Melbourne: Day & Son (Limited), 1867. Folio, uncoloured titlepage and 13 handcoloured lithographs. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt armorial title, all edges gilt; expertly rebacked, a little rubbed, a very good copy.

The first issue, with the uncoloured title-page and slightly larger than the second issue.

"There is a widely held misconception that the plates were issued hand coloured by Fanny Charsley, but this is not so. She may have coloured a few copies for special presentation, but most were issued uncoloured and subsequently coloured by their owners. It could be considered a very sophisticated "colouring book". Copies in original uncoloured state are rare" (tipped-in note by John Chapman).

This comment does not apply to this copy and other copies I have handled. The colouring is consistent and of a high standard, suggesting either the hand of Charsley or a contemporary professional colourist.

Ferguson 8106a; Nissen BBI 347.