Non-fiction

Rabaul 1942 – the Story of the 2/22nd Australian Army Infantry and others – Douglas Aplin

This is the second printing of Douglas Aplin’s definitive book on the, as he calls it, “tragic story of the 2/22^nd …. The men and women of the Lark Force, including units of the RAN, RAAF, New Guinea Volunteer Rifles, 1^st Independent Company etc and New Guinea residents who were caught up in the calamity following the January 1942 invasion of the New Guinea Islands by the Japanese”

Softcover, perfect bound, published by the Battalion, effectively self-published by the author, 1980. 294 pages, illustrated – very good condition.

And, what a calamity it was … many lost their lives amid the confusion sparked by the ineptitude of military and political hierarchy in Canberra … for weeks invasion had been inevitable and opportunities to move anyone at risk were lost … those left must have been terrified and bewildered. Without dragging too much up, as is the mood of current times, … things were not good. The Japanese brought 3,000 of their own prostitutes to Rabaul to “service” their troops, gives you some idea …

Nevertheless, there are some good stories here among the debris of war … those that made every personal effort to escape … often by risky means … but with success. This is an important book to reflect on how humans behave in the worst of circumstances … but the “escapes”… they provide some happiness and relief.

Important thorough work by Douglas Aplin based on numerous journals, diaries, records etc.

$70.00

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Wooden Hookers of Hobart Town & Whalers Out of Van Diemen’s Land – Harry O’May

Published by the author a fine copy of the second impression 1978.

Octavo, 137 pages plus 101 pages indices not paginated. Very clean superb dust jacket.

Harry O’May’s compilation of two books packed with historic detail about the Tasmanian early whalers – superb photographic record nowhere else seen.

One of the best Tasmanian Maritime

$30.00

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The Bay Whalers – Tasmania’s Shore-Based Whaling Industry – Michael Nash.

It is estimated that over a thousand southern right whales were taken in Tasmania in 1839. The practice had started just more than ten years before and steadily rose and then declined in a similar fashion after the peak.

Another super book by all things marine Michael Nash. Great research nicely presented.

Published by Navarine in 2003. Large octavo, 170 pages, smashing relevant illustrations throughout.

Shore-based whaling what was it where was it and what was the impact – Tasmanian history and legacy.

$40.00

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Resources of the Sea – Record of a Symposium arranged by the Royal Society of Tasmania

Published by the Society relating to a symposium held at Bicheno on the east Coat of Tasmania in 1974.

Perfect bound 199 pages, decorated card covers. High standard and intensity narrative, numerous, charts, images, diagrams etc.

Divided into non-biological [Physical setting; Scenic Margin; Minerals of the Ocean and Oil] – biological [Fisheries; Farming the Sea; Ecosystems]

Whilst this is the 1970′s and the offshore oil industry is now well established, it is the sections on Minerals and Farming the Sea that we find particularly intriguing given that the former had gone into hibernation until Trump II came along and the latter is such a contested issue in Tasmania these days.

In the minerals paper we have much on manganese and the various methods of harvesting at various depths of ocean … go for it we think … or maybe not?

Resources of the Sea – a set of paper to look back on and look forward.

$30.00

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Tasmanian Photographs – Rex Direen [with text by Bob Brown]

Self-published by the photographer in 1988. Landscape soft cover, unpaginated, 73 photographs with Bob Brown’s introduction and notes on the photographs following. Good condition bar crease to lower right front cover

One of our favourite photographic records probably because of the breadth of subjects – activism and activism against the activists [it is Tasmania]; landscapes to die for; people about their work and leisure [including the t-shirtless wet t-ship competition at Judbury] and a super image of a shirtless Geoff Dyer crouching as he completes one of his striking landscapes.

Tasmanian photographic images, a broader story and special collection.

$30.00

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Carl Zeiss Microscope Vertical Illuminator with Aperture Diaphragm – Original Box – c 1930’s

A scarce period vertical illuminator in original fitted, felt lined box. Box in good order, shagreen a little aged, gilt naming and branding still readable, clasp work. Has kept the device in very good order.

The Zeiss vertical illuminator is used to reflect and control light vertically down the microscope to the specimen for both brightfield and darkfield observation. This model includes an aperture diaphragm which is operated by a lever [all works well which is crucial for achieving proper Kohler illumination. This setup allows for optimised contrast and resolution when observing with reflected light.

Zeiss microscope collectable in good order and with the diaphragm aperture

$190.00

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Rabaul 1942 – the Story of the 2/22nd Australian Army Infantry and others – Douglas Aplin

Wooden Hookers of Hobart Town & Whalers Out of Van Diemen’s Land – Harry O’May

The Bay Whalers – Tasmania’s Shore-Based Whaling Industry – Michael Nash.

Resources of the Sea – Record of a Symposium arranged by the Royal Society of Tasmania

Tasmanian Photographs – Rex Direen [with text by Bob Brown]

Carl Zeiss Microscope Vertical Illuminator with Aperture Diaphragm – Original Box – c 1930’s

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