Non-fiction

The Voyage of the Duff – A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean 1796-1798 – Captain James Wilson

I our opinion one of the best produced facsimiles of one of the great late 18thC voyages to the Pacific. The standard likely because of the publisher Frederick Praeger, New York etc., printed in Austria with that quality.

The fact that the large folding maps and folding plates have all been reproduced is a production delight most others avoid .. maybe you get one in that form .. here we have them all.

Small quarto, 420 pages, illustrated as described above the original a masterpiece of cartography and engraving. Very good condition.

Super informative introduction by Irmgard Moschner of the Vienna Museum.

If you look elsewhere on our site we have the original issue of this volume for sale .. but not at this price.

Full title … A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean Performed in the Years 1796, 1797, 1798, in the Ship Duff, Commanded by Captain James Wilson. Compiled from Journals of the Officers and the Missionaries; and Illustrated with Maps, Charts and Views Drawn by Mr William Wilson, and engraved by the most eminent Artists. With a Preliminary Discourse on the Geography and History of the South Sea Islands; and an Appendix, including details never before published, of the Natural and Civil State of Otaheite.

An early voyage to the Pacific, undertaken for the purpose of establishing a mission in Tahiti, and a settlement of 25 persons was formed. Though the King befriended them, they met with continual difficulties because of civil wars and were finally forced to flee to Australia, though returning some time later in 1815. The work contains many valuable details regarding Tahiti, the Fiji Islands, Tonga, the Marquesas, etc. The discovery of a new group of islands, named the Duff Group among the Santa Cruz Islands. The narrative is full and readable with considerable valuable observation – not at all in the often dry “missionary” style. Stands, in our view, as a key read in the early Pacific Voyages genre.

The folding “Chart of the Duff’s Track in the Pacific Ocean” was the first map to use the name Australia than New Holland. Other important maps comprise – Feejee Islands; Marquesas Islands; Duff’s Group; Gambier Islands; Island of Otaheite and Island of Tongataboo.

Views comprise … Harbour of Rio Janeiro; Missionary Settlement at Matavai; View of Tallo Harbour; Great Morai of Oberca; Morai and Ark of the Eatooa at Attahooroo and Fiatookas of Futtasaihe.

The 18thC Voyage of The Duff up there with the best

$70.00

Updating cart…

A Journalist’s Memories – Spencer Browne – Published in Brisbane 1927

Published in Brisbane in 1927 based on a series of articles published by the Courier Mail the year before.

An absolutely superb memoir covering Queensland notables and goings on over the period 1877 – 1926. The number of people included is monumental and the detail encyclopedic. Great book. Lots about goings on in the gold fields, robbery, explorers and their successes and failures and one or two corrections of commonly held facts.

Queensland recounted by the most able Spencer Browne – superb

$120.00

Updating cart…

Collection of Vintage Fishing Floats

A super collection of vintage fishing floats an number hand made. Some quite well used but float collecting is not like stamps – a mint float is unromantic.

Thirty or so in all – would make an interesting display or just to have would be good.

What floats your boat?

$90.00

Updating cart…

Leichhardt’s Expeditioners – Dan Sprod

A limited edition of 750 this book by Dan Sprod provides enlightening detail from the journals kept by William Philips and John Murphy who participated in Leichhardt’s successful expedition from Moreton Bay up through Northern Queensland and the North Coast to Port Essington.

Well written as with all of Dan Sprod’s work dealing with the personalities and contributions of each party as well as progress of the expedition.

Nicely illustrated and with a map in rear pocket. Never before published content makes this a must for those interested in Australian inland exploration.

Lechhardt’s party get properly on the record

$50.00

Updating cart…

Trial By Ice – The Antarctic Journals of John King Davis

The collectable Erskine Press 1997 edition in fine condition.

The greatest Ship’s Captain of the Heroic Antarctic era with seven voyages from 1907 to 1930. Unrivalled experience in Ice Navigation. Stern discipline earned him the nickname “Gloomy Davis”.

This book, taken from his journals provides an interesting contrast to those of Mawson in particular.

Maybe Gloomy but Very Good

$75.00

Updating cart…

Sarangi – Indian Stringed Instrument

The sarangi is a short necked bowed stringed instrument with a skin covered resonator. Carved from a single piece of wood. The playing strings typically gut and the numerous sympathetic strings from steel. The instrument is played predominantly in Northern India and also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

The sound it produces is very emotional and can resemble the human voice with special techniques such as gamaks (shakes) and meends (sliding movements).

Its origins could be Persian the derivation of the name suggests that.

The sarangi has a box like shape with three hollow chambers .. the names of which translate to stomach, chest and brain. This good example is around the usual size (slightly bigger) at 67cm. the lower chamber is covered in parchment. There is a bridge made from bone, earlier they would have been ivory. The bridge is strong as it supports the pressure from the numerous metal sympathetic strings.

Nor really suitable for Overseas postage and will require a postage supplement in Australia dependent on buyers location. We are careful to pack well and obtain the most cost effect mailing.

Expand your musical horizons with a Sarangi.

$440.00

Updating cart…

The Voyage of the Duff – A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean 1796-1798 – Captain James Wilson

A Journalist’s Memories – Spencer Browne – Published in Brisbane 1927

Collection of Vintage Fishing Floats

Leichhardt’s Expeditioners – Dan Sprod

Trial By Ice – The Antarctic Journals of John King Davis

Sarangi – Indian Stringed Instrument

Product Categories