Antarctic, Arctic, Polar

Antarctica – a Traveller’s Tale – Jean Bailey

First edition published in 1980 by Angus & Robertson. Tall octavo, 182 pages, well illustrated from the author’s couloured photographs and charcoal drawings by Lorraine Hannay. Good condition.

Jean Bailey is neither and adventurer or a scientist, which makes this book a bit different for the subject matter as easy going informative travel books on the Antarctic don’t come along very often.

She did the Argentinian route … around the Falklands [Islas Malvinos] then down through the Scotia Sea south of the South Shetlands and into true Antarctic waters, Anvers Island and Palmer Station through the Lemaire Channel and beyond the “Circle” proper to Adelaide Island. Deception Island with all its history follows … before making north across Drake Passage to Ushuaia.

Like we say written in a familiar story telling style with some gritty elements such as the tussle for the Falklands … not sure whose side she is on?

Antarctica a more relaxed, still informative approach.

$30.00

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Antarctica – The NZ Party of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition – Helm and Miller – First Edition 1964

Published by the NZ Government in 1964 a first edition. Large octavo, 435 pages with numerous illustrations from photographs, charts and maps. A very good copy.

It was not until 1958 that the Antarctic was successfully crossed from one side to the other led by British explorer Vivian Fuchs. Edmund Hillary led the NZ contingent and this book is a handsome record of that contribution.

An essential Polar account – all the way across …. by adventure royalty.

$40.00

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The Fate of Franklin – Roderic Owen

Title continues …The Life and Mysterious Death of the Most Heroic of the Arctic Explorers. May be the key summary work on this never finished story. The author a descendant of Sir John Franklin.

First edition thick octavo published by Hutchinson of Australia in 1978. 471 pages, illustrated throughout with a number of maps and charts including end paper maps. A very good copy.

Well constructed with a fair bit of early background including his term as Governor of Tasmania and the part played by Jane Franklin then and later to the very end. Set out in three sections … “The Man who Ate His Boots”; “the Whipping Boy and “ The Heart That Can Feel for Another”. Three journeys to find the North-West Passage … the final tragic attempt in the Erebus and Terror continues to mystify both fiction and non-fiction book writers and lovers.

Franklin and his voyages to the Arctic in super detail

$60.00

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Armorial Book-Plates. Their Romantic Origin and Artistic Development – Signed limited edition [Includes Mawson's Bookplate] Neville Barnett – published in 1932

Sought after reference and a beauty in itself.

Unusual faux snake-skin binding. Excellent condition 172 pages. Signed numbered limited edition of 300 copies.

With numerous book-plate illustrations with 17 tipped in originals from those of great fame (our favourite being that of Polar Explorer Douglas Mawson).

Chapters on the Origins of Armory; the Age of Chivalry; the Pageant of Heraldry; the Romance of Arms; German, French and British Book-plates the latter extensive and importantly Australian and New Zealand Armorial Book-plates.

Collectable work from the doyen of Australian Bookplates – Neville Barnett – Numbered Limited Signed edition with Sir Douglas Mawson’s bookplate.

$190.00

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The Journals and Life of Captain James Cook complete in Five Volumes with Addendum and Portfolio of Charts and Views – J [John] C Beaglehole [and Skelton] – The Hakluyt Edition

A full set of the prized Hakluyt set put together by the unrelenting John Beaglehole recognised surely as the world authority on James Cook.

Five thick royal octavo books and portfolio of charts and maps published progressively.. The Voyage volumes were technically published by the Cambridge University Press for the Hakluyt Society; the Life of Cook was published directly by the Hakluyt Society having been printed by A C Black. As a bonus, a small one, we have the addendum to Volume II “Cook and the Russians”, again a Beaglehole work, of only nine pages, in Hakluyt blue wrapper published in 1973.

Volume I – The Voyage of the Endeavor 1768-1771 – 1968 Edition – 696 pages.
Volume II – The Voyage of the Resolution and Adventure 1772-1775 – 1969 edition – 1,028 pages
Volume III in Two Parts – the Voyage of the Resolution and Discovery 1967 edition – Part One 718 pages and Part Two 719-1,647 pages … plus addendum on the Russians.
Volume IV – The Life of Captain James Cook – published in 1974 – 760 pages

A heavy set which would require a sizeable overseas postage supplement. Said that we do our best to minimise postage.

Each volume illustrated with reproduction of images, charts etc on thick wove paper, many folding.

All of the above edited etc. by John. Beaglehole. The portfolio of Charts and Views was edited by cartographic supremo R.A. Skelton, with content reproduced from the original manuscripts – all present in the original portfolio with Cook emblem to front.

All bound in original Hakluyt style, blue cloth covered boards each with their original dust jacket – showing a little age but now protected in removable Brodart.

Internally a little age, and a hint of eau de library. Otherwise, a worthy complete set … getting hard to find all in original dust jackets.

Original owner A [Tony] W Sweeney who headed up the Australian Military Malaria Research Unit … his letter of acknowledgement of receipt but awaiting one volume included. Maybe a interesting context.

Beaglehole the definitive reference on James Cook and his Voyages – Complete over 4,000 pages – should be enough!

$890.00

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Sir Hubert Wilkins – His World of Adventure – Lowell Thomas

Unusual publishing disclosure … by the Readers Books Club, by arrangement with Arthur Baker, London in 1963. However, actually published in Australia by Colorgravure Publications, Hawthorn Melbourne. A pretty good copy a little age but clean and a nice jacket. Discrete prior ownership stamp on paste down.

Octavo, 247 pages, illustrated with numerous images from photographs of our hero and his endeavours.

This is a late book by, the prolific American traveller, Lowell Thomas who made his name writing about Lawrence of Arabia of whom he also made newsreel which he used as a basis for his sell out lectures in the USA and England – Covent Garden no less – and for months sold out.

After all that we have little room left for Hubert Wilkins, Australia’s greatest ever adventurer in our mind. There are some modern publications on Wilkins and we suggest they are largely based on this book. Lowell Thomas has come in for some criticism re exaggeration [also happened re his work on Lawrence] – we suggest only because the critics struggle with the breadth and depth of the subject character

Lowell Thomas on Hubert Wilkins – we are true believers.

$35.00

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Antarctica – a Traveller’s Tale – Jean Bailey

Antarctica – The NZ Party of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition – Helm and Miller – First Edition 1964

The Fate of Franklin – Roderic Owen

Armorial Book-Plates. Their Romantic Origin and Artistic Development – Signed limited edition [Includes Mawson's Bookplate] Neville Barnett – published in 1932

The Journals and Life of Captain James Cook complete in Five Volumes with Addendum and Portfolio of Charts and Views – J [John] C Beaglehole [and Skelton] – The Hakluyt Edition

Sir Hubert Wilkins – His World of Adventure – Lowell Thomas

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