This month’s Classics Collection offers an extraordinary glimpse into the daily workings of early colonial Tasmania, or Van Diemen’s Land. Among the many treasures to cross the auction floor are three historically significant documents that together tell a story of authority, governance, and the growing prosperity of the fledgling colony.
Lot 720 – A Promissory Note from 1821: The Price of Government Life
Issued on 26 June 1821, this exceptional promissory note was made out to Edward Lord, one of the colony’s most prominent early settlers and merchants. The document, signed by Lieutenant-Governor William Sorell and Edward Foord Bromley, Treasurer of the Police Fund, authorised payment for goods and furniture supplied to Government House, New Norfolk.
What makes this piece remarkable is not only its rarity but its insight into the economic workings of the colony. The attached invoice lists the cost of items supplied to Government House — a rare survival that reveals the values and purchasing habits of the early Tasmanian administration.
This numismatic and historical document is a museum-quality artefact, illustrating the delicate interplay between commerce, governance and colonial development.
Lot 720, starting from $16,000: view and bid here: https://www.interbid.com.au/abbeys/auctions/2595/client.html#lot720
Lot 718 – 1828 Appointment of a Justice of the Peace
Fast forward seven years, and the expanding colony required a more structured legal system. Lot 718 is a Colonial Tasmanian legal document dated 1 March 1828, officially appointing Malcolm Laing Smith, Esquire, of Hobart Town as a Justice of the Peace for Van Diemen’s Land.
The document bears the original wax seal and the signatures of Colonial Secretary John Burnett and Lieutenant-Governor Colonel George Arthur — a name synonymous with Tasmania’s early administrative reform. Documents such as this reflect the growing need for local governance and judicial oversight as the colony evolved beyond its penal roots.
Lot 718, starting from $300: view and bid here: https://www.interbid.com.au/abbeys/auctions/2595/client.html#lot718
Lot 719 – 1830 Appointment of a Coroner
Just two years later, Colonel George Arthur again features in another significant appointment. Lot 719 is an official document, dated 1 September 1830, confirming Malcolm Laing Smith’s appointment as Coroner for Van Diemen’s Land and its Dependencies. Handwritten in pen and ink on parchment, this rare administrative instrument speaks to the colony’s maturing civil framework — and to Smith’s trusted role within it.
Lot 719, starting from $300: view and bid here: https://www.interbid.com.au/abbeys/auctions/2595/client.html#lot719
Why These Documents Matter
Together, these three colonial papers form an extraordinary snapshot of Tasmanian governance and daily life during the 1820s and 1830s. They capture moments of administrative growth — from financial management under Sorell’s stewardship to judicial appointments under Arthur’s leadership.
For collectors, historians, and institutions, these are more than documents; they are original voices of the colony — tangible links to the individuals and systems that shaped early Australian society.
Explore the Past at Abbeys Auctions
These pieces will be offered in our upcoming Classics Collection Auction, alongside a curated selection of fine art, antiques, and historical collectables.
Join us in celebrating the preservation of Australia’s past and the stories it continues to tell.📍 View catalogue and bid online: www.abbeysauctions.com.au
📅 Viewing: Thursday 6th, 13th & 20th November 2025
🔨 Auction: Saturday 22 November 2025, commencing at 9:30am
