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C1869
The Lyre Bird.
C.19th engraving of a male Lyre Bird. The Lyre Bird was first sighted November 1797 by a an ex-convict who lived with the Aborigines after his term had expired. It was first caught on 26th January 1798 and was described … Read Full Description
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Details
Full Title:
The Lyre Bird.
Date:
C1869
Condition:
Minor creasing at sides, otherwise in good condition
Technique:
Hand coloured engraving.
Image Size:
110mm
x 145mm
AUTHENTICITY
Genuine antique
dated:
1869
Description:
C.19th engraving of a male Lyre Bird.
The Lyre Bird was first sighted November 1797 by a an ex-convict who lived with the Aborigines after his term had expired. It was first caught on 26th January 1798 and was described by Thomas Davies 4th November 1800 to the Linnean Society of London. Modern common name Lyrebird or Superb Lyrebird Modern binomial name Menura superba Distribution VIC, NSW & QLD First described Latham 1801 From Barrington, The History of New South Wales…
1797 First sighting. An ex-convict who lived with Aboriginals after his term expired in 1792, said that there was in the bush near Sydney, “a bird of the pheasant species’. Near Sydney, John Wilson (Barrington 1802)
1798 First recorded sighting We saw nothing strange except a few rock kangaroos with long black brush tails, and two pheasants which we could not get a shot at. Nepean, John Price (Historical Records NSW, 3 Appendix C.)
1798 First capture Here I shot a bird about the size of a Pheasant, but the tail of it very much resembels a Peacock, with large long feathers which are white, orange, and lead colour, and black at the ends; its body betwixt a brown and green, brown under his neck and black upon his head. Black legs and very lond claws. Near Bargo, John Price (Historical Records NSW, 3 Appendix C.)
1798 Mimicry of the Lyrebird They sing for two hours in the morning, beginning from the time when they quit the valley, until they attain the summit of the hill; where they scrape together a small hillock, on which they stand, with their tail spread over them, imitating successively the note of every bird known in the country. South-west of Sydney David Collins (An account of the English Colony…)
1800 Scientific description The total length of this singular bird from the point of the bill to the end of the broad tail feathers is 43 inches; 25 of which are in the tail alone. The bill rather exceeds an inch in length, is strong, formed much like that of a peacock… Blackheath, Thomas Davies. (Transactions of the Linnean Society of London)
Modern binomial name: Menura novaehollandiae
First described: Thomas Davies, 1800
Distribution: VIC, NSW, QLD and introduced to Tasmania.
William Glover Webb Freeman (1809 - 1895)
Was a colonial photographer who with his brother had five years' experience in London as professional photographers before William with his wife and family reached Sydney in April 1854 in the Elizabeth. In partnership with George Heath he set up as a chemist and druggist. In October 1853 James and his wife arrived in the Sovereign of the Seas. The brothers started business in 1854 and soon became the colony's outstanding photographers with the best known portrait studio. Like their competitors they advertised extensively in the press but were more successful in getting long newspaper notices. In that year at the Paris Exhibition the brothers were commended for their daguerreotypes, which were also used industrially as a basis for woodcuts in the Illustrated Sydney News. Two of the best photographs were 'Miss Keane' on 11 November and the opening of the Long Cove railway viaduct near Lewisham on 24 March 1855. They also advertised 'Stereo Daguerreotypes' and that 'Invalids and Country Gentlemen could be visited in their homes'. In 1856 the Freemans adopted the collodiotype process and made available portraits of viceroyalty and such prominent figures as the actor, Gustavus Brooke; they were also permitted to photograph the first ministry under responsible government, providing that the photographs were not shown in the colony. By 1858, using large-format wet plate photography printed on gold-toned albumen paper, they were able to produce popular harbour and city panoramas; previously such pictures were only available in wood or copper engravings. The Freemans entered into public affairs and James gave several long and precise addresses: on 8 December he lectured to the Philosophical Society of New South Wales 'On the Progress of Photography and its Application to the Arts and Sciences' and published the paper in the Sydney Magazine of Science and Art, 1859. He forecast the application of photography to the control of engineering, criminal investigation, military and many other purposes. In the late 1860s the brothers visited Britain where James died aged 56 on 22 October 1870 at Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. On William's return the firm was advertised as 'photographer to H.R.H. the Prince of Wales'. In the early 1870s he took over the business of Mr and Mrs Oswald Allen, well-known photographers and miniature painters. Freeman took advantage of the carte-de-visite craze and many portrait cartes of the 1870s were imprinted 'Freeman late Oswald Allen'. In 1888 he retired in ill health and left his home in Sydney. He lived for some time at Goulburn and died aged 86 in Newcastle on 9 March 1895, survived by three of his five children.
