Non-fiction

Tasman’s Journal – Abel Janszoon Tasman’s Journal of His Discovery of Van Diemen’s Land and New Zealand in 1642, …

… with documents relating to his exploration of Australia in 1644. Being photo-lithographic facsimiles pf the original manuscript in the Colonial Archives at the Hague with an English translation and facsimiles of original maps to which are added life and labours of Abel Janszoon Tasman by J.E. Heeres LL.D Professor at the Dutch Colonial Institute Delft by Dr W Van Bemmelen assistant-director of the Royal Meteorological Institute Utrecht

Reprinted in facsimile, Los Angeles, 1965 by N. A. Kovach. Edited by Frederik Muller.

Large folio (44cm by 29cm) of Tasman’s illustrated journal with an English translation and five folding maps in an end pocket. Complete and in fine condition.

Because the book is so large and we prefer to use an A3 scanner we are having difficulty getting good images. Here are some, … more to come when the technical department get around to it …

Commences after preliminaries with a 195-page facsimile of the original journal, including all illustrations. Followed by a 57-page English translation. Then “His Life and Labours” 162 pages which covers .. The Dutch Chartered East India Company; Tasman’s birthplace, early life, marriage, departure for India; Appointed skipper (1634) in Amboyna; voyage of discovery east of Japan (1639); Dutch in Formosa, Tasman’s return to Batavia (1640); voyage to Palembang (1642); Sources of knowledge re Tasman’s voyages to the South=land (1642-1644) [Including this Journal]; Tasman’s mission to Djambi (1646), Siam (1647) and the Philippines (1648). Finally, observations on the compass on Tasman’s Voyage [this Journal] a further 21 pages.

The folding maps in super condition are … 1. Map drawn after the map made under Tasman’s direction of his 1642/44 voyages with corrections found in contemporary documents and shown in English. 2. Expedition to Derma 1634. 3. Expedition to Japan 1639. 4 Expedition to the Philippines. 5. Isogonic chart of the Indian and Pacific Oceans for 1640 from Tasman by Van Bemmelen.

Edition limited to 225 copies, of which 200 where available to the public … as a result scarce and collectable.

Tasman’s Journal a rare and fine facsimile – The Discovery of Van Diemen’s Land

UNDER CONSIDERATION

$790.00

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“Society of Arts” Victorian Brass Microscope with Case – c1860-70

A quality fully working English brass microscope from around 1860-70.

With the early V shaped bar for rack and pinion focus and fine adjustment knurled knob. Two objectives both multiple compounding. There is also Live Box for observing creepy crawlies. The concave mirror is in very good condition. The original mahogany case is a quality box, original to the instrument and in very good condition, with separate drawer for slides and bits and pieces. The case still has its original lock and its key, often long lost. The microscope is mounted on a rectangular mahogany board which slides into the case.

Very similar to the example presented by Peter Turner FRMS to the Royal Microscopical Society catalogued as number 92 in authority Turner.

In the early 1850’s the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce offered a prize for the design of a compact compound microscope that could sell for 3 guineas. The design, which is reflected here, was won by Robert Fields & Son of Birmingham in 1854. Due to the popularity of the design it was copied by others but often at a higher price. These copies were often unsigned as is the case here. However, the brass foot is very much in the style of Ross so we suspect it came from that maker.

Nice 19th Century Cased Brass Microscope..

$640.00

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Australian Mammals – Trade Cards over 100 Years Old

A group of six brightly coloured trade cards by Liebig advertising their delightful food products. Printed and issued from 1904-1910.

Six delightful card chromolithographs of 1 the dingo and spotted quoll 2. the echidna and the Tasmanian devil 3. The wombat and the Tasmanian tiger (Buidelwolf) 4. The sea elephant and sea lion 5. Fruit bats looking for fruit 6 the kangaroo rat and the wallaby. 0cms x 7.3cms.

Price $80.00 the group

A nice early set of mammals with the desired no longer living Tasmanian Tiger

$80.00

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Antarctic Scenes Set of Six – Liebig Trade Cards 100 Years Old

A group of six decorative trade cards by Liebig advertising their tasty Bouillon Oxo. Printed and issued around 1910. In German with a very good description the rear of the card … a good language lesson.

Delightful chromolithographs depicting Cape Renard; Cockburn Island; an Iceberg in the Weddelll Sea; Cape Crozier; the Glacial area between the Ross and Weddell Seas and a striking image of Erebus erupting.. Each 10cms x 7.3cms.

Scarce six card set rarely found together.

$80.00

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Magnificent Bird of Paradise and the Superb Bird of Paradise [From Papua New Guinea] – Lemaire – 1836

The most beautiful hand coloured engraving of the Magnificent and the Superb Bird of Paradise. Executed by Pauquet for Lemaire’s supreme work “Histoire Naturelle des Oiseaux Exotiques” published in Paris in 1836.

The plate is 23cm by 14cm rich creamy paper and in fine condition. The colours are so vivid the engraving so fine they surprise the eye.

Both birds inhabit the Papua New Guinea mountain forests and can also be found in Indonesia. Whilst shy birds they exist in substantial number and are thankfully not considered endangered.

Price unframed $240.00 …. price framed in gilt $340.00

No birds more beautiful than the Birds of Paradise

$240.00

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The Diaries of John Helder Wedge 1824-1835 [in Tasmania]

A first edition published by the Royal Society of Tasmania in 1962 much credit given to the North-West division.

Small quarto, 99 pages, illustrated, bound in blue cloth covered boards, gilt title to spine … no dust jacket as issued. A very good if not fine copy.

Very few early diaries exit from this period. The fact the Wedge meticulously made records of every day makes this account most readable and rewarding.

Norn in England in 1793 youngest son of Charles Wedge a leading surveyor of the day. John Helder Wedge assisted his father and brought his skills to Van Diemen’s Land where he arrived in the thick of it in 1824. He settled on land near Perth just south of Launceston where he was granted land by Sorell. He began to ply his trade which meant travelling the length and breath of Tasmania. There are many interesting points of detail … the Church in Launceston has not been built square to the roadways so Wedge is asked to change the street plan which he duly does … he gets called down to Hobart, as the Van Diemen’s Land Company has been formed under Charter and he is required to assist in the surveying of the allocated pastures which takes him up to the North-West and area he becomes most intimate with.

The book is nicely set out and put in context. We start with the background of Wedge; the forming of the Van Diemen’s Land Company; the Survey Department; Exploration; Land Settlement; Bushrangers and the Aborigines … before the diaries in full followed by research notes, a bibliography and useful index.

Wedge made an early impact and left a lasting record

$50.00

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Tasman’s Journal – Abel Janszoon Tasman’s Journal of His Discovery of Van Diemen’s Land and New Zealand in 1642, …

“Society of Arts” Victorian Brass Microscope with Case – c1860-70

Australian Mammals – Trade Cards over 100 Years Old

Antarctic Scenes Set of Six – Liebig Trade Cards 100 Years Old

Magnificent Bird of Paradise and the Superb Bird of Paradise [From Papua New Guinea] – Lemaire – 1836

The Diaries of John Helder Wedge 1824-1835 [in Tasmania]

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