[SYDNEY] The Government of New South Wales request the honor of Mr J. G. O’Connor’s company at a Banquet in celebration of the Opening of the Railway Bridge over the Hawkesbury, to be held on the rive

A$50 · Offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books

[Sydney : Government Printer], 1889. Invitation card, 120 x 175 mm; lithograph printed recto only in black on white lightweight card stock; toned and with some loss along two edges, verso with residual glue from where the card was once mounted in an album. Provenance: Removed from a dilapidated album of mounted printed ephemera compiled by J. G. O Connor (1839-1913), Irish-born Sydney journalist, printer, and politician. From the ADB: Joseph Graham O Connor (1839-1913), journalist and politician, was born at Dareen House, King s County, Ireland, son of Stephen O Connor, tanner and currier, and his wife Ann, née Graham. At 2 he went with his parents to New South Wales. Educated by the Christian Brothers and at the Sydney College, he was apprenticed to a wood engraver and printer. In the late 1850s O Connor began business as an engraver and printer and in 1860 produced the short-lived Sunbeam for the Catholic Young Men s Society. In 1864 he joined W. B. Dalley, W. J. Macleay and J. J. Harpur in bringing out the unsuccessful Sydney Times, devoted to the promotion of Australian literature and the advocacy and encouragement of native industry . In 1867 he began the Balmain Reporter, one of the earliest suburban newspapers. His journalistic pursuits became more exclusively Irish and Catholic. In 1870-71 he edited and printed the Catholic Association Reporter. In 1876 he had debts of over £1400, sold his press and was not discharged from bankruptcy until 1884 after paying 3s. in the

• Binding: Hardcover

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