A Fish of New South Wales. Bag-throated Balistes c1789.

by Stockdale, John

Wonderful 18thC antique print of Smoothspine Leatherjacket Fish, now, Cantheschenia longipinnis (as named by Fraser-Brunner in 1941). This strange-looking fish is a strange-looking fish!

"This fish is found pretty commonly on the coast of New South Wales, and was called by the sailors the Old Wife, having much resemblance in many things to the species so named. when skinned, it was thought pretty good eating."

Original copperplate engraving by Peter Mazell after a drawing Daniel Butler for The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay with an account of the Establishment of the Colonies of Port Jackson and Norfolk Island published in London by John Stockdale of Piccadilly in 1789 (later hand-colour). Daniel Butler was a crew member aboard the Prince of Wales during the First Fleet voyage to Australia. He often sketched new discoveries. This was the first engraving of a specimen collected during the first year after the new colony was set up at Port Jackson in 1788.

In fine condition, to the platemark measures 192 x 260 mm (7 1/2 x 10 1/4 inches). Page size is 225 x 300 mm (8 7/8 x 11 3/4 inches). I lurv this fellow!