Biography/ autobiography

The Antarctic Diary of Victor Campbell – “The Wicked Mate” – Edited King

Victor Campbell was part of Robert Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition. He led the Northern Party, six men who explored the coast of King Edward VII Land. They spent ten months at Cape Adare and then moved to Inexpressible Island, described as a stormy and desolate place (an understatement). They were marooned here over the winter and had to hole up in a man made ice cave. When the weather eased a little in October they made there way back over 230 miles of sea ice.

Campbell’s papers and diary were acquired by the University of Newfoundland. This made their publication for the first time possible. Edited by King who was librarian and the Scott Polar Institute, illustrated with Campbell’s sketches and numerous photographs, many of which not published before.

Published by the brilliant Erskine Press, part of Bluntisham Books in 2001. Large squarish format octavo, 192 pages, very good near fine condition.

Victor Campbell’s Antarctic Diaries – The Northern Party

$80.00

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Mawson’s Antarctic Diaries – Edited by Fred and Eleanor Jacka

The 2008, soft cover version, published by Allen & Unwin, Sydney. Small quarto, 414 pages and 60 pages of plates. Very good condition. A substantial and heavy book not really suitable for overseas postage.

Sir Douglas Mawson made four trips to the Antarctic, the first in 1907-09 with Shackleton’s expedition, then in 1911-14 as leader of the Australian Antarctic Expedition and then twice between 1929 and 1931 as leader of the combined expeditions.

This book brings together for the first time his writings over all four expeditions.

It also includes some Frank Hurley photographic images not produced elsewhere.

Mawson’s Words perfectly presented

$40.00

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A Journalist’s Memories – Spencer Browne – Published in Brisbane 1927

Published in Brisbane in 1927 based on a series of articles published by the Courier Mail the year before.

An absolutely superb memoir covering Queensland notables and goings on over the period 1877 – 1926. The number of people included is monumental and the detail encyclopedic. Great book. Lots about goings on in the gold fields, robbery, explorers and their successes and failures and one or two corrections of commonly held facts.

Queensland recounted by the most able Spencer Browne – superb

$120.00

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Lucien Dechaineux 1869-1957 [Tasmanian Artist] – A Retrospective

Florent Vincent Emile Lucien Dechaineaux was an inspiring Belgian born artist who found his place and home in Tasmania.

Published by the Centre for the Arts Gallery, University of Tasmania, where an exhibition of the artists work was held in September 1986.

Card covered large size 53 pages with many examples of the artists work, some in colour. Scarce and in very good condition.

Dechaineux was 15 years only when his family emigrated to Australia. Family failures in fruit growing and gold mining saw Lucien end up at the Sydney Technical College. His first foray into art was house painting, but it was not long before his talent shone through. He married a Tasmanian girl and moved to the Apple Isle where he blossomed as an artist and educator.

Lucien Dechaineux a Tasmanian artist we should see more of ..

$30.00

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Arches of Time [in Tasmania] – W.C. Morris

A delightful memoir written as they should be late in life by Wiiliam Carl Morris. Morris involved in education and the Northern region of Tasmania for mots of his life before retiring to the east side of the Derwent River.

Self published printed by Mercury-Walch in 1972. Smal octavo, 180 pages and a well honed but comprehensive account og goings on, observations and views. Card covers with a paper wrap around. A neat presentation in very good condition.

Carries the unusual bookplate of R. C. Hutchinson. Raymond Charles published a few works himself including Twenty One Drawings about The First Hobart – no doubt he designed his own bookplate and appeared to enjoy motor cruising.

A scarce little treasure that provides a personal perspective of the time …

$25.00

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The Springs of Adventure – Wilfred Noyce

A first edition published by John Murray, London in 1958.

A super book about adventure by the definition of adventurer Wilfred Noyce.

Octavo, 240 pages, illustrated from photographs. Chipped dust jacket and page edges a bit foxed otherwise a very serviceable copy.

Noyce was a Cambridge Graduate and Master at Charterhouse. In WWII he was in Nepal and found time to climb a couple of very high mountains. Later he would be in the South Col party about which he would write another book. Here he mixes his exploits with those of other under the true adventure label … that and his talent for writing makes for good reading.

Wilfred Noyce about true adventure including his own

$25.00

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The Antarctic Diary of Victor Campbell – “The Wicked Mate” – Edited King

Mawson’s Antarctic Diaries – Edited by Fred and Eleanor Jacka

A Journalist’s Memories – Spencer Browne – Published in Brisbane 1927

Lucien Dechaineux 1869-1957 [Tasmanian Artist] – A Retrospective

Arches of Time [in Tasmania] – W.C. Morris

The Springs of Adventure – Wilfred Noyce

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