New South Wales

The Exploration of Australia – Albert Calvert – First Edition 1895

A pretty good copy of the first edition of Calvert’s book much admired and coveted in any collection on the subject. A compendium volume was issued a year later due to the success of this work.

Published by George Philip, London in 1895. Small quarto, 26cm by 21 cm, quarter bound cream buckram (simulated vellum) over deep blue buckram with gild titles and line decoration. Aged to spine as usual, corners rubbed. Pretty good internally the large folding map repaired close tear. Internally a little browned due to the spongy nature of the paper, really quite clean throughout; viii, 26 pages. Frontispiece of Dampier, 16 plates. A solid book 1.4kgs.

The super map is 87cm by 72cm with the routes of the likes of Sturt, Mitchel, great, Winnecke etc marked

Albert Calvert carried out his own explorations often influenced by gold exploration and mainly in western Australia. He was a prolific writer about Australia partly to fund his exploratory activities. He had previously published ‘The Discovery of Australia” concerning the early maritime activities of the Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, French, British etc. In the Preface to this work he describes his pain in working with the early accounts, in terms of their completeness, reliability etc. In this work he is more at ease in that he has the first hand accounts of the various explorers .. on land he mapped out each day of their activities … hence the huge map included.

Exploration covered include in the maritime, Dampier; the Dutch; Cook; Flinders; Phillip; Baudin, Bougainville … in the interior, Wentworth; Sturt; Mitchell; Macquarie; George Grey; Eyre etc

Calvert’s collectable account on the exploration of Australia with valuable map.

$150.00

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The Cattle King [Sir Sydney Kidman] – Ion Idriess – 1942 Edition

Published in Sydney by Angus and Robertson in 1942.

Octavo, 277 pages, a very good copy albeit the paper a bit browned because of restrictions on paper manufacture in the War. Inoffensive gift inscription on end papers. A very good dust jacket.

The Biography of Sir Sidney Kidman who started with five shillings and eventually controlled over 100 cattle stations an area half the size of Queensland.

Well illustrated from period photographs and end paper maps showing the extent of the Kidman interests at the front and stations, stock routes, coach routes and railways referred to in the text … at the rear.

Good reading & photographs … a cattle empire much in the financial news of late.

$70.00

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Stone of Destiny – Ion Idriess – First Edition 1948

Published by Angus and Robertson a first edition 1948. Octavo, 344 pages with map of diamond finds in New South Wales. Decorative ornaments to chapter headings special to this book.

A small chip lower edge of dust jacket, otherwise a very good copy.

Ion Idriess found this his hardest book to write yet it is another masterpiece of yarn and knowledge all revolving around the elusive diamond. Some about spectacular diamonds in history and delightful observations relating to the surprisingly numerous locations in which diamonds have been found in New South Wales. Sadly many diamonds were washed away mining tin around Inverell and Copeton.

Idriess and his Diamonds – Nice copy

$60.00

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Wenworth, William Charles – Australia’s Greatest Native Son – Andrew Tink.

Some of Andrew Tink’s best work resides in this thorough biography of the man behind many things in the early history of New South Wales.

Published by Allen and Unwin in 2009. Large octavo, 329 pages, nicely illustrated from period images. A very good copy.

Wentworth, the son of a highway robber, arrived at a tender age in Sydney. Went on to run the newspaper, founder of the first University, cross the Blue Mountains with Blaxland and Lawson, the strongest advocate for self-government and amass a wealth not to be sniffed at.

Wentworth .. more than a hotel

$30.00

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Australian Poetry – The Road to Burrandong [A Collection] – George Althofer – First Work – Self Published 1936

George William Francis Althofer (1903-1993) was an Australian botanist, author and poet. He founded the 410 acre Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum specialising in Australian native plants.

This was his first proper publication. Quite a number of the poems had found their way into various rural magazines previously. Self published in 1936. Small octavo, original thick paper wraps, 62 pages, staple bound, with 37 poems of various lengths. Poetry of a good standard, easy on the mind often reflecting on the Australian bush ….

Signed by the poet on the title. Pretty good condition albeit the spine is tired, internally bright and make allowances for a very rare item.

A Voyager favourite rare Australian poetry.

$30.00

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Patanela is Missing [Sinking off Sydney] – Paul Whittaker and Robert Read – 1993

Published by Bantam 1993, a first and only edition. Octavo paperback, 248 pages with maps and 16 pages of black and white plates. A very good copy.

The investigative account of Australia’s greatest sea mystery.

Patanela, a 19-metre schooner, vanished without trace approaching Sydney Harbour in November 1988. She was the sturdiest yachts afloat having completed Antarctic voyages and circumnavigated the globe. She was considered by those who sailed her, and by the man who built her, to be unsinkable. Constructed of steel with four watertight bulkheads, Patanela carried the latest safety and navigational equipment.

There are few who believe she faltered on that calm November night, within sight of the lights of Botany Bay. There was no mayday call, no distress flares sighted, no debris, and no bodies as evidence of her sinking.

Scarce account of one of Australia’s most curious sea mysteries.

$25.00

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The Exploration of Australia – Albert Calvert – First Edition 1895

The Cattle King [Sir Sydney Kidman] – Ion Idriess – 1942 Edition

Stone of Destiny – Ion Idriess – First Edition 1948

Wenworth, William Charles – Australia’s Greatest Native Son – Andrew Tink.

Australian Poetry – The Road to Burrandong [A Collection] – George Althofer – First Work – Self Published 1936

Patanela is Missing [Sinking off Sydney] – Paul Whittaker and Robert Read – 1993

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