Non-fiction

By Way of the Wind – Jim Moore

A first edition published by Sheridan House, Dobbs Ferry, New York in 1991. Octavo, 215 pages, illustrated with the authors photographs and with endpaper maps. Very good if not fine condition

Jim Moore and his partner Molly gave up a normal life in Portland Oregon to build their dream boat a 36 foot fibreglass Cascade Sloop to be named Swan. It took them four year to get it all shipshape.

They set off in 1977 across to Hawaii, Christmas Island, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Lord Howe island, New Zealand and then on to Sydney. It was 1989 by the time they sailed round Cape York and on to their second Christmas Island before Mauritius, Cape Town St Helena and up to the West Indies and a stop off in Tampa. Back through the Panama and back to Hawaii and on home.

Entertaining circumnavigation .. including getting stuck on the Mooloolaba sand bar!

$30.00

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Adventure in Depth – Commander William King

Published by Putnam’s, New York 1975, a first edition. Octavo, 250 pages, nicely illustrated and with a chart of the voyage. Very good condition.

Bill King perhaps the greatest Submarine Commander ever, well the only one to survive the whole of WWII. Here, in 1973, he circumnavigates the world in his specially built junk-type rigged “Galway Blazer II. Survives a capsize in the South Atlantic before being hit and damaged by a killer whale near Western Australia. Following the roaring forties route over the Pacific and Round the Horn and the return home.

An unusual book with reminiscences of submarine activity intermingled with the adventures of his circumnavigation.

Incredible voyage and reminiscences from an incredible man

$30.00

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Come Aboard – Eric Hiscock – First Edition 1978

Published by Oxford University Press a first edition 1978. Octavo, 237 pages with 43 coloured photographs by the Hiscock’s and seven charts. Very good near fine condition.

In 1976, Eric Hiscock and his wife set off on their third circumnavigation of the world.

They traveled west from New Zealand in the jib-headed ketch Wanderer IV via the Durban to England, the Canaries and a stop off in the West Indies before through the Panama and across the Pacific taking in the Marquesas, Tahiti and Fiji.

Nicely illustrated and with good technical dialogue.

Fine sailing third time all the way

$30.00

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The Lhota Nagas – Mills – First Edition 1932

First edition, published by MacMillan, London in 1932. Largish octavo, 255 pages nicely illustrated from photographs and drawings with a nice map of the relevant area. Striking blue cloth covered binding with gilt titling to spine and front as well as a lavish gilt image of a Lhota warrior in full dress.

Whilst the author had no formal anthropological training this is widely regarded as the primary source of information regarding the reclusive and inviting Lhota Nagas

Mills addresses the origins of the tribe, their migration, appearance, dress, ornament and weapons. Domestic life among the Nagas and the “Morung” … agriculture and the various unusual associated ceremonies. Hunting, fishing, food, medicine and drugs. Games they play, music and entertainment. The laws and customs by which they abide… war and head-hunting, Slavery and the position of women. Religion and life after death … magic, folk tales and songs. A good chapter on their language and various appendices concerning the Lhota calendar, mensuration and human sacrifice.

John Philip Mills (1890- 1960) was educated at Winchester College and Corpus Christi Cambridge. He spent three years as the Assistant Commissioner at Mokokchung, remote Nagaland in Northern India bordering Assam. During that period he worked on this book. Later in life he was rewarded for his work … back in London he was appointed Reader at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University. In the 1950’s he was President of the Anthropological Institute.

The surprising life of the Lhota Nagas a unique people

$240.00

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The Wreck of the Batavia & Prosper – Simon Leys

A fine first hardback published 2005 by Black Inc, Melbourne. Small octavo, 110 pages, illustrated comprising two separate essays of close to equal length.

The author’s account of the unusual going’s on to do with the wreck of the Dutch East Indies Batavia and the horrid aftermath is good succinct account.

Despite the unusual format of the title …Prosper is a totally different narrative and not a wreck account … deeply personal the author Pierre Ryckmans (here under his pen-name Simon Leys) recalls a summer spent on a tuna fishing boat off Brittany … his introduction to “proper sailing”.

Batavia special and unusual combination … Prosper

$22.00

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Capture of the Mahonesa – Original Hand Coloured Aquatint – Whitcombe 1816

An original hand coloured aquatint by Sutherland after a painting by Thomas Whitcombe (1763-1824) a leading British maritime artist. Published at 48 The Strand, London, 1st November 1816 for Jenkins’s “The Naval Achievements of Great Britain”; surely the greatest ever naval illustrated work.

Printed on thick Whatman paper measuring 30 cm by 21.5 cm with wide borders. Some ghosting from a previous mount as can be seen from the image. Reflected in the price … a desirable collectable naval item.

The action took place on 13th October 1796 off the coast of Spain near Cartgeria. The 22 gun frigate HMS Tepsichore, under Captain Richard Bowen had been shadowing the Spanish fleet. On his return to Lisbon he encountered the Mahonesa under Captain Ayalde. The Spanish offered “battle” and Bowen accepted and won the Mahonesa with little loss on his side. He took his prize to Lisbon but unfortunately had caused so much damage to the ship that it was considered worthless as a prize. This was the first encounter of the Anglo-Spanish War which was to last a further eight years.

Price $190.00 unframed … ask for framing options if you wish.

Thomas Whitcombe exhibited at the Royal Academy (56 times), the British Institution and the Royal Society of British Artists. Many of his paintings of naval engagements are in the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

$190.00

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By Way of the Wind – Jim Moore

Adventure in Depth – Commander William King

Come Aboard – Eric Hiscock – First Edition 1978

The Lhota Nagas – Mills – First Edition 1932

The Wreck of the Batavia & Prosper – Simon Leys

Capture of the Mahonesa – Original Hand Coloured Aquatint – Whitcombe 1816

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