Aboriginal

First Fleet Journal – Collins – An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, with Remarks on the Dispositions, Customs, Manners etc of the Native Inhabitants of That Country, to which is Added some Particulars of New Zealand from the MSS of Lieutenant Governor King: and an Account of a Voyage performed by Captain Flinders and Mr Bass; by which the Existence of a Strait separating Van Diemen’s Land from the Continent of New Holland was ascertained. Abstracted from the Journal of Mr Bass.

Published London 1804 by T. Cadell Jnr and W Davies, The Strand. Second edition edited and abridged by Maria Collins [Collin’s wife] from the original work and augmented with new information available.

Quarto, xx, 562 pages with 8 engraved in-text illustrations [2 original hand colouring]; plus 24 engraved plates [three original hand colouring] and 2 maps – one folding. Bound in full speckled calf in period style by Perry. Gilt title on separate red leather title label, alternating maritime gilt decorations to compartments between five raised bands. List of engravings and instructions to binder – ticked off by a careful reviewer. Some minor signs of cropping but nothing disturbing, the magnificent black and white full-page plates are bright and clean. Coloured plates show some age and are truly magnificent.

This account is the last published of the First Fleet Journals. In its content and style, it represents the earliest history of Australia as an English Colonial settlement … the others being more personal narratives. The fine engravings taken from water colours by Edward Dayes who in turn took them from drawings by convict artist Thomas Watling.

David Collins was Secretary to First Governor Arthur Phillip. At an early age he had joined the Marines and had seen action in the American War of Independence. In 1786 he volunteered for the First Fleet as Deputy Judge Advocate in the Marines. After two years instructions were received that the Marines were to return to England. Collins decided to remain at some personal cost. On Phillip’s departure in 1792 he stayed and helped hold the fort until Hunter arrived in 1795. Collins left the next year and two years later this account was published. From his central role he was in the perfect position to chronicle the events at the Colony as they unfolded.

The chart of the Colony comprises the Three Harbours of Botany Bay, Port Jackson and Broken Bay and the cultivated grounds in and around the different settlements, with the Course of the Rivers Hawkesbury and Nepean.

Frontispiece of David Collins in his regalia.

The fine full page views include … the Governor’s House at Rose Hill; by Water to Parramatta with a distant view of the Western Mountains; Eastern view of Sydney; Western View of Sydney Cove; Direct South View of Sydney; South East View of Sydney including the Church; North View of Sydney Cove; The Brick Field, or High Road to Parramatta; View of Sydney in Norfolk Island;

There is also an unusual folding chart of New Zealand drawn by Too-gee.

Of further interest is Collin’s sympathetic comments regarding the aboriginal people and his lengthy Appendix is a special work in itself … he covers their Government and Religion; Stature and Appearance; Habitations; Mode of Living; Courtship and Marriage; Customs and Manners; Superstitions; Diseases; Property; Dispositions; Funeral Ceremonies and Language. The nine full size engraved plates are extra special and represent the very first ethnographically accurate portrayal of the Aboriginal inhabitants of the Sydney region.

Collins First Fleet Journal with its Fine set of Engravings

$1,790.00

Updating cart…

My Tropic Isle (Dunk Island) – E.J. Banfield – 1913

Published London in 1913 by Fisher Unwin a third impression.

Thick octavo, 315 pages, illustrated. A little foxing and flecking to rear cover otherwise a quite satisfactory copy priced accordingly. With the preferred pictorial cover – more often found plain bound.

Much of the contents of “My Tropic Isle” were first published in the “North Queensland Register” Banfield acknowledged the help of Charles Hedley of the Australian Museum Sydney, Douglas Ogilby of Brisbane and Jukes-Browne of Torquay (the nephew of Joseph Beete Jukes).

Scarce in pictorial binding – Banfield’s House amongst the palms.

$50.00

Updating cart…

Confessions of a Beachcomber – E.J. Banfield – 1910

Published London 1910 Second Impression of the first edition of this Queensland classic – title continues.. “Scenes and Incidents in the Career of An Unprofessional Beachcomber in Tropical Queensland”.

Published by Fisher Unwin, London. Thick octavo, 336 pages, illustrated with map and 51 plates. Some wear to the striking pictorial red themed cover, bumps etc. Internally some foxing especially near ends – still a handy copy of this desired edition and priced accordingly.

Banfield an early confession of a Dunk Island one of the world’s most tranquil places.

$80.00

Updating cart…

Over The Range Sunshine and Shadows in the Kimberley’s – Ion Idriess

Idriess on patrol for twelve hundred miles with the North West Mounted Police. First published interpretations of aboriginal message sticks.

Eight printing of the first edition published in 1945. Octavo, 316 pages, illustrated from original photographs – some super images of aboriginal groups.Usual evenly toned paper from the war clean though and with some insect nibbles to the dust jacket edges – otherwise still a good copy.

Idriess in the Kimberleys

$40.00

Updating cart…

Men of the Jungle – Ion Idriess

Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney, a 1949. Octavo, 259 pages end paper maps, illustrated from period photographs. A bit of age with a dust jacket, quite a respectable copy

One reviewer stated ‘This must be one of the most delightful books on Australia that has ever been written” … high praise indeed … and worthy.

Idriess and his mates, for three years, in the back of Cooktown and the Daintree River … the characters … special and more interesting than fiction.

Idriess Far North among his mates

$50.00

Updating cart…

In Crocodile Land – Wandering in the Northern Territory – Ion idriess

Published by Angus and Robertson in 1948, a reprint of the first.

Tall octavo, 241 pages, with great period photographs – lots of crocs! A very good copy.

Idriess crocodile and buffalo hunting in the “bad coasts” of the Northern Territory. Wild men and Wilder women!

Idriess gets the Croc’s

$50.00

Updating cart…

My Tropic Isle (Dunk Island) – E.J. Banfield – 1913

Confessions of a Beachcomber – E.J. Banfield – 1910

Over The Range Sunshine and Shadows in the Kimberley’s – Ion Idriess

Men of the Jungle – Ion Idriess

In Crocodile Land – Wandering in the Northern Territory – Ion idriess

Product Categories