Queensland

Kennedy of Cape York – Beale – First Edition 1970

A first edition, published by Rigby in 1970. Edgar Beale’s superb account. Large octavo, 281 pages with numerous illustrations and maps. Very good condition. A solid book.

Edmund Kennedy left England as a young man with a plan to become famous. The tireless explorer was to find his end ambushed by aboriginals in a swamp in Cape York.

Kennedy was taken north by Owen Stanley and we particularly like the interaction of Kennedy with a young Thomas Huxley well before he became Darwin’s Bulldog. The image we show here in the rainforest is from a drawing by Huxley …

Well researched and thoroughly supported narrative with relevant illustrations

Beale the expert on Kennedy

$35.00

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The Genesis of Queensland An Account of the First Exploring Journeys to and Over the Darling Downs … Henry Stuart Russell

Quality 1989 facsimile of the Queensland Classic first published 1888. An account of the first exploring journeys to and over Darling Downs: the earliest days of their occupation; social life; station seeking; the course of discovery, northward and westward; and a resume of the causes which led to separation from New South Wales. With portrait and facsimiles of maps, log etc.

Thick royal octavo, 633 pages with foldout maps etc. Bound quarter leather cream cloth covered boards. A nice production. A limited edition of 500 copies this numbered 404. Very good if not better condition.

Henry Stuart Russell (1818-1889) was born in England the son of an East India Co officer and went to Harrow and Oxford. At 22 he migrated to Australia first to Sydney and then to stations in New England and the Darling Downs. In 1842 he and Andrew Petrie went by whale-boat from Brisbane up to Wide Bay looking for sheep country – they discovered the Mary River. Later that year on a similar expedition he discovered the Boyne River which resulted in Russell taking up Burrandowan Station and Cecil Plains (which was visited by Leichhardt in 1844). His pastoral career ended in 1849. He became involved in the move to make Queensland a separate colony – he later moved back to Sydney and England were he died after completing “The Genesis of Queensland”

Must have title any Queensland Collection

$120.00

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The Magnificent Rifle Bird – Lesson -1838

Original hand coloured engraving for Rene Primevere Lesson (1794-1849) and his extension of the great natural history work originally produced by Count Buffon. Published in Paris in 1838.

Thick cream paper 26cm by 16cm … external framed dimensions approximately 38cm by 28cm … nice for the study ….

This beautiful bird inhabits Papua New Guinea and the Northern tip of Australia around the Cape.

Lesson participated as doctor and naturalist in the Duperry voyage round the world on board La Coquille (1822-1825).

Price Framed in Voyager Natural History style – $240.00 or unframed $130.00

Striking original image of the beautiful Magnificent Rifle Bird

$240.00

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History of The Colony of Queensland From 1770 to the Close of the Year 1881 – William Coote – Rare First Edition 1882

Published in Brisbane by William Thorne Edward and Adelaide Streets in 1882. Octavo, 256 pages.

Nicely re-bound with deep blue cloth covered boards with gilt lettering on spine. Internally some ageing to Title and the very last page otherwise sound and clean 256 pages. The folding map of Queensland at front at the date of separation 1859 appears to be a quality facsimile.

The full title of this book anticipates covering the period up to 1881 on two volumes. Sadly Coote died having only completed this volume I which takes us up to the separation of Moreton Bay from New South Wales and its constitution as a new colony in 1859.

A very scarce and well written text on the history and development of Queensland.

Published Brisbane 1882 – Scarce as they get

$340.00

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Brisbane City Medal Celebrating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee 1897

Minted by Stokes and Sons, 31 mm diameter circa 14 gms weight. Reference authority Carlisle 1897/43

Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee was celebrated with enthusiasm around the Commonwealth. This medal was issued by the Municipality of Brisbane to celebrate the event.

On the obverse we have Jugate busts of a young and older Queen Victoria, around Queen Victoria’s 60th Year of Reign *1837 to 1897* … mint name Stokes & Sons in tiny letter on the rim below the date.

The reverse has at its centre within a wide rim the Shield of the Municipality, quartered with top left … horses, sheep and bull; top right … farmer with plough, wheat sheaf and spade; bottom left early steam-ship and lighthouse; bottom right … sailing ship at Brisbane Port loading produce including bale of wool and barrels. Around the rim *Municipality of Brisbane* Incorporated 1859.

Posted will be reduced to cost on this light item.

Collectable Victoriana Unique to Brisbane.

$70.00

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Special Aviation Item – Amy Johnson Commemorative – Queenslander Pictorial – June 1930

A special Queensland Pictorial published 5th June 1930 a photographic commemorative of the great Amy Johnson solo flight from England to Brisbane arriving Brisbane six days earlier. Large format, 16 pages of which 7 pages are devoted to Amy Johnson and a further 2 to contemporary aviators. Foxed and a one inch tear at the inner fold … excuse it for its rarity and special content.

In 1928 Burt Hinkler from Bundaberg was the first man to fly solo from England to Australia. Charles Kingsford Smith later that year completed the first trans-Pacific flight.

Amy Johnson had only one year’s flying experience when she set off in her green Gypsy Moth. She hoped to beat Hinkler’s 15 day record but was thwarted by trouble in Burma and Thailand where she had dodgy landings. She arrived in Australia first at Darwin on 24th May 1930 nineteen days after leaving London. To reach Brisbane she stoped at Cloncurry, Longreach, Quilpie, Charleville and Toowoomba. On the 29th May tens of thousands waited at Brisbane’s Eagle Farm for her arrival. Unfortunately she overshot hit a fence and crash landed.

Despite the ungraceful ending she was feted as a heroine in Brisbane with civic receptions and massive crowds everywhere she went.

Amy Johnson went on to do other aviation firsts but was sadly killed ferrying an RAF training plane in 1941.

A special item of aviation and Queensland ephemera

$120.00

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Kennedy of Cape York – Beale – First Edition 1970

The Genesis of Queensland An Account of the First Exploring Journeys to and Over the Darling Downs … Henry Stuart Russell

The Magnificent Rifle Bird – Lesson -1838

History of The Colony of Queensland From 1770 to the Close of the Year 1881 – William Coote – Rare First Edition 1882

Brisbane City Medal Celebrating Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee 1897

Special Aviation Item – Amy Johnson Commemorative – Queenslander Pictorial – June 1930

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