The Pioneers of Sydney Cove (First Limited Edition, Signed)

RUMSEY, Herbert J. (compiler; decorations James Emery; illus. Elva Jones). The Pioneers of Sydney Cove. Sydney: Sunnybrook Press, 1937.

Demy 4to. Original olive cloth boards, gilt lettered. Original printed paper dust jacket. Housed in the original brown slipcase, as issued with at least some copies of this edition. Uncut. xxvi, [ii], 121, [i: colophon]pp. Title page vignette and decorations throughout by James Emery; several text illustrations by Elva Jones, based on contemporary prints of the colony. Limited edition. Limited to 150 numbered copies, this being number 71. Signed by both the compiler, Herbert J. Rumsey, and the printer, Ernest H. Shea, on the limitation page. The sixth book published by the Sunnybrook Press. Includes the original sales prospectus, with excerpt from the book, dated 1936. Bookplate of Milton Whitmont to front free endpaper.

The Sunnybrook Press was a small, meticulous Sydney private press of the 1930s, operating under the direction of Ernest H. Shea, whose commitment to fine printing in the Australian context produced a small but carefully considered list of titles. This is the sixth such title and addressed one of the most enduringly significant subjects in Australian colonial history: the identities and fates of the men, women, and children who arrived with the First Fleet in January 1788 and formed the founding population of the colony of New South Wales at Sydney Cove.

Fine in very good dust jacket. Some mild wear at dust jacket ends and some toning to spine, small tear to lower front edge and small watermark to front cover near spine crease. Volume fine, clear and bright throughout. Binding sound.

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Catalogue Number: HH000677