Journal And Proceedings Of The Royal Society Of New South Wales, For 1883
Vol. XVII
Edited by A. Liversidge (University Of Sydney)
Published by Thomas Richards, Government Printer: Sydney 1884
Original 1884 Publication With Large Foldout Chart + Loose Map Present - Includes 56 Page Article On The Aborigines Inhabiting The Great Lacustrine & Riverine Depression Of The Lower Murray, Lower Murrumbidgee, Lower Lachlan & Lower Darling by Peter Beveridge.
"Journal And Proceedings Of The Royal Society Of New South Wales, For 1883 is an important and substantial early Australian scientific and ethnographic publication issued by the Royal Society of New South Wales during the late colonial period. Edited by noted scientist and University of Sydney professor A. Liversidge, this original 1884 government-printed volume gathers together a wide range of scholarly papers documenting scientific, geological, meteorological, anthropological and natural history research being undertaken across New South Wales during the 1880s. As an official Royal Society publication, the work represents an important record of nineteenth century Australian intellectual and scientific development.
Of particular significance within this volume is the extensive 56-page ethnographic study by Peter Beveridge titled "Of the Aborigines Inhabiting the Great Lacustrine and Riverine Depression of the Lower Murray, Lower Murrumbidgee, Lower Lachlan, and Lower Darling." Read before the Royal Society in June 1883, the paper documents Beveridge's observations gathered over more than two decades amongst Aboriginal communities of the Murray-Darling river systems. The work discusses tribal structures, dialects, customs, communications, social organisation and ceremonial practices, making it an important original source record relating to Aboriginal life and culture in south-eastern Australia during the nineteenth century.
This volume is further enhanced by the presence of its large original foldout Rainfall Map of New South Wales 1883, an impressive and highly detailed survey-era statistical map showing rainfall distribution across the colony together with meteorological recording stations and settlement locations. Early foldout maps of this nature are frequently missing from surviving copies, making the inclusion of both the loose map and foldout chart especially desirable for collectors, researchers and institutions focused on Australian scientific history, cartography and colonial studies.
Beautifully produced in its original cloth binding and printed by Thomas Richards, Government Printer, Sydney in 1884, the book remains a fascinating snapshot of nineteenth century Australian scholarship and exploration. Combining scientific proceedings, early anthropological observation and rare colonial cartographic material within a single volume, this is an increasingly difficult Royal Society publication to locate complete and in such well-preserved original form."
General wear and fading to covers and spine as shown. Binding is strong, covers are firm and secure. There are no loose pages. No inscriptions however a stamp from the "National Herbarium, Melbourne" is present. Includes Western River Height Chart + large loose foldout chart "Rainfall Map". Index only refers to Rainfall Map (present) however map storage section is rough cut and suggests other charts may have been originally present. A nice copy in good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
Size 22cm x 15cm x 3cm - 324 Pages + Charts
