Three Antebellum South Carolina Horse Race Prints and a Relevant Period Book

mid-19th century, these sequential hand-colored prints by Charles N. Newdegate were likely executed in England and were originally titled Sketches of the Washington Races in October 1840 by an Eye-Witness, each print is captioned with a few lines of narrative verse telling the story of one particular race and its outcome. The series is presented behind mats in matching contemporary giltwood frames (Sight size 12 x 15 in.; Frame Dimensions 19 x 22 in.) (Moderate foxing throughout; not examined out of the frames, the prints retain good color); plus...The South Carolina Jockey Club (Charleston: Russell & Jones, 1857), 8vo (9 n.), 211pp. with gilt pictorial linen boards, being an overview of the club and its history. Part V of the book is titled "Washington Course, and Annual Reunions of South Carolina Jockey Cub." An illustration on the opposing page shows a building with galleries similar to those in the Newdegate prints. (Typical shelf wear, though the gilt is fully intact and attractive; moderate foxing to the text).
In 2003 Christie's sold a set of these Charleston race prints that fortunately retained an original wrap impressed with the title of the series. Without this sheet, the Washington Course location would have only been conjectural.

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