A man has been charged after a rare 19th-century seal that belonged to an early NSW explorer was stolen from an exhibition.
Police say John Oxley's fob seal was taken from an exhibition case where it was being displayed at Old Government House, Parramatta, on May 13.
Oxley was appointed surveyor-general of NSW from 1812 and the seal bears the family crest and is engraved with the motto "Patientia et Fortitudine" or "Patience and Strength".
It is made of engraved rock crystal and is mounted in an 18-carat gold converted fob watch.
Following a public appeal for information, police arrested a 43-year-old man in Junee on Thursday.
He was taken to Wagga Wagga Police Station and charged with break and entering a house and stealing something of value greater than $60,000, and damaging property.
The man appeared in Wagga Wagga Local Court on Friday, where he was formally refused bail to reappear in Parramatta Local Court on December 9.
The John Oxley Seal has not been recovered and investigations continue.
