Barfoot, J R, fl 1830-1857 :A tour through the British colonies and foreign possessions. [London] J Betts, Strand, [ca 1850].

Folding game consisting of nine hand-coloured, lithographed sheets, 500 x 640 mm overall, laid down on linen.

A geographical game for children, based on a trip around the world. The 41-stop journey begins in Heligoland off the coast of Denmark and ends in London, travelling via the Suez Canal and stopping en route in all major British colonies and foreign possessions.

One vignette, panel number 22, features British officers conferring with Maori. There is also a panel on the centre bottom showing two Maori figures in traditional dress watching kangaroos and emu.

The upper panorama depicts the symbols of the British Empire: a strong fleet, a British sailor, Neptune, Britannia.

Six vignettes concern Australia (sheep farming in Western Australia, copper mining in South Australia, and the goldfields of Victoria, Tasmanian whaling scene, cattle farming in New South Wales, a chain gang on Norfolk Island).

Rare; F R B Whitehouse, though aware of its publication, was unable to locate a copy for description in his "Table games of Georgian and Victorian days" (1951). The Bodleian Library holds a copy, however.

Likely to have been originally enclosed in a cloth-covered slipcase, and accompanied by a printed rule-book.

Inscriptions: Recto - bottom right - monogram, JB for J R Barfoot (senior)

Quantity: 1 colour art print(s).

Physical Description: Handcoloured lithograph, 640 x 500 mm.

Provenance: Purchased from Hordern House, NSW, in July 2001. Lot 29 of their catalogue July 2001.