F.C.V. Lane : His Book [Frederick Lane bookplate]

Artist Norman Lindsay (1879-1969)

Datec 1945

Object number00026231

NamePrint

MediumLine block print on paper

DimensionsOverall: 149 x 100 mm

ClassificationsArt

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from Jeanne and Josef Lebovic courtesy Josef Lebovic Gallery

Terms

DescriptionAn illustrated bookplate designed by Norman Lindsay (1879 -1969) for his friend Frederick Claude Vivian Lane (1880-1969). The illustration shows a woman in a two-piece swimsuit standing on a rock gazing down at a seated mermaid. Above is the lettering 'F.C.V. LANE HIS BOOK'. The Australian artist, author, and cartoonist Norman Lindsay was well known for producing a prolific number of illustrations, cartoons, prints, drawings and paintings throughout his career and he also produced bookplates between 1897 and 1944. Frederick Lane was also a master printer by trade and wrote and produced a limited edition book 'The Bookplates of Norman Lindsay' which was printed in 1944 by the Hassell Press, Adelaide. HistoryFrederick Claude Vivian Lane (1880-1969) was born in Sydney. As a four year old he was saved from drowning in Sydney Harbour by his brother. This event led to Lane learning to swim and later competing in swimmming events as a schoolboy. He won numerous school swimming events and joined the East Sydney Amateur Swimming Club in 1895. After finishing school in 1896, Lane set an Australasian record of 64.8 seconds for 100 yards and won the 200 and 440 yards Freestyle championships of New South Wales and the Australasian 100 yards title at Christchurch, New Zealand. In 1898-89 he won all but one of the state freestyle titles and also won the mile championship in the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga. Mark Foy sponsored Lane in the English championships in 1899 where he won the 220 yards Freestyle title in a record time of 2 minutes and 38.2 seconds as well as the 440 yards salt water title. Lane went on to win the first Olympic swimming event, the 200 metres Freestyle race at the Paris Games in 1900. After the Olympics Lane continued to compete winning a over 400 trophies and breaking records for every distance from 100 yards to 1 mile and held seven or more world records, although only two were officially recognised. SignificanceFrederick Lane was a champion Australian and Australasian swimmer before competing at the Paris Olympics in 1900. He was the only Australian swimmer competing at the Paris Games and won the first Olympic swimming event, the 200 metres freestyle as well as the 200 metre obstacle race. Gold medals had not yet become part of the Olympic tradition and Lane was instead presented with three bronze sculptures including a bronze horse, and a model of the Louvre. In 1902, he set a world record for 220 yards, and was first to swim the 100 yards in under 60 seconds.