Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

A Thematic History of West Hobart – Godden Mackay Logan

Published in 2002 and based on work conducted by the author to assist in the Hobart Council Heritage Review of 2000.

Softcover, perfect bound, 66 pages. Numerous illustrations, town style plans etc to support the narrative.

A fairly rapid travel through the year since the beginning of European settlement – what surprised us was how quickly the area became developed and how active it must have been around the still beautiful “Crescent”

West Hobart – some history and not a bad place to “hang out”

$30.00

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Bass Strait Crossing – the Shipping History – David Hopkins

This is a fine copy of the second printing of David Hopkins delightful work on the ships that have crossed the Bass Strait.

Self published, set and with artwork and illustration by the author. Published in 1997.

Large format softcover, 36 pages, with a hundred or more images from period photographs. An enjoyable book for those with an interested – the trading ketches are our favourite – something special about their “romantic” rigging.

Surprise your friends with you knowledge of the Bass Strait and its history of shipping from the beginning to the modern (ish) days. No planning issues encountered!

$30.00

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Rare – Casella of London Boxed Compass – circa 1850

Top London maker. Louis Paschella Casella was born at Tavernerio near Lake Como, Northern Italy in 1802. His father mover the family to London for a better life. Louis was one of seventeen children!!

In the 1820’s he became apprenticed to distinguished Italian instrument maker Cesare Tagliabue, who had been in business since 1799.

In 1837 Louis married Tagliabue’s daughter and was soon made a partner in the business. Tagliabue died around 1844 and Louis became the sole proprietor continuing from their original premises at 23 Hatton Gardens. Later Louis’s sons took over the business.

Original mahogany box circa 7.0cm by 7.0cm with hook to close. Open to show the typically quite beautiful Casella sunburst dial. Showing thirty-two cardinal and intercardinal points and degrees and minutes on the outside. Blue compass needle works well. A button stop which traps the needle protects the compass when closed and travelling.

Casella as a maker was highly regarded and his instruments appear in museum collections around the world. He is known to have supplied the leading explorers and naturalists of the day including Livingston, Speake, Burton, and Charles Darwin.

Amazingly the company, or brand, continues this day as part of the modern American roll up of instrument makers that make up TSI.

Casella – Instrument maker Royalty – a treasured compass – small but perfect and can still show you the way after 170 years.

SO SORRY SOLD

$250.00

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Spy Catcher – Peter Wright – Former Assistant Director MI5

The greatest real expose of the activities of MI5 from technically adept Peter wright.

There was Philby and the “thing” the secret of all secret devices hidden within the American Great Seal. The bugging of the Egyptian cypher room. His greatest claim however was that Sir Roger Hollis was the “Fifth Man”.

Wright retired to Cygnet, Tasmania where he and his wife had a few acres and raised Arabian horses.

The struggle to get published and the various political heaviness are well understood.

Published by Heinemann in Australia in 1987, a first edition. Octavo, 392 pages, illustrated from photographs. Original owner name on end paper, closed tear top dust jacket otherwise a nice copy of this important book.

Spy Catcher – They couldn’t stop him …..

$35.00

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Kim Philby and other Russian Spy Celebrities – Russian Stamp Set 1990

A complete set of five mint stamps issued in Russia in 1990.

Each with a portrait of a member of the espionage elite. Rodolf Abel (1903-1971); Konon Molody (1922-1970); Vaupshascov (1899-1976); Kudrya (1912-1942) and …

“was he, or wasn’t he?” Harold “Kim” Philby.

Nicknamed “Kim” after the Rudyard Kipling boy hero spy – should have been a clue!

If you don’t know who Kim Philby is we are guessing you won’t want to buy this set …

Postage likely to be reduced on final billing.

Unusual item for those undercover agents out there …

$25.00

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Nasal Notocanthus – Shaw and Nodder – 1802

Over two hundred year old and still in fine condition.

Original and rather striking hand coloured copper engraving of the Notocanthus Nasus or Nasal Notocanthus. Described by Shaw as a having short prickles along the back and a nose-like snout.

The genera Acanthonotus instituted by Dr Bloch. Inhabits the Indian Ocean including in the deeps of Western Australia at the time of writing Shaw noted that “the history and manner (of the fish) are entirely unknown”

Price $190.00 nicely framed in gilt with cream black cored mat board. It works its lovely ….

Price unframed $90.00

Unusual and rather decorative

$90.00

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All products

A Thematic History of West Hobart – Godden Mackay Logan

Bass Strait Crossing – the Shipping History – David Hopkins

Rare – Casella of London Boxed Compass – circa 1850

Spy Catcher – Peter Wright – Former Assistant Director MI5

Kim Philby and other Russian Spy Celebrities – Russian Stamp Set 1990

Nasal Notocanthus – Shaw and Nodder – 1802

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