Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.10622
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    ‘Wha-Tapoua Roo’ [Common brushtail possum]

    Date
    1790
    Creator
    Mortimer (British) , Engraver
    Object type
    Library reference
    22426
    Material
    Technique
    Dimensions
    height (print): 292mm
    width (print): 225mm
    Subject
    Content object
    nature
       > animal
    Description
    Zoological study of the Common Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), the Australian marsupial, shown in an arboreal setting.

    Plate 56 from Journal of a voyage to New South Wales...by John White (J.Debrett, London, 1790).

    The accompanying text states that: “This animal is about the size of a Racoon, is of a dark grey colour on the back, rather lighter on the sides, which terminates in a rich brown on the belly.”

    The plate is inscribed: “Mortimer delin, Wha-Tapoua Roo. Published as the Act directs Dec: 29, 1789, by J.Debrett.”

    “The Public may rely, with the most perfect confidence, on the care and accuracy with which the Drawings have been copied from nature, by Miss Stone, Mr.Catton, Mr.Nodder, and other artists; and the Editor flatters himself the Engravings are all executed with equal correctness, by, or under the immediate inspection of Mr.Milton. The Birds, &c. from which the drawings were taken are deposited in the Leverian Museum.”
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Oceania
          > Australia
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