Tasmania

Wrecks in Tasmanian Waters – Harry O’May

Self published printed by the Tasmanian Government printer. Not date but first edition 1950′s. Very good condition, Marjorie Morgan OAM’s copy with her ownership label on the free end paper.

Octavo, 209 pages plus … Index; List of King island wrecks; List of Macquarie Island Wrecks and List of Vessels Hulked at Hobart. Many great illustrations from early photographs at the rear.

Harry O’May’s comprehensive book on Tasmanian shipwrecks. Folding map at rear showing each known wreck location. All the wrecks (many of them) listed chronologically from the early days of the East India Co up to the Alvena in 1951

Tasmanian Wrecks in Full

$60.00

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Wooden Hookers of Hobart Town & Whalers out of Van Diemen’s Land – Harry O’May

Published by the author a fine copy of the second impression 1978.

Octavo, 137 pages plus 101 pages indices not paginated. Very clean superb dust jacket.

This is a first edition of Harry O’May’s compilation of two books packed with historic detail about the Tasmanian early whalers – superb photographic record nowhere else seen.

One of the best Tasmanian Maritime

$40.00

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Hobart River Craft and Sealers of Bass Strait – Harry O’May

Published privately by the author this is a second impression 1973. Octavo, 113 pages plus 31 pages, illustrations and indices not paginated. Folding map at back. Dust jacket a bit scuffed and closed tear to read, otherwise a very clean good copy.

A special little book packed full of information by Harry O’May who knew his boats.

Two works in one the first a compendium all things wooden in the Tasmanian boat world and it’s a big world. Sorted in terms of chapters to include barges, cutters, ketches and passage boats; fishing craft, racing vessels, paddle steamers (wish you were here) and a special on Wilson Shipyard, Cygnet. All the other shipyards are mentioned along with good detail on many many craft – with some interesting early photographic images. The Sealers of the Bass Strait does not disappoint either.

Nice Tasmanian Early Boat Book – We Like it!

$40.00

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An Imperial Disaster – The Wreck of George the Third (off Bruny Island) – Michael Roe

Published in Hobart by Blubber Press in 2006. Large octavo, 293 pages, well illustrated and in very good near fine condition.

This limited edition (750) book by Michael Roe is packed with research.

On 12 April 1835 the George the Third hit a rock entering the D’Entrecasteaux Channel with the loss of 133 lives all but six convicts. Essential Tasmanian reading.

More than a shipwreck book

$55.00

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Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages – A Word List – N.J.B. Plomley – First Numbered Limited Edition 1976

Published by the author in association with the Government of Tasmania. Small quarto, 486 pages. A very fine copy of a great production.

Hard to find despite 1,000 copies this being number 958. Published by the distinguished author in 1976. A comprehensive organised work which took Plomley 26 years to complete. Intended to be signed but not so seemingly many were missed or maybe he just ran out of ink/steam!

Draws on the historic records of the following notable accounts … Arthur George, James Backhouse, George Washington Walker, William Bedford, Robert Brown, James Cook, Allan Cunningham, the D’Entrecasteaux Expedition, Peter Fisher, Gaimard, Jorgen Jorgenson, John Lhotsky, Joseph Milligan, Robert Roberts, Charles Robinson, George Augustus Robinson, Thomas Scott and Charles Sterling. A tight narrative on the activities of each of these individuals makes a magnificent part of the introduction. Notes follow regarding records of the nature of the speech … tone, speed, volume etc which assist greatly.

Unlikely to ever be improved and the work of Plomley has to be admired. All this before personal computers!

SO SORRY SOLD

$120.00

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The Lost Tasmanian Race – James Bonwick – First Edition 1884

A very good if not better example of the scarce first edition of The Lost Tasmanian Race.

Published by Sampson Low, Marston & Co a first edition 1884.

Octavo, advertisements, 216 pages + note re French anthropologist de Quatrefages’ support of Bonwick’s work on the Tasmanian aboriginal people. Illustrated with frontispiece and 11 full page plates, some from Peron. Original special pictorial cloth binding in very good condition accepting some pulling to spine ends. Rare to see this work in such good condition and often re-bound.

Carries the bookplate of distinguished bibliophile Tristan Noel Marchand Buesst (1894-1982) who was party to the creation and first President of the Friends of the Latrobe Library and who was instrumental in and contributed substantial personal funds into the Library’s collection to make them the focus of a serious scholarly endeavour. Incidentally, the unusual surname is an old English name from the 15th century meaning casket maker.

Bonwick had previously published a more lengthy tome “Last of the Tasmanians”. Having been called for a reissue Bonwick decided … quote … “to produce, in a simpler form, the leading facts of that sad tale of a Colonial Past. Such is the narrative given in the “Lost Tasmanian Race”.

Bonwick’s emotion shines through … his exasperation as to how this situation could have been allowed to happen. The chapter headings flow as follows Earliest Notices of the Natives; The Race Under British Rule; Sorrows of the Race; The War; The Line; Captures Parties; Robinson the Conciliator; Flinders Island Refuge; Oyster Cove Station; Sealers and Native Women; Half-Castes; Native Rights; Civilisation and Missions; Decline and Extinction.

Scarce relevant very good condition nice provenance.

SO SORRY SOLD

$590.00

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Wrecks in Tasmanian Waters – Harry O’May

Wooden Hookers of Hobart Town & Whalers out of Van Diemen’s Land – Harry O’May

Hobart River Craft and Sealers of Bass Strait – Harry O’May

An Imperial Disaster – The Wreck of George the Third (off Bruny Island) – Michael Roe

Tasmanian Aboriginal Languages – A Word List – N.J.B. Plomley – First Numbered Limited Edition 1976

The Lost Tasmanian Race – James Bonwick – First Edition 1884

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