IMAGE
Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
- Date
- [ca 1780-1789], 1788-1790
- By
- Raper, George, 1769-1797; Stone, Sarah, 1760?-1844; Cane, E (Mr), active 19th century; Turnbull, Alexander Horsburgh, 1868-1918
- Reference
- E-327-f
- Description
Album of 66 natural history drawings, comprising mainly birds of Australia and Norfolk Island, drawn by George Raper, and one drawn by Sarah Stone. Apart from the ornithological illustrations this portfolio also features a cicada, caterpillar, wallaby, frog, and various botanical specimens including orchids and other flowering plants.
See Hindwood, Keith Alfred. "George Raper: an artist of the First Fleet." 'Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Australian Historical Society', vol. 50, no. 1, June 1964, pp. 32-57. Pages 49 to 56 describe and list this collection. Similar collections in the British Museum (Natural History), London, and the Mitchell Library (Sydney) are also described. There is also a similar collection in the National Library of Australia, acquired in the 2000s.
The reference on each page to "From E Cane" may be associated with the original owner of the British Museum collection, F Du Cane Godman, whose daughter presented a volume of 72 Raper paintings to the Museum in the mid-twentieth century.
Title from spine of volume. Front cover title 'Original Drawings of Birds from E. Cane', in gilt. Four of the watercolours are signed "Geo. Raper", and one signed "Sarah Stone". All inscribed in ink "from E Cane". Various titles and annotations in ink and pencil.
Album comprises front and back free endpaper, and 70 leaves with 66 watercolours mounted recto(two leaves at front and back blank).
Inscriptions: Verso - top centre - Australia | Series of very early Drawings (mostly of Australian Birds) | by G. E. R. [i.e. Geo.] Raper and others several signed & dated 1788-1790 [pencil verso of front endpaper]; Verso - centre - A report on these paintings, together with identification of the birds has been supplied in a letter from K. A. Hindwood. [pencil verso of front endpaper]
Quantity: 66 watercolour(s) mounted in album.
Physical Description: Album bound in red morocco with gilt titles and ornamentation, marbled endpapers, with watercolours on laid paper, mounted on leaves, 480 x 370 mm.
Provenance: Purchased by Alexander Turnbull from an unknown source.
- Additional description
Watercolours are mounted on leaves of volume resulting in watermarks remaining unidentified.
Alternative form available: Negatives 1/2-071107-F to 071174; colour transparencies of all.
- Access restrictions
- Partly restricted - Please use surrogate in place of original
- Format
- 66 watercolour(s) mounted in album, Albums, Ornithological illustrations, Watercolours, Works of art, Album bound in red morocco with gilt titles and ornamentation, marbled endpapers, with watercolours on laid paper, mounted on leaves, 480 x 370 mm.
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Raper, George, 1769-1797. Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane. Ref: E-327-f. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand. /records/22807428More information can be found in our terms of use.
Copyright
UnknownRaper, George, 1769-1797: [Brolga (Grus rubicunda)]
Date: [ca 1790]
From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
By: Raper, George, 1769-1797
Reference: E-327-f-009
Description: Brolga (Grus rubicunda). Specimen depicted standing on a small island with plants, surrounded by water. Identified as brolga by Mr J L Moore, in 1999. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour and ink on laid paper, 413 x 253 mm.
Raper, George, 1769-1797: [White-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae)] 2/3 Less Natura...
Date: [ca 1788-1790]
From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
By: Raper, George, 1769-1797
Reference: E-327-f-043
Description: White-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae). Specimen depicted standing on a rock ledge above water. Title supplied by Library. Former title - [White-faced heron - Ardea or notophoyx novaehollandiae] Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - "2/3 Less Natural Size" [pencil] Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour and ink on laid paper, 416 x 250 mm.
Raper, George, 1769-1797: Alcedo [Sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus)]
Date: [ca 1788-1790]
From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
By: Raper, George, 1769-1797
Reference: E-327-f-064
Description: Sacred kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus). Specimen depicted perched on a branch above water. Title supplied by Library incorporating transcription from item. Former title - Alcedo [Sacred Kingfisher (Halcyon sanctus)] Inscriptions: Recto - beneath image - "Alcedo" [pencil annotation] Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour and ink on paper, 417 x 262 mm.
Raper, George, 1769-1797: [Bassian thrush (Zoothera lunulata)]
Date: [ca 1788-1790]
From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
By: Raper, George, 1769-1797
Reference: E-327-f-048
Description: Bassian thrush (Zoothera lunulata). Specimen depicted in profile perched on a branch. Title supplied by Library. Former title - [Ground thrush (oreocincla lunulata)] Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour and ink on laid paper, 416 x 255 mm.
Raper, George, 1769-1797: Pigeon of Norfolk Island 1/3 Less Natural Size. Geo. Raper. 1...
Date: 1790
From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
By: Raper, George, 1769-1797
Reference: E-327-f-001
Description: Norfolk Island pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae spadicea), an extinct subspecies of the New Zealand pigeon (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae). Specimen depicted perched on a branch. Title supplied by Library incorporating transcription from item. Inscriptions: Recto - beneath image - "PIGEON of NORFOLK ISLAND 1/3 Less Natural Size. Geo. Raper. 1790" [ink] Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour, gold paint, and ink on laid paper, 410 x 253 mm.
Raper, George, 1769-1797: Metrosideros - Banks [Crimson bottlebrush (Melaleuca citrina)...
Date: [ca 1788-1790]
From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
By: Raper, George, 1769-1797
Reference: E-327-f-046
Description: Eastern whipbird (Psophodes olivaceus) and Crimson bottlebrush (Melaleuca citrina). Bird specimen depicted in profile perched on a branch with botanical specimen behind. Title supplied by Library incorporating transcription from item. Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - "Metrosideros - Banks" [pencil annotation] Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour and ink on laid paper, 417 x 258 mm.
Raper, George, 1769-1797: [Common bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera)]
Date: [ca 1788-1790]
From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
By: Raper, George, 1769-1797
Reference: E-327-f-065
Description: Common bronzewing (Phaps chalcoptera). Specimen depicted in profile sitting on the ground. Has been described by different ornithologists as Lord Howe Island pigeon and as the common bronzewing pigeon. Title supplied by Library. Former title - [Lord Howe Island Pigeon or Common (Forest) bronzewing pigeon (Phaps elegans)] Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour, gold pigment, and ink on laid paper, 419 x 263 mm.
Raper, George, 1769-1797: [Crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans)]
Date: [ca 1790]
From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
By: Raper, George, 1769-1797
Reference: E-327-f-018
Description: Crimson rosella (Platycercus elegans). Specimen depicted in profile perched on a branch. Title supplied by Library. Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour and ink on laid paper, 417 x 257 mm.
Raper, George, 1769-1797: [Lord Howe woodhen (Gallirallus sylvestris)]
Date: [ca 1788-1790]
From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
By: Raper, George, 1769-1797
Reference: E-327-f-050
Description: Lord Howe woodhen (Gallirallus sylvestris). Specimen depicted in profile standing on a mound. Very similar to a Raper drawing in the British Museum (Natural History) 'Ground bird of Lord Howe Island' signed and dated 1790 Title supplied by Library. Former title - [Rail species. Lord Howe Island woodhen (Tricholimnas sylvestris)] Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour and ink on laid paper, 416 x 258 mm.
Raper, George, 1769-1797: Bird of Port Jackson - 1/3 Less than Natural Size. Geo. Raper...
Date: 1788
From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane
By: Raper, George, 1769-1797
Reference: E-327-f-037
Description: Channel-billed cuckoo (Scythrops novaehollandiae). Specimen depicted perched on a branch of a dead tree trunk. Another version of this watercolour is in the British Museum (Natural history), dated 1789. Title supplied by Library incorporating transcription from item. Inscriptions: Recto - beneath image - "Bird of Port Jackson - 1/3 Less than Natural Size - Geo. Raper 1788 - No." [ink] Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour and ink on laid paper, 394 x 275 mm.