Baobab Tree in the Kimberley District. Boab engraving c1886.

by Ashton, Julian Rossi

Antique print of a Boab or Adansonia gregorii.

Wood engraving by William Charles Piguenit after the drawing by Julian Ashton Rossi for Picturesque Atlas of Australasia, published between 1886 and 1888 to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of First Fleet settlement in Australia, at Port Jackson.

This is one of the world's most interesting trees. They are special for the individual shapes and character, and this in one of the finest single-trunk specimens I've seen illustrated. Only to be found in parts of the Kimberley and a small section of the far north of Australia. The theory is that it came to the west coast of Australia from Africa, but perhaps it went to Africa and Madagasar from Australia? Local aboriginal people believe it has always been in the Kimberly as the name boab has been used by aboriginal people for thousands of years.The pith inside the boab nut has been eaten ripe, or cooked while it was green into a kind of porridge. The roots of seedlings are eaten like a carrot, the young leaves are edible, and water can be extracted from the fibrous wood. The boabab trunk is hollow and has even been used as a prison.

This engraving is within text on a page. The engraving is mounted between antique-white ragmat conservation board and covered with cellophane for presentation and protection until framed. Window size around image is 24 x 18.5cm. External mount for frame window: 36 x 30cm.