Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

The Best Of Rumpole – John Mortimer

Described as a “personal choice with a new introduction” by the author … good for him.

Octavo, 275 pages published by BCA in 1993. A very good near fine copy.

The author had been writing for seventeen years before it dawned on his that he needed a “character” like Maigret or Sherlock Holmes and it was out of this thought that Rumpole emerged … thank heavens for that.

Undoubtedly the most likeable Barrister of all time … opinions gladly received at Voyager. Here we have his best work, seemingly, with Rumpole … and the Younger Generation; the Showfolk; the Tap End; the Bubble Reputation; on Trial and our favourite …. The Children of the Devil.

Great night time reading … everyone needs to be Rumpole now and again now where is the claret?

Rumpole – several of his finest.

$30.00

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The Silmarillion – J.R.R. Tolkien.

A very good copy of the second printing of the First edition published in George Allen and Unwin, London in 1977.

Large octavo, 365 pages with tow maps included large folding map, of Belleriand and the Lands to the North, at the rear. Top edge stained blue and blue headband as required by this edition. Super condition.

Published posthumously, edited by his son, and mostly written between the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. Seemingly the Publisher thought this selection of tales all too complex for their Hobbit audience … so foolish of them.

The stories comprise the first 304 pages then we have five pages of family/clan trees … for the House of Finwe and the Noldrin descent of Elrond and Elros; The Descendants of Olwe and Elwe; the House of Beor and the mortal descent of Eltona and Elros etc. Then a useful note on Pronunciation [best to go here first for the full effect]. And a monster index of place name, characters, objects etc.Closing with several pages on “elements of Quenya and Sindarin names” … this in itself is evidence of J.R.R’s undeniable genius.

Silmarillion by Tolkien simply Special.

$60.00

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The Chairman’s Guide and Secretary’s Companion – New edition Revised by Frank Shackleton.

Published by Ward, Lock & Co, London and Melbourne – a popular help book this edition 1957.

Octavo, 132 pages, a fine copy, unmarked except for a large tick on the page “Duties of the Chairman” obviously reflecting the agreement of some pinstriped owner.

Modern reporting, views and means of communication may make some of this obsolete you may think. NO SO. Such elements as tenure; impartiality; dilatory motions; defamatory statements; toasts; relationship with Press; status; disorderly conduct etc all seems, in Voyager’s mind, stuff needing some consideration of late.

A final Chapter on “Typical Speeches” could improve things especially at a Social Dinner, A Bazaar or indeed a Popular Lecture.

Enlighten and educate your Boardly Friends – what better gift.

$25.00

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The Silence Calling – Australians in Antarctica 1947-97 – The ANARE Jubilee History – Tim Bowden – Signed First Edition

A substantial book published by Allen & Unwin in 1997. Signed and dated by the author on the title likely at the official book launch given the date.

Quarto, 593 pages, illustrated throughout. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket. A heavy book that may require a significant Overseas supplement.

ANARE started with the planting of a flag at Atlas Cove on Heard Island on Boxing Day 1947. It was down to Tim Bowden to write this superior record of what was to come. It took him four years – just as well he started early!

A straight forward Forward by the great Phillip Law leads into other useful preliminaries (including a healthy listing of acronyms which litter Antarctic going on) before a chronological history taking us from the Beginning at Heard then Macquarie and the push further south. To the exploration era (1954-1966) and “filling in the map”. Some difficult times for ANARE in the late sixties and seventies before a change to its modern progressive format. The final pages list Wintering Expeditioners; Medal Winners and Voyage Leaders. Useful obligatory bibliography.

Bowden’s even bigger work on the Australian’s in Antarctica – Signed nicely.

$60.00

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Nugae Canorae Medicae – Sir Andrew Douglas Maclagan – First edition 1850 – With Additional Contemporary Manuscript Content

Translates literally “Silly Medical Songs” and they are. Andrew Douglas Maclagan (1812-1900) was an eminent Scottish surgeon and toxicologist. In his lifetime he was President of five of the mots distinguished Societies in Scotland. As a toxicologist he was called to Court to give evidence … as a young man he supported the prosecution in the Burke and Hare affair.

Printed by Thomas Constable, Edinburgh in 1850 – a first edition (it was reprinted in 1873). Effectively self published. Maclagan vaguely covered his identity as the author is names as “The Poet Laureate of the New Town Dispensary”. Octavo, bark brown embossed cloth covered boards with gilt titling to front, 82 pages with manuscript additions to rear end paper. Remnant seal to back paste down.

Given the period any reader will be pleasantly surprised how amusing the said poem/songs are … and much fun must have been had with them. Footnotes have been provided which explain the circumstances and sometimes individuals at fault or lampooned. No punches held.

What makes this copy more charming is the manuscript addition. Internally they sometimes correct the events suggested. At the rear we have in neat manuscript further ditties by Maclagan that are not in the published work. Clearly someone who knew the great man very well. 19thC press clipping re Maclagan affixed front free end.

Silly Songs by a most distinguished physician.

$180.00

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Flannel Flowers – May Gibbs c1920

Published Sydney: Angus Robertson no date but an early printing circa 1920, printer Penfold noted at the rear.

Original wrappers, unpaginated but 28 pages in total. Bound with original green cord. Colour pictorial overlay to front of several pretty flannel babies. Illustrated with coloured frontispiece and 11 full page sepia illustrations. Nice condition, apart from a couple of marks to the front and a a name papered over inside front. Otherwise pretty clean inside, free of children’s often found markings. A scarce one in early form for some reason; although later reproduced. Reference authority Muir 2742.

As well as the Flannel Babies we have the Christmas Bell Babies; Bracken Babies; Pea-flower Babies; Mushroom Babies; Fuschia Babies and Tea-tree Babies.

May Gibbs – harder to find early Flannel Babies.

$50.00

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All products

The Best Of Rumpole – John Mortimer

The Silmarillion – J.R.R. Tolkien.

The Chairman’s Guide and Secretary’s Companion – New edition Revised by Frank Shackleton.

The Silence Calling – Australians in Antarctica 1947-97 – The ANARE Jubilee History – Tim Bowden – Signed First Edition

Nugae Canorae Medicae – Sir Andrew Douglas Maclagan – First edition 1850 – With Additional Contemporary Manuscript Content

Flannel Flowers – May Gibbs c1920

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