Non-fiction

The ABT Railway and Railways of the Lyell region [Tasmania] – Lou Rae

This is no 130 of a limited number of 500 hardbound copies. Signed by the author and annotated to “Frank the man with a bit on the side” – wink wink humour. Self-published in 1994 at a standard above the usual self-publish. Very good condition albeit minor crease to dust jacket back.

Folio presentation, 94 pages with near to two hundred images from period photographs [many coloured], good maps and diagrams.

Lou Rae is the man when it comes to writing about Tasmanian railway systems and this one does him proud.

Western Tasmania Mt Lyell Railways in all their glory – super book

$70.00

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Papers of the Royal Society of Tasmania – December 2012 [Significant Antarctic Content]

Hobart is not only one of the five official gateways to the Antarctic it is a centre for Antarctic Research and Publication.

Large scale softcover, perfect bound 98 pages. Quality production. Nice photographic images etc

The front image is the former Manager’s Villa at Stromness, South Georgia where Shackleton and his companions arrived in May 1916 after their historic journey of survival.

The first third of the publication contains reports on Tasmanian natural history – the balance is entirely Antarctic in nature.

[Dr Xavier] Mertz in Hobart: Impressions of one of Mawson’s men while preparing for Antarctic Adventure.

Dredging up Mawson: implications for the geology of coastal East Antarctica.

Leslie Russell Blake: Mawson’s forgotten geologist.

And, four others including one on South Georgia.

Royal Society Tasmania – a home for Antarctic research publication.

$35.00

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Surveying Instruments and Allied Apparatus made by Cooke, Troughton & Simms – 1923

In 1922 the substantial and highly respected instrument maker Cooke merged with the even more esteemed company of Troughton & Simms. The result was a business which dominated the high end of the manufacture of surveying and related instruments.

This catalogue released a year later in 1923 is much more than that as it set the historic record and provided a super narrative and photographic record of the combined companies capabilities. We do gush a bit, but this is such a magnificent item if you have a thing about theodolites!

Softcover cloth protected, 278 pages, numerous photographs, local maps of facilities and how to get there from the nearest railway station. Simple, bold introduction and their market; historical narrative from their inception by Thomas Wright in the early 18thC – his trade card of 1718 provided as an image. Followed by “General Remarks” re manufacturing capability great photographs of each department. Then 23 pages of technical information.

Product pages include a multitude of complex theodolites [including a special design for the Australian environment] and levels, compasses, alidades, clinometers, Galton sun signals, dipping needles, magnetometers, telescopes, etc. And, a section on “Underground Surveying Instruments”. The odd, interesting, image – Shackleton expedition using their gear farthest south in 1921; a chap in a nice suit taking readings down a mine and the miniature theodolite [our favourite] half-way up a rock face in the Rocky Mountains.

Cooke, Troughton & Simms – Never Surpassed and now never will be.

$160.00

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Hornblower and the Hotspur – C.S. Forester – First Edition 1962

First edition published by Michael Joseph, London in 1962. Octavo, 266 pages, blue cloth covered boards, very good dust jacket, top page edge toned otherwise very clean.

The tenth volume in the Hornblower series and we make it third in chronological order. The last finished Hornblower novel “Crisis” being incomplete at Forester’s death.

Set in 1803 with war with France imminent Hornblower is promoted to Commander and given the Sloop HMS Hotspur. Sent off to enforce the blockade at Brest … does his usual super job not without difficulty and danger. Cornwallis considers him for promotion to Post-Captain … a position achieved when he executes his plan to deliver false documents to the French … it all had a bearing on “Trafalgar”.

Hornblower’s career develops with bravery and cunning

$40.00

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Wooden Hookers of Hobart Town & Whalers out of Van Diemen’s Land [Two Works] – Harry O’May

Published by the author a fine copy of the second impression 1978.

Octavo, 137 pages plus 101 pages indices not paginated. Very clean superb dust jacket.

Harry O’May’s compilation of two books packed with historic detail about the Tasmanian early whalers – superb photographic record nowhere else seen.

One of the best Tasmanian Maritime

$30.00

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Francois Peron’s Natural History of Maria Island Tasmania. – Brian Plomley and Others

Another Plomley rarity we don’t expect to see again for a long time.

Published as part of the Records of the Queen Victoria Museum in 1990.

Soft cover, 50 pages, with charts etc all in fine condition.

Baudin spent three days circumnavigation Maria Island in February 1802. Francois Peron was zoologist but also made meteorological, geomorphic, botanical observation – a multi faceted scientist was Peron.

Peron knew his stuff when it came to Maria.

$30.00

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The ABT Railway and Railways of the Lyell region [Tasmania] – Lou Rae

Papers of the Royal Society of Tasmania – December 2012 [Significant Antarctic Content]

Surveying Instruments and Allied Apparatus made by Cooke, Troughton & Simms – 1923

Hornblower and the Hotspur – C.S. Forester – First Edition 1962

Wooden Hookers of Hobart Town & Whalers out of Van Diemen’s Land [Two Works] – Harry O’May

Francois Peron’s Natural History of Maria Island Tasmania. – Brian Plomley and Others

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