Summary

This Prize Silver Medal from the 1880 Melbourne International Exhibition was awarded to J Edwards at the Melbourne International Exhibition. Edwards won this medal in Jury Section XXX - Navigation - for his display of racing boats; he also won a certificate for his display of rowlocks (Official Record, pp. 455-6). The jury for this section failed to provide a detailed report - Superintendent of Juries and Awards J. Cosmo Newbery complained that 'I regret that the reports of the juries are on the whole so meagre, and, in many cases, altogether wanting' (p.16).

The company, founded around 1868, was based at Princes Bridge and up to two other sites. James Edwards - probably the company founder - won a silver prize for sculls at the 1881 Adelaide Exhibition. J Edwards and Sons also won a medal at the 1888 Melbourne Centennial International Exhibition.

The Melbourne International Exhibition ran from 1 October 1880 to 30 April 1881. The exhibition building that still stands was constructed for the occasion, designed by Joseph Reed and built by David Mitchell. Over 1.3 million people visited the exhibition; Melbourne's population was only 282,000 at the time.

Obverse Description

Veiled head of Victoria left; around, : MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION MDCCCLXXX

Reverse Description

Within wreath, "VITAM / EXCOLVERE / PER ARTES" below in tiny letters, H.STOKES

Edge Description

Impressed, J. EDWARDS, MELBOURNE _ BOATS

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