Non-fiction

Geological Survey Cape York, Horn Island, Possession Island Queensland etc – C.F.V Jackson 1902 – Excellent Maps

Queensland Department of Mines Geological Survey Report No 180.

Report on a Visit to the West Coast of the Cape York Peninsula and Some Islands of the Gulf of Carpentaria also, Reports on the Horn Island and Possession Island Gold Fields, and the Recent Prospecting of the Cretaceous Coast of the Cook District.

By C.F.V. Jackson, Assistant Government Geologist.

Octavo, staple bound. 23 pages with images from photographs and four maps, a broader map of the regions and three folding coloured maps of the South Wellesly Islands (Bentick, Fowler and Sweers); the Horn Island Goldfield and Horn Island. Slight browning to map edges, still a very good copy of a scarce item. Good maps.

As often the geologist travels significant ground taking in Cox Creek, Wilkinson range, Mitchell River, Wellesly Islands, Horn Island, Possession Island etc with good detail on the topography of the land and various anthropological finds along the way. He discovered aboriginal middens of enormous proportions estimated to have taken several hundred years to form. He mentions bauxite at Weipa … to become one of the world’s largest deposits of that mineral.

Clements Frederick Vivian Jackson (1873-1955) was a very talented engineer, initially in the Civil file and then Mining. He designed an built bridges over the Bremer River near Ipswich and received the London Institute of Civil Engineers Prize for his bridge over the Burdekin an Charters Towers. He moved into the geology / mining filed and after conducting the work subject to this reports was involved in the geological survey of Western Australia. Returning to Queensland he rose to the highest position, that of State Mining Engineer

Scarce report on important locations with excellent maps.

$90.00

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Report on the New Guinea Exploring Expedition 1885 published 1886 – H. C. Everill

A rare item, complete 20 page extract from the Journal of the Geographical Society of Australasia 1886 with the scarce folding map of the Fly and Strickland river systems. Very good condition, sugar paper wrappers.

Henry Charles Everill was the appointed leader of a scientific, collecting and anthropological expedition to New Guinea in 1885. The expedition used the 77 tone steamboat “Bonito” an took with them a whaleboat which they would use beyond the Bonito’s capability.

The report is a detailed account of goings on and observations during the expedition. Initially they were to explore east of the Fly river but Everill changed the plans because of difficulties encountered traversing the Gulf. They discovered, named and explored the Strickland river which was missed by D’Albertis who had seen an opening but failed to explore further. Whilst the expedition was over in three months they collected a monumental amount of specimens particularly botanical, which would have been down to the skill and energy of botanist Bauerlin.

Before the returned fake news had been spread that they had been ambushed and massacred by natives. Reprisal boats had already been sent before their actual return. In fact they had encountered hostile activity and were rather lucky in their endeavours.

Everill was highly praised in Australia for his exploration effort and management. He went on to be a tobacco planter in Sumatra and died in England in 1900.

Scarce fundamental New Guinea Exploration report and excellent unique map.

$180.00

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The Great Age of the Microscope – Professor Gerard L’E Turner

One of if not the book on the development of the microscope. Issued as a celebration of the then 150-year-old Royal Microscopical Society and based on its irreplaceable and undisputably best collection in the world.

Published by specialist Adam Hilger, Bristol and New York in 1989. Quarto, 379 pages, nicely illustrated with several hundred images from photographs of the items described.

The author, Gerard L’E Turner was Professor of the History of Scientific Instruments at Imperial College, London – what job! He was a Research Fellow at the Science Museum and one time President of the esteemed Royal Microscopical Society.

The Society was formed in 1839 and every instrument they purchased, from the very first that year, is still held by the Society. This book covers over 450 prime examples starting from those made in the early 1700’s.

After preliminary explanations on instrument development and the formation of the Society we have … Compound early 17thC; Culpeper style; Cuff style; Gould type; Powell and Lealand; Ross; Smith and Beck; Swift; non British; Projection; Reflecting and then a plethora of associated instruments.

No better Modern book on Old Microscopes

$140.00

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Looking for La Perouse – Frank Horner

Looking for La Perouse D’Entrecasteaux in Australia and the South Pacific 1792 – 1793 by Frank Horner.

A 1996 first soft cover edition. Octavo, 317 pages, published by Melbourne University Press. A nice copy. Heavily illustrated.

Solid read with maps, charts and illustrations. Bruny d’Entrecasteaux might have failed to find the doomed La Perouse but made some important observations in Tasmania, Western Australia and New Guinea.

Top of the class Frank Horner

$30.00

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Children of Cape Horn – Rosie Swale

First edition of Rosie Swales very readable account of one of the greatest “family” voyages of all time.

Published by Paul Elek, London in 1974. Octavo, 242 pages, illustrated with end paper maps, images from voyage photographs and diagrams in the text.

An 18 month voyage leaving Gibraltar on 19th December 1971 … across to Barbados and through the Panama Canal and a course across the Pacific via the glorious Pacific Islands route to Sydney. Back along the roaring forties and around the Horn and on up and up to Plymouth arriving 1st July 1973. Lots of adventure, some danger and frivolity along the way.

Talented Rosie and Colin Swale – proper sailing with family in tow.

$25.00

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Airborne (A Voyage West to East Across the Atlantic) – William Buckley – First edition 1976

A first edition of a sentimental journey, published by Macmillan, New York in 1976.

Octavo, 252 pages, end paper maps and heavily illustrated from photographs taken on the voyage.

Buckley was a media celebrity being a multi published author, editor of the National Review and host of Firing Line.

His west east crossing of the Atlantic was a dream of many years. A charming, detailed account from Miami, to Bermuda across to the Azores an on to Marbella. An honest account of emotions and behaviour along the way.

First edition west – east across the Atlantic

$25.00

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Geological Survey Cape York, Horn Island, Possession Island Queensland etc – C.F.V Jackson 1902 – Excellent Maps

Report on the New Guinea Exploring Expedition 1885 published 1886 – H. C. Everill

The Great Age of the Microscope – Professor Gerard L’E Turner

Looking for La Perouse – Frank Horner

Children of Cape Horn – Rosie Swale

Airborne (A Voyage West to East Across the Atlantic) – William Buckley – First edition 1976

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