Biography/ autobiography

The Antarctic Diary of Victor Campbell – “The Wicked Mate” – Edited King

Victor Campbell was part of Robert Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition. He led the Northern Party, six men who explored the coast of King Edward VII Land. They spent ten months at Cape Adare and then moved to Inexpressible Island, described as a stormy and desolate place (an understatement). They were marooned here over the winter and had to hole up in a man made ice cave. When the weather eased a little in October they made there way back over 230 miles of sea ice.

Campbell’s papers and diary were acquired by the University of Newfoundland. This made their publication for the first time possible. Edited by King who was librarian and the Scott Polar Institute, illustrated with Campbell’s sketches and numerous photographs, many of which not published before.

Published by the brilliant Erskine Press, part of Bluntisham Books in 2001. Large squarish format octavo, 192 pages, very good near fine condition.

Victor Campbell’s Antarctic Diaries – The Northern Party

$80.00

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Mawson’s Antarctic Diaries – Edited by Fred and Eleanor Jacka

The 2008, soft cover version, published by Allen & Unwin, Sydney. Small quarto, 414 pages and 60 pages of plates. Very good condition. A substantial and heavy book not really suitable for overseas postage.

Sir Douglas Mawson made four trips to the Antarctic, the first in 1907-09 with Shackleton’s expedition, then in 1911-14 as leader of the Australian Antarctic Expedition and then twice between 1929 and 1931 as leader of the combined expeditions.

This book brings together for the first time his writings over all four expeditions.

It also includes some Frank Hurley photographic images not produced elsewhere.

Mawson’s Words perfectly presented

$30.00

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A Journalist’s Memories – Spencer Browne – Published in Brisbane 1927

Published in Brisbane in 1927 based on a series of articles published by the Courier Mail the year before.

An absolutely superb memoir covering Queensland notables and goings on over the period 1877 – 1926. The number of people included is monumental and the detail encyclopedic. Great book. Lots about goings on in the gold fields, robbery, explorers and their successes and failures and one or two corrections of commonly held facts.

Queensland recounted by the most able Spencer Browne – superb

$120.00

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The Springs of Adventure – Wilfred Noyce

A first edition published by John Murray, London in 1958.

A super book about adventure by the definition of adventurer Wilfred Noyce.

Octavo, 240 pages, illustrated from photographs. Chipped dust jacket and page edges a bit foxed otherwise a very serviceable copy.

Noyce was a Cambridge Graduate and Master at Charterhouse. In WWII he was in Nepal and found time to climb a couple of very high mountains. Later he would be in the South Col party about which he would write another book. Here he mixes his exploits with those of other under the true adventure label … that and his talent for writing makes for good reading.

Wilfred Noyce about true adventure including his own

$25.00

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Sarah Bernhardt – Francoise Sagan – First UK Edition

The late 19th century stage legend – has anyone really matched the talent and reputation of Bernhardt. Her talents as a sculptor and painter underestimated.

Here we have a real twist a fictionalised biography / autobiography through letter exchanges between the author and Sarah – long after the latter’s death. The author, a sensational writer who had already had great success with the provocative “Bonjour Tristesse”.

A fist UK translation published by Macmillan in 1989. Octavo, 232 pages with illustrations from period photographs. Good condition albeit the pages toasted a bit as common with the issue.

Exotic treatment of Bernhardt’s Life

$25.00

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Isambard Kingdom Brunel [The Great 19thC Engineer] – L.T.C. Rolt

A first edition published by Longmans, London in 1958.

Probably the best book about IKB surely the greatest engineer of the 19th Century and keeping all things relative perhaps the greatest ever.

Large octavo, 345, illustrated throughout. A little age an a hint of “parfum de library” … otherwise a nice copy.

A weighty biography which deals with every aspect of his engineering prowess … his bridges, tunnels, Great Western Railways and the monstrous stem ships that broke the mould in design and scale …

This book has obviously been owned by an admirer of the great man. An image of IKB has been carefully manicured and pasted opposite the preface and many ephemeral items have been placed in strategic spots throughout. We have left them there as it give the book a unique character which we do not wish to spoil.

Brunel – Engineering Design came naturally to him.

$40.00

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The Antarctic Diary of Victor Campbell – “The Wicked Mate” – Edited King

Mawson’s Antarctic Diaries – Edited by Fred and Eleanor Jacka

A Journalist’s Memories – Spencer Browne – Published in Brisbane 1927

The Springs of Adventure – Wilfred Noyce

Sarah Bernhardt – Francoise Sagan – First UK Edition

Isambard Kingdom Brunel [The Great 19thC Engineer] – L.T.C. Rolt

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