Manuscripts and Ephemera
The Collection includes one of the most extensive collection of manuscripts relating to the period in private hands today. These include letters and documents from many of the famous names that created history including Cook, the French explorers, Macquarie, and larger than life figures such as William Bligh and Fletcher Christian.
SF000086
Letter addressed to Governor King, signed by John Macarthur
John Macarthur – Author
1800
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000087
Kethuba – First recorded Jewish marriage document in Australia
Rabbi Aaron Levy – Author/Maker
1831
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000094
First Voyage of HMS Endeavour – Letter
Williams and Mason – Author
1768
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000100
Memoranda Road Book – W. Cox
William Cox – Author
1815
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000102
Attested copy of Thomas Jamison’s last Will and Testament
Thomas Jamison – Author
1811
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000103
Accounts ledger for Dunheved Farm, owned by Philip Parker King
Phillip Parker King – Artist
1817-1822
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000138
Indenture – William Bligh
William Bligh – Author
1838
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000155
First Fleet – A List of the Naval, Marine, Military and Civil Establishment, at Botany Bay
John Shortland – Author
1787
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000164
Draft report of the arrest of the BOUNTY mutineers on Tahiti
Edward Edwards – Author
1791
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000165
Document bearing Fletcher Christian’s signature
Fletcher Christian – Signatory
1788
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000670
Original manuscript from the voyage of the corvette URANIE
Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet – Author
1818
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000676
William Bligh’s signature given on BOUNTY
William Bligh – Author
1787
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000720
The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser, Volume 1 Number 1
George Howe – Author/Maker
1803
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF000868
Manuscript appointing Bissy as astronomer to the Baudin voyage
Lazare Carnot – Signatory
1800
Manuscripts and Ephemera
SF001482
Journal de Marine, Vol 1
Jules Joseph de Mieulle – Author
1829-1832
Manuscripts and Ephemera
Eye-witness account of Captain Cook’s death
James Trevenen – Author
1779
Manuscripts and Ephemera
Explore by category
Maps and Charts
Maps and Charts
Date range: 1541-1836
Ship Models
Ship Models
Date range: 1629-1890
Maritime Paintings
Maritime Paintings
Date range: 1793-1849
Manuscripts and Ephemera
Manuscripts and Ephemera
Date range: 1768-c1850
Medallions and Convict Tokens
Medallions & Convict Tokens
Date range: 1619-1880
European Portraits
European Portraits
Date range: c1700-c1860
Indigenous History
Indigenous History
Date range: c1800-1959
Landscapes
Landscapes
Date range: 1768-c1850
Books
Books
Date range: 1694-c1850
Currency and Shares
Currency and Shares
Date range: 1624-1823
Printed Material
Printed Material
Date range: 1541-1836
Maritime Archaeology
Maritime Archaeology
Date range: 1629-1854
Ceramics
Ceramics and Pottery
Date range: c1779-c1830
Cartoons
Cartoons
Date range: 1794-1851
General Interest
General Interest
Date range: c1580-c1850
Curator’s corner
New acquisitions, staff favourites and curios
Child’s Mug
The mug is decorated with an underglaze and a blue transfer print. On the body, it is titled ‘Emigrants to Australia’. This type of body and glaze was discontinued by 1840. Comparison of the handle shape and the profile of the foot, point to the attribution of manufacture by the Davenport Factory.
Bronze Ship’s Bell
Delta was a ship-rigged vessel with two decks and three masts. It was built in Dordrecht, Netherlands in 1839 at the shipyard of Jan Schouten and registered in the same port. Its hull was constructed of oak and sheathed in ‘yellow metal’. Delta was owned by H. van der Sande at the time of its loss and was engaged as a cargo trader.
The Delta carried 29 crew and passengers, while sailing from Melbourne to Batavia in ballast when wrecked at Kenn Reefs on 30 May 1854 whilst under the command of Captain J.G. Kunst. This vessel loss supports the pattern of shipwrecks located on a well-travelled shipping route that was poorly charted until the mid-nineteenth century. The crew of the Delta could see four other shipwrecks at Kenn Reefs at the time of their vessel’s loss.
Portrait of CATO
Important image of a ship associated with Matthew Flinders, that would shortly become one of the most famous early shipwrecks in eastern Australian waters. This is a fine ship’s portrait, by one of the great exponents of the art
Explore by category
Maps and Charts
Date range: 1541-1836
Ship Models
Date range: 1629-1890
Maritime Paintings
Date range: 1793-1849
Manuscripts and Ephemera
Date range: 1768-c1850
Medallions & Convict Tokens
Date range: 1619-1880
Landscapes
Date range: 1768-c1850
Books
Date range: 1694-c1850
Currency and Shares
Date range: 1624-1823
Printed Material
Date range: 1541-1836
Maritime Archaeology
Date range: 1629-1854
Curator's corner
New acquisitions, staff favourites and curios
The mug is decorated with an underglaze and a blue transfer print. On the body, it is titled ‘Emigrants to Australia’. This type of body and glaze was discontinued by 1840. Comparison of the handle shape and the profile of the foot, point to the attribution of manufacture by the Davenport Factory.
Delta was a ship-rigged vessel with two decks and three masts. It was built in Dordrecht, Netherlands in 1839 at the shipyard of Jan Schouten and registered in the same port. Its hull was constructed of oak and sheathed in ‘yellow metal’. Delta was owned by H. van der Sande at the time of its loss and was engaged as a cargo trader.
The Delta carried 29 crew and passengers, while sailing from Melbourne to Batavia in ballast when wrecked at Kenn Reefs on 30 May 1854 whilst under the command of Captain J.G. Kunst. This vessel loss supports the pattern of shipwrecks located on a well-travelled shipping route that was poorly charted until the mid-nineteenth century. The crew of the Delta could see four other shipwrecks at Kenn Reefs at the time of their vessel’s loss.
Important image of a ship associated with Matthew Flinders, that would shortly become one of the most famous early shipwrecks in eastern Australian waters. This is a fine ship’s portrait, by one of the great exponents of the art