John White | Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales, 1790

John White

Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales with Sixty-five Plates of Non descript Animals, Birds, Lizards, Serpents, curious Cones of Trees and other Natural Productions. London: J. Debrett, 1790

FIRST EDITION, 4to (292 X 231 mm .), engraved title-page vignette, list of subscribers, 65 hand-coloured engraved plates, contemporary brown calf, spine gilt, red and green morocco labels in second and fourth compartments, upper board detached

“White’s Journal is of key importance to any collection of Australiana and is essential to a collection of Foundation books" (Wantrup, p. 78). John White was surgeon general to the settlement of New South Wales and sailed with the First Fleet. His account makes good some omissions in that of Governor Phillip, and is the best of the early descriptions of the natural history of the colony.

LITERATURE:

Ferguson 97; Hill (2004) 1858; Nissen ZBI 4390; Wantrup 17

PROVENANCE:

Bookplate of the Earls of Durham, Lampton Castle