Report of the First Fleet of colonists' arrival at Botany Bay, Australia 1789

£480

SKU: P-6-109571

[Contemporary first hand report of the arrival of the First Fleet of colonists, including convicts, at Botany Bay, Australia, in January 1788, published in the Gentleman's Magazine in March 1789]


A first hand account of the initial British colonisation of Australia and the arrival of the first fleet of convicts at Botany Bay, New South Wales, in 1788, as reported in the Gentleman’s Magazine, London, March 1789. The British government, having transported convicts to America until the Revolutionary War, turned to Australia as an alternative penal destination to relieve prison overcrowding. Following James Cook’s 1770 claim of the eastern coast, Britain sought to establish a presence before the French, and in 1787, eleven ships carrying convicts, marines, and officials set sail. This article details the landing of the Sirius and Supply, the initial fear of the Aboriginal people, and their eventual cautious acceptance of gifts. A code of laws was read to the convicts, who were urged to reform through good conduct. The report also mentions attempted escapes by convicts to French ships—two women went missing—but were refused. Between 1788 and 1868, some 162,000 convicts were transported to Australian penal colonies.

Select:

Size 20 x 13 cm | 8.0 x 5.0 inches

Date Published: March 1789

Type: Three antique copperplate pages, on two sheets

Author: Phillip, Captain Arthur

Publication: Gentleman's Magazine

"Gentleman's Magazine and Historical Chronicle", by Sylvanus Urban, Gent. London: Printed by Edw. Cave, Jun. at St. John's Gate

Condition: Good |

Good; suitable for framing. The image shown may have been taken from a different example of this print than that which is offered for sale. The print you will receive is in good condition but there may be minor variations in the condition from that shown in the image. Please check the scan for any blemishes prior to making your purchase. Please contact us if you would like to arrange to view this print. The pages are printed on both sides

Delivery & Returns

Packing

Items smaller than A4 size are usually packed in a stiffened, board-backed envelope. Larger items are rolled and packed in postal tubes. Large items which are too stiff to be rolled in wide-diameter tubes are mailed in all-board envelopes. In the unlikely event of damage in transit, please send the affected item or items back to us and we will provide a replacement or refund.

Delivery

Economy, tracked and express shipping options are available to all destinations worldwide. Over half our orders are sent to customers outside the United Kingdom and we have supplied over 30,000 buyers in over 70 different countries. We ship orders virtually every business day to customers in North America and Europe. The cost of delivery depends on the size of the largest item in your order, where you are located, and the delivery method that you choose at checkout. For orders received before 2pm, we can arrange delivery next day in the UK, within 2 business days to continental Europe and North America, and within 4 days to most other countries worldwide (excludes PO Box or APO/FPO (Military) addresses).

Returns

We accept returns for any reason if sent back to us within 14 days of receipt of your order. If any of your items are not as described, we will provide a full refund including reasonable return postage costs upon safe return to us. If you have changed your mind, you are responsible for the cost of returning the item to us. We describe the size, age and condition of all our products as fully and accurately as possible. Most of the items which we sell are in very good condition. However, the condition of antique and vintage prints and maps can vary. All of our product listings including a statement which classifies the condition as being either “Good”, “Fair”, or (rarely) “Poor” and which describes any material flaws, blemishes, imperfections or other significant features such as folds. Please read the description carefully before purchase.

Can we help? For more details or any questions.

Recently Viewed

Condition Guide

We assess the condition of each item using three categories: Good, Fair, and Poor. We strive to ensure that any significant flaws are clearly shown in the images provided and detailed in the accompanying condition statement.

Good

The item presents well, with no significant flaws, and is in frameable condition. Minor imperfections—such as light spotting or offsetting, small blemishes, tight margins, neatly repaired tears, or discreet/professionally executed restoration—do not materially detract from its overall appearance.

Fair

The item shows noticeable flaws but remains in frameable condition. Some buyers may feel these imperfections affect its visual appeal. Typical issues may include more prominent spotting, blemishes, bleed-through from the reverse, obvious offsetting, visible or extensive restoration, wear along fold lines or junctures, small wormholes, trimmed or closely cropped edges, or less carefully executed repairs.

Poor

The item has major flaws that significantly impact its presentation and/or suitability for framing. These may include heavy spotting, staining, bleed-through, offsetting, unrepaired damage, or poorly executed repairs such as tears, holes, or areas of paper loss (including within the printed image). The item may also be fragile and prone to further deterioration.