Title

Published this day. The Australian Keepsake.

Author

Sands & Kenny

Source

Maitland Mercury (Maitland, NSW)

Details

17 January 1855, p.3, col.5.

Publication date

17 January 1855

Type

Advertisment

Language

English

Country of context

Australia

Abstract

This generic advertisment quoting opinions of the press, was used by Sands & Kenny to promote The Australian Keepsake in a number of newspapers.

Full text

PUBLISHED THIS DAY
The Australian Keepsake,
Containing thirty-eight views of Sydney, Port Jackson, Parramatta, Newcastle, Maitland, &c., engraved from original drawings, by
Mr. F. C. TERRY.
THE AUSTRALIAN KEEKSAKE is elegantly bound, and forms one of the most acceptable presents for the season, being, from the nature of the views, and the local interest connected therewith, admirably adapted for the drawing-rooms of Sydney, and the colony generally, and is also highly suitable for a present for home. The truthful and artistic character of the views being well calculated to afford strangers a correct and pleasing idea of the beauties of New South Wales. Price 25s.
Published by Sands and Kenny, Stationers and Booksellers, 231, George-street (two doors south of the Post Office).

W.LIPSCOMB,
Bookseller, &o.,
West Maitland.

OPINIONS OF THE PRESS.
"Australian Keepsake for 1855.  -  Among the many Australian annuals that have lately made their appearance, one of unusual character and pretensions has been published by Messrs. Sands and Kenny. This is no other than a richly bound volume containing a series of plates illustrative of the landscape scenery of New South Wales, many of which are real appreciable gems, both as characteristic pictures of the colony and as specimens of the engraver's artistic power. At the hour we write, we cannot afford time to count the number of ( engravings, there are so many of them; but we may say the sketches, from the pencil of Mr. Terry, embrace the principal spots of local interest or picturesque beauty, in the neighbourhood of Sydney and in our chief provincial towns. We cannot conceive of a more appropriate or acceptable gift for friends in England, or a more interesting addition to the drawing room table among our resident families, than this annual; and we feel assured, it will form many of the gifts of love and friendship at this joyous season of the year. At a more favourable opportunity we shall notice more at length the merits of the work before us." Empire, Saturday, Dec. 23, 1854.

"Australian Keepsake, 1855. - This tasteful and elegant album of Australian scenery reflects credit alike on the artist, the engravers, and the publishers. It consists of a series of vignette views in and around Sydney; but the lion's share has been very properly reserved for the metropolis and its magnificent harbour. Of this fine sheet of water, cut up and diversified in ever-changing beauty by its numerous creeks and fairy isles, Mr. Terry has presented us with several sketches, which, either from the superiority of the subject, or the peculiar bent of his genius, are undoubtedly the best in the work. We see the harbour of Port Jackson from Fort Macquarie (not Port Macquarie, as suggested by the English engraver), from Watson's Bay, from Milsom's Point, and from Rose Ray, where the chief islands stand out in prominent relief. Then there are three clever sketches of the entrance to the harbour from the Pacific, and several views of detached buildings in and around the city – such as Government House, St. Philip's Church (old and new), St. Patrick's Church, Australian Subscription Library, Fruit Market, Custom House, Semicircular Quay, St. Leonard's Church, North Shore. A few bits of street scenes in Sydney are also introduced. We have the cut in Argyle-street, a relic of the past, as the street is now open to the public. George street, Pitt-street, Bridge-street, and two views of King-street. These, with two sketches of Point Piper, the romantic property of Mr. Cooper, and two glimpses of Sydney (for strange to say there is no comprehensive view of the city sufficient to give strangers an idea of its character or extent), form the illustrations devoted to Sydney and its harbour. Nor is it too much to say that these 22 sketches give a fair representation of the scenes depicted, and will communicate to our friends on the other side of the globe a favourable impression of the beauties of the land in which we live. The remaining views of. the series, though of less general interest, form appropriate appendages, as showing the character of the public buildings and scenery in chief towns around the metropolis, They embrace two sketches in Newcastle, four in Maitland, East and West ; four in Parramatta, three in Windsor, and two in Richmond. Altogether, the collection is worthy of the name it has assumed, as the Australian Keepsake. It will form an interesting addition to illustrated works for the drawing-rooms of the colony, and an appropriate Christmas present for our friends in the mother country.
" Were we disposed to be hypercritical, or had we the wish or leisure to go minutely into the artistic merits of the different sketches, we could point out several faults in details, in perspective, and more particularly in the figures; a very important department, too often neglected by landscape artists. But, as we have not discovered these faults to the same extent in Mr.Terry's finished drawings, we are disposed to regard, them as partly belonging to the engraver, who must have laboured under great disadvantages from being unacquainted with the localities, for, if the name of the artist was mistaken, it is not unlikely that some of the lines of his sketches may have been misrepresented also. After all, these are but trifles - merely spots in the sun, compared with the artistic treatment of the whole collection. In times like the present, when the material prosperity of the colony is the object of general consideration, we should hail the appearance of any work like the one before us, which addresses itself to the finer feelings of our nature. It is not for us to chill the efforts of the intellect by giving a cold reception to the productions of the artist, or the man of science, or literature. Every attempt to establish the fine art's or literature among us should be fostered and encouraged, by winking at slight imperfections, and giving our liberal support to the earliest dawning’s of Australian genius. In this lies the real greatness of a country - not in the extent of its surface, nor the value of its mineral productions. - Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1854.
 

[The Maitland Mercury, 17 January 1855, p.3, col.5.]