Millions of dollars worth of paintings that shed new light on Australia's colonial times have been discovered in a dusty cupboard on the other side of the world.
The previously unknown album - much of it believed to be by convict artist Joseph Lycett - includes paintings of Sydney and regional views of New South Wales, portraits of Aborigines and natural history illustrations.
The collection, found in a cupboard in London, Ontario, Canada, is up for auction on Sunday.
The State Library of NSW will bid for the collection, said to have been created in Sydney and regional NSW around 1818.
"It's vital we secure this rich slice of our colonial history," said library head Alex Byrne.
