A Tapoa Tafa. Eastern Quoll, Dasyurus viverrinus. c1790.

by Charles Catton, Jnr.

18th century antique print of Australian Eastern Quoll.

Rare original copperplate engraving for the Surgeon-General of the First Fleet and Settlement in Australia, John White's Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales published in London by J. Debrett in 1789-1790. As well as being Surgeon-General of the British settlement at Port Jackson, White was an avid amateur naturalist who sent a collection of natural history specimens to his friend, surgeon Thomas Wilson in England to arrange for their publication. Sarah Stone drew forty-nine of the sixty-five specimens that were then engraved by five London nature artists, Frederick Nodder, Charles Catton Jr., Edward Kennion, Mortimer, and Sarah Stone.

This page was stretched during printing and has light foxing spots - mainly around the edges. (Price halved.) White's Journal was published uncoloured. This finely hand-coloured engraving was tinted at a later date. Size of page: 28 x 22cm (11 x 8.5 inches).