Three Panoramic Views of Port Jackson, New South Wales, with the town of Sydney, and the adjacent scenery, after original drawings by Major JamesTaylor. Engraved in London, 1823.

Major Taylor painted a triptych of views which, when joined together, form a panoramic landscape view taken from the vantage point of Observatory Hill in Sydney, between 1817 and 1822.

  • Plate 1

    "By 1820, Sydney was a town of 12,000 inhabitants, about a third of whom were convicts”

  • Plate 2

    This limited edition portfolio is printed from the original plates now in the Dixson Galleries of the State Library of NSW.  Published in London by Alecto Historical Editions and the State Library of NSW, 1988

  • Plate 3

    “ There is no other example of such a case for 19th century Australian engravings..."

 Oblong folio (24 1/2 x 31 in.; 622 x 787 mm). Letterpress title, 1 leaf introductory text, 1 leaf colophon, 1 letterpress and half-tone key plate, three plates, engraved by Robert Havell & son in 1823, printed by Edward Egerton-Williams in colours à la poupée and finished by hand in water colour. Unbound as issued in original cloth portfolio by A. W. Lumsden of Edinburgh, with original printed card label inset on upper cover, small format limitation leaf mounted on front pastedown, ribbon ties. Each print is stamped in ink on the verso with the date of publication, copyright symbol, a Welsh dragon signifying the Master Printer, and the publisher’s stamps. The edition number is recorded by hand in pencil.

Introductory text by Elizabeth Imashev, Pictures Research Librarian of the Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW.

Very few copies of this triptych of prints come up for sale, and many are kept in libraries and institutions around the world. A remarkable vision of Sydney during a period of rapid social, economic and environmental change.

The price is currently £3,000 and overseas shipping can be arranged.

“These Views, which were prepared by Major Taylor, during his residence at Sydney, from the year 1817 to 1822, convey accurate Representation of the extensive and magnificent harbour of Port Jackson - it’s rocky picturesque Shores - its numerous Islands and inlets - the Town of Sydney - the Governer’s residence - the public and private Buildings - and the beautiful and romantic Scenery in the Vicinity” From the original 1823 prospectus

The engravings are printed from the original copperplates now held in The Dixson Galleries of The State Library of New South Wales.