NIXON, Frederick Robert

The complete suite of twelve views [published as "Twelve views in Adelaide and its vicinity"].

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F.R. Nixon, Adelaide, 1845. Oblong quarto, 12 original etchings; in very good condition, attractively bound into later facsimile wrappers. Nixon's rare suite of twelve etchings: the very first South Australian view book to have been published.

These very rare simply-produced but delicate views depict an Adelaide very much in its infancy. Wide unsealed streets are almost deserted save for small clusters of local Aboriginal people and the odd settler. This series of views is an important documentation of the first buildings and the complexion of the city before the sweeping changes brought about by the gold rush.

Frederick Robert Nixon (c.1817-1860) was appointed an assistant surveyor for South Australia in 1837 and in 1841 became superintendent of emigrant working parties. He was a self-taught artist and whilst in Adelaide became well known as a draughtsman. He also taught himself etching techniques which he used to self-publish this Twelve Views in Adelaide and its Vicinity in 1845: 'Of considerable historic interest today, the twelve views reveal skill in composition and an understanding of etching' (Frank Cusack in J. Kerr (ed.) Dictionary of Australian Artists).

The suite of twelve etchings cost one guinea and was favourably received by the local press: 'he deserves the greatest credit for his industry, perseverance, and skill... the etchings are superior as works of art, and accurately as well as pleasingly depict the scenes which they represent' (South Australian). Nixon also appears to have tried to market his book in England: 'the English publishers of Australian travels, Thomas and William Boone, advertised Nixon's Twelve Views as six shillings (sterling) in one of their book catalogues of 1845 or 1846' (Wantrup).

This is one of the rarest of all Australian viewbooks and indeed of Australian books in general. The list of original subscribers to the publication (printed on the back wrapper, so present in this copy in facsimile), accounts for only ninety-three copies of the work, five of which were bought by the governor of South Australia. Ferguson described the publication as 'rare' (quite a strong word for him) and Wantrup notes that 'it is so rare that it cannot be considered essential to a collection... [but] a collector should consider it essential not to let any copy pass him by without a hard fight...'.
Wantrup, 233.

• AUD 18,000.00 > otras divisas
• nº de pedido: 611_653

• librero: Hordern House (AUSTRALIA)