Maritime

Hobart River Craft and Sealers of Bass Strait – Harry O’May – First Edition

Published privately by the author this the first edition, no date but accepted as early 1960′s . Octavo, 113 pages plus 31 pages, illustrations and indices not paginated. Folding map at back. Dust jacket a little aged. A very good copy, clean inside, map intact.

A special little book packed full of information by Harry O’May who knew his boats.

Two works in one the first a compendium all things wooden in the Tasmanian boat world and it’s a big world. Sorted in terms of chapters to include barges, cutters, ketches and passage boats; fishing craft, racing vessels, paddle steamers (wish you were here) and a special on Wilson Shipyard, Cygnet. All the other shipyards are mentioned along with good detail on many many craft – with some interesting early photographic images. The Sealers of the Bass Strait does not disappoint either.

Nice Tasmanian Early Boat Book – We Like it!

$30.00

Updating cart…

With the “Aurora” in the Antarctic 1911-1914 – John King Davis – First Edition

The rare first edition of this primary Heroic era account. Published by Melrose, London no date but 1919.

Preface by Douglas Mawson. There is little that appears in “Home of the Blizzard” that appears here and vice versa. As such it is an excellent companion to the Blizzard and harder to find in any condition.

John King Davis skippered seven Antarctic voyages between 1907 and 1930.

Large octavo, xxi, 183 pages, 8 maps (1 folding), plan, 83 illustrations on 42 plates … more illustrations in text. Original blue cloth binding, titles to spine faded as usual, ship device and titles to front are as bright as we have seen, a little age a pale foxing, frontispiece reattached, a good copy of a very scarce item. Refer Taurus 101, Rosove 87, Spence 354.

John King Davis was Captain of the Aurora during Mawson’s 1911-1914 Expedition. The expedition encountered many challenges along with the dangerous weather and uncharted nature of the Antarctic coastline there were problems with the ship including failing pups and engine difficulties. Much of the success and relative safety of the expedition was put down to Davis’s “masterly seamanship, firm decision of mind, and courageous daring in handling the expedition ship Aurora” The Aurora made several critical voyages, establishing and the later relieving the wintering bases at Macquarie Island and the Antarctic mainland at Commonwealth Bay and the Shackleton Ice Shelf. Davis was left with the decision … whether to wait for blizzards and harsh seas to abate to collect Mawson’s party, or to relive the second base party led by Frank Wild … he chose the latter.

John King Davis and his first-hand account on the Aurora.

$890.00

Updating cart…

The Life of Sir Ernest Shackleton – Hugh Robert Mill – First Edition 1923

A first edition of the prestige edition of the biography of Shackleton by his long-time colleague and admirer Hugh Robert Mill.

Published by Heinemann, London in 1923. Large octavo, 312 pages, 19 illustrations from photographs and four maps in the text. Original blue cloth covered binding with gilt titling to front and spine and gilt shield. Previous owners name at front end papers. A very good copy of the first edition..

Mill states in his Preface that he had the assistance of lady Shackleton and the great man’s daughters Miss Shackleton, Miss A.V. Shackleton and Miss Eleanor Shackleton (the protocol of the 1920’s). He also acknowledges that the book is weighted towards the exploratory and whilst referencing Shackleton’s business exploit and war effort they are written with limited personal experience of the facts. Regardless of the qualification we find most interesting the chapters on Shackleton’s early life as sea starting as a “Boy” on the Iquique going around the Horn. The rest is “history” …

Shackleton by a man who knew him well.

$220.00

Updating cart…

Shackleton’s Last Voyage -The Story of the Quest – Frank Wild – First Edition 1923

First US Edition published by Stokes, New York in 1923 – Scarce. Carries the imprint of Cassell, London Publisher, on spine.

Thick large octavo, xvi, and 372 pages, illustrated throughout from relevant photographs, maps etc. Decorated sky blue boards making a very attractive presentation. Scattered pale foxing aside a very good collectable copy.

Written by Commander Frank Wild C.B.E. from the Official Journal and Private Diary kept by Dr A.H. Macklin.

Shackleton driven to be in the Antarctic went back a fourth and for him final time in 1921.

The vessel the ill suited “Quest” a converted Norwegian sealer. The objectives were rather imprecise but included a circumnavigation of the Antarctic continent. Early in the voyage (at Rio) Shackleton had a suspected heart attack. He pushed on refusing proper treatment. On the 4^th January 1922 at South Georgia in the early hours of the morning he suffered a fatal attack.

The events are recorded here by his right-hand man Frank Wild (he had been on very Shackleton expedition). Wild believed that the “Boss” would have desired them to go on with the mission – which they did, and this is the record of the whole of the voyage and effort. In accordance with the widows wishes Shackleton was buried on South Georgia – later Frank Wild’s ashes were interred alongside Shackleton’s grave.

Shackleton and Wild no braver combination.

$890.00

Updating cart…

Following their footsteps – Exploring Adventure Bay [Bruny Island Tasmania] – C.J. Turnbull

A nice production, soft cover, perfect bound, 103 pages, nice illustrations throughout. Very good if not fine.

Published in 2006 by the Friends of Adventure Bay.

Adventure Bay, Bruny island – one of the worlds beautiful places.

Starts with a historical account – The Nuenonne and life before the arrival of the Early European Explorers – The Whaling Industry – Coal Mining – Settlers – Timber – Maritime history.

And modern times – the landscape – marine environment – flora – fauna etc.

Best Bruny Island with a focus on historic Adventure Bay – great illustrations

$35.00

Updating cart…

Van Diemens Land [Blackman’s Bay] and Ontong Java – Schley at the Hague in 1758

This unusual image was published by De Hondt, the Hague in 1758 for Provost’s History of Voyages. The image engraved by Jakob van der Schley was originally conceived by Francois Valentijn in 1726 relating to the voyage of Abel Tasman – that is that is what these images represent.

To focus on the lower image titled “Pays de Van Diemen // Diemens Land’ the image is actually of Blackman’s Bay the first place of landing of Abel Tasman.

The top image is of Ontong Java also know as Lord Howes Atoll but not to be confused with Lord Howe Island. Ontong Java is part of the Solomons Group – a small “boot shaped” island to the far north.

Sheet size 25 cm by 19 cm – image, with a strong impression and colouring 18 cm by 14 cm. A copper plate etching on hand made verge paper – a little creasing, generally a very good authentic example.

A good Tasmanian image of the actual first landing spot of Abel Tasman

$180.00

Updating cart…

Hobart River Craft and Sealers of Bass Strait – Harry O’May – First Edition

With the “Aurora” in the Antarctic 1911-1914 – John King Davis – First Edition

The Life of Sir Ernest Shackleton – Hugh Robert Mill – First Edition 1923

Shackleton’s Last Voyage -The Story of the Quest – Frank Wild – First Edition 1923

Following their footsteps – Exploring Adventure Bay [Bruny Island Tasmania] – C.J. Turnbull

Van Diemens Land [Blackman’s Bay] and Ontong Java – Schley at the Hague in 1758

Product Categories