Part of the Crew of his Majesty's Ship Guardian Endeavouring to Escape in the Boats.
London: J. & J. Boydell, 1790. First printing. The wreck of the ship Guardian, an early New South Wales disaster. When the colony was established in 1788, it was expected that supplies from England would arrive at regular intervals. However, one of the first two supply ships never arrived, when disaster overtook H.M.S. Guardian, commanded by Lieut. Edward Riou. The Guardian, laden with two years' provisions for the new colony, left London in July 1789, but was wrecked on an iceberg twelve days out of Cape Town. Three accounts of the disaster were published immediately in 1790, as well as this magnificent aquatint by Robert Dodd (1748-1816), a well-known marine painter of the period. The double-column caption gives a description of the disaster in the form of the text of a letter from Riou to the Admiralty. (Nan Kivell & Spence, p. 265, illus. p. 293). Published July 1st, 1790. Hand colored mezzotint printed on laid, Watman watermarked paper, 23 1/2 x 16 1/4". London, July 1st, 1790 by J. & J. Boydell. NLA copy PIC Drawer 6790 #S3799. Very good condition. Item #1
Price: $4,500.00