1790. Aquatint and engraving, accompanied with four related engravings, text including artist, title and date in plate below image, 47 x 63.8cm. Trimmed to platemark, repaired tears, missing portions and perforations overall, slight soiling to lower left portion. Laid down on acid-free backing.

Text includes “Painted by Rob’t Dodd. Engraved by R. Dodd. Lieut. Bligh having compleated a collection of 1015 fine Bread Fruit plants, set sail from Otaheite, the 4th April 1789, & on the 29th before sun rise, Fletcher Christian, with 3 other Mutineers, entered his Cabin, forced him out of bed & dragged him bound to the deck; a boat 23F. in length, 6F. 9I in breadth, & only 2F. 9I deep was hoisted out when Lt. Bligh & 18 of the officers & crew were forced into it…they by unprecedented abstinence & resolution, sustained life under divine providence for 41 days…after traversing 3618 miles in this open boat, almost incessantly exposed to rain & a tempestuous sea, they reached Timor, where they were hospitably treated by the Dutch Governor. Vide Lt. Bligh’s narrative, pub’d by order of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. Pub. Octr. 2, 1790, by B.B. Evans, Poultry, London. To the West India Planters and Merchants, on whose benevolent representation to Government the expedition for transporting the valuable Bread Fruit Tree to the British Islands in the West India’s was undertaken. This print is respectfully inscribed by their most obed’t. & very humble Serv’t, B.B. Evans.”

Held in Brit. Museum; SLNSW; and NPG (Canberra), noting that Dodd’s print of the mutiny “was published in the same year as Bligh’s account of the event and his extraordinary voyage in the longboat. The image also contains a depiction of Fletcher Christian, who is standing atop the stern of the Bounty between two breadfruit trees.”

This print is accompanied with four engravings also covering the mutiny, titles read “Mutinous Conduct of the Bounty’s Crew; The Pirates Seizing Captn Bligh; George Young & his Wife (Hannah Adams) of Pitcairns Island; and Lieut. Bligh and his Crew of the Ship “Bounty” hospitably received by the Governor of Timor.” Ref Item #CL187-2       

Price (AUD): $18,900