Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Wallace’s Tree Swift (Dendrochelidon Wallacei ) John Gould – The Birds of Asia – 1860

Original hand-coloured lithograph produced on limestone from John Gould’s most impressive series “Birds of Asia” completed and published in London circa 1860.

Gould writes in the accompanying narrative “After carefully comparing Indian specimens .. and Javanese specimens … with examples of a bird of the same form sent from Macassar by Mr Wallace, I could come to no other conclusion than that the latter is a very distinct and undescribed species, and I therefore took the opportunity of naming the bird D. Wallacei, in honour of its discoverer; not that there is any necessity for me to attempt to perpetuate the name of this gentleman as a promoter of natural science, since his writings sufficiently attest his devotion to more than one of its departments”. Gould very humble and obviously likes long sentences.

Gould goes on to say that the birds are figured a natural size. Little was then known about them … the accompanying narrative describes their colouring is some detail. The execution of the lithograph is excellent, it is very clean and the colouring still very bright and full and enhanced by the use of gum arabic which creates a sense of richness and depth

Tree swift named by John Gould in honour of Alfred Russell Wallace

$390.00

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Map of Bengal – Petrus Bertius – 1602

An original and delightful miniature copper engraved map of “Bengala” by the great geographer Bertius published in the Latin edition of his miniature atlas of 1602. The engraving were carried out by Jocodus Hondius.

The decorative map show the Bay of Bengal the main towns, surrounding hills and the rivers coming down to the delta including the sacred River Ganges. A special little map fro lover of the region.

Price $90.00 unframed or $190.00 framed in typical Voyager style with lavish gilt surround

The Mystery of Bengal Over 400 Year old

$90.00

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Discovery – The Quest for the Great South Land – Estensen

Miriam Estensen’s very readable book about the hunt for land in the Southern Hemisphere.

Published by Allen & Unwin in 1998. Octavo, 286 pages including and index and extensive bibliography. Nicely illustrated very good condition.

Estensen employs a much wider and very much earlier time frame for this work. Despite this we have the Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese activities before the French and the English … and a good balance is achieved regarding the relevance of all.

The Quest well researched nicely written

$20.00

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The Cruise of the “Cachalot” Round the World after Sperm Whales – Frank Bullen – 1899

Published by Smith and Elder, a second edition, London 1899 in the more upmarket binding with the striking gilt whale to the front board.

Large octavo, 380 pages with 7 pages of plates and a folding map.

Bullen, a homeless waif, went so sea at twelve years old. After six years he landed at New Bedford, Massachusetts where he secured a berth on the “Cachalot” a whaler that would be his home for the next three years. A ripping yarn of fact and fiction actually based on the authors experiences on the “Splendid” of New Bedford in whaling grounds off “the Solanders, Vau Vau and the Australian Gulf”.

Admired by Rudyard Kipling as the best Whaling Narrative.

Best Whaling Story according to Kipling

$140.00

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Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier

Published by Victor Gollancz, London a 1956 edition. We simply love these yellow jacketed “Cheap editions” very collectable in this condition … very good and a very good jacket. First published in 1938 and then again every year (sometimes multiple times) except 1945 until 1956 one of the great years of all time.

Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca one of the greatest romantic novels of all time … a young bride is thrust into the house of the dead former wife … this “’Cheap Edition” has become iconic and is collected for its near absurd popularity.

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again”

$60.00

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Map of the World – Cartographer De l’Ilse – Engraved and Published by Chatelain – c1730

An original copper engraved map of the world in two hemispheres by Gullaume De L’Isle published in Amsterdam by Chatelain.

The full title to the map is … “Mappe Monde ou description Generale du Globe Terrestre suivant M. De L’Isle de l’Academie Royale des Sciences”.

A curious map reflecting the unknown and the incorrect at the time. Nothing understood about the North West Coast of America although a land mass. to the east, is identified but not named … this is the fictitious “Campany’s Land”. The Dutch understanding of Australia (Nouvelle Holland)is shown with its limitations but without the south coast of Tasmania, noting also the mountain ranges shown in the North West. A most unusual map with some interesting features.

Gullaume De l’Isle (1675-1726) was a leading French cartographer of his period, following Sanson. His father was involved in geography and education although Gullaume was independent and bright at an early age. He was mentored by the great Astronomer Cassini. He became a member of the Acadamie Royale de Sciences and was appointed by Louis XIV to teach geography to the Dauphin. Like most cartographer his maps continued to be published well after his death. His intellectual property was eventually taken over by cartographer Bauche.

Henri Abraham Chatelain (1684-1743) was a Huguenot who lived variously in Paris, London the Hague and Amsterdam. He was the main mover in a family of engravers and publishers, and produced the Atlas Historic which included maps after De l’Isle of which this delightful World Map is an example.

Price $260.00 unframed or $390.00 framed in Voyager rare map style … enquire if you wish it framed or need to discuss framing options.

Intriguing world map with lots of curiosity.

$260.00

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All products

Wallace’s Tree Swift (Dendrochelidon Wallacei ) John Gould – The Birds of Asia – 1860

Map of Bengal – Petrus Bertius – 1602

Discovery – The Quest for the Great South Land – Estensen

The Cruise of the “Cachalot” Round the World after Sperm Whales – Frank Bullen – 1899

Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier

Map of the World – Cartographer De l’Ilse – Engraved and Published by Chatelain – c1730

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