Law

The Invention of Terra Nullius – Historical and Legal Fictions on the Foundation of Australia. – Michael Connor

Hobart author Michael Connor has a varied career including teaching in North Africa and management at the famous Sadler’s Wells Theatre. Then he decided to broaden his education in Colonial History at James Cook University and then a PhD in Colonial History at the University of Tasmania.

Published by Macleay Press Sydney in 2005. Octavo, 361 pages, a super fine copy. Very hard to find must have had a very small print run.

This book explores the concept of Terra Nullius “Land belonging to no-one” a principal applied not only in Australia but in many parts of the World subject to colonisation. This is not intended, we believe, to be a provoking works … its sets out the facts and issues comprehensively and there are clues to its direction from the first paragraph.

A special book about an important and now in our faces subject. Worth reading with an open and inquisitive mind.

The defining principal [or was it] now struggling to get support albeit rather late

$60.00

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A Matter of Speculation [Financial Scandel in 1815] – The Case Against Lord Cochrane – Henry Cecil – First edition 1965

It’s the year before Waterloo, 1815 and a fine plot is put into effect to manipulate the London Financial Market – a false report is made in grand style that Napoleon has been defeated … indeed dismembered. The idea is to cause a run on the stocks taking quick and sizeable profits.

Lord Cochrane, yet to carry out his boldest endeavours, fighting the Spanish and Portuguese in South America, makes a handsome profit buying and selling large holdings before settlement is required at the Broker. It’s all rather complicated … but is Cochrane personally involved in all the shenanigans?

The book is very cleverly written, presenting the background, evidence from the Courts, without revealing the outcome. We will not either.

Published by Hutchinson, London in 1965. Octavo, 208 pages, ownership signature on pastedown, otherwise a fine copy.

Cochrane one smart cookie but was he guilty?

$25.00

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Relics for the Curious – Two Volumes – 1824

First Edition set near impossible to find. Printed by Samuel Burton Leadenhall Street, London in 1824.

Two small volumes, 184 pages, 168 pages, frontispiece to both. Bound in contemporary olive half calf, spines gilt with double red leather labels. Lightly rubbed a pretty clean and bright set.

A collection of most peculiar anecdotes. The Literary Magnet of the time praised the contents and demonstrated their approbation of them by making copious extracts available in their rag.

Classifies as anecdotes, clerical, professional and miscellaneous and compounded by “singular customs” and “extracts from remarkable wills”.

Very unusual books for the well read and broadly based historian … facts contained in here designed to liven any dull dinner party … “Did you know that …”

Relics … well anecdotes really of some strange historical happenings.

$180.00

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The Hard Way [the Writing and Publication of Power Without Glory] – Frank Hardy.

This is the re-issue published by Rigby, Adelaide in 1976.

Octavo, 255 pages, original brown cloth covered boards, illustrations from relevant photographs. A near fine copy in a very good dust jacket which features a painting by fellow communist and artistic activist Noel Counihan.

This is Frank Hardy’s account of the writing and publishing of his classic novel the Power Without Glory. It was published original in 1961 by which time he had had nearly ten years to reflect on the goings on … including some time in the Courts.

Frank Hardy and the tale of the making of Power Without Glory

$35.00

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Woodcut Bookplate of Sir Samuel James Way Bart – Chief Justice c1910

A striking woodcut bookplate, over 100 years old, of Sir Samuel James way (1836-1916). 13cm by 9.5cm in very good condition. This was the third bookplate commissioned by Way .. it bears his coat of arms which features three salmon working their way upstream against the current .. a metaphor … struggling against all obstacles towards success. His motto “Fit Via ci” loosely translating as “Where there’s a will there’s a Way” … so a hint of humour.

Sir Samuel was Chief Justice of South Australia and Lieutenant Governor. He was invited to the Privy Council but had to give it up partly due to confusion as to who was to pay him. He was knighted in 1899. He was a avid collector of art, objects and book. His private library was one of the greatest ever amassed in Australia … a large part of it on his death went to the Adelaide University Library where it increased the collection by 60%.

Sir Samuel James Way – Leading South Australian

$30.00

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[Tasmanian Legal Stoush] – Montagu & Stephen Van Diemen’s Land 1836 – James Dally Publication No 5 of 99 Only

Algernon Montagu & Alfred Stephen in Supreme Court Proceedings against T.W. Rowlands; with a comment by Robert Lanthrop Murray; with Geo. Arthur’s Despatch.

An interesting and at times amusing record of goings on in the Hobart legal fraternity in 1836. Mrs Rowlands had been drunk seemingly according to Mr Moore which had led Mrs Rowlings to strike him on the shoulder with a whip in public, calling him a slanderer and liar … she challenged him to a duel … feisty stuff.

A court cased resulted at the Supreme Court Hobart presided over by Judge Montagu. The animosity the was on open display between Montagu and Attorney General Stephen was something special. The cocky young Stephen was late, ill prepared, unsuitably dressed and caught eating and drinking at the Bench … worse he questioned the authority of the Judge … the outcome we will leave that for your reading.

Published in Adelaide by James Dally dated 2007. Quarto, 166 pages bound in red cloth covered boards with matching slipcase. Only 99 copies were produced … this numbered and initialed number 5 … so extremely scarce.

James Dally a highly respected antiquarian bookseller in Hobart and Adelaide published a number of works under the imprint Sullivan’s Cove. The editor of this work Eustace FitzSymonds was a pseudonym of James Dally. Dated after James Dally’s death which records show was 2005.

Unique Tasmanian Legal History in a fine production and James Dally’s last work

$120.00

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The Invention of Terra Nullius – Historical and Legal Fictions on the Foundation of Australia. – Michael Connor

A Matter of Speculation [Financial Scandel in 1815] – The Case Against Lord Cochrane – Henry Cecil – First edition 1965

Relics for the Curious – Two Volumes – 1824

The Hard Way [the Writing and Publication of Power Without Glory] – Frank Hardy.

Woodcut Bookplate of Sir Samuel James Way Bart – Chief Justice c1910

[Tasmanian Legal Stoush] – Montagu & Stephen Van Diemen’s Land 1836 – James Dally Publication No 5 of 99 Only

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