Non-fiction

History of Cartography – Bagrow and Skelton

A first edition of the Skelton edited and expanded work of Leo Bagrow first published in German in 1951. Bagrow a passionate historian of cartography had died in 1957. Perry’s copy with his signature on the front end paper. Skelton was in charge of the Map Room at the British Museum … not a bad job!

Published by Watts, London in 1964. Quarto, 312 pages printed on thick paper so more substantial than it sounds … a solid book. Numerous appropriate illustrations. Regarded as a classic of the subject. A heavy book which will require a postage supplement for Overseas.

Starts with some discussion on the maps of primitive people then the ancient world. Christian and Islamic developments in the Middle Ages. Mediaeval sea charts and the development of the world map. Ptolemy and the Renaissance or rather their use of Ptolemy, who dies a little earlier. Printed maps and the age of Discovery … etc. Nicely done … lists of cartographers, bibliography etc

Serious Cartographic History – Perry’s Copy

$80.00

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Proceedings and Debates of the House of Commons in 1620 and 1621 – Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt from a Period Manuscript by Sir Edward Nicholas – Two Volumes First Edition 1766

Title continues…. Collected by a Member of that House. And now Published from his Original Manuscript, in the Library of Queen’s College, Oxford.

Published by the Clarendon Press, 1766. Two volumes, octavo, 375 pages and 264 pages after preliminaries and with addendum. Complete, and bound in original mottled calf, spine gilt with raised bands and original red leather title labels. A little age, hinges tender but holding will. A genuine antiquarian look.

Edited by Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt a classical scholar who had been educated at Eton and Queen’s College, Oxford. In 1756 he was under-secretary of war, and then in 1762 clerk of the House of Commons. The original manuscript is attributed to Sir Edward Nicholas, Member for Winchelsea in 1620/21.

A scarce and valuable source on the political history of James I. Parliament of the day was a source of funds for James and it did not sit for periods if it incurred his displeasure. The country was in a poor economic state. The period was one when patents were used to create monopolies and hence wealth. Conflict arose were the King who felt that allowing patents was a Royal prerogative and Members sought Parliament to control them for personal gain. There was even an attempt to patent Beggars meaning they would be licenced and have to pay an annual fee to the patent holder!

Serious history plays out … Edward Coke a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I speaks regularly. He had been England’s leading law maker … tried Raleigh and the Gunpowder Plot Accused. Here later in life he continues his hatred of Sir Francis Bacon (now Viscount St Alban). His investigations discover that Bacon had taken bribes and he was soon off to the Tower.

James in order to raise money through dowry was planning to marry Prince Charles off to a Spanish Princess. Coke campaigned against this preferring war with Spain. James had had enough and told Parliament that it was to wrap up before its term was due. Coke continued to argue and shortly after these journals he too finds himself in the Tower.

Floyd made rude remarks about the young Royals and found himself riding backward on a horse holding its tail to three different pillory sites … with a paper in his head defining his crime and then off to a place much worse than the Tower … the Fleet Prison.

Rare details of Parliamentary goings on when it was more interesting than today.

$390.00

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The Eastern Archipelago – Adams – First Edition 1880

… A description of the Scenery, Animal and Vegetable Life, People, and Physical Wonders of the Islands in the Easter Sea.

Published by Nelson, London in 1880 a first edition. Octavo, 576 pages with 60 illustrations, many full page including a map. All page edges gilt with a beautiful decorated cover, a very good copy indeed.

With the success of Wallace’s Malay Archipelago there was heightened interest in the islands of the East Indies. Prolific writer William Henry Davenport Adams saw an opportunity and compiled this easily read informative book on the region. Takes in Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Timor, Celebes, Sarawak, the Moluccas, New Guinea, Papua and the Philippines.

Special book on the East – striking covers

$120.00

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Antarctic Treasure – The Songs of the “Morning”

Published by the Bread and Cheese Club Melbourne in 1943 – quarto, original grey ribbed wrappers, frontispiece of the Morning in McMurdo Sound. Previous ownership inscription on title otherwise a very good copy.

The Songs of the “Morning” were composed in the Antarctic on the SY Morning the relief ship to Captain Scott’s expedition of 1901-1904. The music was written by Gerald Doorly – Third Officer and the lyrics by John Morrison – Chief Engineer.

The vessel was originally a Norwegian whaling ship and was refitted for the Antarctic and sailed to Lyttelton, New Zealand before making two trips to the South in support of Scott.

The Bread and Cheese Club was a Melbourne based art and literary society founded in 1938 with the purpose of fostering “Mateship, Art and Letters”. This all male establishment published only 40 books. Following the death of its founder J.K. Moir it fell into decline and was disbanded in 1988.

No music has been composed further South – And Bring Back the “Bread and Cheese”

$120.00

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Joan Blaeu and his Grand Atlas – C Koeman -1970

The publisher the esteemed Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Ltd, Amsterdam had produced an outstanding facsimile of Le Grand Atlas of 1663. This work by distinguished Professor of Cartography at Utrecht, Dr Ir. C. Koeman serves as an excellent introduction the background and making of this never bettered work.

Octavo, 144 pages plus index. First printing 1970. Nicely illustrated. This is the hardback edition, which seems much more difficult to come by. No jacket as published with a faux vellum covering to the boards illustrated in git and blue. Very good condition.

Starting with a biography of Joan Blaeu, the printing house and cartographical institute. The origin of the Atlas and its growth … the Atlas Maior; the content of the Grand Atlas and the consequences of the fire of 1672.

The book to gain an understanding of the Blaeu Grand Atlas

$60.00

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Argonauts of the South – Frank Hurley – First Edition 1925

First Edition … Argonauts of the South. Being a Narrative of Voyagings and Polar Seas and Adventures in the Antarctic with Sir Douglas Mawson and Sir Ernest Shackleton.

Published by G.P. Putnam, New York in 1925. Large octavo, original cloth covered binding, top edge gilt, other edges uncut. 290 pages after preliminaries, with frontispiece and 70 full page plates from photographs taken by the author. Two folding maps and decorated end papers. Reference Spence 615 and Renard 768. Bookplate of previous owner on end papers.

Australian photographer and adventurer James Francis (Frank) Hurley (1885-1962) requires little introduction. Along with Ponting the greatest Polar photographer, never to be surpassed. Not only did he accompany several Antarctic expeditions he was an official photographer in both World Wars. During a very cold winter literally holed up in the Antarctic Hurley conceived an expedition to warm climates (in an effort to boost comrades moral) and out of that his other great work Pearls and Savages, in New Guinea was born.

Hurley’s classic photographic record in the Polar Seas and Antarctic

$890.00

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History of Cartography – Bagrow and Skelton

Proceedings and Debates of the House of Commons in 1620 and 1621 – Sir Thomas Tyrwhitt from a Period Manuscript by Sir Edward Nicholas – Two Volumes First Edition 1766

The Eastern Archipelago – Adams – First Edition 1880

Antarctic Treasure – The Songs of the “Morning”

Joan Blaeu and his Grand Atlas – C Koeman -1970

Argonauts of the South – Frank Hurley – First Edition 1925

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