Australian Historical Medals

Lot 592    SESSION 3 (2.30PM TUESDAY 17TH APRIL)    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $150
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $140

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES, undated (1877), Practice with Science, in bronze (90mm) by Hardy Brothers London & Sydney, inscribed on reverse 'T.C.JUST.Launceston/COLLECTION TIN/Sydney. 1877'. A few nicks near obverse edge and flattening on a few high points, some tone spots particularly on rim, otherwise nearly extremely fine.

With base of original case only.

Mr Thomas Cook Just was the commissioner for Tasmania to the Agricultural Society Exhibition held in Sydney at Prince Alfred Park in 1877. The Tasmanian exhibits were located on the eastern side of the exhibition building immediately to the left of the dais and opposite the Queensland exhibits. Mr Just personally exhibited some interesting samples of tin ore from various parts of Tasmania as well as specimens representing the iron ores of Tasmania. He also exhibited an instructive collection of minerals of various descriptions including Tasmanian limestones and minerals from South Australia and New Caledonia. A portion of his exhibits that were particularly attractive to the ladies was a collection of topazes, or Tasmanian diamonds as they were then popularly called, both in the rough and set and polished. Mr Just also showed a small trophy, very ingeniously constructed, the base consisting of carefully selected specimens of every variety of tin ore found in Tasmania, from the centre of which rose a pyramid or column of smelted tin made by dropping the molten metal from a height to create a sort of stalagmite of tin.

Mr Just (Major, Tasmanian Local Forces) was subsequently Commissioner for Tasmania to the Calcutta International Exhibition 1883-8 and the Melbourne International Exhibition 1880.