This large illustration of Captain Cook was designed by James Northfield for the Australian National Publicity Association. It encourages the reader to "Discover..Australia" like Cook did while aboard the HMS Endeavour, which is drawn in the background. A scroll cartouche at bottom reads "Australia's history began, when Captain Cook anchored in Botany Bay in 1770." Adjacent to the scroll is a small map of Australia adorned by a branch from a Wattle tree, a national symbol of Australia.

James Northfield (1887-1973) was born in Inverleigh, Victoria. He showed a passion for art at an early age and, after training at the Gordon Technical College, began his career with an apprenticeship with H. Thacker in Geelong. After working for F.W. Niven & Company in Melbourne (who happened to print this poster), Northfield ventured out on his own, becoming one of the most highly regarded graphic artists in the first half of the 20th century. To read more about Northfield, click here.

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Condition: A

A clean, colorful example that has been professionally mounted on heavy linen. There are a couple of tiny repaired edge tears along the lower left sheet edge and a small faint dampstain near the scroll at lower right.