Historical information

Not Gould although on spine.

Minutes of the SMB council 14 April 1891

"6, A requisition from Professor Krause for a new work on the birds of Australia was referred to the Education committee.

Broinowski was commisioned by the Department of Public Instruction in New South Wales to supply them with pictures of Australian birds which he published in 6 volumes from 1887 - 1891.

Gracius Broinowski was born in Poland in 1837. To avoid conscription with the Russian army he roamed Europe in poverty,his possessions having been stolen earlier in Germany. Hearing tales of the Australian gold fields, he borderd the 'Windjammer' bound for Victoria as a deckhand. Broinowski swam ashore at Portland, Victoria in 1857 age twenty. For seven years he walked from one rural settlement to another working as a shepherd, stockman and independent farmer.
In 1864 Bronoiwski married in Melbourne and found work with Hamel & Ferguson (print sellers and publishers).
'The Birds of Australia' was finalised in 1891 with 303 full page illustrations lithographed in colour with notes on over 700 species. Limited to 1000 copies the edition sold out quickly.
Bronowski died in 1913 at Mosmon NSW, aged 76. He was survived by his wife, a daughter and 6 sons.

Physical description

Green hard cover book, black leather spine and corners. Title on spine written in gold letters, gold decorations on spine. Pages not numbered. Coloured plates (lithographs). Vol. 1 - 6. Printed and bound.

Inscriptions & markings

Stamped throughout the book "School of Mines Ballarat Library".