Botanical, Brown John Ednie, Melaluca Squarrosa, chromolithograph, 1882-1890

Date: 1882-1890

Botanist: Brown, John Ednie

Artist: Fiveash Rosa Catherine

Lithographer: Barret H

Print Size: 340 x 445mm

Paper size: 395 x 550mm

Condition: Very good

Technique: Chromolithography

Vernacular name: Blackthorn

Price: $300

Description:  Large folio, Parts 1 to 8 (of nine), each containing five very large-format chromolithographic plates (40 plates in all).

The print on this item is slightly to one side with room to mat comfortably

This is a fine example of colour lithography or chromolithography

 Provenance:

The Forest Flora of South Australia

Large folio, Parts 1 to 8 (of nine), each containing five very large-format chromolithographic plates with leaves of text (40 plates in all).This is a fine example of colour lithography or chromolithography. Adelaide, Government Printer, 1882 to 1890.

Biography:

Brown John Ednie

Born in Scotland in 1848, died in Cottesloe, Western Australia, on 26 October 1899.

John Ednie Brown was born in Scotland, the son of James who was deputy-surveyor of woods and forests and an expert on arboriculture. John left school aged 15 to work with his father. Following three years of training with him, John was sent to the Invercauld Estate in Aberdeenshire, and subsequently to Yorkshire and Sussex where he was responsible for laying out plantations and managing estates.

In 1871-72 Brown visited North America and wrote a paper on the trees of California and Forests of the eastern states of America for which he received prizes.

Brown’s expertise was in forest management. In 1878 he was offered the post of Conservator of Forests in South Australia and arrived in the colony later the same year. Brown's first report on South Australian forests and their possibilities were not adopted, but in 1880 he wrote A practical treatise on tree culture in South Australia and 3000 copies were distributed by the government. He exhibited specimens and literature in Scotland, in 1884 winning a silver medal and diploma. His reputation was growing and he was regarded as the 'most competent man in dealing with forestry in all the Australian colonies'.

In 1890 he 'accepted the position of director-general of forests in New South Wales at £800 a year, £50 more than the South Australians paid him'. Presumably, Brown's departure in 1890 caused the project to be abandoned.

In 1895 he was engaged by the Bureau of Agriculture in Western Australia to examine that colony's forests for marketability. Following the publication of the report, Brown was appointed Conservator of the newly created Department of Woods and Forests, and the value of Western Australia's timber exports increased fivefold.

Rosa Catherine Fiveash (1854-1938) was a South Australian Botanical Artist. 'Australian In 1882 Rosa was invited to illustrate "The Forest Flora of South Australia" by John Ednie Brown. Nine parts of this work, which was never completed, were published in 1882-90. Each one contained five attractive lithographs of native plants and Rosa drew 32 of the 45 published; they were drawn as specimens came to hand, in no particular botanical order'. His initials can be found in the bottom left corner of the printed plates. Described as the foremost botanical artist of her day, she was privately tutored and trained at the Adelaide School of Art and Design between 1881 and 1888. She went on to have a career in botanical and scientific illustration, as well as taking private students and teaching at Tormore House school in North Adelaide. The lithographer, Barret, was extremely proud of his work for this publication and was quick to correct a mistaken assumption at the time, that the work was hand coloured

Plates show “drawn on stone by HB