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GOOD SCOTT! COLLECTION OF A TASMANIAN ENTREPRENEUR FOR SALE

Announcement posted by Leski Auctions 26 Nov 2018

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Media Release                                                                                                           November 26, 2018
 
GOOD SCOTT!  COLLECTION OF A TASMANIAN ENTREPRENEUR FOR SALE
 
James Scott was a surveyor of Van Diemen’s Land (later Tasmania) who spent most of the 1850s as the only surveyor in Launceston.  While he endured relatively harsh conditions in his solo activity, he also acquired a small empire making him as much an entrepreneur as a government functionary.
 
Now a collection of memorabilia attesting to part of Scott’s life is being offered for sale by Leski Auctions on 2 December.  It makes for fascinating reading.
 
Scott arrived from England in the 1830s, not long after island was established as a penal colony.  While he might have surveyed the land for the British, he went about buying it for himself.  He owned many properties and had an interest in a coal mine at the Don River west of Devonport.  He was a director of the British and Tasmanian Charcoal Iron Co., and a foundation director and later chairman of the Mutual Fire Insurance Co.   He was politically unaligned when he served the people as an independent in the House of Assembly for George Town in 1869-77 and for South Launceston from 1878 until his death in 1884.
 
Among the items being offered is his personal bible; his family tree; his surveyors’ rolling rule; and a small leather-bound, hand-written, 312-page journal of his surveying activities from late 1835 to 1842, which feature his travels, lands surveyed, iconic homes, and meetings with landed gentry including Governor & Lady Franklin. The book is also an accounting journal from January 1836 to December 1842 in which Scott recorded his expenditures, his income, and the nature of each transaction.
 
Also included is his silver pocket watch referred to in an article in The Mercury in November 1955.
 
“James Scott was not only a witness to Tasmanian history but a participant,” says Charles Leski.  “Together with the black painted metal trunk which contained his effects, this remarkable group fills in a gap in the historical record from that period.  It is a rare and exceptional record of a slice of Australia’s early history.”

Lot 236, James Scott Surveyor of Van Diemen’s Land, has a pre-sale estimate of $60,000 - $80,000.  (Image available at https://www.leski.com.au/images/lot/3592/359235_0.jpg?1542420721)
 
The lot will be sold by Leski Auctions (www.leski.com.au) on Sunday, 2 December from 12.00pm.  
 
About Leski Auctions
Leski Auctions was established in 1973.  Today, it is regarded as one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia, Australian Art & Antiques, Collectibles and World Philately.  Among the many significant collections that Leski Auctions has been privileged to sell are those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke, Sir Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton.  It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other auction house in the world.
 
Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts’ Cultural Gifts Program.  He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports Museum at the MCG, Melbourne.  Harry Glenn, an industry veteran with more than 20 years experience, has been working with Charles since 2012.
 
The company is located at 727-729 High Street Armadale, Victoria 3143 Australia
Tel
+61 3 8539 6150 and www.leski.com.au
 
Issued by:         Harry Glenn, Leski Auctions                  Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting 
                         Tel: +61 (0) 425 790 735                       Tel:  +61 (0) 403 135 880
                         harry@leski.com.au                                 michaelkrape@krape.com.au