Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Reach for the Sky [Douglas Bader]- Paul Brickhill – 1955

This is a very good copy of the Readers Book Club of Melbourne version, no date but 1955. In itself quite a scarce edition. Octavo, 351 pages, illustrated from period photographs, very good condition.

Douglas Bader will require no introduction to the oldest generation. Those too young to be informed should read this book .. was there ever anyone with more courage. Brickhill’s biography is regarded as something special for its depth and generosity.

Made into a classic movie perhaps Kenneth Moore’s best portrayal.

Bader was heard to say, after it was all over and he could spend more time on the gold course, …” A chap is not a chap if he can’t be bothered to shave in the morning” …. Classic stuff!

Bandits coming out of the sun …11 o’clock.

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$30.00

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A Tour of Old Tasmania – Tatlow, Wooley and Mercer

This tour guide is not dated and what would you expect from the three rogues Tatlow, Wooley and Mercer.

Self published in 2008. Softcover, 232 pages, extensively illustrated. Ownership signature at front, otherwise a very good copy.

The three claim the book to be “Your official guide and ripper true tales of the past” … Overseas buyers to translate “ripper” to can’t be beaten etc.

We have a map near the front that plots the referenced route – all tow thousand plus kilometres of it – often to out of the way off the beaten track places.

Really a special guide all the more readable because of the muted eccentricity of the writers – true Tasmanian boys.

A Tasmanian guide book to start and finish with.

$30.00

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The Barcoo Salute – Patsy Adam Smith – First Edition 1978

A first edition published in 1978 by Rigby. Patsy Adam Smith had travelled six times around Australia by the time she put this one together … legendary for her understanding of the first people of Australia and their land.

Octavo, 180 pages, supper collection of illustrations from period photographs. Super condition, full jacket.

We start with the vast area embracing the Kimberley’s in the Northern Territory and then to Broome, taking in the Japanese Pearl Divers graveyard. And Derby to the Baobab Tree prison. The Fitzroy River and the Joss Houses of Darwin. Heading south into the interior and Alice Springs; the Marbles and the double back to Queensland and Normanton.

In between all this a segue to Tasmania and Lake Pedder and an individual who was one of her favourites Max Angus .. well liked by all really.

Special book on Tasman – be careful when playing the trumpet.

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$45.00

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Abel Tasman and the Discovery of New Zealand – B.J. Slot

A first edition published in 1992 by Otto Cramwinckel, Amsterdam. Translation by and publication promoted by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A super production as you might expect with Government backing. Larger squarish format octavo, 126 pages, well illustrated throughout. Signed by an eccentric hand on the Forward … could be the author – not entirely sure.

Despite the title not wholly focused on the discovery of New Zealand (named then as Statenland) but the broader Tasmania voyages. Starts with an overview of the Dutch east India Company and the role of the Company in organising voyages of discovery. The Tasman’s expeditions to the South Land and Visscher’s proposal to discover an alternative route along the edge of the South Land to Chile. A note on Tasman himself and his development from humble sailor to expert explorer. His early voyages to the East Indies in search of gold and silver. His voyage to Batavia and further and the discovery of Statenland – the events at Murder’s Bay and the playing of the trumpet … his eventual fate etc etc.

Special book on Tasman – be careful when playing the trumpet.

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$60.00

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Inuk [The Copper Inuit of Extreme North West Canada] – Roger P. Bulliard

This is a book like no other missionary account. Roger Bulliard spent fifteen years among the Copper Inuit (Inuk) of extreme North Western Canada. He became one of them.

A special translation, second “revised” edition published by MacMillan, London in 1956. Octavo, 314, illustrations from good period photographs. Very good condition and a good example of the scarce dust jacket.

The Inuit are descendants of the Thule and for thousands of years have been hunter gatherers. Whilst now affected by “modern” life norms – many still practice the original way of life. North of the “tree line” the occupy the area around Coronation Gulf, Victoria Island, and southern regions of Banks Island. For years they have exploited copper gathered along the Coppermine River, hence their casual name.

The first written contact with “outsiders” is recorded in the exploration journals of Samuel Herne. Sir John Franklin came across them in both his 1821 and 1825 expeditions. And Robert McClure met them when searching for the lost Franklin. The Copper Inuit took advantage of his abandoned ship.

Back to Bulliard’s book. We have a very easily read account of the customs and activities of the Inuk … he writes in story telling manner, recalling specific verbal interchanges … must have had some memory. At times they live a life of the most extreme hardship imaginable … we can see where Franklin may have got his survival idea of eating their shoes .. this happened at an Inuk settlement as recently as 1948.

Interesting account, nicely written and meaningfully illustrated.

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$40.00

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Vagabonding Down the Andes – Harry Franck – First Edition 1917

First edition published in 1917. A really lovely copy of the account of an obsessive vagabonder. Harry Franck travelled the world (right around it one time) with a few dollars in his pocket.

Here he travels from Central America to Buenos Aires and then more – well quite a bit more. The fold out map shows where he walked on foot and where he has some mode of transport .. a lot of footwork.

Published by Century Publishers, New York. Large thick octavo, 612 pages, will 176 illustrations from original photographs, quite a few of which are folding panorama style. Delightful decorated green cloth covered boards, top edge brightly gilt, a little tender inside front hinge, really a smashing copy.

First edition, clean and a very worthwhile travel account by the number one Vagabonder Harry Franck

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$120.00

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All products

Reach for the Sky [Douglas Bader]- Paul Brickhill – 1955

A Tour of Old Tasmania – Tatlow, Wooley and Mercer

The Barcoo Salute – Patsy Adam Smith – First Edition 1978

Abel Tasman and the Discovery of New Zealand – B.J. Slot

Inuk [The Copper Inuit of Extreme North West Canada] – Roger P. Bulliard

Vagabonding Down the Andes – Harry Franck – First Edition 1917

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