Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Tourmaline – Randolph Stow – First Edition 1963

A first edition of this Australian classic published by Macdonald, London in 1963.

Octavo, 224 pages. A very good copy in a slightly chipped dust jacket. Ownership signature on paste down. A few pages near the beginning exhibit a some show through of text from the other side … a little irritating … overcome with a relaxing cup of tea.

A derelict Australian gold rush town is the setting for Randolph Stow’s gripping drama.

The half title informs … “On the surface Tourmaline is the story of an illusion, of a lost township snatching at the chance of rebirth. At a deeper level it is a fable and man’s ever-present temptation to seek refuge from the world of his own reality”

And …who can go past the haunting Sydney Nolan dust jacket?

First Edition and Special

$70.00

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Kangaroo and Marsupial Friends – Bertuch 1800

An original hand coloured copper engraving of the Kangaroo with some friends.

This is one of the earliest images of the Kangaroo by Bertuch published in Germany c1800. It is based on the first ever painting by the great George Stubbs supposedly from an inflated kangaroo skin

A good size, 40cm by 20cm on thick wove paper, strong original coloring.

Price $140.00 unframed or $240.00 in cream mat with black core inside reddish gilt frame … a nice combination

Early and delightful image of the Kangaroo

$140.00

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Joseph Conrad and the Barque Otago – Sir William Crowther – 1975

Bound notes by Sir William Crowther for the handing over of the restored companionway superstructure to the officers’ cuddy from the Otago [Joseph Conrad’s ship].

Very few would have been produced so a scarce as it is brief. Quarto in size, bound nicely in blue cloth covered boards with gilt titles. Original photograph of the glorious companionway affixed to front paste down. Title, Preface and five pages typescript one side only. Dated 21st March 1975, fine condition. Our image of the blue covers looks a little drab … that’s just our scanner …

The work represents a brief summary of association of the great writer Joseph Conrad, then Captain Conrad with the barque Otago. The State Library had acquired the structure recovered by Crowther, a great bibliophile and collector, a number of years earlier at Risden, Hobart when the boat was finally broken up. It lay in Crowther’s back garden for many years before being restored by Philip Fowler.

Whilst brief the article gives a nice potted history of Conrad’s early days and how he came to be in charge of the Otago. His novel The Shadow Line, from which Crowther quotes was written about his voyage to Singapore to pick up the Otago.

Sir William Crowther should not be confused with his Grandfather of the same name who committed some rather nasty acts regarding the bodies of aboriginal people. This Crowther whilst still perhaps confused by the right and wrong at least gave up the family collection of indigenous relics to the Museum and these have since been given some final respect.

Regarding this item .. well a unique work in the Conrad genre.

$50.00

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Victoria’s Forgotten Goldfield – Christie and Gray – Signed by Christie – First Edition 1981

… A History of the Dargo, Crooked River Goldfield.

Super little book and a very details and oft curious story of the goldfield at Dargo, in Eastern Victoria.

Softcover, small format, 136 pages, with illustration, tables of information etc a nice production. Signed on the title by Christie, very good condition albeit the back cover is marked at edges, but with no comprise internally which is bright and clean.

After discovery in 1865, gold recovery peaked in 1868 at 7,652 ounces and soon fell away. Despite this brief moment of glory as with other gold fields it spurred an enormous amount of interest and development in the area. We are off tomorrow to look at a spot not too far away.

Well honed history of one of the lesser known and more curious gold finds in Australia

$35.00

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Woodcut Bookplate of Sir Samuel James Way Bart – Chief Justice c1910

A striking woodcut bookplate, over 100 years old, of Sir Samuel James way (1836-1916). 13cm by 9.5cm in very good condition. This was the third bookplate commissioned by Way .. it bears his coat of arms which features three salmon working their way upstream against the current .. a metaphor … struggling against all obstacles towards success. His motto “Fit Via ci” loosely translating as “Where there’s a will there’s a Way” … so a hint of humour.

Sir Samuel was Chief Justice of South Australia and Lieutenant Governor. He was invited to the Privy Council but had to give it up partly due to confusion as to who was to pay him. He was knighted in 1899. He was a avid collector of art, objects and book. His private library was one of the greatest ever amassed in Australia … a large part of it on his death went to the Adelaide University Library where it increased the collection by 60%.

Sir Samuel James Way – Leading South Australian

$30.00

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A Palm Beach – Original Pochoir by George Barbier – Gazette du Bon Ton -1921

An original hand coloured “Pochoir” by George Barbier (1882-1932) the most desirable artist that contributed to Paris Gazette du Bon Ton.

This pochoir published in Paris in 1921.

“A Palm Beach” Tailleur de Worth. The costume from the famous Paris based House of Worth which operated between 1857 and 1956. A three piece outfit in red poplin with a chiffon bodice covered in blue lace; the jacket embroidered in navy.

Price $160.00 unframed.

Much sought after George Barbier

$160.00

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All products

Tourmaline – Randolph Stow – First Edition 1963

Kangaroo and Marsupial Friends – Bertuch 1800

Joseph Conrad and the Barque Otago – Sir William Crowther – 1975

Victoria’s Forgotten Goldfield – Christie and Gray – Signed by Christie – First Edition 1981

Woodcut Bookplate of Sir Samuel James Way Bart – Chief Justice c1910

A Palm Beach – Original Pochoir by George Barbier – Gazette du Bon Ton -1921

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