Heath, William

Flourishing State of the Swan River Thing [May 1830]

London: Thomas McLean, 1 May 1830. Original hand-coloured etching, 15.5 x 26 cms, titled above image: 'Flourishing State of the Swan River Thing'; upper right in image, 'The Swan Tavern' and lower right in image, ''Water unfit for use'. Glazed and framed in early timber frame. Very good condition.

Rare original political cartoon illustrating the miserable state of the settlers at the Swan River Colony, Western Australia in 1830. The engraving titled 'Florishing [sic] State of the Swan River Thing. Showing a family beside a dwelling with a sign "Swan River Tavern" and the shipwreck of 'Marquis of Anglesea' in the background which was at that time the Governor's residence and the storehouse. It later became a prison hulk for the colonists. It was under these conditions that architect and civil engineer Henry Reveley was instructed to build Perth’s first civic structure: the Roundhouse Prison at Arthur Head, Fremantle. Item #105296

Price (AUD): $2,500.00   Other currencies