King William Street, from Victoria Square, Adelaide c1886.

by Fitler, W.C.

19th century antique print of Adelaide city centre.

Original wood engraving by F.B. Schell after the sketch by William Crothers Fitler (1857-1915). Frederick Schell (1838-1902) was working in New York as an artist with Harper's Weekly when he was appointed chief-of-staff of The Picturesque Atlas Publishing Company. This company was specifically set up for the publication of Picturesque Atlas of Australasia, to celebrate 100 years since the First Fleet settlement arrived in Sydney. Schell commissioned leading artists to illustrate the discovery, settlement and development of Australia and the adjacent Pacific countries. It was published in forty-two parts between 1886 and 1888. It was not an Atlas in the usual sense of the word, although thirty maps were included, there were over seven hundred illustrations of the discovery, settlement and development of Australia. Most of the engravings were surrounded by text but some full page views were included. The engraved illustrations were some of the finest published anywhere in the world at that time.

These early engravings are sometimes the only illustration of colonial days in Australia. As with many of these engravings, this one has later hand-colour which certainly enhances this wonderful historic record of Adelaide. This is a superb view of this beautiful city.

The engraving is mounted between conservation ragmat board and covered with cellophane for presentation and protection until frmed. Full page size was around 45 x 34cm (17.5 x 13.5 inches). The window around the engraving measures 17 x 26cm (6.5/8 x 10.5/8 inches). External mount size for frame window is 305 x400mm (12 x 15.3/4 inches).