Kangaroo: from a children's encyclopaedia

Children's encyclopedia essentially on natural history with handcoloured engraved plates following the tradition of Comenius's Orbis pictis. Originally published in 237 parts bound in 12 volumes. Contains at least sixty references to Australian flora and fauna including insects and fish. Non natural history descriptions and illustrations include mainland and Tasmanian Aborigines, Maoris, possibly Europeans living in Sydneytown and Hobartown as well as views of these two centres.

Friedrich Justin Bertuch (1747-1822) was a playwright and publisher and is considered the 'father of German periodicals'. He produced a series Bilderbuch fur kinder as well as editing Porte-feuille ...

Bertuch believed that children should be presented with the best and most accurate drawings based on the best originals; his text was brief to encourage rather than confuse the child.

The image of the kangaroo is based upon the painting by George Stubbs which first appeared in 1773 in Hawkesworth's account of the first voyage of Captain James Cook. This became the stereotype for many further representations of the kangaroo. This first drawing which was created from a skin was inaccurate, as the artist had not seen the living animal.

A name had also to be considered for this curious creature. How should it be classified? While the public delighted in the appearance of the animal, some of which were kept in the King's Zoo at Richmond, scientists debated and decided upon the name Didelphis gigantea. Bertuch used this name in his description of the animal. Macropus (great foot) was suggested as more appropriate by George Shaw who spent considerable time studying the Australian fauna, and published Zoology of New Holland in 1793. This was eventually accepted. Similarly the common name 'kangaroo' had several early variant spellings including 'kanguroo' or 'kanguru'.

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