A short saleroom notice has also been posted to this effect. The estimates, however, remain as $20,000 to $30,000 each.
"The works were catalogued in good faith in London as they were consigned from decendants of the Angas family and 'The Flower Show' bears the artist's name," says Litska Veldekis, head of the Australian art department of Bonhams Australia in Sydney.
"Despite this we have spoken to leading authorities who believe the works to be by the hand of S.T. Gill." The name Angas appears on the back of one of the watercolours.
Veldekis said that the estimates remain because they were consigned from London with those prices in mind. The works were probably under estimated as Angas' work and closer to the prices of Gills.
A press release extolling the virtues of the works as those of Angas was still on line on the Bonhams website early Friday afternoon. It was headlined "Bonhams to Sell Rare Watercolours by One of Australia's First Free Settlers."
The head office of Bonhams in London had been asked to withdraw the press release in which Hannah O'Leary of Bonhams London painting department and South African art specialist says:"I was amazed to find these paintings: original Angas watercolours, particularly those from his Australian period, rarely come to the market.
They are important historical artefacts and we are delighted that they are returning to Australia for auction".
The watercolours depict the the departure of Captain Charles Sturt's final expedition from Adelaide in 1844 and the Adelaide Flower show.
There was an association between the two artists in the publication of Angas's illustrated plates of South Australia.
However, there was considerable difference in styles and Angases are far rarer than Gills.
George French Angas was also a member of a family which is very much linked with the Adelaide establishment.
Gill was a drunk who died early. So from an A1 artist he has become an AA case.
