Non-fiction

Radio-Activity. An Elementary Treatise, from the Standpoint of the Disintegration Theory – Frederick Soddy M.A. – First Edition 1904

An important work in the history of science. Explaining all of the then known facts by the theory of radio-activity and the explosive disintegration of elementary atoms.

Voyager scientific hero Frederick Soddy (1877-1956) was to win the Nobel Prize in 1921… “for his contributions to our knowledge of the chemistry of radioactive substances, and his investigations into the origin and nature of isotopes”.

Published by “the Electrician” Printing and Publishing Co, London in 1904.

Octavo, brown cloth covered boards with gilt lettering on front and spine. Xi, 214 pages; 40 illustrations, diagrams and charts; publishers catalogue. Some age but a worthy copy of an important and scarce work.

Soddy in conjunction with Rutherford developed the disintegration theory of radioactivity from experiments conducted between 1901-1903.

Following this work Soddy lectured in physical chemistry and radioactivity at Glasgow University. By 1913 his theory of disintegration had been further developed and the concept of isotopes developed … i.e. that certain elements exist in two forms which have different atomic weights. He became Professor of Chemistry at Aberdeen in 1914 and after WWI went to Oxford where he stayed until retirement in 1937.

Important work Soddy on Radio-Activity – early days.

$180.00

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Cook’s Final Voyage – The Journal of Midshipman George Gilbert – Introduced by Christine Holmes.

Published by Brian Clouston, Caliban Books in 1982, a first edition in this form. Also published in Hawaii.

Large octavo, 158 pages, nicely illustrated. A near fine copy.

Yet another source of exceptional information on the third, final and fateful voyage of James Cook. Due to James Cook’s discipline the Midshipman on his voyages kept impeccable journals. With a focus on the Central Pacific and up into the Arctic searching for the North-West Passage from the other side.

The Third Voyage through Gilbert’s Eyes

$40.00

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The Early Water Supply of Hobart – 1804-1904 – Crawford and Ryan

A special production by Crawford and Ryan assisted by the Institute of Engineers in Australia.

Published in 1988, perfect bound, large octavo in size, 66 pages, nicely illustrated throughout.

If you have walked to the “Springs” above Hobart in Mount wellington you will love this informative book. If you haven’t walked the track then you should its beautiful … and one of the easiest walks on the hill.

The illustrations are something special, maps, charts, engineering diagrams often from first hand sketches.

The early water of Hobart – its still in demand – save it if you can.

$30.00

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Ways of Working [Industrial Heritage in Tasmania] – Marwood – 1986

Effectively self published, printed by Kangaroo Press in 1986.

Perfect bound quarto size, 160 pages. A hefty piece of work on the industrial heritage of Tasmania, a new found Voyager favourite category.

Marwood provided the text which gives him naming rights but the photography was done by several camera happy individuals. Some historic images elected from various archives.

Six major projects are covered, each one done very well. West Coast Mines (the E-Z Company of Roseberry); Hydro Electric; Roads; Waverley Woollen Mills; James Nelson [Weaver] of Launceston and Tasmanian Railway Workshops.

Historic Record of Tasmanian Industry

$45.00

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Hobart Tramways – Ian Cooper

Self published by the author in 1993. Scarce and worthy history of the Hobart tramways .. we wish they were still here.

Perfect bond small folio, 64 pages, magnificently illustrated from original photographs, mots not found anywhere else. End paper maps of the tram networks.

The Hobart tram system was the first successful electric tram system in the Southern Hemisphere commencing in 1893.

With systems out to Glenorchy through Springfield; the Lenah Valley; Proctors Road; Sandy Bay; West Hobart and a beauty out to the Cascades and the Brewery. Those that know Hobart will understand the extensiveness and the amenity that the tramways must provided.

The author a transport buff who made it his career spent many years in Hobart even though this publication was completed after he had returned to the other island.

Irreplaceable history of the Hobart trams and superb photographic record..

$60.00

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Polar Gleams – An Account of a Voyage on the Yacht “Blencathra” [An Arctic Voyage] – Helen Peel – First Edition 1894

The author Helen Peel was the granddaughter of Sir Robert Peel, twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

With a Preface by Arctic voyager The Marquess of Dufferin and Ava and contributions by Joseph Wiggins and Frederick G. Jackson.

A first edition published in the same year in the UK and the USA. This is the American first by McClurg, Chicago, 1894.

Large Octavo, 211 pages, cloth covered boards with bright silver gilt titling to front and spine, with walrus head design on spine. Burgundy end paper, portrait frontispiece with signature facsimile. 15 other illustrations and two maps – the Sea Route to Siberia and the Great Siberian Railway. Re-cased expertly by Roger Perry, original spine laid down, very clean inside a nice copy of a very rare item.

The acknowledged adventurer the Marquess of Dufferin was the godfather of the adventurous Helen Peel. He admired her vigour and abilities in putting together this account of the Arctic voyage of the Blencathra that he provided his esteemed and thoughtful Preface.

From Britain through the northern Norwegian waters, the Barents and Kara Seas, up the Yenisei River to Gol’chikha and back to Archangel in the farthest reaches of Siberia… much interaction with Laps and Samoyeds.

The Blencathra (then named HMS Newport) was built in 1867 in the Pembroke Dockyard. Part of the Philomel class – a wooden screw gun vessel, with a single two-cylinder single expansion, single screw steam engine. She was the first ship to pass through the Suez Canal. She was bought by F.W. Laybourne-Popham in 1890 as a yacht. He had an interest in Arctic waters and appointed Joseph Wiggins as Captain for a voyage, the subject of this book. The whole exercise turned into a commercial one with the organisation of support vessels and the transport of rails for the Trans-Siberian Railway. Later the yacht was used by William Speirs Bruce and new owner Major Andrew Coats to cruise the Arctic as far as Novaya Zemyla and Kolguyev and then Spitzbergen. It was later purchased by the Russians who lost it near Franz Josef Land.

Rare Arctic Voyage – Unusual Author and Pedigree – Hard Working and Fated Polar Vessel.

$260.00

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Radio-Activity. An Elementary Treatise, from the Standpoint of the Disintegration Theory – Frederick Soddy M.A. – First Edition 1904

Cook’s Final Voyage – The Journal of Midshipman George Gilbert – Introduced by Christine Holmes.

The Early Water Supply of Hobart – 1804-1904 – Crawford and Ryan

Ways of Working [Industrial Heritage in Tasmania] – Marwood – 1986

Hobart Tramways – Ian Cooper

Polar Gleams – An Account of a Voyage on the Yacht “Blencathra” [An Arctic Voyage] – Helen Peel – First Edition 1894

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