French Language translations or about the French

A View of the Clearings at the Foot of Mount Wellington – Hobart, Tasmania [Vue des Defrichemens. Au pied du mont Wellington (Ile Van Diemen) -1833

An original lithograph from a drawing by Louis Sainson (1801-1887) lithographed by Louis Leborne (1796-1863) and published as part of the great “Atlas Historique to Voyage de la Corvette l’Astrolabe under the Command of Dumont d’Urville”. Published in Paris by Tastu circa 1833.

A delightful view of Bridgewater looking across the river Derwent to the imposing Mount Direction

Lithographed on sturdy paper imprint size 33cm x 22cm. Embossed stamp of publisher below title. Good condition albeit with some light foxing in the wider margins away from the image. A scarce Hobart image. We cannot find any record of what the buildings represented, although from the extensive wall they could be the Cascades Female Factory

Price $390.00 unframed – rare

Finely engraved and detailed image up Mount Wellington .

$390.00

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19thC Cased Brass Surveyors Cross – French Maker

A very good example of a octagonal design surveyors cross in its original case.

A Victorian surveying cross, French in origin. The solid brass body bright, undamaged and not over polished. Comes in two threaded parts, the neck resting inside the head whilst in its box. Sighting threads intact.

The box is in good shape and measures 13cm by 9cm by 9cm. The whole weighs just short of a kilogram.

A nicely cased brass surveyors cross

$240.00

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Polar Hero – Jean-Baptiste Charcot Medal – 1930

Large commemorative medal to celebrate the life of Jean-Baptiste Auguste Etienne Charcot (1867-1936) issued in 1936 under the auspices of Expeditions Polaires Francaises. Charcot Frances greatest polar explorer led two successful expeditions to the Antarctic during the Heroic era. He was a doctor and son of neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot.

His first expedition from 1904-1907 in the Francais explored the west coast of Graham Land. This was followed by the 1908-1910 explorations in the Pourquoi-Pas? The subject of the edition offered here. Later he turned his attention to the North and made scientific explorations off Greenland and Svalbard again in the Porquois-Pas? He died when the ship was wrecked in a severe storm off the coast of Iceland in 1936.

This substantial bronze medal, 67mm in diameter and weighing 150 gm celebrates his life. It was designed by E.M. Lindauer, with a bust after Paul Richer. Richer, an anatomical artist, was a colleague of Charcot’s father and worked with him in illustrating certain medical texts. Richer’s sculptures are found in museums around the world including the Musee d’Orsay.

The medal carries a bust of J.B. Charcot on the front acknowledging Paul Richer and on reverse and image of the Pourquoi-Pas? Among icebergs with Expeditions Polaires Francaises above and the ships name below. Very good condition with very strong relief.

An example of this medal sold as lot 79 in the Scott Amundsen Centenary Sale at Bonhams, London in 2012 for A$2,500

Special Antarctic Collectable Celebrates the life of J.B. Charcot

$590.00

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Encountering Terra Australia – The Australian Voyages of Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders – Fornasiero, Monteath and West-Sooby

A first edition hardback published by Wakefield Press, Adelaide in 2004.

A substantial book, small quarto, 411 pages heavily illustrated with some beautiful colour reproduction of the artwork from the voyages. A closed nick to the dustjacket and a gift inscription back of half title, otherwise a fine copy.

Written by three of Australia’s finest historians. Peter Monteath being a descendant of Philip Gidley King.

The Preface deals with the “Encounter” of Baudin and Flinders and the “Lure of the South”.

Part I deals with the “Journey Out” and Charting the Western Coast of Australia … Baudin from Cape Leeuwin to the Boneparte Archipelago. The South-West from Leeuwin to Nuyts Archipelago. The Prospecting of Van Diemen’s Land and the French in Tasmania. Then the race to chart the extended South Coast. The detail of the meeting at Encounter Bay. Flinders and Baudin from Encounter Bay to Port Jackson. Baudin on King Island and the exploration of Kangaroo Island etc.

Part II with the authors views on the “Reputations” arising and the “Artistic and Scientific Records” and the inevitable “Clash of Cultures” ..

A good bibliography at the end although this book contains enough for many on this interesting subject.

A Thorough and Beautifully Illustrated Production on Baudin and Flinders Down Under.

$55.00

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Australia Trade Cards – Set of Six – Liebig – Over 100 Years Old

A group of six decorative trade cards by Liebig advertising their tasty Bouillon Oxo. Printed and issued around 1910. In French with a very good description the rear of the card … a good language lesson.

Delightful chromolithographs depicting scenes from around Australia including a nice one of Hobart, Tasmania with Storm Bay (not quite technically correct as we are now in the Derwent proper) and Mount Wellington covered in snow in the background. Also, we have the Murray River and its vegetation; the Kimberleys; Rundall Creek in the MacDonald Range; the Blue Mountains west of Sydney and Coolgardie and its Gold. Images of indigenous people from various parts of Australia given the French romantic treatment in terms of their clothing. Each 10cms x 7.3cms.

Scarce six card set rarely found together.

$120.00

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Two Voyages to the South Seas – Dumont D’Urville – 2 Volumes

Two large volumes published by the University Press Melbourne 1987. Cream linen covered boards protected by a slipcase, a flicker of age on the spines otherwise very good condition.

Reissued from the original French translated by Helen Rosenman.

Volume I – 312 pages deals with the voyages of the Astrolabe 1826-1829 and,

Volume II – pages 313-634 the voyage of the Astrolabe and Zelee 1837-1840.

Nicely illustrated with 29 maps and charts and 56 plates – some in colour. This is the first account in English of two important voyages to Australasia the Pacific and the Antarctic. The Astrolabe visited Hobart Town, Jervis Bay and Port Jackson whilst the second voyage went to Port Essington as well as Tasmania (again) and the Antarctic. A superb account of the people and natural history encountered. An essential Antarctic item for that element.

Two Special French Voyages by D’Urville

$170.00

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A View of the Clearings at the Foot of Mount Wellington – Hobart, Tasmania [Vue des Defrichemens. Au pied du mont Wellington (Ile Van Diemen) -1833

19thC Cased Brass Surveyors Cross – French Maker

Polar Hero – Jean-Baptiste Charcot Medal – 1930

Encountering Terra Australia – The Australian Voyages of Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders – Fornasiero, Monteath and West-Sooby

Australia Trade Cards – Set of Six – Liebig – Over 100 Years Old

Two Voyages to the South Seas – Dumont D’Urville – 2 Volumes

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