Primary Artist

Matthew Dubourg (1786–1838)

Title

Smoking out the opossum.

Physical description

plate from Field Sports &c. &c. of the Native Inhabitants of New South Wales, published by Edward Orme, London, 1813

Date made

1 October 1813 (imprint)

Place made

London, Greater London, England View on map Close map

Reference

Ferguson (1941-69, 1986), 577

Category

Print

Print type

intaglio

Technique

etching and aquatint, printed in black ink, from one copper plate; hand- coloured

Text printed from matrix

printed lower centre below image, 'SMOKING OUT THE OPOSSUM.'.
printed lower left below lower border line, 'J.H.Clark Del.'.
printed lower right below lower border line, 'M.Dubourg Sculpt.'.
printed lower centre below lower border line, 'Published & Sold October 1st. 1813, by Edwd. Orme, Bond St. London.'.

Matrix size

22.1 × 17.1 cm (printed image) 23.5 × 18.4 cm (plate-mark)

Edition information

print run unknown

Subject description

Group of Aboriginals smoking out a hollow tree with burning grasses in order to catch native Australian marsupials for food.

Country of context

Australia

Legacy id

68378

Creators

Dubourg, Matthew. | (1786–1838) British | Male | etcher

Clark, John Heaviside. | (1770–1863) Scottish | Male | print after

Orme, Edward | (1774–1848) English | Male | publisher

Last Updated

12 Feb 2026