Thomas Richmond

This lot contains ivory. Due to recent changes in the laws of many countries (e.g. US, France) Sotheby's recommends that buyers check with their own government regarding any importation requirements prior to placing a bid. For example, US regulations restrict the import of elephant ivory and prohibit the import of African elephant ivory. Please note that Sotheby's will not assist buyers with CITES licence applications where a buyer elects to either collect or arrange their own shipping, nor will Sotheby's assist with the international movement of ivory by air, either as freight or through hand carry. Sotheby's shipping will only assist in shipping the lot to either domestic UK or EU destinations, where delivery is made by road transport. A buyer's inability to export or import these lots cannot justify a delay in payment or sale cancellation.

The sitter was a botanist and assistant gardener at the Botanic Garden, Chelsea in 1754, becoming manager of Kew Botanic Gardens 1759 and manager of the Royal Pleasure Gardens at Kew and Richmond in 1783. In 1789 he published Hortus Kewensis, a book cataloging the plants of Kew Gardens.