Robert Laurie (United Kingdom, 1755-1836)
‘The Poa’ [Tui]
New Zealand’s Rarest Print. ‘The Poa [Tui] From the bird which was brought from New Zealand by Captain Cook in his late voyage around the world, and which obtained from the Society of Arts, a premium of 30 Guineas - Sold at No.1. Johnsons Court. Fleet street and No 37 Maiden Lane, Convent Garden. Robert Laurie Laurie del etc fec’. Mezzotint printed in oil colours 360 x 250mm around the plate mark, [1776]. In fine original condition as published.
The tui on the branch, its head turned to catch an insect, drawn from a specimen taken back to England by Captain Cook after his second voyage to New Zealand. It was separately issued in 1776 and is the earliest English print in oil colours, a process invented by the engraver Robert Laurie a young Scottish designer who seized on the excitement created by Cook’s first voyage to use the first Tui seen in England as the subject for his newly invented process. The Poa was the first print to be published using the new process for which Laurie was awarded a premium of 30 guineas by the Society of Arts.
This print is a rare 1776 first issue from the same plate as the specimen held by the Alexander Turnbull Library: bequest of Sir Alistair McIntosh, 1976. There are only around 10 known copies of the coloured.
Ellis 53.

Provenance: Maggs, London; Estate of John Lawford.