Godfrey Charles Mundy - album of pen & ink drawings, ca. 1834

PXB 425

fonds

ca. 1834

Graphic Materials, Drawings

431078

1 album (57 pen & ink drawings tipped into coloured leaves) - 18.7 x 12.5 x 2 cm.

Godfrey Charles Mundy (1804-1860), sketcher, soldier and author, served in India and Canada before arriving in New South Wales in 1846 to take up the position of deputy adjutant-general of the military forces in the Australian colonies. His cousin was the then Governor-General of Australia, Sir Charles Fitzroy, whom Mundy accompanied on tours around New South Wales. Reference: Dictionary of Australian Artists / Joan Kerr.

This original album dates from Mundys time in India, Canada and subsequently in London. The drawings are often humorous depictions of incidents, scenes of life and customs. The first two sketches are self-portraits -- file notes.

Rebound in modern times, retaining original free endpapers and with the edges untrimmed, in blue half morocco, spine elaborately gilt.

Mundy had previously published 'Pen and Pencil Sketches, being the Journal of a Tour of India' (London, 1832). His Australasian excursions resulted in the publication of 'Our Antipodes: or, Residence and Rambles in the Australasian Colonies, with a Glimpse of the Gold Fields' (3 vols, London, 1852). He illustrated this book with 15 lithographic plates; landscapes and lively scenes engraved from his own sketches.
The Library holds several copies of this publication, including Dixson Library and David Scott Mitchell copies, as well as translations into German (1856) and Swedish (1857). His publication on India (1832) is also held by the Library and was displayed in the 'India, China, Australia: Trade and Society 1788-1850' exhibition at the Museum of Sydney in 2003. The Library also holds several original letters by Mundy and his wife Louisa in the Macarthur papers (A2923) and Macarthur Family Papers (A4347).

"S[arah, the artists mother?] Mundy, 42 Bryanston St." in pencil on the retained front endpaper
Drawings are signed "G.C.M." at lower edge
"1834" -- at lower edge (drawing no.1)