Full details of each lot are displayed, except the lot number, estimate and price. You must be a subscriber to view lot numbers, estimates and prices.
Edward (Ned) Kelly…
Sale Title:
Auction House:
Auction Location:
Melbourne
Date:
7-Dec-2024
Lot No.
***
Description:
Edward (Ned) Kelly Cartes-De-Visite, a pair of cartes-de-visite produced by Clifford, Morris & Co., Royal arcade, Dunedin, the first depicting the sixteen year-old 'Edward Kelly, When Received into Gaol. 2nd August, 1871' and the second titled 'Edward Kelly, When Discharged from Gaol. February, 1874'. While images of the heavily bearded Kelly are better known, these images of Ned Kelly as a teenager and at the age of 20, are rarely seen. These two cartes-de-visite are the only examples known to US of foreign interest in the 'Kelly Gang'. They record Kelly's appearance before and after his longest stretch in prison. Kelly was born and raised in rural Victoria, the third of eight children to Irish parents. His father, a transported convict, died in 1866, leaving 12-year-old Edward (Ned) as the eldest male of the household. The Kellys were a poor selector family who saw themselves as downtrodden by the squattocracy and as victims of persecution by the Victoria Police. While a teenager, Kelly was arrested for associating with bushranger Harry power, and served two prison terms for a variety of offences, the longest stretch being from 1871 to 1874 (as recorded in these images). He later joined the 'Greta Mob', a group of bush larrikins known for stock theft. A violent confrontation with a policeman occurred at the Kelly family's home in 1878, and Kelly was indicted for his attempted murder. Fleeing to the bush, he vowed to avenge his mother, who was imprisoned for her role in the incident. After he, his brother Dan, and associates Joe Byrne and Steve Hart shot dead three policemen, the government of Victoria proclaimed them outlaws. In 1880, the gang tried to derail and ambush a police train as a prelude to attacking Benalla, but the police, tipped off, confronted them at Glenrowan. In the ensuing gunfight, the outlaws wore armour fashioned from stolen plough mouldboards. Kelly, the only survivor, was severely wounded by police fire and captured. Despite thousands of supporters attending rallies and signing a petition for his reprieve, Kelly was tried, convicted and sentenced to death by hanging, which was carried out at the old Melbourne Gaol on 11 November 1880. Edward (Ned) Kelly was aged 25.
Estimate:
***
Price:
***
Category:
Printed & Written Material: Photographs