Australiana

The Border and Beyond – Camooweal 1884 – Queensland History – Lillian Miller.

Much more than a local history or if it is the best we have seen and read.

Lillian Miller was the wife of Rocklands Station Manger Robey Miller. The forward is by the great Sir James Balderstone, Chairman of Stanbroke Pastoral and BHP .. he knew them well.

Self published 1984. Folio, softcover 161 pages illustrated throughout many from period photographs. Very clean inside, a very good copy signed by the author.

Camooweal is situated in north west Queensland, 105 kms from Mount Isa and close to the Northern Territory border. The local area covered by this work is known as the Barkly Tablelands and, was named by William Landsbourough on his great inland explorations aligned to finding Burke and Wills. A tree on the Rocklands Station was cut and marked by Landsborough. William Hodgkinson also explored the area.

Great work on many topics including the massive local cave networks.

Detailed history about a remote part of Australia.

$50.00

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More than Half a Century of Colonial Life (South Australia) – Henry Hussey

Title continues … “and Christian Experience, with Notes of Travel, Lectures, Publications etc”

Henry Hussey (1825-1902) was an Evangelist, Printer, Historian who recorded his life an travels and published the work in 1897. It is full of colonial detail on many subjects.

The Adelaide’s Library Board selected the work for their magnificent facsimile series, published by them as no 203 in 1978.

Octavo, 504 pages, bound in tan in their normal style. A fine copy.

Interesting that the original was published by Hussey & Gillingham, Adelaide … the authors jointly owned business.

Hussey emigrates to South Australia and recounts his early days; visits Launceston and Sydney. Has various occupations and commercial failures and “disasters”. Commenced business as a printer, distracted by gold discovery in Victoria; recommences business …saves the “Observer”. Travel to America via Tahiti and Panama with “incidents” … a tour Baptised at Bethany … to England and back home to Adelaide. A History of Sa … Secretary to Angus … etc

A fine copy of a book about a fine man in fine times in Australia.

$30.00

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George Bass – Discovery of the Bass Strait – Commemorative Medal – 1968

George Bass, Surgeon and Explorer carried out two voyages to confirm the Bass Strait and the separation of Tasmania (then Van Diemen’s Land) from mainland Australia – known affectionately in Tasmania as “The Other Island”.

First, in 1797 he set off in an open whaleboat with a crew of six. They sailed to Cape Howe at the farthest point of South-east Australia and, from there sailed west along the Gippsland coast to Western Point, at the entrance to Port Phillip. Observations of the rapid tide and long south-western swell supported his view that a large Strait lay in front of him.

In 1798 he set out again, with Matthew Flinders in the sloop Norfolk and circumnavigated Van Diemen’s Land. They visited the Derwent River which had previously been named by Captain John Hayes. On return to Sydney, Flinders promoted the naming of the Strait after Bass … the then Governor, John Hunter agreed.

Bass’s later life was adventurous and possibly … likely … tragic, making the date of his death noted on the medal questionable.

The medal was struck in 1968. It was produced by K.G. Luke & Sons, Melbourne for the Numismatic Association of Victoria. 160 examples were produced in this bronze form and a similar number in silver. 50mm in diameter, 48gms weight, with a high relief bust of Bass facing right, carrying his spyglass. On the reverse a delightful image of the whaleboat, the sloop Norfolk and the chart and route of the vessels, appropriately dated. Comes with its original blue case, with red velvet plush setting, gilt description top of lid, pop button release.

Unusual medal to celebrate the achievements of George Bass

$170.00

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Arthur Phillip – First Governor of New South Wales – Early Mezzotint c1790′s

A well-executed copper engraving using the mezzotint technique, of First Governor Arthur Phillip from the original German publication of his First Fleet Journal.

Arthur Phillip (1738-1814) was appointed Governor designate of the new Colony to be formed in New South wales. His First Fleet arrived in January 1788 and he selected Port Jackson as the first settlement having decided Botany Bay was unsuitable. He returned to England in 1792 an was succeeded by John Hunter.

Dimensions 20cm by 12cm with a strong plate impression an clear bold printing. Framed would make a nice library item for a First Fleet follower.

Price $75.00 unframed.

Nice historic image of Arthur Phillip.

$75.00

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Signed Manuscript Letter from Lord Hobart to Granville Penn (undated but likely 1803 the Year Hobart Tasmania Was Named After Him)

Robert Hobart (1760-1816) known as Lord Hobart and the Fourth Earl of Buckinghamshire. He was a British Tory and secretary of State for War and the Colonies between March 1801 and May 1804.

Hobart is named after him. In 1803 the first settlement was made as a penal colony at Risdon Cove on the eastern shores of the Derwent. In 1804 it was moved to a better site at Sullivan’s Cove and the town settlement named Hobart Town or Hobarton. The Voyager letter was written at or about that time as the subject matter was published in 1803.

The letter in a strong hand is addressed from Hobart to Granville Penn (1761-1844) (great-grandson of Admiral Sir William Penn) an author and scriptural geologist. Written on one age of 8vo with integral address leaf from the House of Commons.

The letter reads …

“The translation of Leibnitz’s memoir with the judicious & able observations you have made upon it demand my earliest acknowledgements & I shall put them into Mr Addington’s hands as a proof of your uncommon diligence, and ability to render that diligence of the most Essential Importance to the Public Service – most faithfully yours Hobart”

Rare and interesting letter signed by Hobart

Note “A summary account of Leibnitz’s memoir, addressed to Lewis the Fourteenth, recommending to that Monarch, the conquest of Egypt, as conducive to the establishing a supreme authority over the Governments of Europe – Granville Penn – printed by J Hatchard, London 1803” – Leibnitz the great scientist, mathematician and political strategist and rival of Isaac Newton.

$90.00

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The Discovery of Norfolk Island – James Cook – 1774 Anniversary Medal 1974

A fine medal numbered 30 of an issue of only 355, on the rim.

On his second voyage to the Pacific, James Cook discovered Norfolk Island on the 10th October 1774. He named it after the Duchess of Norfolk, wife of Edward Howard the 6th Earl.

High relief medal in oxidised silver, 57mm diameter, 88gm weight.

Fine portrait of James Cook with 200th Anniversary 1774-1974 around. On the reverse a map of the island with higher regions marked in relief and a huge Norfolk Pine, one of the great attractions of the island, for ships masts. Cook’s landing point, on the north shore, is marked as is the line of latitude 29 degree south. Also a fine image of Cook’s vessel HMS Resolution. Narrative details of the discovery complete the surround.

Scarce medal for the James Cook collector, strong relief

$280.00

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The Border and Beyond – Camooweal 1884 – Queensland History – Lillian Miller.

More than Half a Century of Colonial Life (South Australia) – Henry Hussey

George Bass – Discovery of the Bass Strait – Commemorative Medal – 1968

Arthur Phillip – First Governor of New South Wales – Early Mezzotint c1790′s

Signed Manuscript Letter from Lord Hobart to Granville Penn (undated but likely 1803 the Year Hobart Tasmania Was Named After Him)

The Discovery of Norfolk Island – James Cook – 1774 Anniversary Medal 1974

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