New South Wales

Sydney Centennial Park – Unusual Period Ephemera – Design for the Main Gates – Self Measuring Pocket Book – J Moore 1886

This little self measuring pocket book could be found at W.E. Smith, bookbinder printer etc of bridge Street Sydney in the 1880’s.

Original owners name J Moore and dated Feb 16th 1886. Contains a number of architectural sketches and notes and financial doodles.

Most interestingly are the notes re ”3 Gateways for Centennial Park”. We have Moore’s rough notes re dimensions – 122 ft in total with various access for Carriage and Horse, below that a lightly scribbled concept. To the right some finer work on the suggested pillar work and wrought iron embellishments.

Overleaf a much fuller concept. All of which would have made for a fine set of gates.

The actual gates were in fact built between the date of these sketches and the official opening of Centennial Park in January 1888 – three trees were planted in a rather [then barren plot. Sadly for Moore the gates were not to his design – but not completely dissimilar – we prefer our man.

Some interesting little sketches and the odd house and kitchen design elsewhere but also, as with many similar items, rather a lot of blank pages.

An interesting architectural conversation piece.

Sydney Centennial Park Gates the Preferred Design

$120.00

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New South Wales Military Uniforms – A collection of images

A collection of images of early and unusual New South Wales military uniforms – from the Boer War and earlier up to the Great War.

Housed in a typical 1980’s photograph album with the convenient static assisted flip of sleeve allowing easy access to the items. Some have interesting notes to rear. All up 19 images, many large. Some Army promotional photographs, others photographic reproductions of early images, the odd postcard style.

Some specifically identified … Sgt J Barracluff, Sydney Troop, NSW Cavalry Regt who we learn was a member of the tournament team sent to Great Britain, 1893- awarded 2nd Prize (equal) for Tilting at R.I.M. Tournament, Dublin 1893. A nice early image of the NSW Army Medical Corps at the Boer war. Sqn Sgt Maj W.H. Davies c1905-1912 in full dress review order. And, drummer Bert Taylor with second set of Drum Banners c1900 on his Drum Horse. Possibly our favourite - the “Cycle Section” many with turned down handle bars … and gaiters …

A nice diverse collection of NSW historical military uniform images.

$140.00

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My Adventures on the Australian Goldfields – William Craig – First Edition 1903

A first edition rarity of this important highly readable book about the Australian goldfields of the 19th century. Much about personal associations with bushrangers.

Octavo, 340 pages, plus a useful index and a lengthy publisher’s period catalogue. Published by Cassell, London, Melbourne etc. A near to very good copy.

Craig arrived in Australia from New Zealand to make his fortune and, after all, it's better here. He recounts his arrival and first days and then he is off to the Upper Wimmera. He joins a survey party and an adventure in the Bullarook Forest. His first search for Gold and the meeting of bushrangers (Melville) who when time was lean tended to procure their gold without a shovel. Dan Burns features – a man to keep on the right side of and then there is Black Harry … more gold including a horse shod in the gleaming metal (a yarn). The gold at Bendigo never stops, the Eureka Stockade and the strange “Mongolian Irruption”.

Written in a fulsome readable style with true first hand information of the goings on in an important aspect of Australian history.

Australian Goldfields and Bushrangers first hand from the second half of the 19thC.

$190.00

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Major Mitchell’s Map -1834 [Exploration and Surveying New South Wales] – Alan Andrews

A quality production by Blubber Press, Hobart published in 1992. Octavo, 402 pages, illustrated throughout, end paper maps. A fine copy as if new.

Mitchell and his team spent seven year surveying the often difficult terrain of New South Wales to produce of the greatest maps ever produced .. this is the magnificent story of that accomplishment

Mitchell’s Great Achievement

$50.00

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Australia – Magic Lantern Slide Set – c1905.

Produced by W. Butcher & sons, London (1870-1906) under the brand name Primus. Sold as a set of eight in cardboard box with Lantern Lecture Reading notes. Complete.

Standard magic lantern glass size 3.5 inch by 3.5 inch. All images square with rounded corners, original black mounting tape along edges. Very bright colouring, super condition apart from a crack in one slide.

The slides comprise

Government House Melbourne
Sydney Harbour – Well before the bridge and heavily treed.
Gold Mining Past and Present
Sheep Shearing
Richmond River [Northern NSW]
In the Bush
A Kangaroo Hunt
Australian Aborigines

There is much more about these images than observed at first glance.

The image of aborigines includes an inset of a proud Murray River Warrior which is clearly derived from a photograph taken in 1880 by Samuel White Sweet. Resplendent in a possum skin coat holding a fighting waddy and decorated malcarra (shield) and string bag the subject cuts a proud figure. Maggs are currently selling a collection including the photograph – eye watering $.

The kangaroo hunt is rather gruesome particularly the practice of cutting the tendon.

The gold mining slide is super albeit cracked with an inset image of the old time cradle against the powerful mechanised image of Ballarat mines.

The accompanying words are fairly comprehensive and interesting but of the period so anti C’s beware.

Australia as it was seen over 100 years ago.

$270.00

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The Hunter Sketchbook. Birds & Flowers of New South Wales drawn on The Spot in 1788 89 & 90 By Captain John Hunter of the First Fleet.

A really rather beautiful and slightly strangely titled work.

We say strangely titled because we do not have to read far about the original sketchbook, (once owned by the great Rex Nan Kivell and now housed in the Australian National Library) to find that the sketches include fishes and people … and of New South Wales and also Norfolk and Lord Howe islands. Peeking at the reproductions of the sketches we can also see a kangaroo and a dolphin. What is really surprising is the rarity now of some of the birds he drew e.g. the Swift Parrot and we wonder where he saw that bird …

Captain Hunter, to be Governor Hunter, known as a skilled sketch artist through the illustrations in his sought after First Fleet journal .. but these images take one’s understanding and admiration to a whole new level.

No expense spared production limited to 500 copies and with a further 50 sets of unbound plates. Edited by John Calaby with assistance. Published in 1989. Quarto, x, 252 pages with 100 full page colour plates and other illustrations in the lengthy introductions. Bound in quarter calf, raised bands to spine, separate green leather title label, exotic marble paper covered boards, original removable glassine protector, silk ribbon release from original open slip cover. A fine copy.

A special edition from a unique work of historical significance – an Australian National Treasure.

$190.00

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Sydney Centennial Park – Unusual Period Ephemera – Design for the Main Gates – Self Measuring Pocket Book – J Moore 1886

New South Wales Military Uniforms – A collection of images

My Adventures on the Australian Goldfields – William Craig – First Edition 1903

Major Mitchell’s Map -1834 [Exploration and Surveying New South Wales] – Alan Andrews

Australia – Magic Lantern Slide Set – c1905.

The Hunter Sketchbook. Birds & Flowers of New South Wales drawn on The Spot in 1788 89 & 90 By Captain John Hunter of the First Fleet.

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