Lot 3914

Description

Hopwood's Ferry, Murray River, Echuca, Victoria, one pound entered J.W.Mann, but not issued, payable by William Nicholson & Co, 13 Flinders Street, Melbourne, 186-, scene printed on back, imprint of Calvert, depicts Hopwood's Ferry at Pontoon Bridge Hotel in background with brothel (see Mira 'From Riverboat to Ironhorse' 1990 p4). Good very fine and extremely rare, three others similar are known (Nicholson Sale 49B lot 1632, Noble Sale 71 lot 2901 and Stern Sale 1977 lot 275).

Henry Hopwwod founded Echuca in 1853. Sentenced to 14 years transportation he arrived in Van Dieman's Land in 1835. He was granted a free pardon in 1846. Arriving in the Murray District in 1850 he immediately saw the possibilities of the river trade. Hopwood, or "King Hopwood" died in 1869 aged 64, a very wealthy and respected businessman (see Morris, A.H. 'Rich River', 1970 for further information).