Non-fiction

Sails Full and By – Dom Degnon

Published by Sheridan House, Dobbs Ferry a first edition 1995. Octavo, 244 pages illustrated. Very good near fine condition.

A seven-year circumnavigation in the 41 foot ketch “Taku”. A full crew of friends and family who come and go during the “voyage”.

With more time than some they have more time for the exotic .. and in the Pacific Ahe, Tahiti, Samoa, Sunwarrow, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand. Then off to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea and then difficulties with the boat and they just made it to Australia’s Lizard island. And then more ….

A long time around the world an unusual narrative

$30.00

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The Great Pyramid – Ancient Egypt Revisited – John Romer

A fine copy of this all embracing work about the Great Pyramid at Giza [and others] published by Cambridge University Press, 2007, with all its usual quality.

Quarto, 564 pages, numerous images from photographs, useful diagrams, maps etc. As new condition in a like dust jacket. A heavy book [1.9 kg] not really suitable for Overseas postage.

Not far into the book we come across Voyager hero Scottish astronomer, with an Italian name, Piazzi Smyth who first proposed the bewildering connection between the cosmos and the geometry and dimensions of the Great Pyramid of Cheops. From there the book only gets better and a full reading and understanding will take you to Doctorate level on the subject.

Near the end we have some great analysis of the build plan and proper quantity surveying re the build materials [there were a lot of then]. The estimate of the workforce at circa 25,000 in the first year is well supported yet hard to visualise.

Best “How To” book on building very large pyramids!

$50.00

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The Art of Captain Cook’s Voyages [Complete and Fine Set] – Rudiger Joppien and Bernard Smith

The number one resource for the art associated with Cook’s three voyages all in fine condition

Complete and in fine condition. Three volumes in four parts published by Oxford University Press, Melbourne 1985-1987.

Each volume contains a Descriptive Catalogue of all known original drawings and paintings of peoples, places, artefacts and events and original engravings associated with the Voyage

Volume I: The Voyage of the Endeavour 1768-1771 with the art of the chief mourner (Joseph Banks), Alexander Buchan, Giovanni Cipriani, John Miller and Sydney Parkinson – 248 pages;

Volume II: The Voyage of the Resolution and Adventure 1772-1775 with the art of John Cleverley, Peter Fannin, George Forster, Johann Reinhold Forster, Moses Griffith, Henry Roberts, Isaac Smith and the incredibly talented William Hodges – 278 pages;

Volume III: The Voyage of the Resolution and Discovery, 1776-1780 with the art of John Webber William Ellis and John Cleverley. In two parts of 234 pages and 235-670 pages;

The entire work profusely illustrated in colour and black & white with appropriate appendices, bibliographies and indices. Folio with very good dust wrappers.

Many of the illustrations were previously unpublished, and the text includes an account of each voyage and notes on the artists

The Art of Cook’s Voyage never to be surpassed

ON HOLD

$680.00

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Operation Cicero – the Espionage Sensation of the War – L.C. Moyzisch – 1950

First edition published 1950 by Wingate, London. Octavo, 208 pages, a nice copy.

Written from a German perspective by Moyzisch who the Attache at the German Embassy in Ankara was. An “authenticity” post-script by Franz von Papen who was the Ambassador.

An Albanian, Elyesa Bazna, code named Cicero had rolls of film for sale about key British intelligence … the German’s paid up and the details of the Moscow, Cairo and Tehran conferences of the Allies were available to Hitler. However, what became of the information … and extraordinary spy account … once disbelieved but now authenticated.

Rare spy story published shortly after WWII

$40.00

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R.A.A.F. Over Europe – Edited by Frank Johnson – 1946

A scarce first edition 1946 of a book published to record the immense contribution Australian pilots made to the WWII effort in Europe.

Published in conjunction with Frank Johnson, by Eyre & Spottiswoode, London.

Octavo, 188 pages, followed by addendum and 54 pages of full page images from period photographs. Good dust jacket albeit a little chipped. A previous enthusiastic owner has inserted loosely the odd relevant clipping – we have left them there as they add to the story.

Includes an emotional introduction by Winston Churchill and forward by Air Vice- Marshall Wrigley .. Australia’s Commanding Officer in Britain from 1942-1946.

First Edition Important Record

SO SORRY SOLD

$50.00

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The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the Suppression of Piracy with Extracts from the Journal of James Brooke, Esq of Sarawak – Captain Henry Keppel – Two Volumes -1847

A third edition set of this Borneo classic published by Chapman and Hall, London in 1847 the year after the first. Preferred for the additional details particularly the new chapter on recent intelligence by Walter Kelly.

It is the second half of the title that explains the importance of these volumes. Brooke had suggested the first part as the principal title maybe to underplay his hand.

James Brooke (1803-1868) was an extraordinary individual born into a colonial family and generally describe as soldier and adventurer. He was given the Raj of Sarawak in Borneo, by the Sultan of Brunei, as a reward for quelling an uprising and driving pirates from the region. He ruled with an iron fist from 1842-1868. There is much more to his story than can be written here … he knew Alfred Russell Wallace and influenced his decision to conduct extensive natural history researches in the region culminating in the evolutionary evidence giving rise to the naming of the “Wallace Line”.

James Brooke is behind the character in Joseph Conrad’s “Lord Jim” and the “White Rajah” of Nicholas Monsarrat. Charles Kingsley dedicated “Westward Ho” to the man and Errol Flynn planned to star as Brooke in a film written by himself although it was never made.

The author of this work, Captain Henry Keppel had sailed the Dido to Borneo in 1843. His crew became heavily involved in resisting attacks by Lanoon pirates.

Two royal octavo, volumes, 429 and 315 pages after preliminaries. Bound in morocco with separate title and volume labels gilt on black leather, raised bands etc. Nicely illustrated with 11 tinted lithographic plates, 6 folding maps and a chart. A little pale foxing otherwise very good copies of this interesting account. Carries the bookplate of Walter Jeffrey, early writer of maritime novels and historical accounts.

The Dido in and Around Borneo and the Journals of Adventure and first Sultan of Sarawak – James Brooke

$590.00

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Sails Full and By – Dom Degnon

The Great Pyramid – Ancient Egypt Revisited – John Romer

The Art of Captain Cook’s Voyages [Complete and Fine Set] – Rudiger Joppien and Bernard Smith

Operation Cicero – the Espionage Sensation of the War – L.C. Moyzisch – 1950

R.A.A.F. Over Europe – Edited by Frank Johnson – 1946

The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the Suppression of Piracy with Extracts from the Journal of James Brooke, Esq of Sarawak – Captain Henry Keppel – Two Volumes -1847

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