Non-fiction

Red Peak – Ascent of Pik Kommunizma [Now named Ismoil Somoni Peak in Modern Day Tajikistan - 7,495 m]

An unusual mountaineering event form start to finish written by the expedition second Malcolm Slesser seemingly without the authority of leader Sir John Hunt.

First American Edition, published by Coward McCann, New York in 1964. Octavo, 256 pages well illustrated from expedition photographs, charts , diagrams etc. A little ageing but still a very good copy.

The first British / Soviet joint expedition to climb in the Soviet Asia Pamir Mountains [Now Tajlikistan]. And a venture not without drama. No local porters were taken. Things got tense between the groups, two Englishmen died during the ascent of a particularly rugged stage. Hunt and several others gave up and went home. Slesser elected to stay … the frankness with which he describes the flare-ups as they struggled to reach the 25,000 foot peak adds to the drama of this unique climb

Slesser writes frankly about the first British / Soviet joint mountaineering expedition.

$25.00

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Sea Dangers [The Affair of the US Brig Somers] – Philip McFarland

First edition, published by Schocken, New York in 1985. Large octavo, 308 pages, a little age to jacket otherwise a very good copy.

In 1842 on the American Brig “Somers” a young officer and two seamen were hung for mutiny, a court martial followed for the commanding officer. A very well researched and written book.

Formed the basis of “Billy Rudd” by Herman Melville.

American Mutiny … or was it?

$25.00

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Raymond Howgego’s Monumental reference on the Exploration of Australia and Beyond.

Four Massive volumes which we regard complete, as they contain all the factual works [Howgego also produced a book on fictional travel]. Published progressively by Hordern House.

Land and sea exploration from the earliest days to circa 1940. Over four thousand pages in all with surely every event and fact worthy of mention. In pristine condition, weighing over 11 kgs so postage will be circa $80.00 at cost.

Raymond Howgego was teacher of physics before he gave that up to become a full-time traveller and travel writer. Possibly put down more words than any other living person. Seemingly can handle almost all European languages and Arabic and probably a few others. He still has an interest in amateur radio and fixing electronic items … we withhold his call sign, but you can find it if you try.

As new comprehensive definitive history of Exploration.

$480.00

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De Re Metallica – Georgius Agricola [the Hoover Translation]

This is the second printing of the famous Hoover translation of the equally famous 16^th Century monumental publication by Georgius Agricola on all things then known in mining, metallurgy, geology etc.

Longer title … De re Metallica translated from the first Latin edition of 1556 with biographical introduction, annotations and appendices upon the development of mining methods, metallurgical processes, geology, mineralogy & mining law from the earliest times to the 16^th century by Herbert Clark Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover.

This edition, published by Dover, New York in 1950. 638 pages after xxxi preliminaries, illustrated throughout from the images of the original wood engravings. Blue green themed dust jacket variant. Jacket near perfect. A very good to better copy.

The series of books within the book (an early style) I Arguments against the art of mining II The miner and the mining of veins III Veins and stringers and seams in rocks IV The method of delimiting veins and the functions of the mining officials V The digging of ore and the Surveyor’s art VI The miner’s tools and machines VII The assaying of ore VIII Rules for the work of roasting, crushing, and washing the ore IX Methods of smelting ores X the work of separating silver from gold, and lead from gold and silver XI Separating silver from copper XII rules for manufacturing salt, soda, alum, vitriol, sulphur, bitumen, and glass … Agricola’s works – Ancient authors on mineralogy, mining, metallurgy- Nomenclature to be adopted for weights and measures etc.

There is so much to admire about this book … the date of the foundation work, its breadth and quality, the learning from the engravings. Strangely maybe we particularly like the section on pumps in mines – essential equipment for water bound mines and the ingenuity pre powered machines is very interesting. Regarding the translation – what a job done by Hoover(s). The difficulty must have been very challenging – for example Agricola struggled to find Latin equivalents for many mining terms so had to contrive them from everyday Latin words – Hoover then had to decipher these once and only Latin words – unsurprising that his hair was depleted.

De Re Metalicca – The Foundation Work for all Mining and related – the readable version

$140.00

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The Tasmanian Tiger in Pictures – Dr Eric Guiler

A scarce item by the unchallengeable Thylacine expert Dr Eric Guiller.

Published in 1993. Soft wrapper, landscape, 28 pages with numerous illustrations from old photographs and contemporary photographs from the authors expeditions and field studies – he followed the Thylacine for over 40 years. Also, maps showing sightings and “unfortunately” earlier killings, sketches of Tiger tracks identified by Eric Guiler etc.

Very good if not better condition.

Guiler out and about the bush …. searching for the Thylacine – convincing.

$80.00

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1600 Years Under the Sea – The Quest for a Sunken City – Captain Ted Falcon-Barker

Scarce unusual book. Published by Frederick Muller, London in 1960. Octavo, 225 pages, the odd mark, fading to board edges faded, cocked but excuse it, endpaper maps, better dust jacket than usual.

Ted Falcon-Baker was a most mysterious figure. Born in France in 1923 to a diamond prospector father and Cuban mother. He skipped school at fifteen and ran away to Australia [people grew up more quickly then!].

When WII broke out he joined the army and in Europe became a spy, spending time in Damascus. He was still only twenty-one when the war ended. He bought a yacht [after other adventures], learned to dive and set off on the adventure recorded in this book to find Epidarous a legendary submerged city in the Adriatic – they found … along with a few unexploded WWI ordinance.

Actor Jon Pertwee was one of his backers although commitments meant he makes a brief appearance … all this before Doctor Who.

Epidarous found by the mysterious and adventurous Falcon-Baker

$35.00

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Red Peak – Ascent of Pik Kommunizma [Now named Ismoil Somoni Peak in Modern Day Tajikistan - 7,495 m]

Sea Dangers [The Affair of the US Brig Somers] – Philip McFarland

Raymond Howgego’s Monumental reference on the Exploration of Australia and Beyond.

De Re Metallica – Georgius Agricola [the Hoover Translation]

The Tasmanian Tiger in Pictures – Dr Eric Guiler

1600 Years Under the Sea – The Quest for a Sunken City – Captain Ted Falcon-Barker

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