Stone, Sarah, 1760?-1844

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: [ca 1780-1789]

From: Raper, George, 1769-1797: Birds of Australia and South Seas. Original drawings 1788-90. From E. Cane

By: Stone, Sarah, 1760?-1844

Reference: E-327-f-002

Description: Two Blue lorikeets (Vini peruviana), also known as Pacific lorikeets or Tahitian blue lory. The specimens are depicted perched on the branches of a tree. According to Christine E. Jackson this work was first catalogued as part of the Leverian Museum sale catalogue No. 4748 'Otaheitan blue parrot. Ps Taitanus'. [purchased by Mr] Vaughan [in 1806] 3 [£] 11. 0.' See Jackson, Christine E. 'Sarah Stone: Natural curiosities from the New Worlds.' Merrell Holberton, 1998, p. 129. The Leverian Museum in London was sold in 1806 and its contents dispersed after this date. This work is likely to have been painted between about 1780 (when many of the specimens from Captain Cook's voyages came to the Leverian Museum), and 1789, when Sarah Stone married and stopped signing her name as Stone. Title supplied by Library incorporating transcription from item. Inscriptions: Recto - beneath image - "PAROKETS of OTEHEATE Natural Size" [ink] "Sarah Stone" [ink signature inside ruled frame] Quantity: 1 watercolour(s). Physical Description: Watercolour and ink on laid paper, 384 x 282 mm.