Cartography

Shackleton’s Last Voyage -The Story of the Quest – Frank Wild – First Edition 1923

First US Edition published by Stokes, New York in 1923 – Scarce. Carries the imprint of Cassell, London Publisher, on spine.

Thick large octavo, xvi, and 372 pages, illustrated throughout from relevant photographs, maps etc. Decorated sky blue boards making a very attractive presentation. Scattered pale foxing aside a very good collectable copy.

Written by Commander Frank Wild C.B.E. from the Official Journal and Private Diary kept by Dr A.H. Macklin.

Shackleton driven to be in the Antarctic went back a fourth and for him final time in 1921.

The vessel the ill suited “Quest” a converted Norwegian sealer. The objectives were rather imprecise but included a circumnavigation of the Antarctic continent. Early in the voyage (at Rio) Shackleton had a suspected heart attack. He pushed on refusing proper treatment. On the 4^th January 1922 at South Georgia in the early hours of the morning he suffered a fatal attack.

The events are recorded here by his right-hand man Frank Wild (he had been on very Shackleton expedition). Wild believed that the “Boss” would have desired them to go on with the mission – which they did, and this is the record of the whole of the voyage and effort. In accordance with the widows wishes Shackleton was buried on South Georgia – later Frank Wild’s ashes were interred alongside Shackleton’s grave.

Shackleton and Wild no braver combination.

$890.00

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Van Diemens Land [Blackman’s Bay] and Ontong Java – Schley at the Hague in 1758

This unusual image was published by De Hondt, the Hague in 1758 for Provost’s History of Voyages. The image engraved by Jakob van der Schley was originally conceived by Francois Valentijn in 1726 relating to the voyage of Abel Tasman – that is that is what these images represent.

To focus on the lower image titled “Pays de Van Diemen // Diemens Land’ the image is actually of Blackman’s Bay the first place of landing of Abel Tasman.

The top image is of Ontong Java also know as Lord Howes Atoll but not to be confused with Lord Howe Island. Ontong Java is part of the Solomons Group – a small “boot shaped” island to the far north.

Sheet size 25 cm by 19 cm – image, with a strong impression and colouring 18 cm by 14 cm. A copper plate etching on hand made verge paper – a little creasing, generally a very good authentic example.

A good Tasmanian image of the actual first landing spot of Abel Tasman

$180.00

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Original 400 plus Year of Map of Tercera [The island of Terceira in the Azores] – Petrus Bertius – 1616

An original copper engraved miniature map by the great Petrus Bertius [1565-1629]. Published in the 1616 edition of the Tabularun Geograpicarum – the map engravings were executed by Jodocus Hondius Jnr who was related to Bertius.

Beautifully detailed, nicely coloured and embellished map with square rigged ship and sea monster. Numerous place names, mountains, rivers and vineyards, scale and compass and cartouche based around local produce. Nice hatching in the ocean areas. As you can see fine condition.

Framed approx. 30 cm by 25 cm – Map engraved area approx. 15 cm by 12 cm.

Framed in Voyager miniature map style for $290.00 or the map itself for $150.00

Geoffrey King the miniature map authority regarded these maps to be the most beautiful miniature maps ever made.

$150.00

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The Dutch Seaborne Empire 1600-1800 – C.R. Boxer

Published by Hutchinson, London 1n 1965, a first edition. The author Charles Boxer was the Professor of Portuguese at Kings College, London at the time – he would likely have been the Dutch Professor also .. if they had had one.

Large octavo, 326 pages, illustrated throughout, very good dust jacket, a lightly embossed stamp on title,. A very good copy of a special work now hard to find.

Not your usual narrative, this book looks at the reasons behind the rise of the Dutch as a major seafaring nation from the mid 1600’s for over a century. Peace was signed after an eighty year war with Spain in 1648 and for the Dutch the seagoing expansion was near to phenomenal in terms of speed and ambition. Useful appendices include a chronology 1568-1795 which provides a framework …

The author Charles Boxer was an incredibly colourful character. Born into a military family (although his mothers family had been early sheep farmers in Tasmania). He enlisted and found himself in Japan in the 1930’s. Then a full blown spy in Hong Kong at the beginning of War II, imprisoned by the Japanese for three years. He married the most beautiful woman in Hong Kong , Ursula Tulloch, but left her for a life with the equally glamorous American writer Emily Hahn. Back in England his depth of knowledge was recognised in receiving the Lisbon sponsored Professorship which he made is own.

The Dutch … their power at sea and what was behind it …

$40.00

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Queensland – Pugh’s Almanac for the Year 1886

The essential publication of the day … Pugh’s Almanac, Law Calendar, Coast Guide and Gazetteer and “Men of the Time” for 1886

536 pages followed by 94 pages of business advertisements to the rear and more at the front and the odd one inserted.

Carries the bookplate of Alan McKiness who was perhaps the greatest ever collector of all things Queensland on paper. Also, overlapped by Alan’s bookplate that of his father D.H. McInnes – an engraving of the Endeavour. Now protected in a sturdy red cloth covered solander case with label to spine. The almanac is in very good condition with a black rebind at an early date, Brisbane bookbinders ticket partly obscured by Alan’s bookplate..

Always difficult to give justice to these incredible almanacs which contain so much information that to read from cover to cover would occupy the year. Essential information matted with trivia which we find illuminating. 8th June steamer “Victoria” chartered to take islanders home, left for Townsville with Government party under leadership of Lieut. Chester” – marks the end of blackbirding. On the 14th June Victoria sets off with 405 illegally obtained islanders for the south Sea islands etc. 11th February – English cricketers left on the steamer Wentworth for Sydney- Reported that $10,000 has been offered by the Fenians for the Prince of Wales dead or alive. 3rd March England warn Russia on Afghanistan. 11th November – Massacre of Geographical Society Expedition on the Fly River. 23rd December – the New Guinea expedition reported to be massacred arrived at Cooktown in the “Benito” all well!

Large folding graphical chart of rainfall and wet days (67cm by 40cm).

Large folding map of Queensland (66cm by 56cm) showing the rainfall in 1884

Section on Statistics; Sailing Directions, colour fold out of signals in force, comprehensive and a good chapter on “Progress in the Colony”.

As you can imagine near 100 pages of period advertisements make good reading for those that are interested in the history of business in Queensland. Tow we would like to point out – John Lennon announcing the opening of his new Hotel in Queens Street … still going today and a full page add by John Petrie, obviously going quite well .. Queensland history buffs would understand the significance.

A good Almanac with map etc., nicely cased – 1886

$180.00

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The Search for the Islands of Solomon 1567-1838 – Colin Jack-Hinton.

A first edition of this substantial book [size and depth of content] published by the Clarendon [Oxford University] Press, Oxford in 1969.

Large scale royal octavo, 411 pages, illustrated very nicely with maps and charts. Good condition, some marks to page edges and title otherwise clean . A heavy book not really suitable for Overseas postage.

Starting with the Spaniard Mendana’a expedition and taking in several later voyages of discovery the Solomon Islands were finally understood from a geographical form point of view in the first half of the 19^th Century.

The author not only undertook painstaking research of manuscripts, early volumes and charts but also set out himself to understand this elusive group first hand.

The Solomon Islands probably the best in depth book on the early adventurous explorations that put the islands on the map.

$80.00

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Shackleton’s Last Voyage -The Story of the Quest – Frank Wild – First Edition 1923

Van Diemens Land [Blackman’s Bay] and Ontong Java – Schley at the Hague in 1758

Original 400 plus Year of Map of Tercera [The island of Terceira in the Azores] – Petrus Bertius – 1616

The Dutch Seaborne Empire 1600-1800 – C.R. Boxer

Queensland – Pugh’s Almanac for the Year 1886

The Search for the Islands of Solomon 1567-1838 – Colin Jack-Hinton.

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