A Residence in Tasmania - Through the Island from Macquarie Harbour to Circular Head

An important early treatise about the island that was still burdened by the harsh reputation of Van Diemen's Land penal colony at the time. A book notable for its description of the impenetrable West Coast as well as many detailed appendices of lists of public schools, church statistics and even Tasmanian birdlife among others.
Actually, Stoney did have an earlier publication in Hobart in 1854 but under a different title called “A year in Tasmania”. This London edition is both enlarged and revised and also has fine tinted lithographs not present in the original Hobart publication, so it is in fact a first true London edition with a different title and it is also certainly the first illustrated edition too. Apparently there are also variant bindings, the blue cloth is quoted as being “extra guilt“ being on the board and edges. Plus there was also a publisher’s Morocco binding which is very rare and also a standard cloth edition that we think is red. In addition there is also a rare secondary edition some 6 years years later of the standard sheets and illustrations with a Smith, Elder imprint that was in fact published by Bickers and Bush in 1862. (Ferguson:F16295)