Non-fiction

Map of the World “Mappmondo” – Antonio Zatta – 1790

An unusual copper engraved map of the world in two hemispheres by Antonio Zatta published in Venice in 1790.

Map dimensions … 26cm by 18cm to the plate mark, 28.5cm by 22.5cm to the edge. Fold marks as issued, page edges slightly askew.

For the date, post Cook, the depiction of Australia is very strange. Fictitious lines connect Western Australia with the south coast of Tasmania and, from there north east and out to the Solomon Islands and back around to New Guinea. The Gulf of Carpentaria is connect to New Guinea. Australia is named N Olanda. Other curiosities include a strangely drawn Japan and an unnamed Company’s Land peeps out from the extreme north east, for those that are familiar with this curiosity.

The map appears at first rather basic but on closer inspection one can see topographical features, major mountain ranges are depicted and a number of the worlds major river systems. Uncoloured as it should be. Showing some age but a good honest map of some scarcity and peculiarity.

Little is known about Antonio Zatta (1757-1797). Even his year of birth and death, usually quoted as above are challenged in some sources which suggest 1722-1804 … maybe the shorter period reflects his map making activity. We can see that this map is by him as his signature appears in the engraving bottom right … we cannot help feel the plate is based on another map, of smaller scale, usually attributed to Giovanni Rizzi Zannoni, also active in Venice during the period.

Price $290.00 unframed

Distinctive and Scarce 18th Century World Map with Curiosity

$290.00

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Decorative Maps – Robert Bacon

A visual delight Robert Bacon’s book on some of the rarest and most beautiful maps ever created, starting with the Hereford Mappa Mundi.

Folio size, softcover, perfect bound, published by Bracken Books, London in 1989. Jonathan Potter had a hand in it … well he would.

Forty alternating plates and page narrative after a fine introduction by the compiler.

Including the aforesaid map … Ptolemy Map of the World; Rotz – the Portlan Chart of South-East Asia; Saxton – Dorecestriae; Ortleious – the beautiful Pacific Map; Boazio – Isle of Wight … and the rest … they are all really super.

Great selection very good images…

$25.00

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Lectures on The Blood and on The Changes which It Undergoes During Disease – Magendie

First published in English by Haswell, New Orleans in 1839. This edition for the Classics of Medicine Library published by Gryphon in 1996.

Large octavo, 276 pages, printed by Quebecor Kingsport from film of the original courtesy of the Library of the College of Physicians, Philadelphia. Paper specially made for this edition by Glatfelter. Bound in full leather by the printers. Deluxe endpapers specially commissioned from Richard J Wolfe. All edges gilt, cover design in gilt by Daniel Bianchi and Selma Ordewer

Francois Magendie (1783-1855) was a physiologist and a forerunner of experimental physiology. He conducted dissections on live animals for which he was criticised by many, including later Darwin and Huxley.

Magendie unorthodox but effective experimental physiologist – his thinking and lectures on blood disorders before their time.

$60.00

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A Journal of Magellan’s Voyage – First Around the World – George Sanderlin

A first edition and published by Hamish Hamilton, London in 1966.

Octavo, xxvi pages of preliminaries, Introduction etc, 188 pages with 12 super illustrations, sometimes double page including, charts and images of early globes. Pictorial boards matching the dust jacket design. All very good condition.

Author George Sanderlin brings the Magellan voyage to life. A fair bit is derived from the first hand account of Antonio Pigfetta, a young nobleman who accompanied Magellan. Enhanced by select excerpts from contemporary logbooks, letters, memoirs etc. Maintaining a first person form throughout makes it a very readable and enjoyable work.

At the rear a timetable of events which starts four years before the voyage highlighting the undercurrent of politics and subplots that surround Magellan’s contract with King Charles I of Spain to conduct the venture.

The First ever Round the World – what an adventure … only if Magellan had made it!

$25.00

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Mercator’s World – Anson’s Voyage

Volume 3 No 6 of Mercator’s World published in 1998.

Our favourite features is “Victory at Sea – How George Anson Became Leader of the British Navy”. Having said that, we do not like the title as he became the “Father” of the Royal Navy for many reasons, albeit including the incredible circumnavigation and stealing of the Spanish gold, the story of this feature.

An eight page article nicely illustrated, mostly from images and maps out of the official account. The charming engraving “England’s glory. Wagons heading into the Tower of London with the Spanish treasure” is a very rare engraving the originator unknown.

Provides fresh insight into the voyage particularly as you would expect concerning the charts and the route taken and the mistakes made and bad luck encountered. It is a lesson in the difficulties had before the problem of the longitude was solved by Harrison’s chronometer.

Other articles include quite a bit on underwater surveying … Davy Jones Locker etc and Portlan reflection a good one on early sea charts.

Mercator’s ideas and views on the Anson Voyage.

$24.00

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Antarctica’s First Lady – Edith M “Jackie” Ronne.

A special book effectively self-published with the help of the Clifton Steamboat Museum, Beaumont Texas in 2004. Why none of the major travel publishers did not we will never know, for all sorts of reasons an important account

Octavo, soft cover, 406 pages heavily illustrated from period photographs. Perfect bound, very good condition.

Finn Ronne was the organiser and leader of the last great privately funded Antarctic venture … the “Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition 1947-1948”. Jackie went along and was, as a result, the First American Woman to Set Foot on the Antarctic Continent and Winter-Over’. Perhaps a careful turn of phrase as Jennie Darlington went with them … it’s a long story.

Not much in the book about the falling out between the woman. Regardless Jackie played an important part being the main administrator/ recorder of goings on. And there were many of them. Some important work was carried out and a large part of the Antarctic Continent was named after Jackie as a result.

WE have an original photograph of Jackie and Jennie all furred up ready for the cold weather … its in out collection just search Jennie.

Edith Ronne (Preferred Jackie) and Antarctic Pioneer

$50.00

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Map of the World “Mappmondo” – Antonio Zatta – 1790

Decorative Maps – Robert Bacon

Lectures on The Blood and on The Changes which It Undergoes During Disease – Magendie

A Journal of Magellan’s Voyage – First Around the World – George Sanderlin

Mercator’s World – Anson’s Voyage

Antarctica’s First Lady – Edith M “Jackie” Ronne.

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