Northern Territory

Early Voyages to Terra Australia now called Australia: A Collection of documents, and extracts from early manuscript maps, illustrative of the history of discovery on the coasts of that vast island. From the beginning of the sixteenth century tp the tome of Captain Cook. – R.M Major FSA

Published by Burt Franklin, New York 1963. A faithful facsimile of the scarce desirable original by the Hakluyt Society of 1859. Good condition; would be very good but contains traces of being in the Parliament Library but let go as carries the signature of Manfred Cross. No Jacket as published.

This is a landmark book about the European discovery of Australia pre Cook.

Octavo, hardcover, no jacket as issued, blue cloth covered boards pseudo Hakluyt style. unusual form in that contains a 119 page introduction followed by 200 pages of text. Three super multi folding charts.

Contains …….

A Memorial addressed to the King of Spain, by Juan Lusi Arias, re the exploration, of the Southern Land, translated from the Spanish Original”;

Relation of Luis Vaez de Torres on the discoveries of Quiros. Dated Manila, July 12, 1607.

A translation by Alexander Dalrymple from a Spanish manuscript originally published in Burney’s ‘Discoveries in the South Sea’.

Extract from Book of Dispatches from Batavia, January the 15th 1644, ending November the 29th following, from Dalymple’s ‘Collections Concerning Papua’.

The Voyage and Shipwreck of Pelsart, in the ‘Batavia’, on the Coast of New Holland, translated from Trevenot’s ‘Recueil des Voyages Curieux’.

Voyage of Pool to the South Land. Translated from Valentyn’s ‘Beschryvinghe van Banda’.

Account of the Wreck of the ‘De Vergulde Draeck’ on the South Land, from manuscripts at the Hague.

Description of the West Coast of the South Land by Vokersen, of the ‘Waeckende Boey’, which sailed from Batavia in 1658, from manuscripts at The Hague.

The observations of Dampier on the coast of New Holland, in 1687-1688.

The voyage of Willem de Vlamingh to New Holland in 1696 from manuscripts at The Hague.

Voyage to the Unexplored South land, by order of the Dutch East India Company, in the years 1696 and 1697, by the ‘De Nyptang’, the De Geelvink’ and the ‘De Wesel’, from manuscripts at The Hague.

Observations of Dampier on the coast of New Holland, in 1699.The voyage of the ‘Vossenbosch’, the D’Wijer’, and the ‘Nova Hollandia’, dispatched by the government of India from manuscripts at The Hague.

The Houtman’s Abrolhos in 1727, translated by Captain P.A. Loupe of the Dutch Navy”.

$80.00

Updating cart…

Snakes and Lizards of Australia – Observer Book Series – David McPhee

Published by Methuen, Sydney in 1979, an exceptionally clean copy of this respected book about Australian snakes and lizards.

Pocket sized hardback, every snake and lizard accompanied by a good coloured image clear enough to actually identify the species [this clarity issue is a problem with mots other books on the subject].

The book commences with some general information on snakes and lizards but be warned that the treatment for snake bite is no longer the preferred method – keep up to date with that!

Our not so favourite – the red-bellied black snake that we used to see in our garden in Pullenvale west Brisbane

Snakes and Lizards a perfect combo.

$30.00

Updating cart…

Azurite “Sun” – Copper Mineral, the form, Unique to Malbunka Copper Mine near Areyonga, Northern Territory.

A very nice clean example of a decent sized azurite sun with a couple of smaller examples in the usual kaolinite matrix from the Malbunka Mine.

Azurite formed by the oxidation and weathering of copper deposits – Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 and this specific indeed unique “sun” structure formed at depth and with high pressure. Monclinic and comes with a variety of colour depths this one Royal to Dark Blue.

The main sun is 45 mm in diameter and has good crystal definition around its edge. The whole sample weighs 80 gm.

Azurite “Sun” structure unique to Australia.

$100.00

Updating cart…

The Gold Deposits of the Granites-Tanami Districts, Central Australia by P.S. Hossfeld – 1940 [Edric Chaffer’s Copy]

Sought after report of this area that contains the now 600,000 oz per annum Newmont operated mine. To date 12 million ounces have been extracted and mining activities are continuing at a depth of 1.5 km.

The author Paul Samuel Hossfeld (1896-1967) was born in South Australia worked various geological roles in Australia and Papua New Guinea. During WWII he conducted experimental work for the Government in Melbourne returning to his chosen field afterwards retiring as a senior lecturer at the School of Geology, Adelaide University.

Complete report being no 43 of the Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia. Foolscap in size 28 pages of narrative followed by a full set of eight large folding, mainly coloured, folding maps and plans, all in superb condition.

One of the most remote areas of Australia approximately 500kms north-west of Alice Springs. Arthur Davidson was the first European to discover signs of gold in the Tanami desert around 1900. He gave the area the name Tanami from a local word meaning water hole. It was not until this report based on work conducted throughout the 1930’s that the true potential was recognised – another eighty years would pass until the bonanza became real. What other prospects exist within these reports?

The maps, charts etc include

1. Geological Map – the Granites- Tanami District, Central Australia – Colour [65cm x 35cm]

2. Plan of Quorn-Golden Sho-Vee Portion of the Granites Gold-Field etc showing Geology, Lodes, Workings and Assays – Colour [75cn x 45cm]

3. Assay Plan & Sections of Portion of Golden Shoe & Vee Workings etc [70cm x 56cm]

4. Plan of Long Bottom -Bullagitchie Portion – The Granites etc showing Geology, Lodes, Workings, Assays – Colour [65cm x 45cm]

5. Plan of Bunker’s Hill – Chapman’s hill Portion etc – Colour – [65cm x 95cm!]

6. Plan Tanami Goldfield etc – Reefs & Assays – Some colour – [50cm x 75cm]

7. Plan of Northern Portion – Tanami Gold Field etc [70cm x 70cm]

8. Map – Western Portion of Central Australia Showing Topographical Features – [95cm x 75cm]

The final map above ranges from Alice Springs in the south east to Tennant Creek in the north east; Lake MacDonald in the south west and the sandy areas above Tanami in the north-west. A really super maps produced from numerous sources including aerial surveys in 1934, 1937 and 1938.

Ownership signature of past President of the Royal Society of New South Wales, geologist, Edric Keith Chaffer.

The Granites and Tanami Regions Gold Prospects Expertly reported by Hossfeld

$390.00

Updating cart…

Meteorite Craters at Henbury [Central Australia] – Geophysical Report – J. M. Rayner – 1939 [Edric Chaffer's copy]

Report No 42 of the Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia published in 1939.

Report on the Magnetic Survey conducted in 1937 with large folding plan showing craters and position of magnetic traverses and anomalies (75cm x 75cm) and a second folding plate showing the profiles of horizontal and vertical components of the magnetic field (70cm x 55cm). All in very good condition.

Ownership signature of E. K. Chaffer to front page. Edric Keith Chaffer was a geologist and long time supporter of the Royal Society of New South Wales – he was President of the Society in the 1970′s. His interest in all things geological started at Knox Grammar School … there he participated in the schools special interest in climbing. Know were the first school to climb Ayers Rock in 1950 – Chaffer as a participant narrated the film recording the event title – “Red Horizon”.

Thirteen craters ranging from 9m to 200m in diameter.

A significant cluster of meteorite craters can be found on the Henbury Station which is 130km south of Alice Springs. The craters were recognised by A. R. Alderman, who surveyed and catalogued them, in 1931 closely followed by the Bedford group – a substantial amount of meteor samples was removed. Jack Maxwell Rayner (1906-1982) conducted the first serious scientific study in 1937 the work forming the basis of this unique report published in 1939.

The craters have special scientific significant as it is believed to be the only example where all criteria e.g. size, shape, degrees of erosion can be studied in the one place. There are 13 significant craters and Rayner conducted full technical studies on all but crater no 9 {not sure why]. Rayner went on to become Director of the Commonwealth Bureau of Minerals and Resources.

Henbury Meteorite Crater Cluster.

$220.00

Updating cart…

In Crocodile Land – Wandering in the Northern Territory – Ion idriess

Published by Angus and Robertson in 1948, a reprint of the first.

Tall octavo, 241 pages, with great period photographs – lots of crocs! A very good copy.

Idriess crocodile and buffalo hunting in the “bad coasts” of the Northern Territory. Wild men and Wilder women!

Idriess gets the Croc’s

$50.00

Updating cart…

Early Voyages to Terra Australia now called Australia: A Collection of documents, and extracts from early manuscript maps, illustrative of the history of discovery on the coasts of that vast island. From the beginning of the sixteenth century tp the tome of Captain Cook. – R.M Major FSA

Snakes and Lizards of Australia – Observer Book Series – David McPhee

Azurite “Sun” – Copper Mineral, the form, Unique to Malbunka Copper Mine near Areyonga, Northern Territory.

The Gold Deposits of the Granites-Tanami Districts, Central Australia by P.S. Hossfeld – 1940 [Edric Chaffer’s Copy]

Meteorite Craters at Henbury [Central Australia] – Geophysical Report – J. M. Rayner – 1939 [Edric Chaffer's copy]

In Crocodile Land – Wandering in the Northern Territory – Ion idriess

Product Categories