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• Auction House:
  Mossgreen
• Sale Name:
  The Denis Joachim Collection
• Sale Date:
  19 Jun 2016 ~ 2pm - Session 1: Lots 1 - 321
  20 Jun 2016 ~ 10am - Session 2: Lots 322 - 480
  20 Jun 2016 ~ 2pm - Session 3: Lot 481 - 688
  20 Jun 2016 ~ 6pm - Session 4: Lots 689 - 818
• Lot #:
  175
• Lot Description:
  Prinsep, Augustus, Elizabeth, and Captain Thomas Prinsep. The Journal of a Voyage from Calcutta
  to Van Diemen’s Land. Comprising a Description of that Colony during a Six Months’ Residence. From Original Letters, Selected by Mrs. A. Prinsep. [together with] No. 1 [–2]. Illustrations to Prinsep’s Journal of a Voyage from Calcutta to Van Diemen’s Land. From Original Sketches taken during the years 1829 and 1830. One volume, octavo (text), and two parts, quarto (Illustrations), with a folding frontispiece map in the text volume, and ten handcoloured lithographed mounted india paper plates (one folding), and lithographed plan of Hobart in the Illustrations parts; the text in original green moiré cloth, preserved in a quarter dark blue morocco bookform box, gilt; the two parts of the Illustrations stab–sewn in original titling–wrappers, respined and the plain back wrappers renewed, preserved in a matching quarter dark blue morocco bookform box. London, Smith, Elder and Co., 1833.
• Notes:
  One of the first Tasmanian view books. Rare: published in London in 1833, this was the joint production of members of the Prinsep family, a large English merchant clan living in Calcutta, who had visited Van Diemen’s Land as tourists in 1829 and 1830. When Augustus Prinsep unexpectedly died shortly afterwards at sea, Elizabeth Prinsep published this short account of their travels based on her husband’s letters as a memorial of their last trip together. This was the first description of Van Diemen’s Land – and only the second description of Australia – to be published by a woman. A vivid, bright, descriptive account of incidents experienced and places visited, it has always been a popular book with a second edition issued almost immediately. In a note at the end of that volume Elizabeth advised that a set of illustrations to the voyage would be published if there was public interest. That same year a set of ten fine lithographs was issued in two parts, quarto, to accompany the text. The illustrations are after sketches by Augustus, with at least one by Elizabeth, and two others by her brother–in–law, Captain Thomas Prinsep. Seven of the plates are of Van Diemen’s Land and three are of Penang and Angir. The Illustrations was issued in two parts, without a title–page or text, stab–sewn in stiff dun illustrated titling–wrappers, the first part comprising six plates and the second part four plates and the “Plan of Hobarton”. One of the plates in the second part is the fine and celebrated folding “Panoramic View of Hobarton”. The Illustrations were issued in two forms, both of which are rare: they were available either on mounted india paper at seven shillings the part, or on plain paper at five shillings the part. In some of the india paper copies all the plates – but not the plan of Hobart – are found finely handcoloured. This handcoloured version is rare. Prinsep’s Illustrations is a famous Tasmanian rarity and one of considerable artistic merit. The Prinseps were amateur artists of unusual competence and it is impossible to value too highly their record of early Hobart and New Norfolk. As one of very few pictorial records left by early tourists to Australia it is an important – indeed, a classic – Tasmanian view book. Abbey, 607; Craig OTP, pp. 92–5; Ferguson, 1695 and 1696; Wantrup, 231b (Illustrations) and pp. 305–6.
• Estimate:
  A$8,000 - 12,000
• Realised Price:
  *****
  

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• Category:
  Books & Manuscripts

This Sale has been held and this item is no longer available. Details are provided for information purposes only.