Maritime

Discoveries – The Voyages of Captain Cook – Nicholas Thomas

A first edition hardback of a different book about Cook in the Pacific

… hard to believe given the multitude of volumes written about the great man and his three unrivalled voyages.

However, here we have a different author a Professor of Anthropology at Goldsmiths London. So the perspective is different and now very topical. Cook’s encounters with the people of the Pacific were often harmonious but sometimes volatile .. the author seeks to put us in the position of Cook who as time progressed became more aware that his curiosity came with its own challenges.

Large thick octavo, 468 pages, illustrations and charts. Published by Allen Lane, London in 2003. A fine copy.

Captain Cook in the Pacific and his interactions with the people who lived there .

$40.00

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The Voyage of the Catalpa – A Perilous Journey and Six Irish Rebels Escape to Freedom – Peter Stevens.

A first edition hardback of a book now hard to find. Large octavo, 328 pages, illustrated, a hint browning to paper, otherwise fine in a completely perfect dust jacket.

Published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London in 2003.

The year is 1875 and an American whaling barque, Catalpa, set out from New Bedford, Massachusetts on a year long secret mission to free a group of Irish rebels held in prison in Western Australian, to be known as “The Freemantle Six”.

The six Irishmen who had taken the Fenian Oath to fight for Irish Independence has been held for eight years. The Catalpa made Freemantle and the six escaped … but it was far from over and many obstacles had to be overcome …

Irish Rebels freed from Australian Jail by American sympathisers in the whaling ship Catalpa.

$40.00

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Bligh – Master Mariner – Rob Mundle

A fine first edition of Rob Mundle’s excellent hardback book on Bligh. Large octavo, 368 pages with end paper illustrations and coloured illustrations inside. Published by Hachette, Sydney in 2010. Very good condition.

The writer, a sailor from a sailing family writes about Bligh with a focus on detail and Bligh’s unrivalled skill as a navigator.

He was at the forefront at an early age. With Cook on his fateful third voyage on the Resolution, it was a 24 years old Bligh who took command of the navigation on the voyage home. He was 34 when he found himself in conflict with Fletcher Christian resulting in the epic 47 day open boat voyage from Tonga to Timor. And, 36 when he commanded HMS Pandora around the world … among his company a young Matthew Flinders

William Bligh – another perspective – and no less enlightening

$30.00

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George Bass – Discovery of the Bass Strait – Commemorative Bronze Medal – 1968

George Bass, Surgeon and Explorer carried out two voyages to confirm the Bass Strait and the separation of Tasmania (then Van Diemen’s Land) from mainland Australia – known affectionately in Tasmania as “The Other Island”.

First, in 1797 he set off in an open whaleboat with a crew of six. They sailed to Cape Howe at the farthest point of South-east Australia and, from there sailed west along the Gippsland coast to Western Point, at the entrance to Port Phillip. Observations of the rapid tide and long south-western swell supported his view that a large Strait lay in front of him.

In 1798 he set out again, with Matthew Flinders in the sloop Norfolk and circumnavigated Van Diemen’s Land. They visited the Derwent River which had previously been named by Captain John Hayes. On return to Sydney, Flinders promoted the naming of the Strait after Bass … the then Governor, John Hunter agreed.

Bass’s later life was adventurous and possibly … likely … tragic, making the date of his death noted on the medal questionable.

The medal was struck in 1968. It was produced by K.G. Luke & Sons, Melbourne for the Numismatic Association of Victoria. 160 examples were produced in this bronze form and a similar number in silver. 50mm in diameter, 48gms weight, with a high relief bust of Bass facing right, carrying his spyglass. On the reverse a delightful image of the whaleboat, the sloop Norfolk and the chart and route of the vessels, appropriately dated.

Unusual medal to celebrate the achievements of George Bass

$180.00

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Vertue XXXV [Falmouth to New York] – Humphrey Barton – First Edition 1949

Scarce first edition of the sailing classic from Falmouth in England to New York published by Robert Ross, London in 1949.

Octavo, 210 pages with end paper charts, and numerous diagrams and illustrations from photographs. Dust jacket sunned on the spine and with edge chips, overall not bad and we have not see another one. Internally very tidy.

The book generally follows the voyage chronologically with narrative superior to the usual log approach, this all after stating clearly the nature of the project and its objective .. with a voyage summary at the rear as an Appendix.

The book is regarded as instructive by those that sail the heavy sea … Barton’s sailing experience backed by an intimate knowledge of yacht design and construction … he was a qualified yacht surveyor and partner in a then leading firm of designers. Having said that instinctive skills were required to survive the Hurricane that hit them in the final stages of there voyage.

Barton a yachting expert makes the Atlantic – scarce first edition..

$40.00

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Bass and Flinders – Circumnavigation of Tasmania – 200th Anniversary Medal

Together Matthew Flinders and George Bass were the first to circumnavigate Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), in HM Sloop Norfolk, in 1788/89.

This large fine limited run medal was produced in Tasmania to celebrate the 200th anniversary i.e. 1998/99.

Only 120 were produced in this form, this being number 53, marked to the rim. Cast in white metal, 800 mm diameter, 115gms weight. Strong deep profile, fine condition.

Carries the bust of both Flinders an Bass either side of the sloop’s mast, with descriptive text. On the reverse a map of Van Diemen’s Land with the route taken marked and a fine and substantial depiction of the vessel fully rigged.

Limited numbered run of important maritime celebration.

$150.00

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Discoveries – The Voyages of Captain Cook – Nicholas Thomas

The Voyage of the Catalpa – A Perilous Journey and Six Irish Rebels Escape to Freedom – Peter Stevens.

Bligh – Master Mariner – Rob Mundle

George Bass – Discovery of the Bass Strait – Commemorative Bronze Medal – 1968

Vertue XXXV [Falmouth to New York] – Humphrey Barton – First Edition 1949

Bass and Flinders – Circumnavigation of Tasmania – 200th Anniversary Medal

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