A non descript bird found at Botany Bay, from a drawing made on the spot 1792. The Bird measured sev...
A non descript bird found at Botany Bay, from a drawing made on the spot 1792. The Bird measured seven Feet two Inches in height, & three Feet seven Inches in length. It approaches nearest to the Emu of South America or the Cassowary of Java / [engraving after Arthur Bowes Smyth, ca. 1792]
About this item
Full title
Date
[ca. 1792]
Call Numbers
SV/331
Record Identifier
Reference Code
Physical Description
Contents
1 print - 25 x 20 cm. - engraving in black ink on paper
Other Descriptions
Level of description
Fonds
Access and use
Copying Conditions
Out of copyright : Creator died before 1955
Please acknowledge : Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales
Subjects
More information
Scope and Contents
Contents
An engraving of an early depiction of the Australian Emu, facing right, showing a curly feathered structure. The image also includes a native Xanthorrhoea plant, commonly known as the Grass Tree and small bell-shaped flowers.
The engraving is based on the drawing by Arthur Bowes Smyth, who based his drawing of the Emu by Lieutenant John Watt...
Alternative Titles
Full title
A non descript bird found at Botany Bay, from a drawing made on the spot 1792. The Bird measured seven Feet two Inches in height, & three Feet seven Inches in length. It approaches nearest to the Emu of South America or the Cassowary of Java / [engraving after Arthur Bowes Smyth, ca. 1792]
Authors, Artists and Contributors
Author / Artists
Notes
Signature / Inscriptions
In the top right corner is the number '18'.
Description source
Titled and dated above and below image.
Published information
The journal of Arthur Bowes Smyth : surgeon, Lady Penrhyn, 1787-1789 / edited by Paul G. Fidlon and R. J. Ryan. Sydney : Australian Documents Library, 1979.
Contextual Information
Source
Purchased from Sebra Prints, October 2018
Collection history
Unknown etcher active in England 1790s - from the Vendor.
Original held by
Arthur Bowes Smyth - drawings from his journal `A Journal of a Voyage from Portsmouth to New South Wales and China in the Lady Penrhyn ...', 1787-1789
Held at SLNSW: Safe 1/15
Administrative / Biographical history
In February 1788, a few weeks after the arrival of the First Fleet, a convict under orders from Governor Phillip shot and killed an emu two miles from the settlement at Sydney Cove.
Lieutenant John Watts who arrived as a passenger on the Lady Penrhyn with the First Fleet, was thought to have produced the first earliest European depiction of...
Identifiers
Primary Identifiers
Call Numbers
SV/331
Record Identifier
1l424GJ1
Permalink
https://devfeature-collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/1l424GJ1
Other Identifiers
Reference code
9618677
How to access this item
For use in the Library
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