Sydney General View. Sydney Harbour with shipping. c1846

by The Illustrated London News

Sydney Harbour, Fort Denison, Government House antique print, with shipping and early Sydney buildings.

Original engraving by Smyth, of shipping in Sydney Harbour, for The Illustrated London News published in London circa 1846 (later hand-tinting with watercolour). The Illustrated London News periodical was the world's first graphic newspaper. While newspapers were not originally financially viable, after the inclusion of engraving illustrations sales increased widely. From the beginning, the engraved illustrations were avidly collected, and coloured for further enjoyment (as with this engraving).

This hand-coloured engraving has been mounted between 'antique-white' conservation mattboard, ready for framing, and is covered with cellophane for protection. Size of engraving window is 135 x 240 mm (5.25 x 9.5 inches). Full page size was 40 x 27cm (15.75 x 10.5 inches). External measurement of mount, for framing, is 175 x 380 mm (7 x 15 inches).