Across Australia – Spencer and Gillen – First Edition 2 Volumes 1912 – Mabel Balcombe Brookes Copy

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Across Australia – Spencer and Gillen – First Edition 2 Volumes 1912 – Mabel Balcombe Brookes Copy

Short Description

First edition set of Spencer and Gillen’s scientific expeditions in Central Australia. A superb record of anthropological field work and a magnificent and valuable record of the aboriginal groups encountered.

Two volumes bound in original red cloth covered boards, super gilt images to front and spine. Thick octavo, 254, 255-526 pages after preliminaries. Incredible number circa 360 images, mostly from original photographs showing aboriginal ceremonial activities; two folding maps rear vol 2, appendix, index etc, top edge gilt – a little age, vol 2 cover and page edges but still a grand set.

Carries the bookplate of the original owner the legendary Mabel Balcombe Brookes a truly powerful and woman who made such a tremendous contribution all her life; and the later bookplate of noted bibliophile R.S. Fox.

The map the rear shows the route take and country covered [extensive] from South Australia all the way up to the Gulf of Carpentaria. The first volume provides extensive descriptions, and some images of landscape, flora and fauna encountered. We learn about the Urabunna tribe and the snake ceremony. Camels are used as they press north into more difficult country. We encounter the Arunta and much of the work covers all aspects of their life all done respectfully … the ceremony of knocking out the tooth not for the faint hearted. Various Corrobborree and the beginning of a quarrel with another tribe ... the various ceremonies that lead up to an encounter … the avenging party! Moving on north and encountering the Warramunga and their fire ceremony … and further north to the coastal tribes.

It's all better than our description – too much to take in and condense.

It is also impossible to do the life of Mabel Balcombe Bruce justice in a few words so look her up. One thing of unusual interest is that her grandfather owned a property “the Briars” that Napoleon was first exiled to on St Helena. Mabel had her own fascination with St Helena and wrote a worthwhile book about it and all the Napoleon shenanigans.

Important work on Australian Aborigines – interesting dual provenance.

SO SORRY SOLD

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