Name/Title

Book; 'New Zealand Ferns'

About this object

Book; entitled 'New Zealand Ferns' by E C Harris [Emily Harris]. A soft-covered booklet which contains fourteen pages of black and white illustrations of New Zealand native ferns, with Latin taxonomic names and descriptions. Published by H D Jackson in Nelson, circa 1890.

Emily Cumming Harris (1836/37?-1925) was an artist and illustrator, born in Plymouth, Devonshire, who immigrated to New Zealand with her family in 1841. Spending her early years in Taranaki, Emily was sent to Hobart, Tasmania, when war broke out in the province, to study art. She spent time there, and in Melbourne, before joining her family in Nelson where she continued her connection with the Hurworth clan, some of whom had also taken residence in Nelson after the conflict in Taranaki. Emily’s great interest was in painting botanical subjects and in 1890, with the assistance of bookseller H. D. Jackson, she published three books: 'New Zealand flowers', 'New Zealand ferns', and 'New Zealand berries'. Sadly however, her black and white lithographs failed to compete with other more colourful botanical works of the period.

For more information about Hurworth Cottage, which is cared for by Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga, visit our website.

Maker

Emily Harris (1836/1837?-1925)

Maker Role

Artist

Maker

H D Jackson

Maker Role

Publisher

Date Made

Circa 1890

Medium and Materials

paper

Measurements

31.3 x 25.7 x 0.5cm

Credit Line

Collection of Hurworth Cottage, Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga

Object number

XHC.248

Copyright Licence  

All rights reserved

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