Governor King's snuffbox

• Small silver snuffbox engraved on lid and underside
• Given to New South Wales Governor Philip Gidley King in 1801
• Presented by a naval seaman, possibly to maintain favour
• Connections to key Australian colonial figures

A silver snuffbox presented to New South Wales Governor Philip Gidley King in 1801 has been bought at auction by the National Museum of Australia.

Museum staff and decorative arts experts are now researching the history of the piece.

The snuffbox gifted to Governor King in in 1801. Photo: Dragi Markovic.

The oval box is engraved with the initials 'PGK' and the underside of the lid is inscribed: 'Lt. Grant to Governor King June 4 1801.'

King arrived in Port Jackson with the First Fleet in 1788 and was governor of New South Wales from 1800 until 1806, when he was succeeded by Captain William Bligh.

Curator Rebecca Nason said consultants and the National Museum's conservation team are working to establish the origins of the snuffbox.

Whatever the results, the snuffbox has strong connections with some of the key players in the early colony of New South Wales.

'It's a tiny object with so many stories packed into is,' Rebecca said. 'It has connections to many significant people and important events in our history'.

King had links to explorer Matthew Flinders, pastoralist John Macarthur and naturalist Joseph Banks.

King received the snuffbox from Grant to mark King George III's birthday, 4 June 1801. Three weeks after the birthday, Grant returned from an exploratory voyage to the Bass Strait.

One source suggests that although Grant was an excellent seaman, he was conscious of his lack of nautical surveying knowledge.

The silver snuffbox is engraved with the initials 'PGK', denoting Philip Gidley King. Photo: Dragi Markovic.

Rebecca said the snuffbox may have been presented to King in appreciation for his patronage - or perhaps Grant was trying to maintain favour with the governor.

Six days later Grant set out to explore the Hunter region, which led to the settlement of Newcastle.

After returning from the Hunter, Grant sat on the bench for the trial of a naval officer accused of assaulting John Macarthur.

He published his Narrative of a Voyage of Discovery in 1803 after his return to England.

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Governor King's snuffbox is expected to go on show in the National Museum gallery Australian Journeys.

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