Tasmania and Van Diemens Land

The Antiquity of the Aborigines of Australia and Tasmania – The Discovery of Gold – Magnetism etc – Georgina King FRASA – Sydney 1924

A self-published pamphlet by Georgina King of work previously published in the “Sunday Times”. Printed by William Brooks, Sydney and issued in 1924.

Octavo, 23 pages, soft wrappers as issued, three illustrations in the text regarding aboriginals. Some age from use still a very good copy.

The articles are as per the title … The Antiquity of the Aborigines of Australia and Tasmania – Two Stone Ages in Australia; The Discovery of Gold and How it was Found in Payable Quantities; Magnetism – terrestrial and Universal; Diamond and Their Origin.

A most usual body of work. Georgina King (1845-1932) was an amateur geologist and anthropologist. As a woman she was excluded from the “professional” category e.g. she was not allowed to read her own paper at the Royal society of NSW. Her ideas were rather whacky though and make for interesting reading … they did not stop her becoming a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Society. The daughter of Rev George King she was advised by him and naturalist Bennett not to marry if she wanted to get on in her chosen filed. She corresponded with Robert Logan Jack regarding geology and Huxley on natural sciences. In her eccentricity she blamed other for stealing her ideas, including Edgeworth David on her radical concepts of the earth’s formation and Einstein on the theory of relativity. She believed diamonds were fossilised marine organisms … quoting from the paper contained here …

“Diamonds existed as marine organisms. They are composed of pure carbon, containing only a little hydrogen, and the most minute particles are often found in what were small cavities, perhaps their breathing apparatus; some were like feathers. The cleavages of the diamond were the gills of those marine organisms …”

Her article of the aborigines is a lot more grounded. She was a friend of Daisy bates and provided financial support to Bates for her work among aboriginal people.

Georgina King isolated Australian Scientist with some wild ideas and some interesting ones.

$50.00

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The Sarah Island Conspiracies – R. I. Davey

A super Tasmanian book by Richard Innes Davey. This is the hardback edition, most available are the earlier soft cover.

Published by The Round Earth Company, Tasmania. This the Second Revised Edition 2007.

Small quarto, 210 pages nicely illustrated and in fine condition with a fine dust jacket.

Sarah Island behind the Gates of Hell in Macquarie Harbour on the west coast of Tasmania was home to the harshest penal establishment imaginable.

This well crafted book is based on the account of twelve Voyages made by a one G.K. (his name is not known) the Sarah Island between 1822-1833. G. K. was a clerk a minor bureaucrat and supposedly as shadowy figure. He observes the men banished to this desolate place and is gradually drawn into their world.

True life, mystery and intrigue at Sarah’s Island

A word about the author … Richard Innes Davey (1938-2013) what a character … he spent seven years as a Dominican monk before exploding a laboratory in Adelaide, met his wife Kathleen while recuperating. Much travel overseas and strange and artistic goings on followed. back in Australia (Perth) he expanded his artistic bent … sculpting, theatre directing and playwright, outback storytelling, remote communities etc. Moving to Tasmania with his own Round Earth Company he became the man of knowledge regarding Sarah Island. If you have been to Strahan you will be aware of his play “The Ship that Never Was”, our longest running play (Australia’s Mousetrap).

$40.00

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An Account of the Discoveries Made in the South Pacific Ocean – Alexander Dalrymple

A quality production, Number 3 in the Australian Maritime Series published by Hordern House, Sydney.

A Limited edition of 950 copies hand bound in midnight blue Scottish calf with marbled papered boards. Designed by Margo Snape.

Octavo, 103 pages plus portrait frontispiece, six folding plates and folding map at rear. All in very good condition.

First published in 1767 one of the rarest accounts. First time reissued faithfully reproduced.

The original account used as a reference on the Endeavour and mentioned by Banks and Cook.

Dalrymple lead Cook to Australia

$130.00

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Terra Australis to Australia – Williams and Frost

Published by Oxford University Press, Melbourne a first edition 1988. A fine copy.

Edited by the noteworthy Glyndwr Williams (University of London) and Alan Frost (La Trobe University). With contributions from Voyager favourite Gunter Schilder (author Australia Unveiled) and Helen Wallis previously Keeper of Maps at the British Library

Octavo, 242 pages heavily illustrated and in colour where appropriate. Super selection of maps.

A high class production – from Theory on and Speculation of Terra Australis, The enigma of the Dieppe Maps, the Dutch Discoveries and the arrival of the English. Beautifully and intelligently done from start to finish.

Must rate as one of the best books on the subject

$50.00

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Van Dieman’s Land – Cartographer John Dower – 1836

An original map of Tasmania or Van-Diemans Land, drawn and engraved by John Dower published in London in the 1830’s. Note the misspelling “Dieman’s”. This is a very early version of the Dower map published by Orr & Smith of Paternoster Row, London. Engraved area 26cm by 21cm. Very good condition, clean and bright colouring. Refer Tooley Printed Maps of Tasmania number 196.

This map was first published in 1831. In this updated version Lake St Clair is added. And bottom left the following note … Population 31,718; Capitol(sic) Hobart Town; The estimated average importation of Convicts into Van Dieman’s Land is 1,709 per Annum.

Much of the terrain to the west half remains unexplored. A number of interesting features can be found in the detail. Above the “rocky and barren shore” below Rocky Point in the west we see “White topped mountains apparently granite”, north of which are “Higher and less barren hills”. Travelling north from Hobart Town are a string of pubs … The Stokell Inn, Crown Inn, Swan Inn, Ransome Inn, Lovely Bank Inn, New Inn, Sorrell Spring Inn, Stockers In and on to Launceston. Whilst known high ground is shown with hachures certain peaks are estimated … Ben Lomond 4,200 feet, Peak of Teneriffe 4,500 feet, interestingly not Mt Wellington.

John Dower (1791-1847) was a quality map maker, print seller and publisher based in London. He worked with many prominent map makers of the time including Weller, Cassell, Bacon and Petermann.

Price $190.00 unframed

Earlier scarce Dower Map of Tasmania c1836

$190.00

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Views in Australia, or New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land – Lycett Facsimile

Delineated, in Fifty Views, with Descriptive Letter Dedicated with Permission to the Right Hon’ble Earl Bathhurst

This is the only facsimile of the rarely seen Views by Joseph Lycett originally published in London in 1824. A landscape presentation in decorated slipcase (as shown) – fine condition. A heavy item which might require a little more postage … we will try to be helpful.

Lycett was a convict artist of great distinction – he had been sent out for forgery. He was pardoned and later returned to England where he again went about his forger’s ways – he took his own life in prison.

His artistry is unique and charming with 50 images of New South Wales mainly in and around Sydney and also many of Tasmania with some beautiful images of Hobart, the Derwent and the surrounding mountains.

Voyager also has an original Lycett of a Tasmanian view … see our Prints …

Such beautiful images originally from 1824

$80.00

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The Antiquity of the Aborigines of Australia and Tasmania – The Discovery of Gold – Magnetism etc – Georgina King FRASA – Sydney 1924

The Sarah Island Conspiracies – R. I. Davey

An Account of the Discoveries Made in the South Pacific Ocean – Alexander Dalrymple

Terra Australis to Australia – Williams and Frost

Van Dieman’s Land – Cartographer John Dower – 1836

Views in Australia, or New South Wales and Van Diemen’s Land – Lycett Facsimile

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