A Kangaroo in New Zealand in The London Magazine or Gentleman's Monthly Intelligencer Vol. XLII for the Year 1773.
London: Printed for R. Baldwin at the Rose, 1773. First printing. Hardcover. The complete year 1773, with a plate of New Zealand (p368) which includes a kangaroo ; the plate is titled 'Hippa, or Place of Retreat on an Arch'd Rock in New Zealand, with a War Canoe: & a Non Descript Animal of New Holland'. The kangaroo, after George Stubbs, appears at the extreme left, his head turned to the right in the direction of the war canoe. These appear in the August 1773 issue of the magazine.
An additional plate (p320) showing Australian Aborigines, titled "Two Natives of New Holland Advancing to Combat" an image after Parkinson. The engraving is based on the drawing by Sydney Parkinson done in 1770 and published posthumously and is regarded as the earliest known portrayal of the aborigine by a European. The right side of this plate with another illustration titled 'New Zealand Warrior in his proper dress & armour'.
Includes an account of the transportation to the American colonies of one Sarah Wilson, maid of honor to Queen Charlotte, wife of George III. Wilson stole jewels and other items from the Queen; she was tried, convicted and sentenced to die, a sentence which was changed to transportation to the colonies. She arrived in Maryland in 1771 and was sold off. But Wilson escaped, and using some of the items she had stolen, traveled the colonies posing as a British aristocrat. She used a number of aliases including Princess Susannah Carolina Matilda (sister to the Queen). (p311). The Providence, Rhode Island Gazette & Country Journal (Jan. 1774), said of Wilson that [she] “is the most surprising genius of the female sex that was ever obliged to visit America.”
8vo, 657pp, Index [15]. Three quarter black calf and marbled boards. A bit rubbed at corners and spine. Frontispiece damaged, with loss of the top outer quarter, otherwise very good. Not recorded in Trove. Very good condition. Item #20901
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