Queens Visit To London

The engraving by Samuel Neele, titled "Portrait of Bennilong," is a significant historical representation from G. A. Cooke's "Modern and Authentic System of Universal Geography," published in circa 1802. It portrays Bennelong, an Eora man from New Holland (now Australia), who learned English and traveled to England with Governor Arthur Phillip in 1792. This image reflects Bennelong's unique position as a cultural intermediary and is a remarkable example of early cross-cultural encounters between Indigenous Australians and Europeans. Some more interesting facts about Woollarawarre Bennelong from an article in the Independent of March 2011: The grave of Woollarawarre Bennelong, an Aboriginal leader who played a key role in early Australian colonial history, has been discovered in a suburban front garden – solving a 200-year-old mystery. One of the first Aborigines to interact with British colonists, Bennelong – a senior member of the Wangal tribe – struck up a friendship with the first governor of New South Wales, Arthur Phillip. When Phillip sailed home to England, he took the Wangal man with him, dressed him in Regency finery and introduced him to London high society. When Bennelong returned to Australia, he was ostracised by the indigenous and European communities. In 1813, having sunk into alcoholism, he died – but exactly where he was buried has been the subject of speculation ever since. Now, after protracted detective work by an environmental scientist, Peter Mitchell, Bennelong's final resting-place has been found, The Sun-Herald newspaper reported yesterday. The discovery represents the missing link in Bennelong's extraordinary story, and is certain to reignite interest in a man who tried to bridge the gap between black and white – a challenge still facing Australians today. Dr Mitchell, the honourary associate professor of physical geography at Sydney's Macquarie University, scoured the archives for references to the grave, which he matched against geographical records to place it in the Sydney suburb of Putney. Surveyors from the local Ryde Council then pinpointed its location, between a front lawn and a central reservation. Before urban sprawl took over, the area was part of the estate of James Squire, Australia's first commercial brewer, who has given his name to a line of popular modern beers. An ex-convict, Squire befriended Bennelong before he died and buried him in his own orchard. The precise location of the grave is being kept secret, until Aboriginal leaders have been consulted about the next steps. Ryde Council wants to use ground-penetrating equipment to explore the site. A Ryde councillor, Vic Tagg, described the find as "fantastic", saying it would rewrite history. Relations between Bennelong and Phillip got off to an unpromising start in 1789, nearly two years after the First Fleet...

Antique map titled 'The Road from London to St. Davids in com: Pembroke (..)'. A strip map of the road from London to Bensington. The map is ornamented with numerous compass roses, a...

Antique map titled 'Regionis quae est circa Londinum specialis repraesentatio (..)' Very detailed map showing the area from Essex to Surrey and shows a lovely view of London with a high level of detail, stretching from Old London Bridge...

This print originates from ‘Biblia Sacra, dat is, de H. Schriftuer van het Oude, en het Nieuwe Testament, naer de laetste Roomsche keure der gemeine Latijnsche overzettinge, in neder...

Original English 1960's bus panel poster promoting coach tours around Britain. This rare poster would have been displayed in a travel bureau or on a bus or coach serving routes aroun...

Lovely colours in this original English 1960's Royal Blue coach panel poster promoting express coach services to and from London. This rare poster ...