[Alexander Hattrick, carpenter, or R. Turnbull.] 28 illustrations: depicting Australian scenes (panoramas of North Head Quarantine Station; Farm Cove, Sydney; Hobart, Tasmania) and a narrative of an excursion to Nurstead Woods, Kent.

Author: 
[Alexander Hattrick or R. Turnbull; Alexander Hatrick (1857-1918), New Zealand merchant; Pacific Steam Navigation Co.; North Head Quarantine Station, Sydney; Nurstead Woods, Kent; 'Swift Sure' whaler]
Publication details: 
One item with date 'May 1893'. All twelve items on stationery of the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., including eight 'Soundings' forms, filled in 'For Chief Engineer', signed 'Alex Hattrick', and dated 25 March and 2, 7, 8, 11, 18, 24, 29 June [1893?]
£850.00
SKU: 15056

28 illustrations: 3 of which depict Australian scenes (panoramas of North Head Quarantine Station; Farm Cove, Sydney; Hobart, Tasmania) with a cartoon/narrative of an excursion to Nurstead Woods, Kent. One item with date 'May 1893'. All twelve items on stationery of the Pacific Steam Navigation Co., including eight 'Soundings' forms, filled in 'For Chief Engineer', signed 'Alex Hattrick', and dated 25 March and 2, 7, 8, 11, 18, 24, 29 June [1893?] One item with date 'May 1893'. The twelve items in fair condition, on lightly aged and worn paper. Charmingly-executed in a naive style. The printed 'Soundings' forms are all 25 x 10 cm, and each is filled in and signed by 'Alex Hattrick', and five of the eight illustrations on the reverses of these forms are numbered between 1 and 6 (no. 5 lacking). Of particular interest are two detailed pencil panoramas, both showing views from the sea. [Quarantine Bay, NSW] The first is not captioned (on reverse of 'Soundings' for 8 June). It shows the sweep of North Head, with the various edifices of the North Head Quarantine Station captioned: 'Quarantine Tender', 'Crew of Tenders Houses', 'Passenger Acommodn [sic]', 'Supt House', 'Passengers House', 'Hospital Hulk | Doctor House | cricket ground | Crew of 3rd Class | 1st Class laundry', 'Pier of Wash House & disinfecting & fumigation shed', 'Convalescent Houses'.[Hobart, Tasmania]The second is captioned 'HOBART. FROM DUNN'S WHARF' (on reverse of 'Soundings' form dated 25 March), shows the 'SWIFTSHURE WHALER' (i.e. James Jackson Jnr's whaler the 'Swift Sure') and other ships in the harbour, with forested green hills rising up in the background. To the right, in the foreground, is the stern of the ship from which the sketch is made, with the Red Ensign flying from it. [Farm Cove, Sydney] A third, smaller panorama (10 x 19 cm.), on the reverse of a different blank printed form, for the Chief Engineer, headed 'Pacific Steam Navigation Company's Steam-Ship'. It is captioned 'FARM COVE' and shows the 'ORLANDO' (HMS Orlando) and two other steam ships with the cove behind and the houses of Sydney in the background. A fourth pencil drawing, on a fragment (10 x 12 cm) of a 'Soundings' form (dated 16 June) shows a detail of a skyline with folliage, with a 'Coal shed' to the left and 'end of Quarantine Bay' to the left. The remaining eight items include six on 'Soundings' forms, all relating to a family excursion from 'Jersey Villa. The meeting place' to Nurstead Woods in May 1893. This comprises a sequence of 22 sketches, with extensive narrative, dated 'May 1893 | God save the Queen'. The first page carries five illustrations, with the following text: '[One] We discuss what to do on Whit Monday. "Take the children to the Woods

Edie? All right Bob - see what Mrs Howling says to it. I'm sure it would be nice | [Two] We call. H- proposes to hire a Brake. No thanks. "Shank's Bus for me." - Take a perambulator for the food if you like sup. & After a very heated discussion the Perambulator is agreed to | [Three] H-s fancy P2 - for the day - Ambitions extravagance | [Four] T-s fancy - Economy stingyness with plenty to eat - & drink' | [Five] By employing "Shanks Bus" we are enabled to ask a mutual friend & family ("Mr. & Mrs. B-") to join us, and arrange to all meet at Jersey Villa at 11 am Monday morning | The Family. | PS I am unable to state exactly but am under the impression there was another of the family present. R.T.' The party's various adventures are described, including meetings with a ploughman and a game keeper. The last illustration is a splendid full-page pencil panorama of 'TURNBULL'S HOLIDAY | NURSTEAD WOODS | MAY 1893', showing the whole family, with perambulator filled with food, picnicking around a tree. The last two illustrations, on small scaps of paper are captioned 'WEST ST. 3D. OF HERRINGS | JERSEY VILLA' and 'THE HOME CONCERT HALL'. It is likely that there is a connection between the 'Alexander Hattrick' of these documents and the New Zealand merchant and shipowner Alexander Hatrick (with one 't') (1857-1918). Hatrick's father was a Scottish carpenter, but his son's dates do not make it likely that he would have been working on board ship in 1893, and it may be that the forms are signed by another member of the family, bearing the same name.