Maggs Bros.

Gill is the foremost artist of the Victorian gold rush in the 1850s and these plates are some of the first he produced during that time. Although an incomplete set, these images are quite scarce and in very good condition.“Drawn on the stone by Gill himself, they retain the freshness and wry observation which characterize his best watercolour drawings” (Wantrup). This first work enjoyed considerable success, appearing in a quarto format in London as well as hand-coloured editions. The plates were appropriated to illustrate John Sherer’s The Gold-Finder in Australia. The eight included here are titled: Interesting Statement On quality of washing stuff; Dangerously Suspicious Contributions insisted on - voluntary principles despised; The Invalid Digger; Successful Diggers On way from Bendigo; Licence Inspected. Forrest Creek; Diggers on Rout to Deposit Gold; Wayfaring Diggers; Gold Buyer The market price discussed - Eagle Hawk. Ferguson, 9220; Wantrup, 245; Abbey, 584.