Sarah Featon
A DigitalNZ Story by Sienna Latham
In 1889, Sarah Featon and her husband Edward published 'The Art Album of New Zealand Flora,' the nation's first full-color art book. It featured Sarah's illustrations and 40 chromolithographic plates courtesy of Wellington firm Bock and Cousins. Queen Victoria was presented with a copy of the work as part of her diamond jubilee. Financial difficulties late in life prompted Sarah to sell her original illustrations to the Dominion Museum, now Te Papa
botanical art, science, new zealand women artists, history of publishing in new zealand
![Image: Featon, Sarah Ann 1847 or 1848-1927 :[Composite picture of flowers, New Zealand. ca 1890]](https://images.digitalnz.org/AVTAUNdJ50Z29Ef2RG9JpjHa2j0=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE206658 "Featon, Sarah Ann 1847 or 1848-1927 :[Composite picture of flowers, New Zealand. ca 1890]")
Featon, Sarah Ann 1847 or 1848-1927 :[Composite picture of flowers, New Zealand. ca 1890]
Alexander Turnbull Library
![Image: Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Wild flowers and berries. S. Featon Copyright. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. [Wellington, 1889]](https://images.digitalnz.org/T3v1QA24oyVPJ1FHXTeYuWx535o=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE72747 "Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Wild flowers and berries. S. Featon Copyright. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. [Wellington, 1889]")
![Image: Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Kowhai ngutu kaka - clianthus puniceus. S. Featon. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. [Wellington, 1889]](https://images.digitalnz.org/VQyuklJwMTJw7t8HAocL5uv0ltQ=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE62989 "Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Kowhai ngutu kaka - clianthus puniceus. S. Featon. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. [Wellington, 1889]")
![Image: Featon, Sarah Ann (Porter), 1848-1927 :Sandal wood. Santalum Cunninghamii. [ca 1890]](https://images.digitalnz.org/7w5FuYnAEAqTK-M19qw_icdwWZU=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE367586 "Featon, Sarah Ann (Porter), 1848-1927 :Sandal wood. Santalum Cunninghamii. [ca 1890]")
Featon, Sarah Ann (Porter), 1848-1927 :Sandal wood. Santalum Cunninghamii. [ca 1890]
Alexander Turnbull Library
![Image: Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Tarata - Pittosporum eugenioides / S. Featon. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. Plate No. 9. [Wellington, 1889]](https://images.digitalnz.org/7u6e8LWALl6-u-v3210jclPBHus=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE142334 "Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Tarata - Pittosporum eugenioides / S. Featon. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. Plate No. 9. [Wellington, 1889]")
![Image: Featon, Sarah Ann, 1848?-1927: Karaka - Corynocarpus laevigata. [ca 1890]](https://images.digitalnz.org/NBTWA2cHExjZK2tr0pTubTG3uCE=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE62381200 "Featon, Sarah Ann, 1848?-1927: Karaka - Corynocarpus laevigata. [ca 1890]")
Featon, Sarah Ann, 1848?-1927: Karaka - Corynocarpus laevigata. [ca 1890]
Alexander Turnbull Library
![Image: Featon, Sarah Ann, 1847 or 1848-1927 :Kowhiwhi? Pittosporum tenuifolium [Kohuhu]. f.19. H.N.Z. flora. [ca 1890]](https://images.digitalnz.org/1SenBjiGV_YH1EZtAABfwOzYTVE=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE89893 "Featon, Sarah Ann, 1847 or 1848-1927 :Kowhiwhi? Pittosporum tenuifolium [Kohuhu]. f.19. H.N.Z. flora. [ca 1890]")
![Image: Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Yellow kowhai. Sophora tetraptera. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. [Wellington, 1889]](https://images.digitalnz.org/F5TEdjWRTaq-qONoZp-YgZJIOF8=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE67384 "Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Yellow kowhai. Sophora tetraptera. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. [Wellington, 1889]")
![Image: Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Pohutukawa. Metrosideros tomentosa. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. [Wellington, 1889]](https://images.digitalnz.org/Ws-kQ_k3KJbP0r5_J-vP9mVZTh0=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE63139 "Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Pohutukawa. Metrosideros tomentosa. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. [Wellington, 1889]")
![Image: Featon, Sarah Ann 1847 or 1848-1927 :Karamu. Coprosma robusta. F.113. H.N.Z. flora. No 18. [ca 1890]](https://images.digitalnz.org/JJ6SAI5XuQLOXesK5HJX13VbqY4=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE71228 "Featon, Sarah Ann 1847 or 1848-1927 :Karamu. Coprosma robusta. F.113. H.N.Z. flora. No 18. [ca 1890]")
Featon, Sarah Ann 1847 or 1848-1927 :Karamu. Coprosma robusta. F.113. H.N.Z. flora. No 18. [ca 1890]
Alexander Turnbull Library
![Image: Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Kohe-kohe - Dysoxylum spectabile. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. [Wellington, 1889]](https://images.digitalnz.org/kOgLfQZXAhvQMd2w-d-cm8B9TBc=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz%2FNLNZStreamGate%2Fget%3Fdps_pid%3DIE137192 "Featon, Sarah Anne, 1848-1927 :Kohe-kohe - Dysoxylum spectabile. Bock and Cousins Chromo-Litho. [Wellington, 1889]")
Toronia toru
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Ranuculus plebeius; Caltha novae Zelandia; Drimys axillaria]](https://images.digitalnz.org/72vEDxEKPsw3jXGQP_h3K932Hyc=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70908%2Fpreview "[Ranuculus plebeius; Caltha novae Zelandia; Drimys axillaria]")
[Ranuculus plebeius; Caltha novae Zelandia; Drimys axillaria]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Nestegis lanceolata; N. montana
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Titoki
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Poroporo
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Rhopalostylis sapida
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Ripogonum scandens; Luzuriaga parviflora
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Kawa kawa, Macropiper excelsum
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Freycinetia baueriana subsp. banksii
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Euphrasia cuneata; Rhabdothamnus solandri; Utricularia monanthos
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Pachystegia insignis
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Hedycarya arborea
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Ipomoea cairica/ Calystegia soldanella
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Pseudopanax edgerleyi ; P. anomalus; P. simplex
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Olearia rani; O. Hectorii; O.Solandri
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Dracophyllum latifolium Neinei; Dracophyllum strictum; Dracophyllum uniflorum:Turpentine scrub.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Olearia semidentata; O. ilicifolia
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Colensoa physaloides
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Arthropodium cirratum; Bulbinella rossii
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Cythodes acerisa; Cyathodes robusta; Leucopogan fasculatum; Leucopogan Frazeri; Archeria racemosa]](https://images.digitalnz.org/jNni38XPhfRTxgBsSDX4cUj8yRk=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70902%2Fpreview "[Cythodes acerisa; Cyathodes robusta; Leucopogan fasculatum; Leucopogan Frazeri; Archeria racemosa]")
[Cythodes acerisa; Cyathodes robusta; Leucopogan fasculatum; Leucopogan Frazeri; Archeria racemosa]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Gaultheria - various]](https://images.digitalnz.org/dWvxzwaBy8_1grQzMYSH-PfE6Eg=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70900%2Fpreview "[Gaultheria - various]")
[Gaultheria - various]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Dianella intermedia (Ink plant)]](https://images.digitalnz.org/11PCd8q3nBZ6x7v8PsvG3YO-4MA=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70906%2Fpreview "[Dianella intermedia (Ink plant)]")
[Dianella intermedia (Ink plant)]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Thelymitra longifolia]](https://images.digitalnz.org/VNraH2O5KMOzr5wSizaMja9VAA8=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70904%2Fpreview "[Thelymitra longifolia]")
[Thelymitra longifolia]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Carmcelia odorata; C.flagelliformis and fruit; C.Williamsii and fruit; Notospartium carmichoelia and fruit.]](https://images.digitalnz.org/5nndiILrFbDuOLseZP8EGJfFpG0=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70910%2Fpreview "[Carmcelia odorata; C.flagelliformis and fruit; C.Williamsii and fruit; Notospartium carmichoelia and fruit.]")
[Carmcelia odorata; C.flagelliformis and fruit; C.Williamsii and fruit; Notospartium carmichoelia and fruit.]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Tukautei/ Libertia ixioides
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Pixie cap orchid, Acianthus sinclairii; Spider orchid, Corybas macranthus; Caladenia minor; Tutukiwi, Greenhood orchid, Pterostylis banksii
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Aka-kiore; Parsonsia rosea]](https://images.digitalnz.org/cAZ8l-J_ex8PCekajLDmMnNsiIg=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70894%2Fpreview "[Aka-kiore; Parsonsia rosea]")
[Aka-kiore; Parsonsia rosea]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Epilobium pallilifolium]](https://images.digitalnz.org/kM7-S48-4idQHYEO9QZaRy7SYWg=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70898%2Fpreview "[Epilobium pallilifolium]")
[Epilobium pallilifolium]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Veronica
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Rangiora
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Puawananga - Clematis indivisa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Pikiarero - Clematis hexasepala
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Tutu
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Horokaka; N.Z ice plant; Kokihi.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Divaricate Suttonia; Toro; Mapu
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Tarata, Pittosporum eugenioides
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Kamahi. Tawhero.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Aka. Rata
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Akeake
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Karaka
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Tawhirikaro
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Celmisia
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
N.Z. Passionfruit, Kohia
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Rewarewa
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Coprosma australis / Kanono
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Polygonum minus; Muhlenbehia adpressa; Muhlenbehia compressa.]](https://images.digitalnz.org/H6IsZQa_HeAqK8XQ5PdVEUExDiY=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F74639%2Fpreview "[Polygonum minus; Muhlenbehia adpressa; Muhlenbehia compressa.]")
[Polygonum minus; Muhlenbehia adpressa; Muhlenbehia compressa.]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Untitled
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Untitled
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Meryta sinclairii: Puka
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Kohekohe
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Antarctic daisy
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Astelia solandri. ( Kowharawhara)
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
1. Taiaire: Beilschmiedia tarairi; 2. Tawa: Beilschmiedia tawa;
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Puriri - Vitex lucens
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Olearia angustifolia: mutton bird scrub, Teteaweka; Olearia frufuracea: Akipirau.
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Piri-ta; Tupeia antarctica]](https://images.digitalnz.org/XvxG2w9vlYcmzdnDXzxKLxU6jgg=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70896%2Fpreview "[Piri-ta; Tupeia antarctica]")
[Piri-ta; Tupeia antarctica]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Kowhai-ngutu-kaka. Clianthus puniceus
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Coprosma repens.(Taupata. Looking glass plant); Coprosma robusta.( Karamu); Coprosma foetidissima.(Stinkwood); Coprosma propinqua.(Mingimingi).
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Podocarpus totara; Dacrycarpus dacrydioides
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Plebalium nudum; Melicope ternata]](https://images.digitalnz.org/GiPOeHAfociHwVmf_CBhZaZWbpk=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70918%2Fpreview "[Plebalium nudum; Melicope ternata]")
[Plebalium nudum; Melicope ternata]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Bindweed, Pohu
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Ligosticum latifolium]](https://images.digitalnz.org/0wMaSPfeHBlxGfl7EfErnnvWqV8=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70948%2Fpreview "[Ligosticum latifolium]")
[Ligosticum latifolium]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Wahlenbergia congesta; Wahlenbergia violacea; Wahlenbergia rupestris; Lobelia anceps; Forstera sedifolia; Pratia angulata; Panakenake; Selliera rad...
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Exorcarpus bidwillii; Black Maire santalum cunninghamii; Euphorbia glauca.]](https://images.digitalnz.org/QKhv5m6SIpYOpH8xGs751qiqZw0=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F70958%2Fpreview "[Exorcarpus bidwillii; Black Maire santalum cunninghamii; Euphorbia glauca.]")
[Exorcarpus bidwillii; Black Maire santalum cunninghamii; Euphorbia glauca.]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Senecio Hectori
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Manuka
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
![Image: [Plagianthus divaricatus; Plagianthus lyallii; Hibiscus trianium;]](https://images.digitalnz.org/S7de1ENcWNPLKzxRbjV4mHDVJz4=/368x0/https%3A%2F%2Fmedia.tepapa.govt.nz%2Fcollection%2F761374%2Fpreview "[Plagianthus divaricatus; Plagianthus lyallii; Hibiscus trianium;]")
[Plagianthus divaricatus; Plagianthus lyallii; Hibiscus trianium;]
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Ixerba brexioides: Tawari
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Miro / Kawaka
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa