Fictional Travel and Exploration

The Gold Trail – Henry Stacpoole – First Edition 1916

From the author of The Blue Lagoon and The Pearl Fishers.

A first U.S. edition published by John Lane, New York in 1916. Octavo, 308 pages plus publishers advertisements. Original clay coloured cloth covered boards with striking design in black and gilt to front. Inner hinges re-enforced, bookplate removed from front past down, some age marks, internally pretty bright and clean. A pretty good copy of a now very scarce book

Irish born Henry Stacpoole (1863-1951) was for some time a ship’s Doctor mostly in the South Pacific. He later became a very successful author. His novels often based in New Guinea or the Pacific Islands reflect his in depth understanding of the environment, people etc.

This novel, titled “The Reef of Stars” in the UK starts in Sydney .. a venture is formed and off to New Guinea … up a river a heroine is found among the local tribes … the unfortunate Maquart goes made over his inability to move a fortune in gold … etc tense stuff in equatorial New Guinea,

Scarce early novel based in unknown New Guinea

$50.00

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Kidnapped – Robert Louis Stevenson – 1950′s Dakers Edition

Published by Adam Dakers, London in the 1950’s, part of their Hamlyn Classic Series.

Octavo, 204 pages, with vibrant coloured frontispiece and our favourite Kidnapped dust jacket. The book is in good condition albeit evenly toned throughout probably due to a post war experiment in having this series printed in Czechoslovakia.

Vies with Treasure Island as RLS’s most important book … in Scotland no doubt their favourite.

Kidnapped everyone should have one

$30.00

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The Young Hornblower [A Trilogy] – CS Forester

A super trilogy of Hornblower in his energetic years. Includes Mr Midshipman Hornblower; Lieutenant Hornblower and … Hornblower and the Hotspur.

Published by Michael Joseph, London a second impression 1969.Thick octavo, 633 pages in very good to better condition. Wrap around dust jacket art by Gorham.

Hornblower – three in a row and undefeated.

$60.00

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Fine Carte de Visite – Adventure Author and Secretary to the Marine Society – Samuel Whitchurch Sadler – William Trindall Pembroke Dock. 1860’s.

Samuel Whitchurch Sadler was a prolific writer of maritime adventure stories of the period. Quite a number involved slave ships … The African Cruiser; Slavers and Cruisers; The Good Ship Barbara; The Flag Lieutenant and our favourite The Ship of Ice. The Marine Society is the World’s oldest Maritime Charity. Formed in 1756 at the Kings Arms Tavern, Cornhill London. The objective of the charity … to train and improve the lot of young men, often orphans, and train then up, cloth them etc so they had more chance of survival in the Navy.

The photographer was William Trindall, an Oxford born “photographic artist” who was operating out of premises in the Docks at Pembroke from 1868. A previous owner has written 1864 on the reverse … this might be a tad early.

A very good image in fine condition.

Distinguished Marine Identity and prolific story teller

$40.00

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Whalers of the Midnight Sun – Alan Villiers [A Fiction Based on His Experiences] – 1964

Maritime hero Alan Villiers brings his undoubted experience to this adventure book aimed at young boys.

A new edition and first of its type, Angus and Robertson 1964. Octavo, 248 pages with ten full pages illustration from woodcuts by Charles Pont. A little aging to page edges and gift inscription back of half title, nice bright jacket, all up a pretty good copy.

Endpaper maps of the voyage from Hobart, Tasmania down to Macquarie Island; the Balleny Islands; the Ross Sea; Grahams Island before heading north to Montevideo.

A Norwegian expedition picks up some extra crew at Hobart, a motely band of youths and a stow away, little Alfie, who appears at Macquarie Island. Adventure ensues.

Alan Villiers, a yarn about Whaling, from personal experience.

$30.00

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A Journey to the Interior of the Earth – Jules Verne – c1905

Jule Verne classic published by Ward Lock, London, early 20th century, likely pre-WWI. Part of the “Lilley series” – with catalogue at rear indication forty volumes available and another ten in preparation which appears circa 1905. Octavo, 256 pages.

Lovely pictorial image pasted to front board, with “framing” decoration, which is repeated on the spine. The aforesaid image is repeated as a frontispiece. Some foxing to title and page edges. Generally, given the excellent covers, still a good to better copy for its age.

Often Journey to the “Centre” here the ”Interior” but we still come out in Iceland, where else? Another slightly unusual translation which adds to the fun.

Century old Jules Verne – off into the Centre (Interior)

$60.00

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The Gold Trail – Henry Stacpoole – First Edition 1916

Kidnapped – Robert Louis Stevenson – 1950′s Dakers Edition

The Young Hornblower [A Trilogy] – CS Forester

Fine Carte de Visite – Adventure Author and Secretary to the Marine Society – Samuel Whitchurch Sadler – William Trindall Pembroke Dock. 1860’s.

Whalers of the Midnight Sun – Alan Villiers [A Fiction Based on His Experiences] – 1964

A Journey to the Interior of the Earth – Jules Verne – c1905

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