We are delighted to bring to your attention an exceptional catalogue of highly important works of art by Nicolas-Martin Petit (1777-1804) and Charles-Alexandre Lesueur (1778-1846). They are to be offered for sale at auction by Deutscher and Hackett in association with Hordern House: 28 November, 2018 in Melbourne.

The richness of these outstanding works is fully described and illustrated in the accompanying catalogue, researched and compiled by Hordern House. This remarkable collection was until quite recently unknown and unrecorded.

Of significant cultural importance, these portraits and views by the two main artists on Nicolas Baudin's monumental voyage of exploration in Australia over the years 1801 and 1802 will rewrite the history of early Australian voyage art.

This themed list spans three hundred years of natural history: from John Gerard’s handsome 17^th Century English herbal; to a great feat of 20^th Century publishing, Banks' Florilegium (from the original 18^th Century copper-plates). In the wake of the great 18^th & 19^th Century voyages of exploration and scientific discovery are landmark works by the great naturalist Baron Cuvier, his rival, Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire (doing his scholarly best to explain the peculiarities of never-seen Australian fauna), works on entolomolgy by another Cuvier-contemporary, Pierre André Latreille, and by René-Primavère Lesson the surgeon-naturalist who wrote the official account of the Duperrey voyage. There are charming works for the young and works of amazing beauty.  

Our second major catalogue of the year marks the 200^th anniversary of Louis de Freycinet’s arrival in Western Australia. See item 21 for the wonderful Hydrographical Atlas from this voyage. This was Louis’ second visit, his first was as the cartographer-surveyor for the Baudin expedition, a fine account of which is included (see item 2), as well as the only published portrait of him (see item 18).

Before European landfall, Macrobius posits the existence of a Great South Land with his brilliant mapping of the world (see item 30). Other highlights include a rare Russian edition of the chart by Tupaia, the Tahitian priest and remarkable member of Cook’s Endeavour voyage; a presentation copy of Remy’s important Hawaiian history; a beautiful copy of Josephus’ great history of the Jews from the Library at Chatsworth; as well as foundation works on Colonial Australia and a fine painting of Port Phillip in the gold rush—a small masterpiece.

This month we have featured a landmark in the development of Australian illustrated books: the album of early Colonial views by Joseph Lycett, Governor Macquarie’s convict-artist. 

A interesting 1860s keepsake album with historic watercolours including views of Glenelg and the Darling River. Belonging to Helene Simeon, the album has contributions by her husband-to-be John Chadwick Woore, then Commissioner of Lands in New South Wales. The pioneering names of Gooch and Finniss are included in a list of visitors and the contributions by Helene, her friends and family reveal the concerns of a young Colonial woman about to leave coastal Glenelg for life in remote New South Wales.