Curiosities

James Cook Bicentennial Medal (1970) by Andor Meszaros

A striking medal issues by the National Trust of Australia in 1970 to commemorate the 200-year anniversary of James Cook’s discovery of the east coast of mainland Australia.

Copper bronze 50mm in diameter, weigh 60gm (160gm cased). Heavy relief portrait of Cook dominates the right hand edge of the medal with the Endeavour helmsman covering the whole of the background … the impression is of is singularly focused observation of the fits sighting .. which would have been at Point Hicks. The narrative James Cook 1770-1970 to the left and below that the signature of the medallist Andor Meszaros. On the reverse the National Trust emblem. A fine example still housed in its original felt lined case all in fine condition. 3,000 medals were cast so it is not uncommon but how many still have their original case and remain unmarked.

Hungarian born Andor Meszaros (1900-1972) perhaps Australia’s greatest medallist. He was a natural sculptor and held high positions in the art in Australia and, recognised by his peers internationally. His name was made as a medallist when he designed the Melbourne Olympic Games Medals in 1956 … he also designed the Australian Vietnam War Medal in 1968.

James Cook honoured at 200 years by distinguished medallist Meszaros

$120.00

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A Woman – Rhys Davies – 1931

A fine first of type edition published in 1931, having been published as part of a collection the previous year. A beautifully written and presented short story by the gifted Rhys Davies.

Printed by Capell at the Bronze Snail Press London. Octavo, 39 pages, number 131 of a limited edition of 165 copies (plus an additional 17 for presentation). Printed on English hand-made paper and hand numbered and signed nicely by the author. Quarter gold toned buckram over an almost iridescent metallic designed paper covered boards.

Rhys Davies (1901-1978) was born in Wales and became o prolific writer … this is one of almost 100 short stories and the best presented. Whilst he lived most of his adult life in London his work is often set in Wales … as is “A Woman”. He was friendly with D.H and Frieda Lawrence and stayed with them in France shortly before this work was penned and D.H. Lawrence’s passing. Davies smuggled Lawrence’s “Pansies” into Britain and saw to its publication.

“A Woman” a forthright story about the development of a young woman in South Wales into “A Woman” .. with all the challenges of the time and place. Beautifully written.

A book with a short poignant story … would make a super gift.

$90.00

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Utopias and Imaginary Voyages to Australasia – John Dunmore

Who else could be more qualified to write and present on this subject at the National Library of Australia than John Dunmore?

Octavo, card cover of 23 delicious pages, the text of Dunmore’s lecture of 2nd September 1987, published by the N.L.A. the following year. A fine copy.

From Joseph Hall’s “Mundas Alter et Idem’ the first utopian account to be set in the Antipodes, with mentions of La Perouse and “Fragmens” … Aldous Huxley is a bit of a drift … then back to Utopian reality and the Adventures of Alexander Venderchurch and many more esoteric accounts before back to the likes of Gulliver and that endearing Swiss Family.

A special lecture by Dunmore on down under Utopia – wish I had been there.

$30.00

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Medal in Celebration of the Discovery of the Johnstone River, Queensland in 1873.

Produced in 1973 the celebrate the 100 year anniversary of George Elphinstone Dalrymple’s Discovery.

Cast in coppered bronze by K G Luke. 50 mm in diameter, weighing 48 gm, very good condition.

Nice design of the North and South Johnson combining and meandering down to the Pacific Ocean through heavily wooded hilly terrain. A very clear horizon, and in the sky above the explorers full name and commemorative dates the full commemorative details in a border around the edge. On the reverse a Floral and scroll design, presumably to take the engraved name of any recipient – here still blank.

The designer is associated with Sir Kenneth George Lake (1896-1971) who had a very successful business making all things requiring metal design … he was also an important identity in sports administration in Australian particularly the AFL.

George Elphinstone Dalrymple was a legendary explorer, pioneer and pastoralist in northern Queensland. See Robert Logan Jack’s Northmost Australia for a good account of his efforts. He named the Johnstone River in 1873 in honour of Robert Johnstone of the Native Police who had carried out his handy work in the region. Unusually, the river had already been named by Captain Moresby a year or two earlier … his name the Gladys did not stick, thankfully. The Johnstone is a spectacular part of Australia .. the rivers are subject to exceedingly high rainfall and make for the very best of white water rafting. The confluence of the North and South is about five km west of the town of Innisafail. If you go there … watch out for salty crocodiles.

Very good uncirculated condition, strong relief.

Celebrating Northern Queensland Exploration

SO SORRY SOLD

$90.00

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Maps of the Canary Islands Published before 1850 – C Broekema

The Map Collectors’ Circle publication published Nos 74 by C. Broekema in 1971. Very good condition with T.M. Perry, Australian map expert’s stamp on the front cover.

147 maps identified over 24 pages plus 13 plates of prime historical and decorative examples. Very good condition and a hard one to find.

The Canaries has always held a special place in hearts of travellers and cartographers. Known in antiquity and actively visited by Europeans from the 14thC. Appears on the Medici Portlan map of 1351. On the Hereford Mappamundi it is named “Insulae fortunatae sancti Brandani” … the “Fortunate Isles” moniker dates back to Hesiod, who spoke of the islands where perpetual summer reigned.

Canary Islands more than just a holiday. Perry’s copy.

$25.00

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Decorative Map of Van Diemen’s Island or Tasmania – Circa 1851 – by John Tallis

An original John Tallis map of Van Diemen’s Land – Tasmania. The best example.

Tallis maps represent the high point of Victorian decorative map making.

Very good condition 37cm by 27cm. Published by John Tallis & Co, London & New York. The map drawn and engraved by John Rapkin. The illustrations drawn by H Warren and engraved by J Rogers.

This is the final state of the map with vignettes of Hobart Town (Note on the map referred to as Hobarton), a curious looking Thylacine or Tasmanian Tiger, the Van Diemen’s Land Company’s Agent Residence Circular Head in the North West and Numismatic Seal. Note this is the superior issue without the central fold often seen and accepted.

Refer map authority, R.V. Tooley the “Printed Maps of Tasmania” reference number 428.

A very good example, nicely an delicately coloured. An important map for any serious Australian map collection

Price unframed $290.00

Collectable Tallis Map of Tasmania

$290.00

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James Cook Bicentennial Medal (1970) by Andor Meszaros

A Woman – Rhys Davies – 1931

Utopias and Imaginary Voyages to Australasia – John Dunmore

Medal in Celebration of the Discovery of the Johnstone River, Queensland in 1873.

Maps of the Canary Islands Published before 1850 – C Broekema

Decorative Map of Van Diemen’s Island or Tasmania – Circa 1851 – by John Tallis

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