Tasmania and Van Diemens Land

The Founding of Hobart 1803-1804 – Frank Bolt

The author of this fine book, Frank Bolt, was surprised that he could not find any book on the very early period of the settlement of Hobart. So he carried out his own research and effectively self published this work.

Large octavo, 320 pages, illustrated, with folding plan, printed to a high standard. A first edition 2004 and in as new condition.

An unusual work in structure … Bolt explain his approach well in the lengthy Preface. Having assembled all of the exiting evidence his challenge was how to present it … landing on the idea of creating a faux diary of events on a nearly day by day basis. It work very well. After a further introductory “Prologue” the diary runs from page 38 through to page 279. Within this there are separate brief “cut-aways” regarding the “difference between the initial Risdon Settlement and the final Settlement at Sullivan’s Cove and “the Cargo of the Collin’s Expedition”.

Notes on Sources are kept until the end and are extensive and useful as well is a list of the Pioneers of Hobart Town. And Meehan’s Plan of circa 1811.

“The Book” on the first days of Hobart

$80.00

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George Bass – Discovery of the Bass Strait – Silver Commemorative Medal – 1968

George Bass, Surgeon an Explorer carried out two voyages to confirm the Bass Strait and the separation of Tasmania (then Van Diemen’s Land) from mainland Australia – known affectionately in Tasmania as “The Other Island”.

In 1797 he set off in an open whaleboat with a crew of six. They sailed to Cape Howe at the farthest point of South-east Australia and, from there sailed west along the Gippsland coast to Western Point, at the entrance to Port Phillip. Observations of the rapid tide and long south-western swell supported his view that a large Strait lay in front of him.

In 1798 he set out again, with Matthew Flinders in the sloop Norfolk and circumnavigated Van Diemen’s Land. They visited the Derwent River which had previously been named by Captain John Hayes. On return to Sydney, Flinders promoted the naming of the Strait after Bass … the then Governor, John Hunter agreed.

Bass’s later life was adventurous and … likely …tragic, making the date of his death on the medal questionable.

The medal was struck in 1968. It was produced by K.G. Luke & Sons, Melbourne for the Numismatic Association of Victoria. 160 example were produced in bronze and a similar number in silver. This one is identified as number B4.

50mm in diameter with a high relief bust of Bass facing right, carrying his spyglass. On the reverse a delightful image of the whaleboat, the sloop Norfolk an the chart and route of the vessels, appropriately date.

Unusual medal celebrates the achievements of George Bass – the prestigious silver example.

$280.00

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Tasman’s Journal – Abel Janszoon Tasman’s Journal of His Discovery of Van Diemen’s Land and New Zealand in 1642, …

… with documents relating to his exploration of Australia in 1644. Being photo-lithographic facsimiles pf the original manuscript in the Colonial Archives at the Hague with an English translation and facsimiles of original maps to which are added life and labours of Abel Janszoon Tasman by J.E. Heeres LL.D Professor at the Dutch Colonial Institute Delft by Dr W Van Bemmelen assistant-director of the Royal Meteorological Institute Utrecht

Reprinted in facsimile, Los Angeles, 1965 by N. A. Kovach. Edited by Frederik Muller.

Large folio (44cm by 29cm) of Tasman’s illustrated journal with an English translation and five folding maps in an end pocket. Complete and in fine condition.

Because the book is so large and we prefer to use an A3 scanner we are having difficulty getting good images. Here are some, … more to come when the technical department get around to it …

Commences after preliminaries with a 195-page facsimile of the original journal, including all illustrations. Followed by a 57-page English translation. Then “His Life and Labours” 162 pages which covers .. The Dutch Chartered East India Company; Tasman’s birthplace, early life, marriage, departure for India; Appointed skipper (1634) in Amboyna; voyage of discovery east of Japan (1639); Dutch in Formosa, Tasman’s return to Batavia (1640); voyage to Palembang (1642); Sources of knowledge re Tasman’s voyages to the South=land (1642-1644) [Including this Journal]; Tasman’s mission to Djambi (1646), Siam (1647) and the Philippines (1648). Finally, observations on the compass on Tasman’s Voyage [this Journal] a further 21 pages.

The folding maps in super condition are … 1. Map drawn after the map made under Tasman’s direction of his 1642/44 voyages with corrections found in contemporary documents and shown in English. 2. Expedition to Derma 1634. 3. Expedition to Japan 1639. 4 Expedition to the Philippines. 5. Isogonic chart of the Indian and Pacific Oceans for 1640 from Tasman by Van Bemmelen.

Edition limited to 225 copies, of which 200 where available to the public … as a result scarce and collectable.

Tasman’s Journal a rare and fine facsimile – The Discovery of Van Diemen’s Land

$790.00

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Australian Mammals – Trade Cards over 100 Years Old

A group of six brightly coloured trade cards by Liebig advertising their delightful food products. Printed and issued from 1904-1910.

Six delightful card chromolithographs of 1 the dingo and spotted quoll 2. the echidna and the Tasmanian devil 3. The wombat and the Tasmanian tiger (Buidelwolf) 4. The sea elephant and sea lion 5. Fruit bats looking for fruit 6 the kangaroo rat and the wallaby. 0cms x 7.3cms.

Price $80.00 the group

A nice early set of mammals with the desired no longer living Tasmanian Tiger

$80.00

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The Diaries of John Helder Wedge 1824-1835 [in Tasmania]

A first edition published by the Royal Society of Tasmania in 1962 much credit given to the North-West division.

Small quarto, 99 pages, illustrated, bound in blue cloth covered boards, gilt title to spine … no dust jacket as issued. A very good if not fine copy.

Very few early diaries exit from this period. The fact the Wedge meticulously made records of every day makes this account most readable and rewarding.

Norn in England in 1793 youngest son of Charles Wedge a leading surveyor of the day. John Helder Wedge assisted his father and brought his skills to Van Diemen’s Land where he arrived in the thick of it in 1824. He settled on land near Perth just south of Launceston where he was granted land by Sorell. He began to ply his trade which meant travelling the length and breath of Tasmania. There are many interesting points of detail … the Church in Launceston has not been built square to the roadways so Wedge is asked to change the street plan which he duly does … he gets called down to Hobart, as the Van Diemen’s Land Company has been formed under Charter and he is required to assist in the surveying of the allocated pastures which takes him up to the North-West and area he becomes most intimate with.

The book is nicely set out and put in context. We start with the background of Wedge; the forming of the Van Diemen’s Land Company; the Survey Department; Exploration; Land Settlement; Bushrangers and the Aborigines … before the diaries in full followed by research notes, a bibliography and useful index.

Wedge made an early impact and left a lasting record

$50.00

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Captain James Kelly of Hobart Town – K.M. Bowden

Published by the Melbourne University Press in 1964, a first edition in very good if not fine condition condition.

Octavo, 126 pages, nicely illustrated, perfect dust jacket.

James Kelly was born in Parramatta in 1791 the son of a convict Irishwoman. He took to the seas as soon as able – was the first man to sail round Van Diemen’s Land in a small boat, survived shipwreck at Macquarie Island and had battles with the natives in New Zealand and back in Tasmania.

Kelly rose to be Master of a successful whaling and sealing fleet … and then to legend.

James Kelly was Hobart

$50.00

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The Founding of Hobart 1803-1804 – Frank Bolt

George Bass – Discovery of the Bass Strait – Silver Commemorative Medal – 1968

Tasman’s Journal – Abel Janszoon Tasman’s Journal of His Discovery of Van Diemen’s Land and New Zealand in 1642, …

Australian Mammals – Trade Cards over 100 Years Old

The Diaries of John Helder Wedge 1824-1835 [in Tasmania]

Captain James Kelly of Hobart Town – K.M. Bowden

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