Australian Scaevola Laciniata. F.M. Bailey, Flora of Qld

by Bailey, Frederick Manson

Half-framed FM Bailey Scaveola lithograph, Northern Queensland Fan-Flower.

In 1839, Frederick Manson Bailey (1827-1915), migrated from England to Adelaide with his parents. When he was 12 he began working at his father’s plant nursery in Adelaide. He joined the optimists at the goldfields in Bendigo and then went to New Zealand where he bought land. In 1861 Bailey moved to Brisbane, opened a plant seed store, and collected plants for sale to overseas institutions. In 1875 Bailey was appointed government botanist to investigate possible threat of pastures and plants to livestock. From 1880 to 1882 Bailey was acting curator of the Queensland Museum, and in 1890 was appointed Colonial Botanist.

F.M. Bailey wrote numerous botanical papers, but his Flora of Queensland, published in Brisbane between 1894 and 1902, with finely lithographed illustrations, was his greatest memorial. A self-educated botanist and a kindly man, Frederick Manson Bailey, C.M.G., F.L.S. was a foundation member of the Royal Society of Queensland.

Frederick James (Fred) Elliott (1865-1927) was a respected artist in watercolours and oils, exhibiting both landscapes (signed J. Elliott) and marine subjects (signed F. Elliott) at the Queensland National Association, Queensland Art Society, and New Society of Artists. Towards the end of the century he was a lithographic artist in the Queensland Government Printing Department, and is best known in this area for his botanical studies for Bailey’s Queensland Flora.

This lithograph is on fine paper with slight water-damage at right and slight age discolouration. White at the base is reflection of protective cover. It is mounted between antique-white conservation ragmat ready for framing. Page size 245 x 155 mm (9.5 x 6 inches) External size for frame window is 338 x 255mm.