Creator George Raper (1769-1796)

Date 1788

A superb colonial First Fleet era picture of a Red tailed cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami)..The artist George Raper (1769-1796) was a Royal Navy officer on the HMS Sirius, serving under Captain John Hunter in the First Fleet. The young sailor produced a collection of fine water colours of birds, flowers, landscapes and maps. This charming red-tailed cockatoo is part of the collection of 'Papers of George Raper' held by the National Library of Australia and is counted amongst our national treasures.

Source: National Library of Australia