JOSEPH LYCETT
circa 1775-1828

PROPERTY FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION, NEW SOUTH WALES

JOSEPH LYCETT

circa 1775-1828
Views in Australia, or New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land. London : J. Souter, 1824

first edition, oblong folio, lithographed pictorial title and 48 finely hand coloured aquatint plates after drawings by Lycett, 2 engraved maps by and after J. Tyrer (one folding), advertisement leaf, in modern crimson calf and marbled boards, gilt, slipcase
28.5 x 37.6 cm

• Lot Sold $26,000 (Hammer Price)
• $31,720 (Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium)

Provenance

Fine Australian Paintings, Sotheby's Australia, Melbourne, 24 July 1988, lot 54
Private Collection, New South Wales, acquired from the above

Literature

John Ferguson, Bibliography of Australia, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, 1941-1969, pl. 974
Ronald Tooley, English Books with Coloured Plates 1790-1860, Batsford, London, 1954, pl. 310
John Abbey, Travel in Aquatint and Lithography, 1770-1860, from the Library of J.R. Abbey: A Bibliographical Catalogue, Curwen Press, London, 1954, pl. 570

Ronald Tooley described this publication as 'The finest and most celebrated colour plate book on Australia'.

Joseph Lycett was artist to Major General Macquarie, Governor of Australia. Lycett was convicted for forgery and arrived in New South Wales in 1810 as a convict, but was later conditionally pardoned from the Newcastle mines owing to his ability as an artist. Macquarie became interested in Lycett's talents and sent three of his coloured drawings to Earl Bathurst, Secretary for the Colonies and, supposedly in payment, Bathurst granted a pardon to the artist.