A tinted lithograph of Adelaide, South Australia by John Baptist Austin 1849

AUSTIN, John Baptist (1827-1896). Adelaide, South Australia. From West End of Hindley Street, November 1849.
 
Tinted lithograph, 1849. Image 200 x 305 mm, sheet 230 x 330 mm. Uneven overall toning with heavier toning to the right hand margin, chips to the upper left and upper right corners, light creasing and marginal loss and wear, the edges uneven with old handling wear, and a few small marginal tears. An unsophisticated but honest copy that hasn't been backed or mounted. Good.
 
A scarce early lithographic view of Adelaide, drawn by John Baptist Austin in November 1849, depicting the young colonial city from the west end of Hindley Street. The view captures the settlement during its formative years, with drays, livestock, simple timber and stone buildings, churches and commercial premises illustrating the rapid development of the new colony.
 
Austin's composition is recognised as the first lithographed view of Adelaide and was reproduced in the Illustrated London News in August 1850, helping to introduce the growing settlement to a British audience. The present example is the tinted lithographic and perhaps cheaper issue. There is a hand coloured and plate signed issue that has been placed in institutions. Although showing faults, it remains an elusive survival of the first lithograph printed of colonial Adelaide.