Collection of seven rare early printed views of Sydney, published between 1813 and 1890. Added: one 1860s print of Melbourne. Mostly steel engravings, one lithograph. See descriptions below for details on each view.

Condition

Some with minor spotting or water staining as usual, generally excellent condition. Desirable items that are lacking in nearly all collections.

Provenance

GAE collection.

Descriptions

1813 D. Berger - Sydney

Ansicht von Sydney. Von der sudseite und der Mundung des Paramatta – flusses. 110 x 175 mm

A very rare German uncolored steel engraving. The image shows a good view of Sydney Cove closely based on the original engraving in the official publication of the Baudin voyage. It was engraved for the German edition of the Baudin account, with the original French caption slightly enhanced to read "View of Sydney from the south-side with the mouth of the Parramatta River".

The French encampment is in the foreground of the picture, and several of the sailors can be seen working on repairs to their ships. To the left a small group of aborigines is testament to the close quarters in which the French bivouacked, and a reminder of why Nicolas-Martin Petit was able to create his famous suite of portraits of Port Jackson aborigines. This is quite a rare image; there is a copy in the Nan Kivell collection of the National Library of Australia. The German edition of the Baudin voyage was first published as Entdeckungsreise nach Australien (Weimar, 1808-1819). The drawing of Sydney in its first stage of development overlooking what is now Sydney harbour. You can see Aboriginals in the foreground giving a sense on the impending encrouchment as tents are being set up just behind them.

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1825 Pierre Eugene Aubert / Gilquin Dupain - Sydney

Sydney (Australie). 100 x 150 mm

A beautifully hand colored steel engraving with striking blue skies, shows Sydney Harbor in the background and the very begninnings of a city scape developing, with rolling green hills in the foreground. A view from the north shore with St James's Church in the centre. Engraved/printed by Aubert, Gilquin Dupain. Published by Dufour et al.

19th Century French original hand-coloured etching of Warrane (Sydney) Harbour, dating from the mid-1820’s. The artist was Pierre Eugene Aubert (1789 to 1847), with the plate engraved and published by Gilquin Dupain (19 Rue de la Calandre, Paris).

An early view of the fledgling settlement, with the newly-finished Saint James’ church prominent. This most likely means Aubert created the image looking south-west from Cremorne across the harbour. To the right of Saint James’ is Bennelong Point - one day to become the location of the globally iconic Sydney Opera House.

See also the description by the National Library of Australia and by the State Library of New South Wales.

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1825 Pierre Eugene Aubert / Gilquin Dupain - Sydney

Sydney (Australie) 100 x 150 mm

An uncolored steel engraving by Pierre Eugene Aubert (1789-1847) . Shows a view from the north shore with St James's Church at centre. Same as the previous print but uncolored.

19th Century French original hand-coloured steel engraving of Warrane (Sydney) Harbour, dating from the mid-1820’s. The artist was Pierre Eugene Aubert (1789 to 1847), with the plate engraved and published by Gilquin Dupain (19 Rue de la Calandre, Paris).

An early view of the fledgling settlement, with the newly-finished Saint James’ church prominent. This most likely means Aubert created the image looking south-west from Cremorne across the harbour. To the right of Saint James’ is Bennelong Point - one day to become the location of the globally iconic Sydney Opera House.

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1832 R. Scott - Sydney

SIDNEY, New South Wales 75 x 124 mm

Glasgow: Scott, R. Archibald Fullarton & Co, [1832]. A steel engraving of Sydney published in "A System of Geography" by James Bell, Glasgow 1832.

Engraver's name centered below ruled outline. Title centered below image below ruled outline. Publisher printed below title.

Rare early colonial engraved view of Sydney, possibly taken from a portion of Burford's panorama printed in 1829.
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1850 Carl Mayer / Kunstanst - Sydney

Sydney in New South Wales 105 x 155 mm

An uncolored steel plate originally from Germany (though this version is printed in English so it must be from a British edition) by Carl Ferdinand Mayer, a prominent German steel engraver,, showing the bay with a small dock in the foreground with a woman with a fishing rod. Sydney lies in the background with a boat in port and a church – possibly St. James, in the background.

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1864 Chambers - Sydney

Sydney 130 x 197 mm

Drawn by G.F. Sargent. G. Greatbach.

"Sydney" engraved by G.Greatbach after a picture by G.F.Sargent, published in Gallery of Geography, 1864. Showcases an industrial Sydney that is growing.

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1890 W.K. - Sydney

Die Bai von Sydney, Neusudwales (nach der Natur). 130 x 210 mm

A beautifully colored lithograph, most likely photomechanical due to shiny appearance, of Sydney Bay. The natural scenic beauty of the bay is the focus with ships traveling through.

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1860s Phillippoteaux - Melbourne

Melbourne (Australia) 96 x 155 mm

View of downtown in the distance from an outer rural suburb. An uncolored Steel engraving engraved/printed by Philippoteaux, Taylor and Published by Dupain.