Cook's River Dam, Botany Bay, New South Wales c1864.

by The Illustrated London News

Antique print of Cook's River Dam, Botany Bay c1864.

Rarely seen historic original 19th century woodcut of this Sydney region that is now so heavily developed and populated. Engraved for the weekly illustrated periodical, The Illustrated London News which provided information and illustrations on important subjects around the world.

It was the illustrations that made this periodical so popular at a time when many of the population could not read. Those whose relatives had moved to the Australian colonies would have avidly cut out such images as this, coloured them in (as has been done with this one) and enjoyed them as wall decoration. This would have been a half-page illustration. The top has been slightly creased at the right, but it is still an important image.

This antique print is mounted between antique white ragmat conervation board and cover with cellophane for protection until framed. The window surrounding this illustration measures 175 x 235mm (6 7/8 x 9 1/4 inches). The external measurement for frame is 330 x 395mm (approximately 13 x 15 1/2 inches).