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C1790
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 By John White Esqr Surgeon General to the Settlement.
Author:
First edition of John White’s account of the natural history of the new colony at Sydney Cove, printed for J. Debrett Piccadilly, London. White was chief surgeon of the colony and a keen naturalist who accompanied Governor Arthur Phillip on … Read Full Description
$A 7,500
S/N: JOAV-BK-001–453994
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Full Title:
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 By John White Esqr Surgeon General to the Settlement.
Date:
C1790
Author:
Condition:
Minor faint spotting on a few pages, otherwise in good condition.
Technique:
Brown dark brown calf and cloth boards .
Paper Size:
260mm
x 310mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1790
Description:
First edition of John White’s account of the natural history of the new colony at Sydney Cove, printed for J. Debrett Piccadilly, London.
White was chief surgeon of the colony and a keen naturalist who accompanied Governor Arthur Phillip on two expeditions of exploration. White’s account is one of three c.18th First Fleet Journals and a corner stone of any Australian collection of colonial Australia.
Quarto, with engraved title page dated in Roman numerals MDCCXC (1790)and 65 engraved natural history plates. [18], 299, [36]. The second appendix bound after the title, first issue, with leaves Kk4 and Hh4 uncancelled. Bound in half dark brown Morocco, with raised bands and gilt lettering on the spine, top edge gilt, other edges uncut, Complete with the List of Subscribers and the 4pp. of advertisements for Debrett’s New Publications at the end.
References:
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 :: : 97.
Nissen, C. Die illustrierten Vogelbucher. Stuttgart 1995: : ZBI 4390.
Wantrup, J. Australian Rare Books. Sydney 1987 :: : 17.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 :: : 1858.
Crittenden, V. A Bibliography Of The First Fleet. ACT 1982 :: 248.
Collections:
State Library South Australia: 994.402 W585 b
State Library New South Wales: Record Identifier 74VvQLLmo5kA
State Library Victoria: Record ID 999667983607636
Ferguson, J. A. Bibliography of Australia Volumes 1-8, Canberra 1976 :: : 97.
Nissen, C. Die illustrierten Vogelbucher. Stuttgart 1995: : ZBI 4390.
Wantrup, J. Australian Rare Books. Sydney 1987 :: : 17.
Hill, J. The Hill Collection of Pacific Voyages. San Diego 1974 :: : 1858.
Crittenden, V. A Bibliography Of The First Fleet. ACT 1982 :: 248.
Collections:
State Library South Australia: 994.402 W585 b
State Library New South Wales: Record Identifier 74VvQLLmo5kA
State Library Victoria: Record ID 999667983607636
John White (1756 - 1832)
Naval surgeon who joined the navy in 1778, after receiving his diploma as a surgeon in 1781, he served in the West Indies and India. In 1786, he became the surgeon of the Irresistible, and shortly after, he was appointed chief surgeon for the expedition to establish a convict settlement at Botany Bay, recommended by Captain Sir Andrew Snape Hamond. During the voyage to Botany Bay, White and his assistants managed to keep the death toll low, despite many convicts being in poor health from prolonged imprisonment. They faced challenges with outbreaks of scurvy and dysentery, as well as inadequate medical facilities. However, within a year of arriving in the colony, they reduced the incidence of sickness, built a hospital, and White even accompanied Governor Arthur Phillip on exploration journeys. White maintained a journal during his time with the First Fleet and documented many birds in the colony. His journal, along with engravings illustrating the colony's natural history, was published in 1790 as "Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales," which became a great success. Amidst food shortages in the infant colony, White helped build a signal station and volunteered to fish to supplement rations. The arrival of the Second Fleet in 1790 and the Third Fleet in 1791 posed significant challenges, but White and his team managed to nurse many of the convicts back to health despite limited resources. The strain on White became too much, and he requested leave in England in December 1792. He continued his natural history studies and sent specimens and drawings back to England. He finally left the colony in 1794, leaving it in a healthier state. Upon his return to London, White served on various ships for three years later becoming a navy surgeon at different yards until he retired in 1820. He passed away in 1832 at the age of 75, leaving behind an estate worth £12,000. He had married around 1800, and at the time of his death, he had three living children.
