This interesting collection of original artist's etchings are dated between 1789 and 1825, and as such they are relatively rare examples of artists using the etching medium prior to the 'Etching Revival' of 1850 to 1930.

Up until this date, etching in England was practised as an independent creative medium only by a few self-taught artists, usually for their own pleasure rather than publication. The high point of the medium and spontaneity achieved by Rembrandt in the 17th century had declined over the years, and only a few artists—such as Samuel Palmer, John Sell Cotman and John Crome—were producing fine original etchings in the early decades of the 19th century.

A number of the prints in the collection are by a C. Nicholas of Lincoln's Inn, whose identity is unknown, but who evidently worked in a free and expressive style, and appears to have favoured animal subjects. There are also a small number of etchings by a C.H.P. after the Italian Baroque painter Salvator Rosa, whose lesser-known output included around 100 etchings.

It was only in 1838 that The Etching Club was founded by Charles West Cope, in order to promote the medium, and it was later in the century still that the true expressive potential of etching was appreciated over and above the more laboured process of engraving.