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Manuscripts

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  • A Living Voice of the Living Bush – William Ricketts – Wonderfully Annotated and Signed.

    A Living Voice of the Living Bush – William Ricketts – Wonderfully Annotated and Signed.

    First and only edition published by the Victorian Forestry Commission in 1965 celebrating the incredible art of William Ricketts. Larger format soft cover, 24 pages with sixteen colour illustrations. A bit marked and aged on the cover, clean inside, forgive any deficiencies for his manuscript additions.

    The annotation on the first blank page reads as follows … “From my Mountain of Remembrance where we remember with love everything that was created … [followed by his creation symbol underscored with his signature] … The Prayer of the Mountain – The Prayer of the Forest – My prayer – all are one Prayer … “

    Added in different hand the name of the receiver.

    William Ricketts (1898-1993) misunderstood and maybe he misunderstood … regardless he made beautiful objects. If it offends, well then that’s a bit sad. He was a religious man and felt the earth and whether he misrepresented and misplaced .. well that gives a job for the academic critics. Just enjoy them. They were badly damaged in a massive storm a couple of years ago … we hope they have been resurrected.

    In the 1950’s he spent quite some time with the Pitjantjatjara and Arrente people in Central Australia … they inspired his work among the trees in the Dandenong Mountains.

    William Ricketts – A rare annotation we believe.

    $60.00

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  • One Ceremony One Song. An Economy of Religious Knowledge Among Yolnu of North-East Arnhem Land. A PhD Thesis – Australia National University – 1978 – Ian Keen

    One Ceremony One Song. An Economy of Religious Knowledge Among Yolnu of North-East Arnhem Land. A PhD Thesis – Australia National University – 1978 – Ian Keen

    An original copy of the monumental Thesis written by Ian Keen to obtain his PhD from ANU in 1978. Keen to go on to be a respected anthropologist holding positions at Queensland University and ANU and spending time at Oxford, visiting Professor at Osaka etc.

    Perfect bound in blue cloth covered boards, gilt titles to front and spine. Typed on one side 412 pages with 19 pages of plates from the authors photographs; 72 Figures in text; 45 tables of information and 4 maps. This copy gifted to “Jimmy” clearly an associated academic with a few marginal notes etc. Over 3 kgs in weight so if Overseas a postage supplement will be necessary.

    The English born author was late to the academic world having first worked as an art restorer before doing an undergraduate degree at the University of London under Mary Douglas in his mid thirties. He did well and soon won a scholarship to work on Aboriginal religion through song symbolism in Arnhem Land, Northern Australia. This thesis demonstrates the depth of his research and provides a meticulous record of his findings.

    He commenced his work on the island of Milingimbi in 1974 and worked there for fourteen months before completing a further 10 months on the mainland at Nanggalala. Its is not surprising that “’writing up” took him some time.

    His “Abstract” explains his examination of the relationship between the organisation, ownership and content of religious practice and knowledge, marriage and power relations in Yolnu society. He argues that older men require the authority gained through their control of secret ceremonies and religious knowledge, in order to sustain a polygamous regime. Making possible a system of marriage through which some men gain many wives. Keen’s description of the various ceremonies is highly detailed … we doubt if any broadly published material covers such content with similar vigour.

    A special reference relating to the Yolnu of Northern Australia.

    $280.00

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  • Unpublished Work – “The Dream and the Reality” – Single Handed Transatlantic Yacht Race 1968 – Brian Cooke.

    A unique item, the typescript account of Brian Cooke relating to his participation in the 1968 Single-handed Trans-Atlantic Race (STAR) east to west from Plymouth to Newport Rhode Island.

    182 pages of foolscap, corrected in manuscript. Having read through it all … it is an exceptional account ready for the press … we are not sure why he did not follow through with the publication.

    Cooke was very much an amateur before this event and he states clearly in his Preface that the book has been written “to indicate the way in which the dream of crossing the Ocean became a reality to me … what is involved for the ordinary person … to know first hand that it is quite a feasible proposition and a very worthwhile challenge …”.

    We like the way the book proper starts … “It was 1949, when I was walking down St James’s Street, London one lunchtime. I looked in a Bookshop window. One of the books on display was by Allcard describing the Atlantic voyage he had made. It was the dust cover that took my eye. On it was a photograph of Allcard, at sea, sailing his yacht single-handed, looking up at his sails, which conveyed to me a most vivid picture of satisfaction and achievement”

    The first sixty eight pages are taken up with establishing and preparing for the dream. First the yacht that had been commissioned to be built by an acquaintance with the wherewithal connected to his work at the Westminster Bank. The first trials, the personal training, the qualifying voyages etc all very interesting. At page sixty nine we have the race start proper. What follows is a very detailed account of the events of the race, nothing tedious in our view. Cooke came in sixth, out of 48, many had to turn back. Those ahead were either trimarans or larger boats, on any handicap system he may have won.

    The appendices are good for perspective and emphasise his comments in the Preface that preparation is key. We have the “sailing instructions” from the Royal Western, Plymouth. The list of yachts by nation, rig, length, hull, and rating where available. Daily records of sailing achievements and sail changes. Provisions of all sorts … we are amused to see Mars Bars, Steak and kidney puddings, HP sauce etc.

    Yachting treasure unpublished major single-handed yacht race

    $380.00

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  • Early Manuscript – Harpsichord or Piano Arrangement of Hayden’s Seven Last Words from the Cross 1808/9

    Early Manuscript – Harpsichord or Piano Arrangement of Hayden’s Seven Last Words from the Cross 1808/9

    Composizioni del Sig Giuseppe Hayden sopra le sette ultime Parole del nostre Redenfore in Croce. Consistenti in Sette Sonate con un Introduzione et al Fine Teremota ridote per il Clavicembalo ou Forte Piona Opera 19.

    Copied by hand from a score published in Vienna, presso Artaria Compagni 9, 1808.

    Oblong folio manuscript comprising title page and 26 pages in early paper backed flush wrappers, all in a fine state. A delightfully executed manuscript copy inscribed “De Musica Fran H Hausser 1808/9” with the later library label of K Knittle.

    The piano arrangement of Hayden’s Seven Last words of the Cross, authorised by Hayden. Arranged from a string quartet version from the same Publisher, Artaria in 1786. The piano version was first issued a year later … reference catalogue authority Hobken -Verzeidchis XX/1C.

    Joseph Hayden born 1732 died in May 1809 so this manuscript could be coincidental or in honour of his death. The original work was orchestral and commissioned by the Cannon of Cadiz, Spain for a Good Friday service in which they traditionally performed new works of music the theme of which was based on Christ’s seven last words on the Cross. The format was always to be a ten minute adagio to follow the calling of each of the last words by the Church hierarchy. It was performed in a very austere environment with dark curtains hung and very little light intruding. In 1801 Hayden is recorded as saying that he had great difficulty complying with the “rules”. Nevertheless, the work is regarded as a great success and in many ways experimental for the time.

    Hayden was paid in a very unusual way … he was sent a cake filled with gold coins. Just as well he ate it!

    Beautiful manuscript score of an unusual piece by Joseph Hayden likely written in the year of his death.

    $290.00

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  • North British Australasian Company Limited – Delay on Wool Clip creates liquidity issues – 1892

    North British Australasian Company Limited – Delay on Wool Clip creates liquidity issues – 1892

    Original manuscript letter from the Company Secretary of the North British Australasian Company Limited from their headquarters at 10 Moorgate Street, London E.C. dated 5th July 1892.

    Addressed to Cochran Macpherson who were likely the lawyers of 152 Union Street, Aberdeen who were no doubt attending to their wily Scottish clients interests.

    I legible hand but for ease of reading … “Dear Sirs, I am in receipt of your letter of the 1st inst and in reply beg to say that the delay in the payment of the Guaranteed interest is owing to the non-arrival of the greater part of the Wool Clip. We have however received a Cablegram saying that same is being pushed forward and expected to arrive here in September. On the completion of the sales whatever amount remains after meeting out-goings in the Colony will be appropriated for interest on the Guaranteed Stock. A payment on account would have been made ere this had it been possible to have sold a large quantity of surplus Live Stock on the Stations at the present time but prices are so extremely low that we are prohibited from doing so .. ”

    The North British Australasian Company were formed in the early 1840’s and by the time of this letter had extensive interests in Australia.

    What at first hand may be a routine business letter … reflects the difficulties facing the Australian agricultural sector to this day … overstocking when prices are low, delays caused by unforeseen reasons and shareholders expecting guarantees when they cannot be fulfilled.

    10 Moorgate is a beautiful building now occupied by ING Group.

    Liquidity Issued Politely Explained
    ———————–
    NB – Postage will be reduced on final billing

    $90.00

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  • Manuscript Letter – Italian Astronomer Giuseppe Armellini – Portorecanati – 19th August 1922

    Manuscript Letter – Italian Astronomer Giuseppe Armellini – Portorecanati – 19th August 1922

    Returning proofs and with suggestions of a mathematical nature based on “derivate ordinaries” … ordinary derivatives. Our calculus a little rusty as also our Italian … appears to be connected to Maxwell’s Laws.

    Giuseppe Armellini (1887-1958) was born and died in Rome. He was Professor of Physics and Astronomy at several Italian Universities and Director of the Rome Astronomical Observatory for over 30 years. It was in the year of this letter [1922] that he took up his position at the Observatory of the Campidoglio which in 1936 he transferred to Monte Mario. A fire destroyed the Observatory in 1957 … inconsolable Armellini died the following year.

    Armellini published several works … the first, in 1911, based on Newtonian principles. Over his career he developed several theories and principles. He will be forever known for Armellini’s Law {in 1922 also] which determines mathematically the distances of the planets from the sun in our solar system. The key to this understanding is the Armellini constant “D” … which is 1.53 but you must start at minus 2 for Mercury. Curiosities exist in its application … from them Armellini is awarded the honour of having predicted the large asteroid/ minor planet Chiron which was not confirmed until well after his death.

    Armellini explained the Solar System – Manuscript letter with Scientific content

    $160.00

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