Gold. A Tough Customer (Diggers of Low Degree). Sherer (after Gill) c1853

by Sherer, John

GOLD DIGGINGS in AUSTRALIA. A Tough Customer looking for a fight. (Captioned "Diggers of Low Degree" by S.T. Gill)

"He was, in appearance, a man that could fell an ox with one blow of his fist." A would-be pugilist looking for a fight - with his promoter. Empty bottle assisting courage, and hat at the ready to take all bets. Perhaps it would be an easier way to make money when digging for gold is unsuccessful!

Original wood engraving by W.A. Nicholls 'from authentic sketches taken in the colony'  for John Sherer’s “The Gold-Finder of Australia - How he went, How he fared, How he made his fortune” published in London circa 1853. London-based Sherer added descriptive captions below each of his engravings that were based on ST Gill's sketches of the Australian gold-rushes.

Engraved page measures 22 x 13cm (8.5 x 5 inches).  A group of these, framed on the wall, would be both an interesting and sometimes amusing historical statement.