palazzo Dell'Angelo, Venice. 1931. Etching. Fletcher 233.iii. 7 1/4 x 6 3/4 (sheet 13 3/8 x 8 3/4). Edition 137. Italian series #19. Illustrated: Anderson, American Etchers Abroad 1880-1930. Italian series. Award: Member's Prize, 22nd Annual Exhibition, Chicago Society of Etchers, Art Institute of Chicago, 1932 A rich impression printed on cream laid paper from an antique volume. Signed, dated and annotated 'Ed. 100' in pencil. $2,750.
From the Ponte Vecchio, Florence. 1925. Etching and aquatint. Fletcher 159.ii. 11 1/8 x 15 1/4(sheet 13 3/8 x 18 1/4). Edition 160 in this state (total edition about 165). Italian series #1. Illustrated: American Etchers: Kerr Eby. A rich impression on cream laid paper. Signed in pencil. $2,250.
Venetian Filigree (Cà d'Oro Venetia). 1931. Etching. Fletcher 235.ii. 10 3/4 x 11 (sheet 16 1/4 x 13). Edition 150 in this state (total edition about 160). Italian Series #20. Illustrated: Fine Prints of the Year, 1932. A rich impression on subtle blue/green laid paper. Signed, dated, titled inscribed 'II' and annotated 'sp' and dedicated 'To Dicky from Johnny, 1957' in pencil. With the artist's stamp 'collection John Taylor Arms'. $7,000.
Venetian Mirror (The Grand Canal, Venice). 1933. Etching. Fletcher 289.ii. 6 1/4 x 14 1/4. Edition 169 in this state (total edition unknown). Italian Series #27. Printer: David Strang. A rich impression on Whatman cream laid paper with full margins. Signed, dated 1935 and annotated 'II' in pencil. $7,000.
French Church Series
Church of Saint Jean l'Aigle, Orn. 1940. Etching. Fletcher 343.ii. 3 1/4 x 5 3/8 (sheet 7 1/2 x 5 1/4). Edition 551. French Church Series #43; Miniature series #26. Annotated 'sp' in pencil indicating a proof printed by David Strang. A fine impression on Japanese mulberry pencil. Signed,dated and annotated in pencil. $150.
Église Saint Gervais, Gisors. 1932. Etching. Fletcher 249.ii. 10 x 8 5/16 (sheet 16 3/8 x 11 7 11/16). Edition 129. French Church Series #35. A fine impression printed by David Strang on the full sheet of cream 'J Whatman' laid paper. Signed, dated and annotated 'Ed. 100 I' in pencil. $225.
In Memoriam. The North Portal of Chartres Cathedral. 1938. Etching. Fletcher 317. 14 5/8 x 12. Edition 312. French Church Series #40. Winner of the Artist Member Prize, Annual Exhibition, Baltimore Water Color Club, The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1939. Illustrated: Albert Reese, American Prize Prints of the Twentieth Century, 1949 Print Collector's Quarterly 26 (1939): 368. Printer: David Strang. It took Arms about a thousand hours to etch th extraordinary detail. Signed in pencil. $4,500.
Memento Vivere, Notre Dame, Evreux.(The North Transcept of Notre Dame Cathedral, Everux, France.) 1947. Etching. Fletcher 407.ii. 13 1/28 x 7 sheet 15 1/2 x 9 5/8). Edition 198. French Church Series #47. Printed by David Strang. A rich, tonal impression printed on fine laid paper Signed and annotated 'II' in pencil. $1,250.
The Rose, Beauvais. 1925. Etching. Fletcher 161. 12 x 7 (sheet 15 1/4 x 10). Edition 156. French Church Series #3. A fine impression printed on cream laid paper with full margins. Signed and dated in pencil. $375.
Saint Bénigne, Dijon (The Cathedral of St. Bénigne, Dijon). 1924. Etching. Fletcher 195. 10 3/8 x 6 3/4 (sheet 12 3/4 x 8 3/8). French Church Series #15. Edition 110. A rich impression with plate tone printed on cream laid paper. Signed and dated in pencil. $275.
Other European Images
Afterglow (Geddington, England, Sketch). 1938. Etching. Fletcher 315.ii. 3 1/4 x 5 3/8 (sheet 9 3/16 x 11 5/8). English Series #3. Edition 250 for The Print Collector's Quarterly volume 26 (April 1939). Awards: 1948 Purchase Prize, 5th Annual Cooperative Exhibition, Pennsylvania State Teachers' College. Printed on cream laid paper, on the full sheet with deckle edges. Signed, dated and annotated 'state II' in pencil. $275.
Cavendish Common.. 1938. Etching. F 370.ii. 6 1/2 x 14 19/16. English series #16. Edition 50. A glowing impression on white wove paper with full margins. Printed signature. $750.
Normandy Noon. 1936. Etching. Fletcher 304.iii. 2 1/2 x 7 3/16 (sheet 9 1/16 x 11 3/8). Edition 250 in this state (total edition 519). Printed by David Strang. An atmospheric proof printed on 'J. Whatman' cream wove paper, on the full sheet with deckle edges. Signed and annotated 'Ed. 250 III' in pencil. $375.
The Old Order (The Church of St. Mary) and Arlington Row and Bridge over Coln River at Bibury. 1948. Etching. Fletcher 412.ii. 5 1/4 x 7 7 /8 (sheet 7 7/8 x 10 3/4). English series #14. Edition 150 for the Albany Print Club (total edition 200). A glowing impression on cream laid paper on the full sheet with deckle edges. Signed, dated and annotated 'Private collection B' indicating an exceptionally fine proof reserved for Margery Arms Roberts. $375.
Puerta del Obispo, Zamora (The Bishop's Door, Zamora). 1933. Etching. F 266. 12 1/x x 7 1/8. Trial proof, apart from the edition 160. Spanish Church series, #9. Signed, and annotated "trial proof xxv.III." and "Bon à tirer. No. III. J.T.A." A beautifully printed trial proof. $675.
Stockholm. 1940. Etching and aquatint. Fletcher 95.III. 7 1/2 x 13 1/2 . Edition 395 in this state (total edition approximately 413). Scandinavian Series #1. A glowing impression on blue-green laid paper with full margins. Signed in pencil. $1,750.
Stony Stratford, Rocks (Sketch). 1939. Etching. Fletcher 318. 6 7/8 x 4 7/8 (sheet 11 3/8 x 8 5/16). Edition 25. Demonstration Series #76: The Lenox Gallery, The New York Public Library, New York, N.Y., January 27, 1939 - 2 hours. A fine impression printed on the full sheet of greenish toned cream wove paper. Signed, dated and annotated 'Third State, Stony Stratford, Rocks - Proof from demonstration plate drawn, etched, and printed in two hours, the New York Public Library, January 27, 1929. To Charles E. Pont, with my best wished. John Taylor Arms - 1939'. $200.
This England (Fairford, Gloucestershire). St. Mary Church, Fairford on the Coln. 1952. Etching. Fletcher 426. ii. 6 3/8 x 11 5/16 (sheet 10 1/2 x 15 5/8). Edition 150 Planned; 82 pulled. Titled, dated, signed and annotated 'C485' in pencil. $250.
Wilby Church, Northamptonshire, England. 1940. Etching. Fletcher 335.iii. 4 1/4 x 2 3/8 (sheet 6 1/16 x 4 11/16). Edition 432.English Series #7; Miniature Series # 24. Printed by David Strang on cream laid paper. Signed, titled, numbered, dated, annotated 'iii' and dedicated 'To Charles E. Pont from John Taylor Arms' in pencil. $150.
To order, to request additional information or to be placed on the email list, please contact Jane Allinson (allinson@earthlink.net).