[Artist unknown] :Feedee, a new Zealand chief from the province of Howdruckee, called by Capt. Cook the River Thames / printed by Engelmann, G.C. & Co. - [London, Mulhouse?, 1829?]

Head and shoulders frontal portrait of a Maori man, with feathers in his topknot, moko, a small beard, greenstone earrings and tiki and a shoulder cape with a taniko border.

Published as a pair with 'Adic Hator' (A-092-009)

The attribution to Ngati Maru as "Feedee's" iwi is derived both from the area he is described as inhabiting - "Howdrucke" or Hauraki - and by comparison with the matching lithograph "Adic Hator" (A-092-009), described as being of the "Nar-te-mar-lu Tribe". "Feedee" may more correctly be "Whiti" or "Te Whiti". The copy of this print in the Rex Nan Kivell Collection bears the inscription in pencil: "J.B. April 28 1828", while one of the Turnbull's copies of "Adic Hator" bears an ink inscription: "Adic Hator age 23 1829 New Zealand October 1st". The Turnbull's third copy of "Adic Hator" (A-092-009-b) was purchased with information from London Booksellers Francis Edwards Ltd: "feedee and Hator came to England with Mr J Johnson, a trader, after their district had been ravaged by Shungi [Hongi], a powerful chief. They travelled all over the country, and gave exhibitions of Maori manners and customs. This information was obtained from two hand bills advertising their intended visits to Carmathen and Evesham in 1829. These hand bills with copies of the portraits are now in the possession of the Hocken Library.

An example of the work of pioneer lithographer Godefroy Engelmann, who established the firm Engelmann, Graf, Coindet & Co. in London in 1826, closing it in 1830. See Ellis, E.M. & D.G. Early Prints of New Zealand (1978), p.73-74 for further details.

Other Titles - Whiti Hauraki

Quantity: 1 colour art print(s).

Physical Description: Lithograph (hand-coloured) ; 298 x 241 mm

Provenance: Formerly in the collection of Don G. Ellis of Sydney and of Christchurch, author of Early Prints of New Zealand (1978)

Alternative form available: There is another copy (possibly two other copies) of this rare print in the Rex Nan Kivell Collection, National Library of Australia. See photographs in photofile with negatives 144RNK 1/2 and 19056 1/2. The Hocken Library also holds at least one copy of each.