An extraordinary antique hand-bound album featuring 51 original watercolors attributed to Joseph Mallord William Turner, one of Britain’s most revered landscape artists. The album’s title page reads, “Devonshire. 1828. All by J.M.W. Turner”, with a paper watermark dated 1827, consistent with the artist’s known period of active travel and sketching.

The collection captures the Devonshire countryside in a series of atmospheric studies, each hand-mounted within a red, gilt-tooled leather binding. Preserved in a double slipcase, the album reflects the refined presentation and reverence with which it has been cared for. Turner’s hallmark sensitivity to light, weather, and landscape is evident throughout these small yet evocative works.

This book was inherited over 60 years ago by the daughter of a notable collector. Originally comprising a larger body of work, some sketches were gradually consigned to major galleries and catalogued as attributed to Turner. These 51 remaining watercolors are now offered in the same spirit of attribution.

While no formal authentication has been conducted due to the scale and associated costs, multiple factors support the attribution. At the time of its binding, Turner’s sketches were not of significant monetary value, making the likelihood of an early forgery implausible. The level of detail, consistency of style, and historical provenance further reinforce confidence in the attribution.

Turner was celebrated for his extensive sketchbooks, many of which were studies for later finished compositions. In recent decades, increased curatorial focus has been placed on these works for their insight into Turner’s creative process and evolution as an artist.

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) was a visionary of Romantic landscape painting. A prodigy who entered the Royal Academy of Art at 14, he redefined the potential of watercolor as a medium. Renowned for his dramatic marine scenes, luminous skies, and expressive color palettes, Turner’s legacy continues to influence generations of artists.