French Language translations or about the French

The Tasmanian Tribes & Cicatrices as Tribal Indicators among the Tasmania Aborigines – N.J.B. Plomley

Published in the early 1990’s by the Queen Victoria Museum, Launceston, where Plomley was at the time an Honorary Research Assistant and the University of Tasmania. Described as their “Occasional Paper No 5”. Hard to find a copy.

Printed internally on A4 sized paper, seventy-one pages, staple bound, binder’s tape, yellow heavy card covers, Image of Alphonse the Tasmanian – Mannalargenna from an engraving by Napier. Fine and clean.

The two subjects split evenly. The work on the tribes is excellent, based in part on the records of Robinson. Wrapped up as an appendix to this section is a listing of tribes [of which there are al least fifty-seven clearly identified] by their names and alternative names, location, and some worthy comments.

Cicatrices on the bodies of Tasmanian Aboriginals were noticed by Marion de Frene in 1772 and the European explorer thereafter. However, no consideration was given to them being an indication of tribal connections. Here Plomley analyses the early literature and has the benefit of some amazing, detailed engravings of the period.

Not tattoos, cicatrices are created by cutting the flesh with a sharp flint and rubbing charcoal into the wound creating raised scars

Plomley his curiosity and depth of study has created a wealth of useful information.

$50.00

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Matthew Flinders Private Journal (1803-1814)

Matthew Flinders Private Journal from 17 December 1803 at Isle of France to 10 July 1814 at London

Published by the Friends of the State Library of South Australia, a first edition 2005.

Edited and with an Introduction by Anthony J. Brown and Gillian Dooley. Foreword by Witgar Hitchcock. Preface by Paul Brunton.

Large octavo, xxxiv, 566 pages, coloured frontispiece & 12 colour plates, 26 black and white illustrations, folding map (London, showing Flinders’ residences etc) & another in rear pocket (Flinders’ General Chart of Australia, or Terra Australia). Bound in blue cloth covered boards, gilt stamped on spine, blind decorations on boards. One of 850 copies. A substantial book in very good if not fine condition.

After useful introductions we start with the last few days on the Cumberland and Flinders’ plans and expectation on arrival at Mauritius. Unfortunately, the Captain-General Decaen, was very suspicious as to the motives of Flinders having arrived in such a “small” ship and carrying papers for the “Investigator”. Consequently, his incarceration began the next morning when he was taken to the Café Marengo which first appeared to be a jail but turned out to be a tavern. Three and a half month later he was transferred to the Maison Despaux and then finally on 25th August 1805 to Plaines Wilhems where he would stay until 19th March 1910 before being released. His journal continues through his journey back to England and the final period during which he was preparing and revising his monumental work for publication.

Eight appendices are of further interest … Flinders’ Passport from the French Government; A record of his Interrogation; the Captain-General’s Report; Flinders’ letter regarding Thomy Pitot; Avis do Conseil d’Etat; Flinders’ Parole; Question relative to the Isle de France by Vice Admiral Bertie and Flinders’ Last illness and the final five months to July 1814 by Stephen Milazzo.

Flinders’ own words and what a story they make

$160.00

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A Record of Tasmanian Nomenclature with Dates and Origins – J Moore-Robinson

Extremely scarce item> we have not seen any original copies available .. and this one in fine condition.

A pretty early place-name book … that is mainly European place-names. At a time when the consideration of original aboriginal names for places is foremost in mind this is a worthwhile counterpoint. We are not sure which work has most places covered … a confluence of both would be worthwhile … we don’t mean reading the obvious .. more the less obvious.

Published at the Mercury Press in 1911.
An unusually nice looking item. Thick like sugar paper covers, 106 pages, demi octavo, perfect bound, super condition for such a potentially fragile item over 110 year old

Small scarce and in perfect condition.

$90.00

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Francois Peron’s Natural History of Maris Island Tasmania. – Brian Plomley et al

Another Plomley rarity we don’t expect to see again for a long time.

Published as part of the Records of the Queen Victoria Museum in 1990.

Soft cover, 50 pages, with charts etc all in fine condition.

Baudin spent three days circumnavigation Maria Island in February 1802. Francois Peron was zoologist but also made meteorological, geomorphic, botanical observation – a multi faceted scientist was Peron.

Peron knew his stuff when it came to Maria.

$40.00

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The Marine Chronometers of the Baudin Expedition to Australia – 1800-1840 – Hilary King

A very professional offprint from the journal of Antiquarian Horology, 1977.

Softcover, largish format, 508-521, illustrations from charts, a view and a of course the chronometers which look so advanced for the time. Postage may be reduced on this item for domestic customers.

Of course like all of the scientific voyages of the time the use of these valuable accurate chronometers in order to calculate true longitude was as important as the creation of the internet in our time.

Here we have a special digested account of the voyage, the expedition timekeepers, their accounts, records and performance.

Baudin Expedition the use of the Chronometers.

$30.00

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The General (Bruny d’Entrecasteaux) – The Visits of the Expedition led by Bruny d’Entrecasteaux to Tasmanian Waters in 1792 and 1793 – Plomley and Piard- Bernier.

Another special book by Brian Plomley with the help of Josiane Pirad- Bernier. Now very scarce.

Large wide octavo, 378 pages, illustrated. Published by the Launceston Museum in 1993. A solid quality production in near fine condition.

Very well researched and written book on the Bruny d’Entrecasteaux and his visits to Tasmania.

Covers the preparations for the voyage and the officers of the Recherche and Esperance, and among other things their scientific work [Natural History, Geological, Botanical and Zoological].

Also includes as appendices the journals of Louis Ventenat and the botanist Louis Dechamps.

Rare collectable D’Entrecasteaux – more than a channel.

$180.00

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The Tasmanian Tribes & Cicatrices as Tribal Indicators among the Tasmania Aborigines – N.J.B. Plomley

Matthew Flinders Private Journal (1803-1814)

A Record of Tasmanian Nomenclature with Dates and Origins – J Moore-Robinson

Francois Peron’s Natural History of Maris Island Tasmania. – Brian Plomley et al

The Marine Chronometers of the Baudin Expedition to Australia – 1800-1840 – Hilary King

The General (Bruny d’Entrecasteaux) – The Visits of the Expedition led by Bruny d’Entrecasteaux to Tasmanian Waters in 1792 and 1793 – Plomley and Piard- Bernier.

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