Australiana

The Adventures of an Emigrant in Van Diemen’s Land – William Thornley

Published in Australia by Rigby in 1973. Octavo, 171 pages with plates. A fine copy.

Edited from the account of Charles Rowcroft published originally in 1843. Rowcroft was a settler near Bothwell in the 1820’s. Makes for a very readable story of early life in Tassie. Nicely illustrated.

Early settlers account

$30.00

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Ghost Towns of Australia – George Farwell

Published by Rigby, Adelaide in 1965. Octavo, 247 pages with plates and map end papers. Minor ageing with relevant article glued in at end. A Very good copy.

Australia has its fair share of towns no longer up to their former glory … indeed many completely gone. That is the nature of pioneering existence whether mineral or agricultural or some other purpose.

Interesting images of once glorious places

$30.00

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Red Kangaroo – Lesson – 1838

Original hand coloured copper engraving of the Red Kangaroo produced for Rene Primevere Lesson (1794-1849) for his extension of the great natural history work originally produced by Count Buffon. They were published in Paris in 1838. Lesson participated as doctor and naturalist in the Duperry voyage round the world on board La Coquille (1822-1825).

The Red Kangaroo is Australia’s largest kangaroo, largest mammal and the world’s largest living marsupial. It inhabits the whole of the central area of Australia avoiding only the fertile regions around the coast.

Price $270.00 framed in Voyager Natural History style in cream mat with black core in gilt frame … really nice and ready to hang.

The big Red Kangaroo in a fairly contemplative pose.

$240.00

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Account of a Duel between William Bland and Robert Case – George Mackaness – No 41 of 100 Limited and Signed.

George Mackaness’s limited monograph published by the author in Sydney, 1942. Signed boldly by Mackaness and numbered 41 of 100 copies only.

Mackaness referencing Bland’s own publication on the matter, the title continuing … and the circumstances that led thereto, drawn up for posterity by Dr William Bland. With a Report of the Trial, Rex v Bland, Randall and Fulton, before the Recorder of Bombay, 14th and 17th April 1813 (Extracted from the Bombay Courier) and a Memoir of Dr William Bland.

Small quarto, 40 pages with illustrations, stiff wrappers in normal Mackaness style, rubbed with some transfer on inside of covers, internally very good.

Bland one of the most interesting convict identities was sentenced to seven years transportation to Botany Bay for defending his honour and successfully killing Robert Case during a dual at Bombay. The circumstances leading up to the dual are lengthy and a most interesting account of all the carry on that ensues between gentlemen of the time to protect their honour.

In Sydney it was not long before Bland was pardoned and put his medical training to use. He rose to be an important member of the Colony … but not without a wayward period initially were his penchant for criticising the establishment saw him back in jail.

Dr Bland an interesting early identity and a good shot!

$50.00

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The Northern Hero – being a faithful Narrative of the Life, Adventures, and deceptions, of James George Semple, Commonly called Major Semple. Scarce Ferguson 18 – Published 1786.

Extremely scarce, despite being introduced as a “New Edition” with the circumstances of Each Fraud, and the Names of the Parties injured.

The lengthy title continues major Semple .. alias Major Harrold, Major Maxwell, Major Grant, Major Cunningham, Major Winter etc. With and account of his Devices at lord Salisbury’s, Sir Thomas Dundass’s, and Mr Pitt’s. Also the various Inventions by which he obtained Goods of Tradesmen. The Whole supported by indisputable Authority, with the Names of the Persons who were the Objects of his Depredations. Likewise … and Account of his Trial Before Mt Justice Gould and the Recorder at the Old Bailey on Saturday September 2 for defrauding Mr John Lycett, Coach-maker, in Whitechapel, of a Post-chaise, value fifty Guineas, of which he was Convicted.

Published by G. Kearsley, Fleet Street and sold by Bookseller, 1786. Octavo 90 pages after half title, frontispiece with engraving by Barlow of Semple in the dock, full title, book advertisements 2 pages, dedication from Compiler 1 page, blank 1 page, list of content 5 pages and Errata 1 page.

Bound in later quarter mottled polished leather with lavish marbled paper covered boards. Carries previous distinguished ownership bookplates of Nanyce Kent Perry and before that Dr George Mackaness. This being Ferguson No 18 and a manuscript note on the front pastedown “Ferguson Bibliography cites only the copy in Ferguson Collections.

Some evidence of professional repair to the margin on the frontispiece and some aging occasionally in the text but really a very good copy of a desirable early Ferguson book that cannot be found elsewhere.

Least to say the Major Semple was a bit of a rogue and a classy one at that. His final comeuppance rested on the fact the it was found that he intended to steal the coach … his defence was that it was a debt that he couldn’t pay … he lost and was sentenced to be taken to Botany Bay. He slipped ship at Rio!

Priceless Semple … off to Botany Bay in 1786 … or maybe not!

$390.00

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Mon Voyage Aux Terres Australes – Journal Personnel du Commandant Baudin illustre par Lesueur et Petit

A special book, in the French language, published by Imprimerie Nationale, Paris in the year 2000. Large octavo, 467 pages original illustrated softcover. Very high standard of colour illustration.

Illustrations include 2 sketch plans, 2 maps, 4 charts and 10 facsimiles of original manuscripts, plus 96 colour plates with 195 illustrations – including 5 insects, 5 animals, 96 fish and marine animals, many relating to Australia. Also some views and many coastal views and 10 magnificent portraits of aboriginals. Very good near fine condition.

The journal of Baudin commences in March 1800 at Le Harve. Baudin had been given command of an expedition to map the South West and South coast of Australia. He had two ships, Geographie and Naturaliste the latter captained by Hamelin. They had a total of nine naturalists on board. By May 1801 they has reached the West Coast of New Holland. Moving east they famously met Flinders at Encounter Bay. They sailed to Sydney and down to Van Diemen’s Land and reached the d’Entrecasteaux Channel and then Maria Island by November 1801. It is claimed that more than 2,500 new species were discovered on the voyage.

Incidentally, it is now claimed that naturalist Francois Peron later wrote a report for Napoleon on ways to invade and capture the British Colony at Sydney Cove.

Even if you have limited French this book is worthwhile for the magnificence of the illustrations.

Baudin his Journal in French as it should be …

$80.00

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The Adventures of an Emigrant in Van Diemen’s Land – William Thornley

Ghost Towns of Australia – George Farwell

Red Kangaroo – Lesson – 1838

Account of a Duel between William Bland and Robert Case – George Mackaness – No 41 of 100 Limited and Signed.

The Northern Hero – being a faithful Narrative of the Life, Adventures, and deceptions, of James George Semple, Commonly called Major Semple. Scarce Ferguson 18 – Published 1786.

Mon Voyage Aux Terres Australes – Journal Personnel du Commandant Baudin illustre par Lesueur et Petit

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