Birds - Norfolk Island

Date: 1971-1976

From: Fleming, Charles Alexander (Sir), 1916-1987 : Papers

Reference: 87-208-353

Description: Includes Fleming's Norfolk Island bird notebook, correspondence, reports on the birds of Norfolk Island by Fleming and Harry Wakelin and Kate Hidwood's file on the birds of Norfolk Island Quantity: 1 folder(s).

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.

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.