"The Gumeracha Gold Fields - Watts' Gully Diggings, Australia", illustrated article, Scientific American by [Broad, Alfred Scott; Australia; Gold] - 1885

New York: Munn & Co., 1885. Very good condition. Woodcut illustration and description of the newly discovered South Australia gold fields near Adelaide, in Supplement No. 504 of Scientific American. The woodcut depicts workers busily at work amongst many piles of "wash dirt"; at the right side is a store run by a "Mr. Blue", a sign on a tree "Chimney Street", and another sign marked "Good Friday Claim". The text, written by the illustrator Alfred Scott Broad (1854 - 1929), explains: "about L130 worth of metal was taken from this claim in six weeks, culminating in a 20 oz. nugget, which was exumed (sic) on Good Friday last. There are mysterious whispers that one or two have discovered the reef, and that it will before long be worked ..." (p 8049). Single sheet. Folio, pp 8049 - 8050. Image 9 x 5 1/2" on paper 11 x 15 1/2". Signed in the lower right corner, A. Scott Broad, May / '85". Slight toning to small area at lower right margin only.