Lot 3258

Description

Sydney International Exhibition, 1879, in bronze (76mm), by J.S.& A.B.Wyon, stop after CCC in date, inscribed on reverse, 'The Hon:/Saul Samuel/C.M.G., M.L.C.' In case of issue with gold blocked title, 'Sydney International Exhibition 1879'. Some light scuffing on reverse and very small edge nick, otherwise uncirculated.

Saul Samuel was born in England on 2 November 1820. He arrived in NSW with his mother on 25 August 1832. He was educated at W.T.Cape's school and in 1837 joined the family's Sydney counting-house operated by his uncles. In 1946 he was the first Jew in NSW to become a magistrate and was also the first Jewish legislator in NSW. For a short period in 1860 he was Colonial Treasurer and the first Jew to become a Minister of the Crown. He represented various electorates including Wellington, Orange and East Sydney and as well held various important government positions. He was also prominent in the coal mining industry in the Newcastle area and represented Australia overseas, at one time being Agent General for NSW in London. He was a Commissioner for NSW at the Amsterdam Exhibition of 1883. He died on 29 August 1900 in England. See his full biography by G.F.J.Bergman published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 6, (MUP), 1976.

The Hon. Saul Samuel C.M.G., at the time Post-Master General, was one of the Commissioners of the Sydney International Exhibition staged at the Garden Palace. In the Minerals and Woods of NSW Section, he exhibited a block of decomposed basalt containing opals from Abercrombie. He also had an exhibit of glue which proved very popular to persons engaged in a large number of industries.

See also lot 910.