Queensland

Some Mineral Fields in the Hinterland of Mackay – Lionel Ball – 1910

Queensland Department of Mines publication no 220 by Lionel Ball B.E. published in Brisbane in 1910. At that time Ball was the assistant government geologist.

Octavo 45 pages still in the original olive green paper wrapper. Dealing with Mount Spencer Gold and Mineral Field with special reference to the copper mines; Eungella Goldfield and Coal at Black Rock Creek.

Nicely illustrated with a fold out multiple plan of the Pine Vale Lease; schematics of the ore body geology at Pine Vale; some photographic reproductions in the area; a sketch plan of Eungella and a locality plan showing the position of Coal at Black Rock Creek relative to Mackay.

Gold, Copper and Coal all west of Mackay

$60.00

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The Wild White Man of Badu – Ion Idriess – First Edition – Signed

A scarce first edition published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1950. Signed and inscribed boldly by Idriess on the title to his dear friend Frances Van Cleef, wife of a wealth Chicago industrialist.

Octavo, 232 pages, well illustrated with images from photographs, maps of the islands, end paper maps etc. Small chips and closed tear to otherwise very good dust jacket, clean inside a super copy.

The incredible true story of a convict escaping from Norfolk Island and becoming the Chief of Badu, in the Torres Strait. See image of map on rear end papers for some clues.

Strange and exciting Farthest North – Signed Idriess First Edition

$120.00

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Disturbing Element [An Autobiography] – Xavier Herbert – First Edition 1963

A very nice first edition copy of Australian writer Xavier Herbert’s autobiography.

Born in 1901 Xavier Herbert had a rather strange upbringing. He trained as a Pharmacist having worked in a chemist’s shop at the age of 14. He went to Melbourne to study medicine. Writing was a passion but he was in his thirties before his great work “Capricornia” was published to great acclaim. He was much admired by HG Wells.

Xavier Herbert was the “Disturbing Element’. Published by F.W. Cheshire, Melbourne etc in 1963. Octavo, 271 pages, a very good if not better copy.

Xavier Herbert published few works and his final novel “Poor Fellow My Country” was published in 1975 and won him the Miles Franklin award. It is also the longest novel ever published by an Australian writer at 1,466 pages and an estimated 852 thousand words

Interesting autobiography of the elusive talented Xavier Herbert.

$30.00

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Queensland Geographical Journal – Diamond Jubilee Issue 1885-1945. Also has important Papua New Guinea content.

The journal as published by the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Queensland). Octavo, soft wrappers, 113 pages after preliminaries. A very good copy bar the obvious marks to the covers … pretty clean and bright inside.

After various historic introductions articles re “Queensland Pastures – Their Development and Improvement; Across Papua’s Mighty Delta by A.L. Ethell; Irrigation (Queensland); The Interior of Eastern Papua by Captain Vernon.

Nicely illustrated and with a fold out sketch map from Bootless Bay (near Port Moresby) to Buna showing a vertical cross section of the Kokoda track … the article stimulated by the incredible conflict that had just come to an end in the region.

A special issue of the RGSA (Qld) Journal with particular interest to New Guinea collectors and readers.

$50.00

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Silvester Diggles – Australian Birds – Pied Honey-eater, Slender-billed Spine-bill and the White eye-browed Spine-bill

Rare original hand-coloured lithograph by Queensland naturalist Silvester Diggles. Published as part of his magnificent work “”The Ornithology of Australia” between 1866 and 1870 in twenty-one parts by Pugh of Brisbane, in a very limited edition. By the time part sixteen was published there were only 92 subscribers. The original plates were executed by Diggles and his niece, Rowena Birkett.

The work measures 38cm by 27cm, good hand colouring pretty clean with just the odd surface mark. A really scarce item.

Silvester Diggles (1817-1880) artist and musician born in Liverpool, England. He came to Australia in 1853 settling in Brisbane where he taught music and drawing. Diggles was a founder of the Brisbane Choral Society in 1859 and the Philharmonic Society in 1861 known as “the father of music in Brisbane”. Diggles was also a founder of the Queensland Philosophical Society and helped establish the Museum. His greatest work was The Ornithology of Australia. However it nearly sent him broke. His health deteriorated worry about finances being a factor. He died at Kangaroo Point in 1880.

Price $240.00 unframed

An opportunity to own a rare original bird print by Queenslander Silvester Diggles

$240.00

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Kennedy – The Barcoo and Beyond 1847 – Beale – Limited Signed Edition

A limited edition signed by the author Edgar Beale and published by the tremendous Blubber Head Press of Hobart.

The quality of the book is best bar none and the condition near fine. Octavo, 292 pages, nicely illustrate, some in colour, end paper maps an, a most unusual printed thick glassine dust cover, often chipped but here completely undamaged.

The author was taken aback by the contents of fresh papers that surfaced from the descendants of Kennedy – and along with records held in Northern Ireland and the journals and papers at the Royal Geographical Society London the rich content of this book has been crafted.

Edmund Besley Court Kennedy (1818-1848) was chosen by Mitchell as his second for the 1846 expedition into southern and central Queensland. He was given command of a further expedition the nest year to trace Mitchell’s “Victoria River” to an expected mouth in the Gulf of Carpentaria. This turned out not to be true, Kennedy proving that that the Victoria was in fact the Barcoo, the upper waters of Cooper Creek … and in doing so discovered the valuable Channel Country. He then went on to track the Werrego River and in a further expedition from Rockingham Bay in 1848, setting its sights on the very tip of the Cape York Peninsula, he was killed by aboriginals.

Three folding maps near rear.

Essential and Fine Kennedy

$80.00

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Some Mineral Fields in the Hinterland of Mackay – Lionel Ball – 1910

The Wild White Man of Badu – Ion Idriess – First Edition – Signed

Disturbing Element [An Autobiography] – Xavier Herbert – First Edition 1963

Queensland Geographical Journal – Diamond Jubilee Issue 1885-1945. Also has important Papua New Guinea content.

Silvester Diggles – Australian Birds – Pied Honey-eater, Slender-billed Spine-bill and the White eye-browed Spine-bill

Kennedy – The Barcoo and Beyond 1847 – Beale – Limited Signed Edition

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