Biography/ autobiography

The Martian – George du Maurier – First edition 1898

First edition published by Harper & Brothers in 1898.

A substantial book, large squarish octavo, 471 pages, dark black end papers which show signs of paper label removal. Striking deep blue cloth covered boards with gilt titles, design, and faux signature to front, gilt title to spine, extraordinarily clean. Someone has assembled poetry to the early preliminaries, which we find quite charming.

Considered the be quasi autobiographical with a strange surreal Martian twist. The life of Barty Josselin as told by a friend Robert Maurice from early days at the Institution Brossard in Paris. Josselin a good looker and thoroughly talented and extrovert. Later back in England Barty has a spell in the army.

Later his eyesight starts to fail which makes him think of taking his own life. In a dream a spirit guardian in the form of Martia from Mars comes to him. From then Martia inspires him and provides advice which secures his career as an author. Martia has other influences and wishes him to marry Julia … and all gets a little complicated from there ..

George du Maurier Channelling a Martian Spirit Guide

$90.00

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Antarctic Journey – Three Artists in Antarctica

Published by the Australian Government in 1988.

Card covered square format, 50 pages, numerous illustrations of the artwork of the chosen three – John Caldwell, Bea Maddock and Jan Senbergs.

Interesting accompanying narrative regarding Antarctic art in general and its history and then in-depth personal narratives of the very different but equally talented artists.

Art in the Antarctic … almost a tongue twister

SO SORRY SOLD

$30.00

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Some Early Records of the Macarthurs of Camden – Edited by Sibella Macarthur Onslow – 1914

First edition published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1914. A substantial book, royal octavo, 496 pages with illustrations and foldout facsimile documents. A very good copy in a nice firm binding with coloured frontispiece.

This comprehensive record is based on papers by the authors father James Macarthur. She dedicated the book to her father and mother (Emily) and her uncle Sir William Macarthur.

This is a family that stood up to their adopted motto “Fide et Opera” – “Faith and Work”

$90.00

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The Romance of the Huon River – Garnsey nee Anne Staffard Bird – First edition

Published by Whitcombe & Tombs, Melbourne Circa 1940’s [no date shown]. A scarce specific account of the Huan Valley.

Octavo, 219 pages, blue cloth covered boards, end paper maps which are themselves as delight – Sleeping Beauty to the north; skinning in the Hartz Mountains and the southerly hot water springs. Whilst of its time a surprisingly interesting collection of anecdotes, vents, people … essential knowledge for anyone trying to “carry it off”.

Huon Valley true history and goings on revealed.

$40.00

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Houdini on Magic – Edited Gibson and Young – First 1953

Published in 1953 a first edition by Dover, USA. Octavo, 280 pages, images from period photographs of the great man and many technical drawings of the tricks behind his escapology.

Previous ownership stamp on free end paper, a little age offset by the rare dust jacket.

Houdini, born Erik Weisz in Budapest, brought to the USA as a child by his parent. He became likely the world’s greatest ever escapologist, with a raw technique unassisted by modern contrivance. The principal author was his amanuensis [assistant who documented his activities] in the last ten years of Houdini’s life. Who better placed to produce this informative work describing, inter alia, the famous handcuff escape; locked jail escape; underwater escape … among his magic tricks we learn about the disappearing girl; how to walk through a brick wall and cut a woman in half.

Throughout all of this we learn about the man himself … just as mysterious!

Houdini on Magic – Who Else

$60.00

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1600 Years Under the Sea – The Quest for a Sunken City – Captain Ted Falcon-Barker

Scarce unusual book. Published by Frederick Muller, London in 1960. Octavo, 225 pages, the odd mark, fading to board edges faded, cocked but excuse it, endpaper maps, better dust jacket than usual.

Ted Falcon-Baker was a most mysterious figure. Born in France in 1923 to a diamond prospector father and Cuban mother. He skipped school at fifteen and ran away to Australia [people grew up more quickly then!].

When WII broke out he joined the army and in Europe became a spy, spending time in Damascus. He was still only twenty-one when the war ended. He bought a yacht [after other adventures], learned to dive and set off on the adventure recorded in this book to find Epidarous a legendary submerged city in the Adriatic – they found … along with a few unexploded WWI ordinance.

Actor Jon Pertwee was one of his backers although commitments meant he makes a brief appearance … all this before Doctor Who.

Epidarous found by the mysterious and adventurous Falcon-Baker

$35.00

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The Martian – George du Maurier – First edition 1898

Antarctic Journey – Three Artists in Antarctica

Some Early Records of the Macarthurs of Camden – Edited by Sibella Macarthur Onslow – 1914

The Romance of the Huon River – Garnsey nee Anne Staffard Bird – First edition

Houdini on Magic – Edited Gibson and Young – First 1953

1600 Years Under the Sea – The Quest for a Sunken City – Captain Ted Falcon-Barker

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