Tasmania - Van Diemen's Land | Archive | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Important Tasmanian Map – Sketch of Van Diemen Land Explored by Captn Furneaux in March 1773 – Published in 1777

A very good example of a sought after original copper engraved map. Engraved by J Russell and published 1^st February 1777 by William Strahan in New Street, Shoe Lane & Thomas Cadell in the Strand, London.

Based around a manuscript charts by James Burney, who was then a second lieutenant on the Adventure, We have shown here in the images a copy of the manuscript chart which is held by the Public Records Office in England … note Burney adds “Suposd Steights or Passage” at the opening of the Bass Strait.

Cook’s two vessels were separated in heavy fog in the Southern Indian Ocean on 8^th February 1773. Cook in the Resolution made straight for the agreed New Zealand rendezvous at Queen Charlottes Sound. Captain Tobias Furneaux in the Adventure made for Van Diemen’s Land sighting the South West Cape on the 9^th March 1773, the first English vessel to follow after Tasman in 1642.

Furneaux discovered Adventure Bay on Bruny Island and then sailed north along the east coast naming many landmarks including the Furneaux Islands. He was suspicious of open water to the west but weather and other considerations made him press east to meet Cook without confirming what we now know as Bass Strait.

Point Hicks on the “mainland” in the top right of the chart is a good reference being the first point on the East Coast seen on Cook’s First Voyage.

Included in Tooley’s definitive reference on the cartography of Australia – map 337

Price $390.00 unframed

Scarce map of South and Eastern Tasmania from Furneaux’s adventures on Cook’s Second Voyage of Discovery.

$390.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1894-5 [Two Years in One] – Important Papers by James Backhouse Walker and others]

Printed by Davies Brothers Limited, Hobart in 1896 a first published.

Another important journal containing special papers particularly by James Backhouse Walker – this is the first appearance of his work on the Deportation of the Norfolk Islanders to the Derwent and his very substantial work – Abel Jansoon Tasman: His Life and Voyages which is accompanied by some very large folding maps.

To complement this latter work by Backhouse Walker, A Mault issued a paper on the Manuscript Chart in the British Museum showing Tasman’s Tracks in the voyage of 1642-4 with a magnificent multiple folding map.

Other interesting papers include the Tasmanian earthquake of 1892; Meridian observations with the Hobart Transit Instruments; various geological reports some relating to glaciation. Super stuff

Original soft wrappers, xxxviii pages followed by 66 pages [1894] and 120 pages [1895]. A very solid edition with special content. Very good condition albeit small chip top front cover.

Backhouse Walker lengthy paper of Tasman and other papers of special interest.

$120.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1889 [Important Papers by James Backhouse Walker and others]

Printed at the “Mercury” in 1890 a first published. An important journal containing some special papers particularly by James Backhouse Walker – this is the first appearance of his work on “the English of the Derwent and the Risdon Cove Settlement; the Expedition under Lieut-Governor Collins in 1803-2 and The Founding of Hobart by Lieut.-Governor Collins – this later paper including a fine reproduction of an early plan of Hobart.

Other papers of considerable interest include – ‘notes on Charts of the coast of Tasmania, obtained from the Hydrographical Department Paris and copied by permission of the French Government – A Mault – with four super folding facsimile maps. Mault also produces a paper on the detention of Matthew Flinders at Mauritius.

Other papers include notes on the last living Aboriginal, Fanny Cochrane Smith – with some contention still as to whether she was full blood – sorry it’s a suspect term. Also, papers of astronomical, geological, palaeontological etc interest.

Original soft wrappers, xxxvii pages followed by 263 pages including a good index. A very solid edition with much more content than usual.

Backhouse Walker original papers, good maps and Hobart Town Plan

$120.00

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History of Tasmania from its Discovery in 1642 to the Present Time [1884] – James Fenton – Faithful Facsimile

Originally published in Hobart in 1884 by Walch. This a faithful facsimile published by Melanie Publications, Hobart in 1978. A very good copy of a nicely produced book.

Octavo, 462 pages, large coloured folding map at front as in the original, illustrated. Patterned gold style endpapers, embossed clay cloth covered boards.

The large fold out map in excellent condition along with four coloured plates of aborigines including Jinny of Port Sorell, Timmy of the Eastern Coast, Truganini (the last of the aboriginals) and Jack native of Cape Grim.

This book is a cornerstone commentary on Tasmanian history and an excellent progression from West’s first comprehensive history of Tasmania published 30 year earlier.

Fenton’s Tasmania Essential Historical Account

$125.00

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Abel Tasman Medal – 350th Anniversary of the Discovering of the West Coast of Tasmania 1642-1992 [Large Version]

An interesting medallion for historians and the cartographically inspired. Produced for the Trust Bank of Tasmania.

48 mm diameter, 42 gm, intricately engraved on one side with gum leaf design on reverse.

The intricate design has a map of the central west coast of Tasmania noting Zeehan, Queenstown and Strahan; a nice image of Tasman’s vessel and a compass rose. Narrative details of the sighting 24th November 1642 and the landing at Tasman Bay on the East side on the 3rd of December 1642.

Tasman – first European sighting commemorated

$70.00

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Tasmania – d’Entrecasteaux Waterways

A super guide to the waterways of the d’Entrecasteaux Channel and its tributaries.

Compiled by the Cruising Yacht Club of Tasmania – no date but considered 1990’s.

78 large pages with black and white illustrations, drawings by Neil Lamont, general overview location maps and 27 excellent maps/ charts. Inside back cover a coloured illustration of common channel fish. Spiral bound as issued. Good nick

What we like about this rather unique offering is the relaxed commentary that goes with each of the excellent maps/ charts. We say excellent because they have many of the features that male up the history of the region which link to the narrative. If you are a lover of the region this is better than any travel book.

The beautiful d’Entrecasteaux waterways nicely described – can you tell – we like it!

$35.00

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Tasmania – Van Diemen’s Land

Important Tasmanian Map – Sketch of Van Diemen Land Explored by Captn Furneaux in March 1773 – Published in 1777

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1894-5 [Two Years in One] – Important Papers by James Backhouse Walker and others]

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1889 [Important Papers by James Backhouse Walker and others]

History of Tasmania from its Discovery in 1642 to the Present Time [1884] – James Fenton – Faithful Facsimile

Abel Tasman Medal – 350th Anniversary of the Discovering of the West Coast of Tasmania 1642-1992 [Large Version]

Tasmania – d’Entrecasteaux Waterways

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