Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Paradise Quest – A Naturalist’s Experiences in New Guinea – Lee Crandall – First Edition 1931

First Edition published by Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York in 1931. Octavo, 226 pages, 52 illustrations from period photographs … some really special ones.

Crandall was the Curator of Birds at the New York Zoological Park. This is an excellent account of his travels in Papua New Guinea. He journeys up the back of the Owen Stanley Range, meets the Mekeo and Kuni people, the latter being excellent bird catchers. Visits Deva-deva and many Birds of Paradise are seen. Mountain climbs, hidden villages and friendly cannibals (the best type) are all par for the course.

Numerous birds identified include the Sun Bird, New Guinea Pitta, Macklot Pitta, Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Lawes’ Six-plumed Bird of Paradise and the Prince Rudolph, Count Raggi’s, Long-tailed, King Birds of Paradise and, several Bower Birds and the Bonaparte Flycatcher and, many more …

Excellent naturalist’s account – Papua and Birds

$50.00

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Islands in the Stream – Ernest Hemingway – First Edition 1970

This is the first UK edition published by Collins, London in 1970.

Large octavo, 398 pages with end paper maps. Very good if not better condition.

A major novel left among Hemingway’s writings at the time of death. Mary Hemingway said “The book is all Ernest’s. We have added nothing to it” … we believe her …

Hemingway’s Last Novel and a good one!

$60.00

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Travels Amongst the Great Andes of the Equator [Ecuador] – Edward Whymper -1892

Travels and exploration in Ecuador – a classic.

Published by John Murray, London. A second printing, same year as the first, of a special book by the great mountaineer, Edward Whymper.

Large thick octavo, 456 pages. Nicely illustrated and with three maps, one folding and very large (85cm x 59cm) folding map in rear pocket. Original cloth covered binding with embellished gilt rule and lettering on front and spine, blind embossed in similar fashion on rear. Showing a little age, as usual, some scattered foxing near ends, otherwise a lovely clean copy. A heavy book which will require an Overseas postage supplement.

The classic South American Mountaineering book, Whymper climbing Cotopaxi and Chimborazo among others. Broader writing includes the natural history and geology of the Andes.

Essential reading for climbers and South American devotee.

Edward Whymper – nothing held him back

$140.00

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Knights Errant of Papua – Lewis Lett – First Ed 1935

Published by William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and London a first edition 1935. Octavo, 238 pages, end paper map and frontispiece of native police in marching order. A special introduction by Sir Hubert Murray which provided a very good overview in the absence of a formal contents page by Lett. A few superficial marks here and there still a pretty good copy.

Longtime expat Peter Villier Best’s copy with his stamp. Peter was with the Australian Petroleum Co and spent time in the Civil System and at BP and Steamies.

Lewis Lett had been in Papua New Guinea for over twenty years before he wrote this book. He knew Hubert Murray well and many of the Patrol Officers who had adventured into the unexplored regions. This is a book about those adventurous officers … the “Knights Errant’.

Some amazing stories from the early ascents of Mount Victoria and Mount Albert Edward by Sir William MacGregor, the crossing of the island by Karius and Champion and the well documented patrols of Monckton, Beaver, Griffin et al. Interesting that despite the dangers in what were often first encounters very little violence is noted and not from any “cleansing’ of history. Patrol leaders had one common thread and that was an ability to remain calm and communicate carefully without undue irritation.

Knights Errant is a unique work that brings together many adventures in very readable form.

$60.00

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Unexplored New Guinea Wilfred Beaver – First Edition 1920

A scarce first edition… a record of the travels, adventures and experiences of a resident magistrate amongst the headhunting savages and cannibals of the unexplored interior of New Guinea.

Beaver was twenty-seven years resident magistrate in the Western District.

Published by Seeley, Service & Co, London in 1920. Thick octavo, 320 pages. Nicely illustrated with 34 photographs taken by the author and 4 maps. With a focus on the extreme West – the Fly River, Kiwai Island, The Girara Tribes, The Bamu, Gama and Turama. Much on religious beliefs and practices. A very good copy.

Another rare PNG book at Voyager – Beaver up the Fly

$160.00

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Among Papuan Headhunters – E Baxter Riley – First Edition 1925

A very good copy of Riley’s Papuan classic about the people of the Fly River.

The long subtitle says it all – “An account of the manners and customs of the old Fly River head-hunters, with a description of the secrets of the initiation ceremonies divulged by those who have passed through all the different orders of the craft, by one who has spent many years in their midst.”

Published by Seeley, Service & Co, London. Thick octavo, 316 pages. Extremely well written in depth with very good photographic images … the head being treated perhaps the most confronting. 50 illustrations and 2 maps one folding. A hint of an old embossed stamp on title, the odd superfluous mark, otherwise a really nice copy.

Edward Baxter Riley (1868-1929) was put in charge of the Fly River Mission on the island of Daru in 1901. This followed the death of the great James Chalmers who was killed and devoured in the region. Riley, originally a pharmacist became an expert in Papuan languages, particularly Kiwai and, has since been highly regarded for the work put into this classic anthropological account.

Scarce essential Fly River extensive work

$140.00

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All products

Paradise Quest – A Naturalist’s Experiences in New Guinea – Lee Crandall – First Edition 1931

Islands in the Stream – Ernest Hemingway – First Edition 1970

Travels Amongst the Great Andes of the Equator [Ecuador] – Edward Whymper -1892

Knights Errant of Papua – Lewis Lett – First Ed 1935

Unexplored New Guinea Wilfred Beaver – First Edition 1920

Among Papuan Headhunters – E Baxter Riley – First Edition 1925

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