Norfolk Island Historical Views, by John Eyre

Australia Post Collectable Stamps Norfolk Island 2022

Since 2016, Australia Post has issued stamps with Norfolk Island historic events, Fauna and Flora and many other themes. This year there have been three stamps issued.

This week I feature the historic artist John Eyre and his artistic views of Norfolk Island in 1804 and 1805. There is no evidence that Eyre ever visited Norfolk Island. His charming watercolours featured in this stamp issue (depicting Queenborough, now Longview, and Sydney, now Kingston) make use of earlier drawings by Norfolk Island storekeeper, and later deputy commissioner, William Neate Chapman. This set of postage stamps was issued at the beginning of the year, on 19 January 2022 and withdrawn on 31 July 2022.

Norfolk Island Historical Views

$1.10 John Eyre, A View of Sydney on Norfolk Island c.1805

$2.20 John Eyre, A View of Queenborough on Norfolk Island 1804

Issue date: 19 January 2022

Issue withdrawal date: 31 July 2022

FDI Postmark: Norfolk Island NSW 2899

https://australiapostcollectables.com.au/stamp-issues/norfolk-island-historical-views.html

Overview

When ships of the First Fleet visited Australia in 1788, and Norfolk Island soon after, artists (naval officers, such as William Bradley and George Raper, and pardoned convicts, such as John Eyre) took the opportunity to create works featuring landscapes, flora and fauna.

John Eyre was born at Coventry, England, in 1771. He became an apprentice weaver and is believed to have studied drawing. In 1799 he was sentenced to seven years for housebreaking and transported to New South Wales. Following a conditional pardon in 1804, Eyre purchased a box of watercolours and began taking commissions, including for Governor William Bligh and David Mann (for the latter’s The Present Picture of New South Wales, published in 1811). He also created several drawings for Absalom West, who published series of engraved Sydney scenes. It is believed that Eyre left for Europe in 1812, after which time little is known. Eyre’s original works can be found in the British Museum, the State Library of New South Wales and the National Library of Australia.

There is no evidence that Eyre ever visited Norfolk Island. His charming watercolours featured in this stamp issue (depicting Queenborough, now Longview, and Sydney, now Kingston) make use of earlier drawings by Norfolk Island storekeeper, and later deputy commissioner, William Neate Chapman (1773?–1838). Chapman was a family friend of British lieutenant Philip Gidley King (1758–1808), who became the island’s governor and is believed to have commissioned Eyre’s paintings.

Technical specifications

Issue date: 19 January 2022

Issue withdrawal date: 31 July 2022

Denomination: $1.10 x 2, $2.20 x 1

Stamp design: Sharon Rodziewicz, Australia Post Design Studio

Product design: Sharon Rodziewicz, Australia Post Design Studio

Paper: gummed: Tullis Russell

Printer: RA

Printing process: Offset lithography

Stamp size (mm): 37.5 x 26

Minisheet size (mm): 135 x 80

Perforations: 13.86 x 14.6

Sheet layout: Module of 50

FDI Postmark: Norfolk Island NSW 2899

FDI withdrawal date: 16 February 2022

Stamps in this issue

$1.10 John Eyre, A View of Sydney on Norfolk Island c.1805

The town of Sydney, on Norfolk Island’s rocky coast, was founded in March 1788 by Philip Gidley King. The area is now Kingston, the administrative centre of Norfolk Island and part of the Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area World Heritage site

$2.20 John Eyre, A View of Queenborough on Norfolk Island 1804

The settlement of Queenborough, originally known as Charlotte Field (named for Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III), was established in June 1790 in a protected valley, south of what is now the island’s airstrip. The fertile land was cleared, crops planted and buildings constructed. Queenborough became the most important agricultural area on the island during the first British settlement. In the 1840s, the area was renamed Longridge Station, now Longridge.

During this month, I look forward to sharing details of the three Collectable Australian stamps issued in 2022 featuring Norfolk Island and learn about the links with Norfolk Island.

Betty Matthews
December 2022