New South Wales. Photographic album presented by the Premier of NSW to Charles P. Skouras, Hollywood mogul.
1945. Edward William Searle was an active photographer in Australia for much of the first half of the 20th century. He worked for J. W. Beattie in Hobart during 1911-1915. These photographs, however, do not largely appear in the National Library's vast collection of his work. Premier William McKell (1941-47) has presented this album: "To Mr. Charles P. Skouras, with very best wishes, from Wm. McKell, Premier of NSW Australia. 1/4/1945". Charles P. Skouras was a self-made theater magnate, owning all the theaters in St. Louis at one time, and eventually building an empire of over 650 theaters.
Photos include Government House Sydney; Sydney Harbour Bridge; Central Railway Station Sydney; Macquarie St. Sydney; Martin Place Sydney; Hyde Park Sydney; George St. Sydney; Circular Quay Sydney (aerial view); Sydney Harbour; Manly and Sydney Harbour (aerial); Sydney (aerial); The Hawkesbury River; Hawkesbury River (bridge); Stillwater; Bondi Beach Sydney; Life Saving team Sydney; Riders of the Surf; Manly Beach; The South Coast; At Berry South Coast; Timber getting North Coast; The Upper Hawkesbury R (aerial); The Blue Mountains; A Blue Mountains Waterfall; The Three Sisters Blue Mountains; Grand Arch Jenolan; Banana growing North Coast (little girl); A North Coast Butter factory; A Western wheat field (harvesting); Rice growing Luton; Bellingen Valley; Orchards Kurrajong; Cattle at Gloucester; Shearing shed; In the Riverina District; Kookaburras; Kangaroo and Young; Koala; Burringack (???) Dam (aerial); The Australian Alps; Near Mount Kosciusko Muniong Alps; The Manning River.
Oblong tall 8vo album (13 x 9 1/2"). 42 photographs on 21 leaves, printed directly on the card pages with hand lettered captions in pencil. Presentation blue morocco binding, with the gilt crest of New South Wales and the title "New South Wales". Photographs very crisp and bright, the binding a bit rubbed, with with slight loss at top of spine. Overall, very good condition. Item #19423
Price: $3,750.00