View of Circular Quay, Sydney, taken in early 1859.

A$1,800 · Offered by Douglas Stewart Fine Books

Stereoscopic albumen print photograph, each individual image 80 x 77 mm (arched format), original plain grey mount 84 x 172 mm, verso with fully contemporary inscription in ink Circular Quay (but lacking Hetzer s printed label ) and an accompanying contemporary caption in ink Circular Quay ; both of the prints are strong and have excellent tonal range; the mount is clean and stable. This rare, very early photographic view of Circular Quay from The Rocks was taken in the first half of 1859 by Sydney photographer William Hetzer. The view looks east across Campbell’s Wharf, where a sailing ship is moored, towards Government House in the distance. Another example, with Hetzer s printed label on the reverse that reads Stereoscopic Views of Sydney and Environs by W. Hetzer, Photographic Artist, 287 George Street, Sydney, N.S.W. , is held in the Historic Houses Trust s Caroline Simpson Library Research Collection . Hetzer had arrived in Sydney from Germany in 1850. With his wife Thekla as his assistant, Hetzer was active as a professional photographer in Sydney from this date until the Hetzers departure from the colony in 1867. From 1858 Hetzer pioneered the stereoscopic albumen print photograph in Australia, and in 1860 was also among the first Australian photographers to experiment with and promote the carte de visite. His studio premises were located at 287 George Street from 1859. Hetzer s stereoscopic photographs are among the earliest outdoor views of Sydney. He was the first

• Binding: Hardcover

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