Queensland

Queensland Branch of the Royal Geographical Society – Proceedings 1887 – Interesting Papuan Expedition, Queensland Mountains etc

Vol II part 2 of the 1886-8 Proceedings and Transactions of the Society. Extremely scarce.

Octavo. Printed paper wrappers as issued pages 76-126 after preliminaries, notices etc. Interesting to see Tenison-Woods in attendance at the Meeting. Printed by Watson, Ferguson $ Co of Queens Street, Brisbane. Still surviving Watson Ferguson commenced in 1871 and are Queensland oldest printing business.

A few edge chips and a reference label top front left otherwise very good condition

The journal contains some interesting reports including C.T. Bedford surveying trip from Boulia to the South Australian Border, the Mountains of Queensland by N. Bartley (author of Opals and Agates and his Reminiscences).

The highlight though is the Journal of Mr George Hunter on an Expedition from Kappa Kappa to the Heads of the Kemp Welch River, British New Guinea with a good folding map illustration the journey. Anyone who has been to this part of Papua will remember the beautiful beaches around the Kappa Kappa area.

Early Queensland Geographical Society Publication – Interesting Explorations and Observations on the People of Papua and the Kappa Kappa / Rigo Region

$90.00

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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

$130.00

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The Invisible Island – Alexander MacDonald – 1911

A Story of the Far North of Queensland … by Alexander McDonald and illustrated by Charles M Sheldon.

Published by Blackie & Sons, London, Glasgow, octavo 360 pages with pictorial image to front cover and spine. A little age otherwise a very good copy and especially clean internally.

The book opens on an island in the south west of the Gulf of Carpentaria … “Through the dank, shimmering heat haze the island loomed in ghostly outline”

Six full page illustrations including the frontispiece.

Adventure and gold in the Far North

$60.00

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Australian – Blue Bonnet Parrakeet – Greene – 1884

Original wood cut hand finished engraving of the multicoloured Bluebonnet Parrot from “Parrots in Captivity”, published in London 1884.

The Bluebonnets inhabit the south and central interior, they are quite plentiful and thankfully not popular as cage birds. Even at the time of this image they were considered too aggressive for captivity. Tough little guys.

Greene’s delightful work comprising wood-engraved plates printed by Benjamin Fawcett after drawings by A.F. Lydon. The prints are hand finished with delicate highlighting in gum arabic to accentuate the bright colouring.

Benjamin Fawcett was one of the great colour printers of the 19th century. He pioneered a system of wood block engraving from multiple blocks that resulted in vivid finely coloured works. Fawcett had an association of some 50 years with Francis Orpen Morris to produce many beautiful works on birds. The engravings are the finest illustrations of parrots from the period.

Price $140.00unframe or $260.00 framed in Voyager Natural History style.

Blue Bonnet in all his glory … click on me to see my beauty!

$140.00

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Incidents of a Collector’s Rambles in Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea – Sherman Denton 1889

Published by Lee and Shepard, Boston 1889. 272 pages with 13 plates and numerous text illustrations.

Original cloth covered binding. A pretty good copy.

Travels through New Zealand then to Australia (Victoria, Melbourne, Brisbane, trip through Queensland to Townsville) then to New Guinea, beginning at Port Moresby and moving inland.

A well illustrated and interesting account of the tour of a family devoted to natural history. Good New Guinea and Queensland content. Early note of the extremely unusual and primitive Mary River Lung Fish (The Jumping Fish).

Scarce Australian, Papua New Guinea item and a favourite of Voyager

$80.00

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Harold Effermere – A Story of the Queensland Bush – Michael Costello – First Edition 1897

Published by Swan Sonnenschien, London a first edition 1897. Octavo 309 pages in original green cloth covered binding with embossed design to front and git titling to spine. Showing some signs of age but still a very good copy of a rare work.

A superb and rare late 19thC novel based in the Queensland bush – country horse race rigging at its best. A great Australian yarn.

The author Michael Costello was the eldest son of pioneer, pastoralist and explorer John Costello. As a young lad the author often accompanied his dad on risky expeditions driving stock great distances in the bush in difficult conditions. Michael’s biography on his father published much later c1930 is one of our favourite pioneer accounts, almost impossible to find.

Whilst we find the dodgy horse racing elements the most amusing aspect of “Harold Effermere” we also learn to put your swag on the western side of a bush to avoid the morning sun and never to make your tea in the beef billy unless you want tea soup!

Early and rare Queensland Bush Story from a True Blue Bush Boy.

$90.00

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Queensland Branch of the Royal Geographical Society – Proceedings 1887 – Interesting Papuan Expedition, Queensland Mountains etc

The Magnificent Rifle Bird – Lesson -1838

The Invisible Island – Alexander MacDonald – 1911

Australian – Blue Bonnet Parrakeet – Greene – 1884

Incidents of a Collector’s Rambles in Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea – Sherman Denton 1889

Harold Effermere – A Story of the Queensland Bush – Michael Costello – First Edition 1897

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