Randolph Caldecott (British, 1846-1886) Letter with Scenes of Venice (4 sheets), 1880 Watercolor and ink on paper 17 x 11-1/4 inches (43.2 x 28.6 cm) "Dear Cousin, We have reached this city in the sea – here is the scene of our arrival at the railway station. No noisy cabs – no rattling of wheels and hoofs – we stepped – were handed by a polite but tattered & dirty gentleman into a gondola…" Thus begins noted artist and illustrator Randolph Caldecott’s letter about his busy sojourn in Venice. Dated the 30th of April 1880, this trip may well have been Caldecott’s honeymoon since he married his bride Marion Brind just a month earlier. Accompanying his text are charming vignettes of gondoliers and their gondolas, fishermen selling their wares, and the crowds of tourists enjoying the sights of La Serenissima. HID03101062020 © 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved