Non-fiction

The Desert Column – Ion Idriess – Inscribed by the Author

Inscribed to Francis Van Cleef wife of Chicago businessman Noah Van Cleef with a special message … “to you, and the Boys of the Old Brigades. Ion L Idriess Sydney Australia 1959.

A very good copy of the tenth printing that year. Published by Angus & Robertson, Sydney. Octavo, 388 pages including glossary of terms.

Subtitled … Leaves from the Diary of an Australian Trooper in Gallipoli, Sinai, and Palestine … the Trooper being the author Ion Idriess of the 5th Light Horse. With a Forward by General Sir Harry Chauvel.

Idriess likely Australia’s most prolific and influential writer of the 20th Century kept a diary from the time he arrived in Gallipoli in May 1915 until March 1918. He was wounded at Gallipoli and later fought at the Battle of Beersheeba. Later his sister was instrumental in getting these diaries published. The actual diaries are in the Australian War memorial collection.

Many reviewers and critics lauded this work … among them the Poet Laureate, John Masefield, who wrote … “Your book is a vivid thing, and records a great unit’s share in a great campaign most thrillingly and tellingly”

The Desert Column – Inscribed by Ion Idriess.

$130.00

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Myola – Sydney’s Last Shipwreck – John Riley and Peter Fields

The Myola was a typical collier of the early 1900’s. On a very storm night in 1919 it went down almost due east of Dee Why. It was not until 75 years later that two relentless divers found the wreck.

This is account of the event, the finding of the wreck and its contents was self published by the divers Riley and Best in 1995.

Octavo, 102 pages nicely illustrated. The proceeds from this publication went towards conserving the ship’s bell recovered from the wreck. A super account one for divers and non-divers. A very good copy previous owners bookplate on end papers.

Myola lost and then found

$30.00

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Russian Antarctic Treaty Medal – Leningrad Mint – 1991

A scarce Antarctic medal celebrating the thirty year anniversary of the signing of the Antarctic Treaty.

Cast in bronze, 65mm in diameter, 154 gm. Very strong relief and in fine condition.

The Antarctic Treaty regulates international relations regarding Antarctica. It was signed by 54 parties and came into effect in 1961. The treaty established Antarctica as a scientific preserve with freedom of scientific investigation, banning military interest. The Secretariat is based in Buenos Aires. The Soviet Union being one of twelve countries at the time that had activities on the continent.

The face of the medal has a penguin and young one over a high relief map of Antarctica. Images of a ship, aeroplane and snowmobile representing investigation by sea, air and land. Around the outside “Antarctic Treaty” in the four official languages English, French, Russian and Spanish.

On the reverse a compass sign over another smaller continental image and a dominant Dove of Peace, with appropriate sentiments in Cyrillic.

Antarctic Treaty Celebration – Scarce Russian Medal.

$130.00

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Silvester Diggles – Australian Birds – Pied Honey-eater, Slender-billed Spine-bill and the White eye-browed Spine-bill

Rare original hand-coloured lithograph by Queensland naturalist Silvester Diggles. Published as part of his magnificent work “”The Ornithology of Australia” between 1866 and 1870 in twenty-one parts by Pugh of Brisbane, in a very limited edition. By the time part sixteen was published there were only 92 subscribers. The original plates were executed by Diggles and his niece, Rowena Birkett.

The work measures 38cm by 27cm, good hand colouring pretty clean with just the odd surface mark. A really scarce item.

Silvester Diggles (1817-1880) artist and musician born in Liverpool, England. He came to Australia in 1853 settling in Brisbane where he taught music and drawing. Diggles was a founder of the Brisbane Choral Society in 1859 and the Philharmonic Society in 1861 known as “the father of music in Brisbane”. Diggles was also a founder of the Queensland Philosophical Society and helped establish the Museum. His greatest work was The Ornithology of Australia. However it nearly sent him broke. His health deteriorated worry about finances being a factor. He died at Kangaroo Point in 1880.

Price $240.00 unframed

An opportunity to own a rare original bird print by Queenslander Silvester Diggles

$240.00

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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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The Peculiar Use and Signification of Certain Words in the Latin Tongue: or, a Collection of Observations, wherein the Elegant, and Commonly Unobserv’d Sense of very near Nine Hundred Common Latin Words. William Willymott – 1713

A scholarly book from the early eighteenth century. One that could give any reader a leg forward in the intellectual stakes.

Published by R Bonwick printed at the Cambridge University Press in 1713. A second edition. Scarce.

Octavo, 4, 374 pages bound in original full panelled sheep, spine with raised bands, chips to ends. Some long gone worming to the margin of a few of the last leaves, otherwise a pretty good copy.

We have no date of birth but William Willymott die in 1737. He was born at Royston, Cambridgeshire and educated at Eton and then Kings College, Cambridge were he graduated B.A,; M.A. and L.L.D. by 1707. He was made a Fellow. He became an usher at Eton and then found Isleworth Private School .. he was suspected as having an attachment to the Pretender which hampered his career. He considered law but changed his mind and took orders … the rectory Milton near Cambridge. He died at the Swann Inn at Bedford … not a bad pub.

Overcome your Latin deficiencies with Willymott – 1713

$240.00

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The Desert Column – Ion Idriess – Inscribed by the Author

Myola – Sydney’s Last Shipwreck – John Riley and Peter Fields

Russian Antarctic Treaty Medal – Leningrad Mint – 1991

Silvester Diggles – Australian Birds – Pied Honey-eater, Slender-billed Spine-bill and the White eye-browed Spine-bill

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

The Peculiar Use and Signification of Certain Words in the Latin Tongue: or, a Collection of Observations, wherein the Elegant, and Commonly Unobserv’d Sense of very near Nine Hundred Common Latin Words. William Willymott – 1713

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