Aboriginal

One Ceremony One Song. An Economy of Religious Knowledge Among Yolnu of North-East Arnhem Land. A PhD Thesis – Australia National University – 1978 – Ian Keen

An original copy of the monumental Thesis written by Ian Keen to obtain his PhD from ANU in 1978. Keen to go on to be a respected anthropologist holding positions at Queensland University and ANU and spending time at Oxford, visiting Professor at Osaka etc.

Perfect bound in blue cloth covered boards, gilt titles to front and spine. Typed on one side 412 pages with 19 pages of plates from the authors photographs; 72 Figures in text; 45 tables of information and 4 maps. This copy gifted to “Jimmy” clearly an associated academic with a few marginal notes etc. Over 3 kgs in weight so if Overseas a postage supplement will be necessary.

The English born author was late to the academic world having first worked as an art restorer before doing an undergraduate degree at the University of London under Mary Douglas in his mid thirties. He did well and soon won a scholarship to work on Aboriginal religion through song symbolism in Arnhem Land, Northern Australia. This thesis demonstrates the depth of his research and provides a meticulous record of his findings.

He commenced his work on the island of Milingimbi in 1974 and worked there for fourteen months before completing a further 10 months on the mainland at Nanggalala. Its is not surprising that “’writing up” took him some time.

His “Abstract” explains his examination of the relationship between the organisation, ownership and content of religious practice and knowledge, marriage and power relations in Yolnu society. He argues that older men require the authority gained through their control of secret ceremonies and religious knowledge, in order to sustain a polygamous regime. Making possible a system of marriage through which some men gain many wives. Keen’s description of the various ceremonies is highly detailed … we doubt if any broadly published material covers such content with similar vigour.

A special reference relating to the Yolnu of Northern Australia.

$280.00

Updating cart…

The Dead Heart of Australia. A Journey around Lake Eyre in the Summer of 1901-1902 with Some Account of the Lake Eyre Basin and the Flowing Wells of Central Australia – J.W. Gregory – First Edition 1906.

First edition published by John Murray, London in 1906. Thick octavo, xvi, 384 pages with 6 figures and 22 pages of plates, 4 smaller folding maps and 2 large folding maps at the rear. Beautifully bound by Roger Perry.

The large folding maps are super … “A Sketch Map of Eastern Australia Showing the Central Artesian Basin” and “Sketch Map of Lake Eyre Basin”.

John Walter Gregory (1864-1932) was a leading geologist explorer of the late Victorian and early 20thC period. He spent time in Australia between 1899 and 1904 in the new Chair for Geology ay Melbourne University. Unfortunately the University was so short of cash at the time Gregory did not have the advantage of a geological laboratory. Regardless, he spent his time wisely and this book the record of his explorations in the Dead Heart is regarded as a classic.

Gregory made a number of important discoveries on this expedition not the least being the discovery of fossil remains of the Diprotodon. He had heard the legend of the bones from the Diesi tribe and followed the lead with amazing success. The Diprotodon was a giant marsupial [the biggest found so far] somewhat like a wombat but the size of a hippopotamus.

To put Gregory in perspective … before Australia he conducted explorations in East Africa and was the first to seriously attempt to climb Mount Kenya. A part of the Great Rift Valley is named after him . He also went to Spitzbergen with Martin Conway and was part of the planning team for the Antarctic Discovery team resigning over an issue with Scott. Quite a man and quite a life.

The end came on expedition to South America to explore and study volcanoes in the Andes. His canoe overturned in the Urubamba River and he was drowned

John Gregory active explorer and geologist out and about in the Dead Heart.

$390.00

Updating cart…

Northward over the “Great Ice”. A Narrative of Life and Work Along the Shores and upon the Interior ice-Cap of Northern Greenland in the Years 1886 and 1891-1897. In Two Volumes. Robert E Peary. First Edition 1898.

Even longer title continues …With a Description of the Little Tribe of Smith-Sound Eskimos, the Most Northerly Human Beings in the World, and an Account of the Discovery and Bringing Home of the “Saviksue,” or Great Cape-York Meteorites, with maps, diagrams and about eight hundred illustrations.

American Polar hero Peary in the North of Greenland. Eventually Peary would claim the North Pole in 1909 contested by Frederick Cook. Over time Peary was generally given the recognition but in recent years, on further analysis, the barometer is swinging back to Cook. Cook and Greely participated in the adventures covered here.

Peary was sponsored by the US Navy and eventually given the rank of Commander. He went North many times and this account of two of those adventures, is enthralling. Well written and nicely summarised in the lengthy title.

Published by Frederick Stokes, New York in 1898. Two quarto volumes printed on heavy paper stock, lxxx, 521 pages and xiv, 625 pages. Many illustrations as advertised one large folding image of Meteorite island, numerous maps – one large and folding at the rear. Bound in original blue cloth with decoration to front, spines faded as usual with this set, binding holding firm, a pretty good example, and very clean inside.

An expansive work containing much information about the natives of northern Greenland and an expedition to McCormick Bay which confirmed that Greenland was an island. Peary would learn much about Inuit survival that he would take forward to his later expeditions. He also took an Inuit mistress who he would later return to Greenland in 1909. There is also much about the Cape-York meteorites and an absolute monster at over 34 tonnes. Local Inuit had been using shards of the many meteorites to make tools and weapons so who knows how big they were originally.

Robert Peary substantial work of Arctic Exploration and Ethnology in Northern Greenland

$320.00

Updating cart…

Richard Daintree – A Photographic Memoir [Queensland] – G.C. Bolton

Bolton’s book published by Brisbane’s Jacaranda Press in 1965. Small quarto, 89 pages, good reproductions from original photographs. Special aboriginal images and a unique record of pioneering days and the first mining activities.. . some images of explorers Frank and William Hann.

The brilliant first Geologist of Queensland was also very handy with the early camera. This was the 1860’s and the quality of the images taken belies the equipment available and the condition in which some of the images were taken.

Best early Queensland photographs

$50.00

Updating cart…

Isles of Despair – Ion Idriess – 1949

A very good copy just a little chipped to the dust jacket.

Octavo, 290 pages, end paper maps, illustrated with good line drawings befitting the historical nature of the account. Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney a second printing 1949.

A fictionalised account of the the true story of Barbara Thompson [Idriess Thomson] shipwrecked on the cutter “America” on the reef at Horn island and only survivor. She swam to Prince of Wales Island and lived with the Kaurareg people for five years before being found by Captain Owen Stanley and a young Thomas Huxley who as a junior officer on board the exploring vessel Rattlesnake.

Barbara saved at last

$70.00

Updating cart…

Across The Nullarbor – A Modern Argosy – Ion Idriess – 1953

Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney, second edition 1953.

Octavo, 248 pages, en paper maps, some illustrations from period photographs. Good condition albeit pages evenly browned as often from residual war paper. Dust jacket chipped here and there, otherwise a pretty good copy.

Another great volume from Ion Idriess. A journey East to West across Australia and back again – vivid description.

Idriess – All the Way Across

$50.00

Updating cart…

One Ceremony One Song. An Economy of Religious Knowledge Among Yolnu of North-East Arnhem Land. A PhD Thesis – Australia National University – 1978 – Ian Keen

The Dead Heart of Australia. A Journey around Lake Eyre in the Summer of 1901-1902 with Some Account of the Lake Eyre Basin and the Flowing Wells of Central Australia – J.W. Gregory – First Edition 1906.

Northward over the “Great Ice”. A Narrative of Life and Work Along the Shores and upon the Interior ice-Cap of Northern Greenland in the Years 1886 and 1891-1897. In Two Volumes. Robert E Peary. First Edition 1898.

Richard Daintree – A Photographic Memoir [Queensland] – G.C. Bolton

Isles of Despair – Ion Idriess – 1949

Across The Nullarbor – A Modern Argosy – Ion Idriess – 1953

Product Categories