Special issue. Original green cloth, 1918

Component identifier:

Item 67(b)

Content Summary:

Inscribed: 'One of 25 copies with cover picture and frontispiece for the second edition bound in. A'. Further inscribed: 'Mr F.S. Shenstone with the publishers compts'.

This book contains the original frontispiece with the 'bullocky' on the right side of his team, and the re-drawn frontispiece placing the 'bullocky' on the left of his team.

With long series of autograph notes, 6pp, by Hal Gye relating the circumstances of the incorrect drawing. 'First of all I drew the bullocky on the right side of his team. On the left is correct. Although I made the sad mistake...it was not because of ignorance, for, when I lived at Black Range it was my job to let the bullockies who camped opposite our house water their team in the dam also opposite our place...On several occasions, a bullocky would to please me, hand me the whip and ask me to take over, which I did under his guardian eye...and on one occasion I bullockied the team from our place into Albury...However, the original water colour was sent back to me, and sad at heart and ashamed carried out their suggestions...Coming to 'Den's' verses 'The Old Master' in the book. I'd like to say that the old legend of bullockies using bad language might have been a little overdrawn...As a boy I never heard them cursing and swearing at their teams; they were big, solid, quiet blokes to me, and stroke beside their teams in great silence and that dignity which goes with the soil. Hal Gye, September, 1963'.

Immediate source of acquisition:

The collection was purchased from Harry Chaplin in 1981.

Names:

Chaplin, Harry F.

Access and use