Australian Historical Medals (1788-1885)

Lot 917    SESSION 3 (John Chapman Collection, 2.30pm Tuesday)    Australian Historical Medals (1788-1885)

Estimate $650
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,050

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL & INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION OF QUEENSLAND, 1879, award medal in bronze (73mm) by R.Capner, inscribed on reverse 'N.Bartley / for / Collection of / Minerals / 1879'. Good very fine.

Nehemiah Bartley (1830-1894). A very colourful pioneer related to the Tooth Brewing family, he had a chequered career, initially in Hobart and Melbourne. When overlanding ten thousand sheep he saw Captain Cadell's 'Lady Augusta' on her historic first trip up the river Murray. In 1854 he settled in Brisbane representing Tooth Colonial Sugar Company and founded his own importing business which failed in 1866 due to the crash of the Bank of Queensland. He then devoted his timeto collecting Australian minerals for which he received many awards. Later he became a well known eccentric writing two books of reminiscences, 'Opals and Agates' and 'Australian Pioneers' (A.D.B.).