Alfred Burton Collection

Milford Sound, 1883. Creator: Burton Brothers
Milford Sound, 1883

Johnny and a Lady crash a gig in a herd of swine
FLO4989396 Johnny and a Lady crash a gig in a herd of swine. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

Johnny falls out of his hammock in his cabin
FLO4989339 Johnny falls out of his hammock in his cabin. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

Drunk Johnny pursued by night watchmen in a grocers shop about to fall into a barrel of butter
FLO4989331 Drunk Johnny pursued by night watchmen in a grocers shop about to fall into a barrel of butter. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

Naval rite of passage: Crossing the Line
FLO4989324 Naval rite of passage: Crossing the Line. Johnny is dunked in a bath of bilge water when he first crosses the equator. Sailors are dressed as sea gods Neptune, Amphitrite and Triton

Naval rite of passage: Johnny is seized and spreadeagled in the rigging by his fellow sailors
FLO4989378 Naval rite of passage: Johnny is seized and spreadeagled in the rigging by his fellow sailors. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

Johnny courting Maria in a parlor while others play cards and sing songs in front of the hearth
FLO4989343 Johnny courting Maria in a parlor while others play cards and sing songs in front of the hearth. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

Officers and Midshipmen celebrating the news that the Captain has left the ship
FLO4989338 Officers and Midshipmen celebrating the news that the Captain has left the ship. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

Naval rite of passage, Dogfish Bark: Johnny is sent on deck to listen for the bark of a dogfish
FLO4989398 Naval rite of passage, Dogfish Bark: Johnny is sent on deck to listen for the bark of a dogfish, only to be soaked by buckets of water from sailors in the rigging

Naval punishment of cobbing (thrashing) for ruining a meal
FLO4989329 Naval punishment of cobbing (thrashing) for ruining a meal. Johnny is beaten with a stick over the mess table for adding salt to the pudding. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

Johnny saying goodbye to his mother and sisters as he leaves for the Royal Navy on a stagecoach
FLO4989317 Johnny saying goodbye to his mother and sisters as he leaves for the Royal Navy on a stagecoach. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

Johnny vomits into a bucket in the cabin as his ship sets sail
FLO4989384 Johnny vomits into a bucket in the cabin as his ship sets sail. Another officer proposes a remedy of salt water and a piece of salt pork on a string

Johnny joins the captain in his cabin for drinks with the other officers
FLO4989368 Johnny joins the captain in his cabin for drinks with the other officers. The admiral has made it sunset, sir! Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

Johnny mast-headed by the Captain
FLO4989341 Johnny mast-headed by the Captain. Ordered to climb to the top of the mast for losing a sailor on shore leave. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

Johnny asleep at the mast head
FLO4989346 Johnny asleep at the mast head. Two sailors climb the rigging to wake him. Handcoloured copperplate engraving by W

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"Alfred Burton: A Whirlwind of Adventures and Misadventures" Step into the world of Alfred Burton, where chaos and hilarity ensue at every turn. In his renowned book, "The Adventures of Johnny Newcombe in the Navy, " readers are treated to a series of handcoloured copperplate engravings that bring these wild tales to life. Join Johnny and a Lady as they crash a gig amidst a herd of swine, an unexpected encounter that surely left them squealing with laughter. Or witness the moment when Johnny falls out of his hammock in his cabin, proving that even the most seasoned sailors can stumble upon rough seas. In one uproarious scene, we find Drunk Johnny desperately evading night watchmen inside a grocer's shop, teetering on the edge of falling into a barrel filled with butter. The image alone is enough to make anyone burst into fits of uncontrollable laughter. Naval rites come alive through Burton's illustrations as well. Experience the unforgettable crossing of the equator ceremony where poor Johnny finds himself dunked in bilge water while surrounded by sailors dressed as sea gods Neptune, Amphitrite, and Triton. And let us not forget when he becomes seized and spreadeagled in the rigging by mischievous fellow sailors during another rite of passage. Amidst all these escapades, love blossoms for our protagonist as he courts Maria in an intimate parlor setting while others play cards and sing songs nearby. It seems even amidst chaos; there is always room for romance. But it's not all mischief aboard ship; officers and midshipmen celebrate their newfound freedom when news spreads that their captain has left. Revelry fills every corner as they embrace this temporary reprieve from authority. Johnny's adventures extend beyond naval life too.