John Reynolds (1) (1899–1986)

A very interesting but short pamphlet by John Reynolds about the early currency of Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania) issued by the Royal Society of Tasmania.
It is in two main sections, the introduction that talks about the New South Wales currencies and Tasmanian settlement. In the early days of the colony rum was paid to soldiers as wages and this continued into Tasmania. Along with British coins, other currencies used were Dutch Guelder, Spanish Dollar, Venetian Ducat, Portuguese Joana and East Indian Rupee.

The second section is about Tasmania currency alone where the Spanish Dollar was far more widespread and favoured in the early days. As coinage was so hard to come by the government issued receipts for goods that then could be handed on, much like paper money today. Police and military were also paid by these receipts and private promissory notes were a very important trade device. Also of course, bartering was commonly and used even by the government and there are a few examples of adverts saying as much.

This copy has a letter in it from Reynolds to Sir Baldwin.

Digital copy of Reynold’s booklet.
https://eprints.utas.edu.au/13039/… (altro)

This is a fairly stock standard polticial biography with little explosive material within.

"Edmund Barton" was originally published in 1948 and has a foreward by then former Prime Minister and future Prime Minister (Sir) Robert Menzies, who mentions his minor interactions with Barton and attempts to defend Barton's lack of action while a High Court judge.

The book itself mentions that Mrs Barton was no intellectual giant and Barton seemingly had very few deep conversations with. There's a brief mention of the 1876 SCG cricket riot, which Barton umpired and managed to calm down the crowd but there is little about the man behind Australia's first Prime Minister. And certanly no scandal, unless Reynolds was able to couch it in language so obtuse it sailed over my head.… (altro)