Experiences of a Colonist Forty Years Ago, and A Journey from Port Phillip to South Australia in 1839. By an Old Hand
Adelaide, Frearson and Brother, Printers, 1879.
Octavo, [ii], 64 (last blank), [3]-59 pages plus 6 full-page wood engravings and an errata slip tipped in at the rear.
Original bright green cloth lettered in gilt on the front cover, and ruled and decorated in blind on the sides (with the small paper label of 'J. Bridgland, Bookbinder, Gresham St., Adelaide' at the rear); cloth slightly marked and flecked, and a little rubbed at the extremities, with the bottom corners slightly bumped; two pairs of conjugate leaves stand a little proud of the leading edge, and are very lightly chipped or nibbled; overall, an excellent copy of a rare item. Early ownership details on the front flyleaf look like 'A.W. Hutson, Daws Scrub, Thistle Beds, July 1891' (Thistle Beds is near Burra).
The illustrations are based on drawings by Hamilton; he contributed similar sketches to the published journals of Grey and Eyre. An enlarged second edition appeared the following year, with extra text ('A Voyage from Port Phillip to Adelaide in 1846'), and with three albumen paper photographs (of five of the six original drawings) replacing the wood engravings. Ferguson 10183 (hopelessly wrong regarding the pagination and the illustrations).
Item #57141
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