AN AUSTRALIAN JOURNALIST

The Emigrant in Australia or Gleanings from the Gold Field.

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Addey and Co. London, 1852. Octavo, four plates and four coloured folding maps, includes all advertisements called for by Ferguson; very good, original yellow printed wrappers, front wrapper detached but here protected by mylar sleeve. A lovely copy of this anonymously printed emigrant's guide to the Australian Gold Fields in the original printed wrappers.

The text contains practical advice on emigration to Australia, detailed chapters on the goldfields of both NSW and Victoria and on gold deposits and washing. A particularly attractive aspect of this work is that the four plates are after drawings taken on the spot by John Skinner Prout (1805-1876), well-known for his beautiful lithographs of Australian scenery and emigrant life. The four illustrations of life on the gold fields included here are charming depictions of diggers at work in picturesque Australian landscapes, with views of Ophir, the Blue Mountains, Summerhill Creek and Mount Alexander. Prout soon after published A Magical Trip to the Gold Regions (1853).

The copy includes the pages of advertisements noted by Ferguson, which are full of notices befitting the emigrant and the prospective digger alike: many are for utilitarian items like tents and gold digging equipment, while others advertise shipping lines or banks. The work also includes four folding maps, three detailing New South Wales, and one Victoria. Ferguson only knew four copies of this work, including one in his own collection.

The fragile front wrapper of this copy has become detached, but is here protected and retained by the mylar sleeve.
Ferguson, 6374.

• AUD 3,850.00 > other currencies
• ordernr.: 703_907

• bookseller: Hordern House (AUSTRALIA)