Sorry - I meant this to go to the list as well as the recipients below - Carol Brill -----Original Message----- From: Carol Brill [mailto:seebee.cazza@bigpond.com] Sent: Tuesday, 15 July 2014 11:18 AM To: 'Irene Schaffer'; 'Julie Gough'; 'Graeme & Wynnette Ford' Subject: RE: [AUS-Tas] FW: Rabbit skin vests WW1 Dear All, This topic reminded me of an interesting article I stumbled across recently regarding early convict clothing. Here's an excerpt: "VAN DIEMEN'S LAND. (From the Colonist.)....The whole of the convicts at Port Arthur are in future to be clothed in sheep skin leather jackets, waistcoats and trowsers, by which arrangement it is computed that a saving of £1 per man per annum will be expected. The skins for the first six months are to be supplied by Mr. Baynton, and the cost of the material per each suit will be 6s. 3d. The plan has its advantages, which are - 1st, economy, and 2d, the consumption of a colonial article, which has hitherto been but little used in preference to an imported one...." The Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser (NSW ) 20 January 1835. Clearly convicts wore imported sheepskin clothing prior to the date of this article - I for one I haven't heard of this form of clothing being used for convicts before. I'd thought they shivered through the winter in their woollen "canary" suits. There seems to be a long tradition of fur-lined clothing in VDL. Also, I've found that there are numerous unique articles in The True Colonist newspaper, excerpts of which appear often in mainland and other VDL newspapers from 1832 to around 1840 - it's interesting to search for Van and True Colonist on Trove just to see what comes up. If anyone would like the complete article, I'm happy to post it on this site if I have enough requests, otherwise I'll send it to each person who asks for a copy. Best wishes, Carol Brill. PS I absolutely love the fascinating things I come across in Trove, when I'm searching for something specific!