Travel & Voyages

The Convict Ship – Colin Browning M.D. R.N. – First US Edition 1855

Extended title …. The Convict Ship. A Narrative of the Results of Scriptural Instruction and Moral Discipline on Board the “Earl Grey”” [to Tasmanian].

This is the first US edition published by Robert Craighead, New York in 1855, having previously been published in London. Octavo, 263 pages, bound in original embossed slate blue cloth covered boards. Title to spine fairly faded and end papers aged with original owners name and gift inscription to front free end paper. The odd mark and crease internally but really rather clean and bright overall.

Colin Arrott Browning MD was appointed Surgeon on HMS earl Grey carrying 264 male prisoners to the penal colony of Van Diemen’s Land in 1842. He had undertaken that position a number of times … in the Surrey (1831); the Arab (1834); the Elphinstone (1840). He was certainly a confident man and the book mainly deals with the subject of the longer title … scriptural instruction and discipline. Along with this are observations on prisoners and crew along the way … a storm is encountered and they reactive words of the loss of the Waterloo and all of the prisoners who sailed in her … which made them very nervous. On arrival in Hobart they are inspected by Sir John Franklin who is impressed by their condition and mental state … a positive for scriptural instruction. Testimonies follow which make for interesting reading.

Fundamental record of practices onboard convict ships bound for Van Diemen’s Land

$180.00

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Shackleton – His Antarctic Writings – Ralling – First edition 1983

Octavo, first edition 264 pages with endpaper maps and illustrations. A fine like new copy.

The editor Christopher Ralling wrote the script for the BBC series on the great man … as a result they published this superb book. With pertinent extracts from The Heart of the Antarctic and South and magnificently illustrated this makes a a special companion book for the Polar collector.

Shackleton well put together

$30.00

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Red Mains’l – E.A. Pye – First edition 1952

Published by Herbert Jenkins, London a first edition 1952. Octavo, 199 pages well illustrated and with endpaper maps. Very good condition albeit some age given its age.

The Pye’s purchased Moonraker for twenty five pounds. She had been built at the end of the 19th Century and the builder had been paid an additional fifteen pounds then to make her “Extra strong”. She had been used as a fishing vessel so the Pye’s had to fit out the cabin and make quite a few improvements before they set off on an adventure of a lifetime.

They head out from Fowey south to the Canary Islands and across to Barbados and skirt the northern West Indies to the Bahma’s and Florida before a return voyage through huge seas via Bermuda and the Azores.

North Atlantic in a converted fishing boat – The Royal Cruising Club’s … outstanding Cruise of the Year.

$25.00

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Sea Wanderers to Australia – Martin

Published by Macmillan, Sydney a first edition 1977. Octavo, 192 pages with endpaper maps and nicely illustrated. A very good if not fine copy.

Norman Martin’s car hire business got into difficulty as UK Governments changed the rules. This was partly the stimulus that drove him and wife Sheila to give it all up in 1970 and spend five years at sea in their 42 foot ketch “Shebessa”.

And what an adventure. Circumnavigating west to the Caribbean through Panama to the Galapagos, on to the Marquesas, the Tuamato Group, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji then down to Australia landing at Byron. Down to Sydney and Melbourne before sailing for Lord Howe Island and on up to New Caledonia, Santa Cruz, Cheery Islands. Through the Solomon Islands to Rabaul and on to Madang before turning back to Cairns and on through the Torres Straits and the long sail to the Maldives. The voyage continues with equal intensity.

Martins in the Shebessa a full voyage every beauty spot visited.

$25.00

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Of Ships and Men – Alan Villiers

Published by Newnes, London in 1964 after the 1962 first. Tall octavo, 206 pages heavily illustrated. Very good condition and the best printing of a book published in a number of forms.

A personal anthology by the Master Mariner. In chronological order with “The Build-up” … the opening sentence is “There were sailing ships at the bottom of our street – real sailing-ships, I mean – Cape Horners, four-masted barques, fully-rigged” …. love it!

Then we are off with … “The Real Thing” and then “Steamships” and “Little Ships” and “War”.

Villiers unique knowledgeable writing style

$25.00

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Cutting Loose – James Lipscomb

Published by Angus and Robertson in 1975 having been published by Little, Brown in the USA the year before. Octavo, 304 pages plus diagrams of the boat and endpaper maps of the voyage. Very good condition.

This book by James Lipscomb is unusual .. five young men sail the “Four Winds” from San Pedro south to Costa Rica and then across the Pacific and on up to Singapore. His son John is the leader of the group … difficulties arise including personality issues and illness. Written in “diary fashion” it makes for interesting reading.

Cutting Loose – more than a voyage

$25.00

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The Convict Ship – Colin Browning M.D. R.N. – First US Edition 1855

Shackleton – His Antarctic Writings – Ralling – First edition 1983

Red Mains’l – E.A. Pye – First edition 1952

Sea Wanderers to Australia – Martin

Of Ships and Men – Alan Villiers

Cutting Loose – James Lipscomb

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