Rare? JAS Monks etching

Hello I wonder if you could help me please? I have a large framed etching by JAS Monks (frame measurements 30"x25") there is no title to the etching but it has a flock of sheep in a field surrounded by trees. The etching itself is signed in single hand writing JAS MONKS but also in the boarder and flowing into the etching is a very large double hand written signature in pencil to the left of the frame. Also in the boarder opposite the pencil signature to the right JAS Monks has drawn a rams head. Looking at other etchings I can not find one with a large pencil signature or an etching in which he has doodled in the boarder. I wish to sell this etching and hoped that someone could point me in the right direction of someone who would like and appreciate this work by JAS Monks. The etching is dated 1887 and comes in a very ornate heavy gold guild frame. Due to the age of the etching it does have some foxing to the boarder which in places does enter the etching but it does not dis-attract from a wonderful piece of work by himself.

I thank you for reading my message and look forward to hearing from you many thanks again Richard Jones

 

Welcome Richard!~

I can't help, and others will need to see clear pictures.

 

The Medfield (Massachusetts) Historical Society has a biography of J. A. S. Monks online. It was an interesting read, since I was unfamiliar with Monks. Near the end it mentions that the Society has a collection of his sheep etchings. Perhaps you could ask them about it.

The biography, in case you have not seen it yet:
http://medfieldhistoricalsociety.org/art-box-project/art-box-project-j-a-s-monks/

How to contact the Historical Society:
http://medfieldhistoricalsociety.org/about-us/contact-us/

Oh, and I agree with the previous post that it would help to post pictures of your etching.

 

boarder = border

The little ram's head beneath the image is called a remarque

 

I hope this works.

https://www.ebth.com/items/1803402-original-j-a-s-monks-sheep-etching-1887

 

Thank you 916Bulldogs123 this is the same etching without the pencil signature or as moretherstuff has kindly pointed out without the rams head remarque. I am not 100% sure this is an etching now as the artwork has a lot of pencil drawing in it and looks to be a pen drawing over the top of a pencil sketch. I am not sure but does all etchings have to come from an original pen/pencil drawing? Please let me have your thoughts to whether this could be the original????? thanks everyone for getting in touch

 

There's apparently no remarque on the example in 916Bulldogs123's link above.

The remarque might indicate a "deluxe" edition (just a suggestion).

Yours looks acid stained. If true, that would lower the value. What does the frame look like from behind? If there is wood planking in direct contact with the print, that would account for the stain. I don't know how to fix it or if it would be worth the expense.

 

Hard to comment further without sharp, detailed pictures (and maybe not then). Pencil or ink corrections to the image might indicate an artist's proof. If so, they also indicate that the artist himself probably did not pull the print. In all likelihood, the artist did start with some original drawing, but the plate mark and remarque indicate that this isn't it.

If an artist's proof, then the remarque is probably hand drawn by the artist.

 

Yours could be an artists proof from the original etching plate. The re-marcue would be removed for additional printings of the work.

 

Oops... As moreotherstuff has already suggested.