It is just that watercolours simply do not attract the same following when stuck down like many of the 77 in the lot and offered as one. They are hard to exhibit and the voyage was also a little late by exploration collectors' standards.
But the watercolours included a remarkable collection of early views of settlements on the north west coast of Australia. There was a heap of accompanying photographs.
The NLA further points out survey work done by the Myrmidon's crew was important in determining safe coastal navigation routes in an age when shipping was essential for commercial freight and passenger transportation.
The NLA, as public protector of the visual history of topography of Australia clearly had to have it. This particular section of the coast does not otherwise have any automatic visual history custodians.
The volume sold for £122,500 IBP against estimates of £60,000 to £80,000. Given collusion in bidding even between public institutions is illegal it is possible other institutions may have been in the running. Some poignant descriptions of Sydney and Melbourne also appeared.
Public institutions cannot collude to bid against one another so there could have been Australian museum or library counter bidder - but an obvious contender, the National Maritime Museum, has not pursued such material in recent years.
The acquisition was made out of the gallery's acquisition funds rather than a special appeal which would have alerted private collectors, such as Mr Kerry Stokes, its great lender to its proposed bidding. He is one of the few private collectors in this area.
The library appropriately had an agent - albeit no mignon - in the room to purchase the journal. The word mignon is said to derive from Myrmidion. The journal was seen to be purchased by Mr Anthony Payne who is the London representative of Sydney rare book dealer Hordern House.
Captain Vereker, R.N. (1850-1900) was no J M W Turner but the watercolours are done with the professionalism usually expected of early naval and military officers, and lovingly so. It had come down to the vendor through the family of the captain and his wife who had completed some of the drawings.
The surveying voyage of HMS Myrmidon, North West Australia, April 1888 – January 1889 was described as an autograph manuscript journal, a fair copy continued in the hand of his wife, Ellen, for voyages to New South Wales, North West Australia, Hong Kong, and Malaysia in November 1887-July 1889 (the fair copy somewhat later, perhaps c.1900.
As well as the watercolours it contained 2 pencil sketches, 52 photographs and other related ephemera pasted or tipped in, approximately 160 leaves.
The views include Albany Approaching Cooktown. Rocky Is. Anchor Point Mt Cook Booby Island Torres Strait; the Gorge, Wyndham; South Cape of St Vincent I. Cape De Verd group; general view of Ascension I; Ascension (from anchorage); West coast of St Helena; Bald Head. King George’s Sound; Sydney (“The Heads” from inside the Harbour); Entrance to Sydney Harbour; South Head. Sydney; Views round Sydney. N.S.W.; Kangaroo Point. Brisbane R. Queensland; (a coastal landscape),Brisbane and Manila.
The balance of Captain Vereker’s journal and logs relating to his service in RN survey ships is held by the Royal Geographical Society, the seven journal and logs spanning his career, the gift of the captain's son, presumably beyond reach especially if the sale of the society's Australian James Baines material now goes ahead to salve its pension fund problems.
Vereker reports the particulars in the manner of one well accustomed to life at sea, including alongside his notes tables tracking his latitudinal and longitudinal co ordinates. Yet even the diaries of an experienced sailor recall the flying fish, sharks and comets seen along the way, as well as the smaller joys of travel, such as the presence of a partner for chess.
His descriptions of the landscape at each location complement his elegant watercolours – conjuring images of soaring cliffs and rugged rocks, thick forests and wild flowers, as well as every type of weather imaginable.
After reaching Albany, sailing into Princess Royal Harbour, in March 1888 – ‘quiet and small, rather pretty’, with bungalows reminiscent of western cities of the States – and then Melbourne – where Vereker notes ‘how marvellously it has sprung up’ after its founding in 1836, with ‘omnibuses and cars equalling London’ – they weigh anchor in Sydney Harbour
Vereker is whisked into Sydney’s vibrant expatriate society. As Christie's cataloguer romanced, "occasionally waxing lyrical, as on a spring day in Sydney watching the 'clear water, smooth and as blue as the azure sky, with shadows of ships trembling on the shining surface", Vereker imparts the flavour of each settlement visited, commenting on local dress and ‘the favourite tipple’. Surveying expeditions are recounted; on one trip out from Sydney to Illawarra, he is joined by a platypus as he sketches.
