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William Smith, the printseller

Also known as: William Smith, the printseller; primary name: Smith, William; other name: Smith, George; other name: Smith, W & G; other name: W & G Smith
Details: individual; dealer/auction house; collector; British; Male
Life dates: 1808-1876
Address: Lisle Street, London
Biography: Print dealer, son of his father of the same name (qv) who ran a business in Lisle Street, north of Leicester Square. Partner with his brother George in the firm W & G Smith (qv) from 1835 to 1848/9, though he was always the dominant partner in public dealings. The firm's closing sales at Sotheby's were held in 1849-50. From then onwards William acted independently. In 1850 he gave his sale catalogues to P&D, and in 1851 his large collection of caricatures of the reign of George III (1851,0901.1 to 1398). Trustee (later Deputy Chairman) of the National Portrait Gallery from 1856 until his death, when he bequeathed his collection of English watercolours to the V&A and the National Gallery of Ireland.
Bibliography: Antony Griffiths in 'Landmarks in Print Collecting', BMP 1996, pp.90-101 Sale Sotheby's 7 May and 3 December 1849, and 13 May 1850

1,581 related objects

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1392 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1801

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1381 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1394 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1802

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1386 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1383 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1380 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing

Museum number: 1851,0901.1024 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 After:James Gillray |
Production date: 1800

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1397 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1389 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1395 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1384 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1387 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing

Museum number: 1858,0213.92 |
Producer name: BIOG50818 Drawn by:Benjamin West |
Production date: 1738-1820

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1391 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1396 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1385 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1382 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1390 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1378 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1379 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1388 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing

Museum number: 1851,0901.708 |
Producer name: Drawn by:Philip James de LoutherbourgFormerly attributed to:James Gillray |
Production date: 1793-4

drawing

Museum number: 1863,0411.283 |
Producer name: BIOG32259 Drawn by:Jean Baptiste Huet |
Production date: 1760-1811

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1393 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

drawing; print study

Museum number: 1851,0901.1398 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Drawn by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1772-1815

niello print

Museum number: 1845,0825.126 |
Producer name: BIOG64572 Print made by:Anonymous |
Production date: 1450-1500 |
Production place: Made in:Florence (province)

print

Museum number: 1851,1108.57 |
Producer name: Print made by:Thomas LuptonAfter:George Engleheart |
Production date: 1820-1830

print

Museum number: 1838,0420.19 |
Producer name: Print made by:Wallerant VaillantAfter:Prince Rupert of the Rhine |
Production date: 1660-1675

print

Museum number: 1851,0901.1075 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Print made by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1791

print

Museum number: 1838,0420.18 |
Producer name: BIOG49245 Print made by:Wallerant Vaillant |
Production date: 1660-1675

print

Museum number: 1876,1209.482 |
Producer name: Print made by:Samuel FreemanAfter:William Fisk |
Production date: 1836

print; satirical print

Title: Old Q |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1301 |
Producer name: BIOG31858 Published by:William Holland |
Production date: 1811

print

Title: Noel Desenfans, Esq.r |
Museum number: 1837,0513.131 |
Producer name: Print made by:Samuel FreemanAfter:James Northcote |
Production date: 1810

print; satirical print

Title: The night mare. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.978 |
Producer name: Print made by:John ChapmanPublished by:James Whittle |
Production date: 1799

print; satirical print

Title: The restricted regency. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1366 |
Producer name: BIOG64572 Print made by:Anonymous |
Production date: 1789

print

Title: Tree trunk and bushes |
Museum number: 1857,0509.66 |
Producer name: BIOG24067 Print made by:John Crome |
Production date: 1811-1812

print

Title: Miss F H Kelly in the character of Juliet |
Museum number: 1851,1108.65 |
Producer name: Print made by:Frederick Christian LewisAfter:John Jackson |
Production date: 1820-1830

print

Title: A Jew Rabbi |
Museum number: 1851,1108.71 |
Producer name: After:RembrandtPrint made by:William Pengree Sherlock |
Production date: 1820-1829 |
Production place: Printed in:London (England)

print

Title: Merick Casaubon. |
Museum number: 1837,0513.79 |
Producer name: Print made by:William Pengree SherlockAfter:Pieter van der Werff |
Production date: 1775 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Title: The Happy Mother |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1355 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayAfter:Lavinia, Countess Spencer |
Production date: 1787 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Title: Col. Gardiner's last interview with his wife and daughter |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1350 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Robert Wilkinson |
Production date: 1786 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Title: John Broughton. Prize Fighter |
Museum number: 1868,0822.1651 |
Producer name: After:William HogarthPrint made by:F Ross |
Production date: 1842 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Dr Arne |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1332 |
Producer name: After:Francesco BartolozziPublished by:William Humphrey |
Production date: 1782 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Title: John Broughton. Prize Fighter |
Museum number: 1845,0510.17 |
Producer name: After:William HogarthPrint made by:F Ross |
Production date: 1842 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Museum number: 1851,0901.1331 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Print made by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1804 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Museum number: 1851,0901.1342 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Print made by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1790-1810 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Title: The Return |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1345 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Robert Wilkinson |
Production date: 1781 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Title: John Still |
Museum number: 1853,0112.1961 |
Producer name: Print made by:William SayPublished by:William Smith, the printseller |
Production date: 1820 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: War |
Museum number: 1851,0901.122 |
Producer name: Attributed to:George DanceFormerly attributed to:James Gillray |
Production date: 1783

print

Museum number: 1855,1208.307 |
Producer name: BIOG40311 Print made by:Jane Strange Norfolk |
Production date: 1768

print; satirical print

Title: Diana return'd from the Chace. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1083 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1802 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Clara - a bravura |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1074 |
Producer name: Print made by:Charles WilliamsPublished by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1802

print; satirical print

Museum number: 1851,0901.29 |
Producer name: BIOG32361 Published by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1780 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: The reception of the diplomatique & his suite, at the court of Pekin. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.619 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1792 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: No. 15. Preceptor and pupil. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.219 |
Producer name: Print made by:Thomas RowlandsonPublished by:George Humphrey |
Production date: 1784 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: He would be a soldier, or the history of John Bulls warlike expedition. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.653 |
Producer name: Print made by:Isaac CruikshankPublished by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1793 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Citizens visiting the Bastille |
Museum number: 1851,0901.956 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1799 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Blindmans-Buff-or-too many for John Bull. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.741 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1795 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: The follies of a day or the marriage of Figaro. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.267 |
Producer name: Attributed to:James WicksteedPublished by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1786

print; satirical print

Title: Buonaparte leaving Egypt. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1020 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1800 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: The Dandy. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1297 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1810 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Uncle Toby's retreat |
Museum number: 1851,0901.274 |
Producer name: BIOG22147 Published by:John Cary |
Production date: 1786

print; satirical print

Title: [Sir Cecil Wray in the pillory] |
Museum number: 1851,0901.144 |
Producer name: BIOG32361 Published by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1784

print; satirical print

Title: The Rochester address or the corporation going to eat roast pork and oysters with the r-g-t. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.457 |
Producer name: Print made by:Thomas RowlandsonPublished by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1789 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: A Country Concert;-or-An evenings entertainment in Sussex. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.932 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1798 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: The merry thaught. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.359 |
Producer name: BIOG27543 Published by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1787

print; satirical print

Title: The marriage of Cupid and Psyche. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.864 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1797 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Orpheus and Eurydice |
Museum number: 1851,0901.165 |
Producer name: BIOG32361 Published by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1784

print; satirical print

Title: Ministerial eloquence. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.712.1 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayAfter:Monogrammist AS |
Production date: 1795 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Titianus redivivus; -or- the seven-wise-men consulting the new Venetian oracle, -a Scene in ye Acade |
Museum number: 1851,0901.881 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1797 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: The meeting of the legion club. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.335 |
Producer name: After:Johann Heinrich RambergPublished by:Thomas Harmar |
Production date: 1787

print; satirical print

Title: Wet under foot. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1304 |
Producer name: Print made by:Thomas RowlandsonPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1812 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: A Standing-dish at Boodles. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1032 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1800 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Title: A Greek Lady |
Museum number: 1851,0901.697 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1794 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: A petite maitresse. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.553 |
Producer name: BIOG32361 Published by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1791

print; satirical print

Title: The lover's dream. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.715 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1795 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Grace, Fashion, and Manners. From the Life. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1271 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1810 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Taking physic |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1137 |
Producer name: Print made by:Isaac CruikshankPublished by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1801 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: -Venus a la Coquelle:-or- the Sawn-sea Venus, |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1250 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1809 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Symptons of courage or the tables turned |
Museum number: 1851,0901.499 |
Producer name: Print made by:Isaac CruikshankPublished by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1790 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Jack a' both sides. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.146 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:William Humphrey |
Production date: 1783 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; frontispiece

Title: Associatio Linguarum |
Museum number: 1845,0510.13 |
Producer name: BIOG26830 Print made by:William Faithorne |
Production date: 1660

print; satirical print

Title: Two new sliders for the state magic lanthern. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.157 |
Producer name: Print made by:Thomas RowlandsonPublished by:William Humphrey |
Production date: 1783 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: A cognocenti contemplating ye beauties of ye antique |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1045 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1801

print; satirical print

Title: Changing places;- alias; fox stinking the badger out of his nest |
Museum number: 1851,0901.66 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:William Humphrey |
Production date: 1782 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: We three loggerheads be. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.309 |
Producer name: BIOG27543 Published by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1786

print; satirical print

Title: The night mare, or Prime Minister hag-ridden |
Museum number: 1851,0901.121 |
Producer name: BIOG32363 Published by:William Humphrey |
Production date: 1783

print; satirical print

Title: The state of the nation |
Museum number: 1851,0901.233 |
Producer name: BIOG32361 Published by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1778

print; satirical print

Title: Marquis la Fayette. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.40 |
Producer name: BIOG28991 Print made by:James Gillray |
Production date: 1781 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: The Valley of the shadow of Death. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.1260 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1808 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: The power of beauty:- St Cecilia charming the brute;-or-the seduction of the Welch-ambassador |
Museum number: 1851,0901.583 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1792 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: A scene in the enchanted island |
Museum number: 1851,0901.949 |
Producer name: Print made by:Isaac CruikshankPublished by:Allen & West |
Production date: 1798 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: Siege de la Colonne de Pompee-Science in the pillory. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.959 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1799 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: The fashionable, advertiser: |
Museum number: 1851,0901.336 |
Producer name: BIOG27543 Published by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1787

print; satirical print

Title: Anecdote Maçonnique. A Masonic Anecdote. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.314 |
Producer name: Print made by:James GillrayPublished by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1786 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print; satirical print

Title: The wedding night. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.866 |
Producer name: Print made by:Isaac CruikshankPublished by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1797 |
Production place: Published in:London (England)

print

Museum number: 1849,0512.707 |
Producer name: BIOG64572 Print made by:Anonymous |
Production date: 1820-1849

print; satirical print

Title: The wonderful most wonderful Dr Kate- he- felt- ho, having pack'd up his alls is trudging away with |
Museum number: 1851,0901.126 |
Producer name: BIOG32361 Published by:Hannah Humphrey |
Production date: 1783

print; satirical print

Title: Ignatius |
Museum number: 1851,0901.186 |
Producer name: BIOG130857 Published by:Edward Hedges |
Production date: 1784

print; satirical print

Title: Love's last shift. |
Museum number: 1851,0901.344 |
Producer name: BIOG27543 Published by:S W Fores |
Production date: 1787

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