Illustrated memoirs of R.W. Jesper's travels in England, Australia, North America and other countries, 1831-1887 / R.W. Jesper
- Bib ID:
- 5883069
- Format:
- Picture
- Author:
- Jesper, R. W, artist
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Description:
-
- 1831-1887
- 1 album (132 drawings) : pen, pencil and watercolour ; 17 x 23.5 cm, in case 25.8 x 19 x 4 cm
- 2 photographs : albumen ; 10 x 6.4 cm, or smaller
- Summary:
-
The album consists of watercolour drawings of the Australian goldfields, engineering, travel in the mid-nineteenth century and minority religion. The section on the goldfields, especially the mining technology is the most significant in the album. Jesper travelled to the goldfields of McIvor, Bendigo, St Arnaud, Maldon and Maryville in 1852. The album includes information on and detailed watercolour images of being on the tramp, sleeping places of varying quality, prospecting, a cave-in at a mine, the use of Chinese labour and many types of mining technology. The industrial equipment and methods depicted are a very different record to the more romantic view of goldpanning by hand, and the subjects are treated scientifically. It is a visual record of industrial techniques used in mid-nineteenth century Australia. When Jesper and his wife returned to Australia in 1869, they resided in St Kilda in a house adjoining that of John King, survivor of the Burke and Wills expedition, and there is a picture of the two cottages. The album also reflects the increasing mobility of individuals during this period, when young, Jesper travelled around Britain due to changes in family circumstance, and once old enough to make his own decisions, he then travelled around the world for what appear to be economic reasons.--Information from acquisitions documentation.
- Biography/History:
-
R.W. Jesper created the illustrated memoirs for his son Hugh Neville Jesper. It shows and relates the life history of R.W. Jesper, starting with his place of birth in Essex, in about 1830, his travels through and activities in Australia, his return to Britain and marriage, subsequent return to Australia, and finally his voyage to and life in the United States.--Information from acquisitions documentation.
- Notes:
-
- Title from acquisitions documentation see file NLA12/686.
- Inscriptions: "Hugh Neville Jesper from his loving Father 1885. Sketches of few from memory, R.W.J."--On front cover.
- Album is cased in a mottled calf solander case and inscribed on spine: 'Original manuscript of the Australian Goldfields, R.W. Jesper'.
- Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-133763662
- Source of Acquisition:
- Purchased from Hordern House, 2012.
- Subject:
- Terms of Use:
- Copyright restrictions may apply.
- Related Records:
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This is a collection.
This collection contains 134 records. - Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Unable to determine date of publication or creation
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Artistic
- Published status:
- Unpublished
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