Lot 2405

Description

France, Universal Exposition, 1889, in bronze (63mm), obverse, France seated crowning an artisan seated left on an anvil above view of the exhibition grounds, reverse, Victory seated on a tree branch and blowing a trumpet and holding the bust of France, named to "Hon. P.Russell". A few oxidation marks, otherwise good very fine.

Ex Alan McRae Collection.^See also lots 873, 879, 1424, 1430, and 2421.^Philip Russell was one of fourteen children of James Russell and his wife Elizabeth. They were a tenant of Kincraig Farms in Fife, Scotland. Philip Russell sailed to Australia in 1842 on board the "Calcutta" with his cousin, Robert Simpson, and then they travelled to Hobart Town. Early in 1843 they moved to Port Phillip and in March they purchased at auction the insolvent estate of J.D.Baillie that included about 3,500 sheep and lambs. Philip had been a farmer at Benson, East Lothian in Great Britain. Two years later he took over the property called Carngham. Philip was a breeder of stud sheep, specialising in growing fine merino wool and for six years was president of the Ballarat Agricultural and Pastoral Society. He entered exhibitions all around the world as demonstrated by his many awards medals.^With research.