Australian Cyprinaceous Labrus. The Hippocampus or Sea-Horse c1790.

by Sarah Stone

Australian Crimson Band Wrasse and Hippocampus or Seahorse antique print. Labrus Cyprinaceous (now Notolabrus gumnogenis) and Syngathus Hippocampus (now Hippocampus whitei).

Original copperplate engraving after Sarah Stone for Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales by Surgeon-General to the First Fleet and Settlement, John White. A capable amateur naturalist, White compiled information on the colony's flora and fauna for publication in London in 1790.

The daughter of a professional fan painter, Sarah Stone (1760-1844) married naval officer John Langland Smith in 1789. The "celebrated Miss Stone" worked as a natural history illustrator in England between 1777 and 1820. Prominent 18th century collectors, including Sir Joseph Banks and Sir Ashton Lever, commissioned her to prepare watercoloured drawings of animals and birds, from skins, specimens, artifacts and drawings that were sent to England from early voyages of exploration. Sarah Stone illustrations were often the first to be seen of new discoveries from around the world.

Two pages of accompanying letterpress are available. Page margins of this engraving are a little soiled - as is to be expected after 235 years. Size: 285 x 215mm approx. (11.1/4 inches x 8.1/2 inches)