Tasmania and Van Diemens Land

More than Half a Century of Colonial Life (South Australia) – Henry Hussey

Title continues … “and Christian Experience, with Notes of Travel, Lectures, Publications etc”

Henry Hussey (1825-1902) was an Evangelist, Printer, Historian who recorded his life an travels and published the work in 1897. It is full of colonial detail on many subjects.

The Adelaide’s Library Board selected the work for their magnificent facsimile series, published by them as no 203 in 1978.

Octavo, 504 pages, bound in tan in their normal style. A fine copy.

Interesting that the original was published by Hussey & Gillingham, Adelaide … the authors jointly owned business.

Hussey emigrates to South Australia and recounts his early days; visits Launceston and Sydney. Has various occupations and commercial failures and “disasters”. Commenced business as a printer, distracted by gold discovery in Victoria; recommences business …saves the “Observer”. Travel to America via Tahiti and Panama with “incidents” … a tour Baptised at Bethany … to England and back home to Adelaide. A History of Sa … Secretary to Angus … etc

A fine copy of a book about a fine man in fine times in Australia.

$30.00

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A History of Bass Strait “Dire Strait” – Bateson

Charles Bateson brought this book together from his wealth of Maritime knowledge for BHP. And their money was well spent … a very good easily read historical account

First edition 1973, small folio, 112 pages, heavily and appropriately illustrated. A very good copy.

Starts with the “Finding”; the Sealers; Chart makers; James Kelly; Tragedies; the Aboriginals; Sails and Steam; Modern Times and the exploitation of resources.

Good all round history of the Bass Strait.

$30.00

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Explorers’ Maps – Chapters in the Cartographic Record of Geographical Discovery – R.A. Skelton – Perry’s Copy

Another special book by the former head map man at the British Museum, as well as Hon Sec of the Hakluyt Society.

Small quarto, first edition, published by Routledge, London in 1958. Perry’s copy with his signature on the front end paper. 337 pages with numerous illustrations of relevant charts and maps. Coloured frontispiece of HMS Racehorse stuck in the ice off Spitzbergen. A very good copy. Heavy book might require a postage supplement if Overseas.

Selection and breadth of knowledge sets Skelton’s book apart.

The Way East and Marco Polo starts the serious stuff. Then Portuguese Sea-ways to the Indies. The Way West … and where will it get you Cathay or the New World?. The North-East and North-West Passages. European rivalry for the Spice Islands … the Spanish in the South Seas; and the Dutch and that special quest for the land down-under. Cook and the mapping of the Pacific. The rivers of Africa and the Poles … wonderful.

Explorers and the maps they created … some special Australian content and the rest. Expert Perry’s copy.

$90.00

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

George Bass, Surgeon and 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”.

First, 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 possibly … likely … tragic, making the date of his death noted 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 examples were produced in this bronze form and a similar number in silver. 50mm in diameter, 48gms weight, with a high relief bust of Bass facing right, carrying his spyglass. On the reverse a delightful image of the whaleboat, the sloop Norfolk and the chart and route of the vessels, appropriately dated. Comes with its original blue case, with red velvet plush setting, gilt description top of lid, pop button release.

Unusual medal to celebrate the achievements of George Bass

$170.00

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Signed Manuscript Letter from Lord Hobart to Granville Penn (undated but likely 1803 the Year Hobart Tasmania Was Named After Him)

Robert Hobart (1760-1816) known as Lord Hobart and the Fourth Earl of Buckinghamshire. He was a British Tory and secretary of State for War and the Colonies between March 1801 and May 1804.

Hobart is named after him. In 1803 the first settlement was made as a penal colony at Risdon Cove on the eastern shores of the Derwent. In 1804 it was moved to a better site at Sullivan’s Cove and the town settlement named Hobart Town or Hobarton. The Voyager letter was written at or about that time as the subject matter was published in 1803.

The letter in a strong hand is addressed from Hobart to Granville Penn (1761-1844) (great-grandson of Admiral Sir William Penn) an author and scriptural geologist. Written on one age of 8vo with integral address leaf from the House of Commons.

The letter reads …

“The translation of Leibnitz’s memoir with the judicious & able observations you have made upon it demand my earliest acknowledgements & I shall put them into Mr Addington’s hands as a proof of your uncommon diligence, and ability to render that diligence of the most Essential Importance to the Public Service – most faithfully yours Hobart”

Rare and interesting letter signed by Hobart

Note “A summary account of Leibnitz’s memoir, addressed to Lewis the Fourteenth, recommending to that Monarch, the conquest of Egypt, as conducive to the establishing a supreme authority over the Governments of Europe – Granville Penn – printed by J Hatchard, London 1803” – Leibnitz the great scientist, mathematician and political strategist and rival of Isaac Newton.

$90.00

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By the Wind (The Voyage of the Bengairn) – Captain J Murray Lindsay

Published 1962 by Rigby, Adelaide. A first edition 238 pages with a good dust jacket. A very good copy of a hard to get and worthwhile book on proper sailing.

Surprisingly scarce and a very interesting book – the account of the brass-bound apprentice on the square-rigged Bengairn in 1915. The outward route South America across the roaring 40′s to Hobart then on the Seattle and back to Liverpool Round the Horn… and a nice Chapter on the way “the Great Highway” to Hobart.

In Hobart the young lad had a good time with the girls and was ever so close to leaving his ship … the lure of the sea prevailed.

Lots of adventure …. difficulties near the Auckland Islands, an encounter with a U-boat (it was 1915), shanghai-ing of sailors …

Special sailing from Lindsay from Apprentice to Captain

$30.00

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More than Half a Century of Colonial Life (South Australia) – Henry Hussey

A History of Bass Strait “Dire Strait” – Bateson

Explorers’ Maps – Chapters in the Cartographic Record of Geographical Discovery – R.A. Skelton – Perry’s Copy

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

Signed Manuscript Letter from Lord Hobart to Granville Penn (undated but likely 1803 the Year Hobart Tasmania Was Named After Him)

By the Wind (The Voyage of the Bengairn) – Captain J Murray Lindsay

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