Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Map of Van Diemen’s Land or Tasmania – A.K. Johnston FRGS – 1844

A large scale quality map engraved by W & A.K. Johnston and published in Edinburgh in 1844.

The cartographer was Alexander Keith Johnston (1804-1871) and it was published in the National Atlas of Historical, Commercial and Political Geography both by the cartographer and his bother William in Edinburgh and by Robert Weir and James Lumsden in Glasgow. Alexander Johnston had been apprenticed to James Kirwood and the great William Home Lizars. His brother, later knighted, became the Lord Provost of Edinburgh.

Large scale with central fold the printed area 57cm by 47cm. Thick paper and very good condition with strong pastel colouring. The whole of map image is difficult to photograph due to its size so we have scanned various sections on our A3 machine so you can see the extent of the detail and the quality of the map.

An interesting historical map. The odd historical note is added such as the discovery of Adventure Bay by Furneaux in 1773 and Cook’s anchorage there in 1777; Baudin’s discovery of Oyster Bay in 1802 etc.

A summary note states “Van Diemen’s Land was discovered by Tasman in 1642 & is hence sometimes called Tasmania, it received its present name in honour of Anthony Vandiemen, Gov General of the Dutch E. indies. It was visited by Cook & Furneaux 1773-7 & was found to be an island by the discovery of the Bass’ Strait, 1798, in 1804 it was formally taken possession of in the name of Britain; and the site HOBART TOWN fixed on for the Capital. Emigration from England began in 1821, when the V.D. Land Bank was established, in 1825 it was declared independant (sic) of N.S. Wales & the chief authority vested in a Lieut. Governor & Council.”

Tooley reference 780 and Tooley maps of Tasmania 315, National Collection 22985553

Price $340.00 unframed.

One of the best maps of the 1840’s a full of interesting detail. Very good condition and would frame to make a significant statement.

$340.00

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Poems to Pavlova – Tulloch Cull – First Edition 1913

A first edition of this poetic homage to the great ballerina Anna Pavlova.

Published by Herbert Jenkins, London in 1913. Square octavo, 62 pages after preliminaries with 8 plates from period photographs. Original decorative green cloth covered boards, all in very good condition.

Russian born Anna Pavlova (1881-1931) hardly requires introduction. Principal artist of the Imperial Russian Ballet and the Ballets Russes … forever to be remembered as the dying swan.

Her name was pronounced Pa … vlova unfortunately the pudding designed in her honour Pav … lova has corrupted our understanding. Invented (the pudding) during her tour of Australia in the 1920’s … disputed by Kiwis across the Ditch who believe it was first made in Wellington.

Anna Pavlova … much more than a meringue with fruit!

$60.00

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Seven Professionally Prepared Antique Microscope Slides – Botanicals – by W. Watson

A fine collection of antique ring mounted botanical specimens. Comprising …

Leaf of Tea Tree
Leaf of Aloe ferox
Leaf of Laurel
Leaf of Tobacco Plant
Stem of Ribes
Lime Tree section
Lea bud of Ash

Some super examples with very minimal specimen degradation as can be seen from the images.

William Watson set up as an optician in 1837. He took up premises at 313 High Holborn, London in 1862. The business became W Watson & Sons from 1882. They took over the slide preparation business of Edmund Wheeler in 1884 and from them were to become one of the most successful preparers. These slides are circa 1900, though the Lime Tree is earlier and carries the distinctive Watson cursive style specimen label of the 1880’s.

Note tray not included slides will be sent in protective special purpose containers.

A good group of early quality mounts by Watson

$120.00

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Francois Valentjin’s Description of Ceylon – Translated and Edited by Arasaratnam

Francois Valentijn (1666-1727) was a Dutch scientific theologian and author of “Oud en Niew Oost-Indien” [Old and New East-India] a rather comprehensive history of the Dutch East India Company and the Far East.

Valentijn spent 16 years in the East employed in a ministerial capacity by the VOC … he returned to Dordrecht where he compiled the massive work, containing over one thousand plates and maps … he clearly had access to the VOC archives.

The translator and editor of this work Sinnappah Arasaratnam had thought for some time that a work, relating to Ceylon, based on Valentijn was a worthy endeavour. The original rather repetitive and encyclopaedic in form required a special talent to product a modern readable effective translation. Arasaratnam found the Hakluyt Society the ideal partner to assist in achieving his objective and the result is something special.

Octavo, 374 pages, illustrated and with large folding map at rear. A very good copy bar without dust jacket.

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) as described by Valentjin from VOC records in modern readable form by Hakluyt

$40.00

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The Expedition of the St Jean-Baptiste to the Pacific 1769-1770

A most interesting Hakluyt production. This expedition, conducted at the time of Cook’s first voyage, had dropped off the radar until the brilliant John Dunmore produced this work based on the journals of Captain Jean de Surville and First Officer Guillaume Labe.

Published by Hakluyt in 1981, octavo 310 pages illustrated with maps, facsimile pages from journals etc. Original blue cloth covered boards with gilt design, dust jacket, a very good copy.

Jean- Francois- Marie de Surville (1717-1770) was a merchant captain with the French East India Company. This was his only exploratory endeavour. He died in Peru without having completed his objective. In 1769 he was given command of the Saint Jaen-Baptiste to look for trading opportunities in the Pacific. He entered the Pacific from the north west and rediscovered the Solomon Islands, then on to New Zealand where he missed crossing paths with James Cook by a matter of days. Crossing the Pacific to Peru was confident in having dismissed the existence of David Land. His crew were in a most unhealthy state with the scurvy and other ailments. He decided not to call at Juan Fernandez and sailed straight to Chlica to get help. The ocean was rough and Surville set off in a small boat which capsized, and he drowned. Command was transferred to Labe. The ship however was seized by the Spanish and held for two years before the vessel and the remaining crew were let go. Roughly one third survived to return to France.

Despite these difficulties (understatement) the journals contain valuable information on the Solomons, observations on pre-colonial Maori society, and extraordinary picture of the hardships endured.

Jean Surville on the St Jean Baptiste

$40.00

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Whalers of the Midnight Sun – Alan Villiers [A Fiction Based on His Experiences] – 1964

Maritime hero Alan Villiers brings his undoubted experience to this adventure book aimed at young boys.

A new edition and first of its type, Angus and Robertson 1964. Octavo, 248 pages with ten full pages illustration from woodcuts by Charles Pont. A little aging to page edges and gift inscription back of half title, nice bright jacket, all up a pretty good copy.

Endpaper maps of the voyage from Hobart, Tasmania down to Macquarie Island; the Balleny Islands; the Ross Sea; Grahams Island before heading north to Montevideo.

A Norwegian expedition picks up some extra crew at Hobart, a motely band of youths and a stow away, little Alfie, who appears at Macquarie Island. Adventure ensues.

Alan Villiers, a yarn about Whaling, from personal experience.

$30.00

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All products

Map of Van Diemen’s Land or Tasmania – A.K. Johnston FRGS – 1844

Poems to Pavlova – Tulloch Cull – First Edition 1913

Seven Professionally Prepared Antique Microscope Slides – Botanicals – by W. Watson

Francois Valentjin’s Description of Ceylon – Translated and Edited by Arasaratnam

The Expedition of the St Jean-Baptiste to the Pacific 1769-1770

Whalers of the Midnight Sun – Alan Villiers [A Fiction Based on His Experiences] – 1964

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