New South Wales

James Cook Bicentennial Medal (1970) by Andor Meszaros

A striking medal issues by the National Trust of Australia in 1970 to commemorate the 200-year anniversary of James Cook’s discovery of the east coast of mainland Australia.

Copper bronze 50mm in diameter, weigh 60gm (160gm cased). Heavy relief portrait of Cook dominates the right hand edge of the medal with the Endeavour helmsman covering the whole of the background … the impression is of is singularly focused observation of the fits sighting .. which would have been at Point Hicks. The narrative James Cook 1770-1970 to the left and below that the signature of the medallist Andor Meszaros. On the reverse the National Trust emblem. A fine example still housed in its original felt lined case all in fine condition. 3,000 medals were cast so it is not uncommon but how many still have their original case and remain unmarked.

Hungarian born Andor Meszaros (1900-1972) perhaps Australia’s greatest medallist. He was a natural sculptor and held high positions in the art in Australia and, recognised by his peers internationally. His name was made as a medallist when he designed the Melbourne Olympic Games Medals in 1956 … he also designed the Australian Vietnam War Medal in 1968.

James Cook honoured at 200 years by distinguished medallist Meszaros

$120.00

Updating cart…

A Narrative of a Voyage to New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land by Amaso Delano

Published by the Cat & Fiddle Press, Hobart, Tasmania in 1973. One of 500 copies and a fine example of a special work.

Octavo, with dust jacket, unpaginated but complete.

A facsimile extract from a Narrative of Voyages and Travels in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres Comprising Three Voyages Round the World Together with a Voyage of Survey and Discovery in the Pacific Ocean and Oriental Lands.

Set out in two parts.

Part One: Remarks upon a voyage to the South Sea by way of the Cape of Good Hope – King Island – Straits between New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land – Settlements on New Holland and van Diemen’s Land … and,

Part Two: Transactions at New Holland, Van Diemen’s Land, and Bass’s Strait – Letter to Philip Gedney (sic) King, Governor General of New South Wales – remarkable Accident of the Pilgrim’s boat being sunk – Departure from Bass’s Strait – Description of the Snares – Bounty Islands – Passage across the south Pacific Ocean – Rendezvous with the ship Perseverance.

Amas Delano – a rare account brought to life by the Cat & Fiddle.

$50.00

Updating cart…

Original Watercolour – Lt Janvarin Grassie R.N. – New South Wales – 1876

A delightful Australian School watercolour … a Woman Bathing by a Lake 32cm by 21cm. External frame dimensions. 50cm by 39cm. Lovely palette and a charming naivety.

Matted and framed by upmarket London Picture Framers, Restorers and Guilder with their label on the back. Slight hints of age but still in very good condition.

The artist date and location nicely noted lower left and right on the mat. Decorative lines drawn to mat with lovely choice of fill colouring.

After reasonable research we have not come up with anything on the artist nor any obvious record in the Royal Navy.

Nice Australian watercolour from the 1870’s – Artist named but little known about him.

$590.00

Updating cart…

The Journal of George Blaxland (Across the Blue Mountains) 1813 – Centenary Issue 1913

Full title … “A Journal of a Tour of Discovery across the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, in the Year 1813, by George Blaxland, with References and Explanatory Notes, Maps etc by Frank Walker – president Australian Historical Society.

Octavo, original red cloth binding, 56 pages with the new illustrations to support the journal. Map of the Route Across the Mountains. Missing the front blank endpaper, someone has pasted maps inside rear board as reference. A little loose as usual, still a good to better copy.

The first crossing of the Blue Mountains by Europeans, an expedition led by Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth in 1813. All three wrote accounts, only Blaxland’s was published in 1823, in England. Early editions near impossible to come by.

Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson in the Blue Mountains …

$60.00

Updating cart…

Arthur Phillip – First Governor of New South Wales – Early Mezzotint c1790′s

A well-executed copper engraving using the mezzotint technique, of First Governor Arthur Phillip from the original German publication of his First Fleet Journal.

Arthur Phillip (1738-1814) was appointed Governor designate of the new Colony to be formed in New South wales. His First Fleet arrived in January 1788 and he selected Port Jackson as the first settlement having decided Botany Bay was unsuitable. He returned to England in 1792 an was succeeded by John Hunter.

Dimensions 20cm by 12cm with a strong plate impression an clear bold printing. Framed would make a nice library item for a First Fleet follower.

Price $75.00 unframed.

Nice historic image of Arthur Phillip.

$75.00

Updating cart…

Pat Corrigan – Four Bookplates Commissioned from Australian Artists [Backen, Chapman, Willibrant and Elenberg] – 1970′s

Three original bookplates by three quite different artists, all produced circa 1970’s. All in excellent condition

Earle Backen (1927-2005), books in cubic arrangement. In his time one of the mots respected painters in Sydney. His foundation field was printmaking. In 1954 he won a travelling scholarship and went to London and Paris. 13.5cm x 9.2cm.

Peter Chapman (1925-2016) Blues Player. Chapman born in North Sydney. He became one of Australia’s foremost comic book illustrators including The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow and Sir Falcon. 13cm by 10cm.

James Willibrant (Born 1950) Sydney Harbour. Willibrant was born in Shanghai, returning to Australia in time to study and develop an keen artists talent. Remains very active, his painting are a true delight … look them up. At the time of producing this special bookplate for Pat Corrigan he was teaching art at Chiron College. 12.5cm x 9.0cm. Initialled and dated in the image ’76

Joel Elenberg (1948-1980). Totemic form. Born in Melbourne and died very young in Bali. Soulmate of Brett Whiteley and loved by many. Elenberg an accomplished painter drawn later in his short life to sculpture. The form of this bookplate reflects that transition with its angular biomorphic form.

Pat Corrigan having done more to re-stimulate the art of bookplate design in Australia than any other person. The Wiki article on Pat Corrigan is excellent and has an interesting section on his promotion of bookplates.

Three Corrigan Commissioned Bookplates by three very different Australian Artists.

$120.00

Updating cart…

James Cook Bicentennial Medal (1970) by Andor Meszaros

A Narrative of a Voyage to New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land by Amaso Delano

Original Watercolour – Lt Janvarin Grassie R.N. – New South Wales – 1876

The Journal of George Blaxland (Across the Blue Mountains) 1813 – Centenary Issue 1913

Arthur Phillip – First Governor of New South Wales – Early Mezzotint c1790′s

Pat Corrigan – Four Bookplates Commissioned from Australian Artists [Backen, Chapman, Willibrant and Elenberg] – 1970′s

Product Categories