Maritime

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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Shipwrecks – Being the Historical Account of Shipwrecks along the Victorian Coast from Cape Otway to Port Fairy 1836-1914 – Margaret Mackenzie.

This is the third enlarged self published edition 1964 printed by National Press, Melbourne. Small octavo, 135 pages illustrated. A very good copy, bookplate of previous owner on front free end paper.

The author of this book had a lifetime interest in the subject. What makes the book all the more astonishing is that she was twelve years blind before she started to put it together with the help of her daughter Jean.

Covers eighteen important shipwrecks starting with the elusive “Mahogany Ship” … then the Thistle; Children; Joanna; Enterprise; Schomberg; Champion; Marie Gabrielle; Young Australia; Loch Ard; Eric the Red; Olivia Davis; Edinburgh Castle; Fiji; Newfield; La Bella; Falls of Halladale and the Antares.

Some nice detail and a super sketch map of the wreck locations. To read this is to have a pretty thorough knowledge of the events … the author sure did.

Victorian Shipwrecks – a Key Reference

$25.00

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The Story of the Pacific – Van Loon – 1940

First Edition published by George Harrap, London 1940.

Octavo, 315 pages, illustrated from the authors sketches (his usual style) and with end paper maps. Gift inscription across front map otherwise a very good unjacketed copy.

Hendrik Willem Van Loon (1882 -1944) was a prolific Dutch / American writer of historical works. His language is really good and he gets to the point … the publishers of Roget’s Thesaurus specifically honoured him in publications after his death as being the person that most communicated new entries to them… quite an honour.

Here he is writing about the Polynesians and how they came to be in the Pacific … the places they went to and the places they avoided. Amongst all that is elements relating to the discovery of Australia … an interesting and of overlooked work.

The Van loon theories regrading the populating of the Pacific.

$40.00

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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 Voyage Round the World – Captain George Shelvocke – Seafarers’ Library Issue 1928

With Introduction and Notes by W.G. Perrin F.R. Hist. S Admiralty Librarian, Secretary of the Navy Records Society

Published by the Seafarers’ Library, that is Cassell and Co, London a first of its type 1928. Thick octavo, 262 pages after the xxii Introduction, which adds well to the principal narrative. Foxed along the edges, title and occasionally as is often the case with the thick spongey paper used by the publisher. Still a pretty good copy and rare in a very good dust jacket which has protected the boards well. Illustrated with 7 half tone plates and a map.

George Shelvocke (1675-1742) joined the Royal Navy at 15 and rose to second lieutenant during two long wars with the French. When the war ended he received no pension which drove him to take up privateering. In 1719 he was given charge of the Speedwell to accompany John Clipperton in the Success to take Spanish vessels in the Pacific. Shortly after leaving England Shelvocke deliberately parted ways with Clipperton to control his own fortunes. In the Pacific they were wrecked at Juan Fernandez. They managed to build a sizeable vessel out of recovered timbers and fresh hewn trees. They carried on and took their first Spanish vessel, occupied it and renamed it the Happy Return. They proceeded to take several prizes accumulating treasure along the way. They sailed north to California and made various remarks on the territory including the prospects of finding gold. From there they sailed the Pacific to Canton and from there back to England. Shelvocke was accused of hiding some of the treasure to his advantage … but got away with it … and wrote this account. A worthy read it was taken on Pacific voyages by all those that were to come after him.

On rounding the Horn his second shot a black albatross. Later, Wordsworth read the account and suggested to Samuel Taylor Coleridge that the shooting could be a useful device for his epic poem that was to be The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Shelvocke after and in the mode of Dampier – before Anson and the great Navigators.

$40.00

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Lady Nelson (Tasmania) Ship’s Manual.

Published by the Tasmanian Sail Training Association in 2003 a first printing.

A Training Manual and guide to the operating systems aboard the Sail Training Vessel Lady Nelson.

Anyone who has been to Hobart has heard of the Lady Nelson a magnificent working replica of her 1799 namesake which had such an important place in Australian maritime history … more so Tasmania.

The original vessel a unique sliding keel design was built at Deptford, London. She sailed for Australia under the command of Grant and was the first vessel to pass west to east through the Bass Strait. Grant completed significant coastal charts of the southern mainland regions … the advantage of the sliding keel was the vessel could get in close in shallow water. Later the Lady Nelson was to play an important part in the history of Tasmania or Van Diemen’s Land as it was then known … including being part of relocation of convicts from Norfolk Island.

The replica is a beauty and the manual does it justice. Just under 200 pages, octavo, spiral bound. It starts proper with a useful history of the original vessel and, the replica which was launched in 1988 having taken two year to build.

The manual comprises sections … Basic re rigging, mooring lines, heaving, helming, knots, lookout duties. Then intermediate … preparing for sea, sails and handling, anchoring, bells etc, closing down, man overboard! fires. The advanced section … emergency steering, fuels systems, freshwater systems, sullage and bilge, alarms etc. Safety includes first aid and “abandon ship!” … and a final catch-all includes a glossary of terms and a useful “where is it” for those on the find.

An interesting book for anyone interested in the maritime and especially anyone coming to Hobart who wants to achieve a greater experience of the grand Lady herself

A scarce and interesting item the Lady Nelson Manual

$40.00

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

Shipwrecks – Being the Historical Account of Shipwrecks along the Victorian Coast from Cape Otway to Port Fairy 1836-1914 – Margaret Mackenzie.

The Story of the Pacific – Van Loon – 1940

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

A Voyage Round the World – Captain George Shelvocke – Seafarers’ Library Issue 1928

Lady Nelson (Tasmania) Ship’s Manual.

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