Charles Potter, Government Printer
Photographs of Some of the Principal Buildings in the City of Sydney, New South Wales, 1890
Photo album; albumen prints (33), including one three-part panorama
Most 6 x 7 1/2 inches, panorama 5 x 27 inches overall
Each with printed caption to album page.
Each with printed caption to album page.
Further images
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This handsome album contains photographic study of Sydney's stately architecture and a number of birds-eye views of the city, including an interesting three-part panorama. The album was created under the...
This handsome album contains photographic study of Sydney's stately architecture and a number of birds-eye views of the city, including an interesting three-part panorama. The album was created under the direction of Government printer Charles Potter. Julia Peck has summarized the history of the Government Printing Office in the "Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Photography" (2007):
'The New South Wales Government Printer (NSWGP), a public works department in Sydney, was established in 1859 as an extension of the postage stamp department. The first Government Printer, Mr. Thomas Richards, established the "Photolithographic and Lithographic" department in 1868 and the "Photomechanical" department in 1877. Richards' intention for the photographs was the depiction of natural features and the material progress of the colony; the distribution of the photographs was promotional.
'Photographs were sent to international exhibitions, including the Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888, when the department sent 178 photographs. The main form of presentation, however, was in album format, produced internally by the Printer's binding department. The quality, style and size of the albums were remarkable and produced as gifts for official visitors… Photographs were purchased and commissioned from commercial operators including Henry King, Charles Bayliss and Charles Kerry'.
List of titles:
Government House; Sydney Harbour (looking towards the Heads) from the Hotel Metropole; View of the portion of the City from the Hotel Metropole; View of portion of the City from the Grosvenor Hotel (2 views);The Town Hall; The General Post Office; Public Offices, Bridge Street;St. Andrew's Cathedral; St. Phillip's Church; The University; The Medical School, Sydney University; St. Paul's College; St. John's College; St. Andrew's College; Union Club and Hotel Metropole; Australian Club and Lands Office; Government Printing Office; Grosvenor Hotel; St. James' Buildings, King Street; Australian Museum; Custom House; Free Public Library; Free Public Library (Lending Branch); Goldsbrough and Mort's Wool Store; Hill, Clark and Co.'s Wool Store; Prince Alfred Hospital; The Exchange; Norwich Chambers, Hunter Street; Dixson's Tobacco Factory; Untitled (panoramic view of Sydney Harbor)
'The New South Wales Government Printer (NSWGP), a public works department in Sydney, was established in 1859 as an extension of the postage stamp department. The first Government Printer, Mr. Thomas Richards, established the "Photolithographic and Lithographic" department in 1868 and the "Photomechanical" department in 1877. Richards' intention for the photographs was the depiction of natural features and the material progress of the colony; the distribution of the photographs was promotional.
'Photographs were sent to international exhibitions, including the Centennial International Exhibition, Melbourne, 1888, when the department sent 178 photographs. The main form of presentation, however, was in album format, produced internally by the Printer's binding department. The quality, style and size of the albums were remarkable and produced as gifts for official visitors… Photographs were purchased and commissioned from commercial operators including Henry King, Charles Bayliss and Charles Kerry'.
List of titles:
Government House; Sydney Harbour (looking towards the Heads) from the Hotel Metropole; View of the portion of the City from the Hotel Metropole; View of portion of the City from the Grosvenor Hotel (2 views);The Town Hall; The General Post Office; Public Offices, Bridge Street;St. Andrew's Cathedral; St. Phillip's Church; The University; The Medical School, Sydney University; St. Paul's College; St. John's College; St. Andrew's College; Union Club and Hotel Metropole; Australian Club and Lands Office; Government Printing Office; Grosvenor Hotel; St. James' Buildings, King Street; Australian Museum; Custom House; Free Public Library; Free Public Library (Lending Branch); Goldsbrough and Mort's Wool Store; Hill, Clark and Co.'s Wool Store; Prince Alfred Hospital; The Exchange; Norwich Chambers, Hunter Street; Dixson's Tobacco Factory; Untitled (panoramic view of Sydney Harbor)