[SHEET MUSIC] Shells of ocean /​ words by J.W. Lake ; music by J.W. Cherry.

Sydney : Woolcott and Clarke, [1853 or 1854]. Folio, disbound, original illustrated wrappers lithographed by John Degotardi (old paper reinforcement to original stitching and small closed tear at fore-edge), 6 pp of engraved music notation for voice and piano; page 2 has a publisher’s advertisement at the head of the music; internally very clean, a good example.

A rare and desirable piece of early Sydney sheet music. The only copy in Australian collections which appears on Trove of the Woolcott and Clarke edition, with its superb lithographed cover by Degotardi, is held in the State Library of New South Wales (contained in a publisher’s presentation album dated 1854). Another example is also held in the Caroline Simpson Library & Research Collection, Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales. The more common Sydney edition is that of J. R. Clarke (1853), which has a non-illustrated cover. A later edition with illustrated cover – also only held in the State Library of New South Wales – was published by J. Moore (1856-57).