A COLLECTION OF SKETCHES AND PHOTOGRAPHS BY THE WEBB FAMILY

1. Scrap book: Good condition; hard cover, leather bound; spine rubbed; 4 pages torn or cut out. Many pages blank. 2. Autograph book: Good condition; soft leather binding rubbed at edges; 1 page torn out and small tears to 2 pages; some photographs faded or with slight creases or tears; 2 postcards, 2 photographs and 1 caricature inserted loose 3. Photograph album: Good condition; spine missing but binding intact. Some photographs faded, one apparently missing. Press cutting and portrait photograph inserted loose. 4. Leather bound exercise book: Good condition; rubbed at edges; 14 leaves torn or cut out. 12 loose sketches, 10 pages of writing and 2 press cuttings inserted loose. Some of these insertions folded, torn and/or stained.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This group of albums and sketchbooks relate to the history of the Webb family.

The earliest of the four is the scrap book of Ann Webb (née Fisher), wife of Robert Sanders Webb, first Commissioner of Customs and Treasurer of the Port Phillip District. The book contains a number of poems and several sketches in watercolour and pencil; these latter include portraits of the artist's husband Robert, and of the couple's son Thomas and daughters Mary and Annie. Annie is claimed to be the first European girl born in Melbourne, in December 1836. Thomas Prout Webb (1845-1916) was to become a barrister and a jurist of some note: he published the first scholarly analysis of the colony's laws (Compendium of the Imperial Law and Statutes in Force in the Colony of Victoria, 1874) and was variously appointed Master in Equity and Lunacy of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Commissioner of Titles, Patents, Trade Marks and Taxes, Registrar of Land Tax and Queen's Counsel.

An image of Thomas Prout Webb also appears in the autograph book of his daughter Ruby. Dated 1898-1900, this album is notable for an extensive collection of amateur photographs, by Thomas Prout Webb and by Ruby herself, but most by Ruby's friend Ivy Digby. In addition to family portraits there are several images of Boer War interest. A later photograph album documents a visit to England in 1905 and shipboard life on the P & O Moldavia, and the remaining volume in the group is Ruby's literary scrapbook, containing essays, poems and stories, and some loose watercolours and sketches.