An extremely rare Victorian long overseer's truncheon from Tasmania

An extremely rare Victorian long overseer's truncheon from Tasmania, with crown, 'VR', 'VDL' (Van Dieman's Land), '16', 'PORT ARTHUR PENAL SETTLEMENT', turned grip, 88.5cm long.

Provenance: Wallis & Wallis, 22nd July 2014. Ex. Mitton.

Tasmania was known as Van Dieman's Land until 1855 and this truncheon dates from c.1837-1855. The Port Arthur settlement existed from 1830-1877 and convicts experienced a system of administration based on corporal punishment. Overseers and constables relied upon the threat of cat-o-nine-tails, irons or sensory deprivation in solitary confinement. This colonial truncheon is one of the longest in existence.