Travel & Voyages

The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the Suppression of Piracy with Extracts from the Journal of James Brooke, Esq of Sarawak – 2 Volumes 1847

A third edition (which includes the extra chapter) set of this Borneo classic published by Chapman and Hall, London in 1847 the year after the first.

It is the second half of the title that explains the importance of these volumes. Brooke had suggested the first part as the principal title maybe to underplay his hand.

James Brooke (1803-1868) was an extraordinary individual born into a colonial family and generally describe as soldier and adventurer. He was given the Raj of Sarawak in Borneo, by the Sultan of Brunei, as a reward for quelling an uprising and driving pirates from the region. He ruled with an iron fist from 1842-1868. There is much more to his story than can be written here … he knew Alfred Russell Wallace and influenced his decision to conduct extensive natural history researches in the region culminating in the evolutionary evidence named the Wallace Line.

James Brooke is behind the character in Joseph Conrad’s “Lord Jim” an the “White Rajah” of Nicholas Monsarrat. Charles Kingsley depicted “Westward Ho” to the man and Errol Flynn planned to star as Brooke in a film written by himself although it was never made.

The author of this work, Captain Henry Keppel had sailed the Dido to Borneo in 1843. His crew became heavily involved in resisting attacks by Lanoon pirates.

Two octavo, volumes, 429 and 315 pages. Bound in original blue/green ribbed cloth, neatly and firmly re-backed with most of the original spine re-laid. Nicely illustrated with 11 plates, 6 maps and a chart.

This third edition has an additional chapter comprising recent intelligence by Walter K. Kelly

The Dido in and Around Borneo and the Journals of Adventure and first Sultan of Sarawak – James Brooke.

$440.00

Updating cart…

Original Press Photograph – The Archbold Expedition at Mount Wilhelmina – 1939

An original photograph 22cm by 15cm of the Archbold Expedition camping at the tree line near the base of Mt Wilhelmina, Dutch New Guinea during their important biological exploring expedition of 1938/39 … the third and most ambitious of Archbold’s expeditions, under his leadership.

Very good condition albeit usual press stampings and pasted narrative to rear.

The narrative reads – “Exploring New Guinea by Air – Mount Wilhelmina, Netherlands New Guinea – The camp of the expedition carriers near the timber line in the shadow of Mount Wilhelmina (background) the second loftiest peak on the island, rising mor than three miles at the Equator. It was in this area that MR Archbold discovered a bird he said was hitherto unknown to science. It is slightly larger than the ordinary sparrow, with a bluish-black boy an a brilliant red patch to its throat. It has a delicate, flycatcher- type back and warbles melodically”

Richard Archbold (1907-1976) was a wealthy American zoologist and philanthropist … his three expeditions to Dutch New Guinea were very successful, particularly this the third and final expedition. In it they concentrated mainly in the area from Mt Wilhelmina to the Idenburg River.

Mt Wilhelmina, known as Puncak Trikora since 1963 is 4,750 metres high. It was first climbed in 1913 by Alphons Herderschee. At that time its peak was still covered by a substantial ice cap, as were a number of other high peaks in the area. During the early part of the 10th Century the ice gradually melted and had disappeared by c1940.

The Archbold expeditions continued, under Australian leadership, after WWII and included territory in Papua New Guinea. We have the reports of these later expeditions in stock.

Price $40.00
Nice image of the Archbold camp New Guinea 1939.

$40.00

Updating cart…

Bass and Flinders – Circumnavigation of Tasmania – 200th Anniversary Medal

Together Matthew Flinders and George Bass were the first to circumnavigate Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania), in HM Sloop Norfolk, in 1788/89.

This large fine limited run medal was produced in Tasmania to celebrate the 200th anniversary i.e. 1998/99.

Only 120 were produced in this form, this being number 53, marked to the rim. Cast in white metal, 800 mm diameter, 115gms weight. Strong deep profile, fine condition.

Carries the bust of both Flinders an Bass either side of the sloop’s mast, with descriptive text. On the reverse a map of Van Diemen’s Land with the route taken marked and a fine and substantial depiction of the vessel fully rigged.

Limited numbered run of important maritime celebration.

$150.00

Updating cart…

Farthest North [The Voyage of the Fram] – Fridtjof Nansen – 1898

Farthest North: Being the Record of a Voyage of Exploration of the Ship Fram 1893-96, and of a Fifteen Month’s Sleigh Journey by Dr Nasen and Lieut Johansen.

Two volumes large octavo 480 pages and 456 pages after preliminaries before advertisements etc, large folding coloured map at rear of Volume I, coloured plate illustrated with a multitude of photographs and sketches by Nansen.

Published by George Newnes, London in 1898. A second edition after the first in 1897 but our preferred as there was a switch to these stunning pictorial covers are a hallmark of this set. Internally some insignificant marks and some rubbing to the cover spine ends and tips, hinges a trifle loose. On the whole the covers still remarkably bright, overall a very good set.

Nansen undertook this expedition to prove his theory that a drift current moved across the northern polar regions from the Bering Straits and New Siberia Islands towards the Greenland Coast. The theory had been supported by finding, near Greenland, parts of the ship Jeannette which was wrecked in 1881 in the Bearing Straits. Nansen’s ship, the Fram, was designed specially to cope with the risk of being crushed in an ice-pack. Built in Scotland the theory was that the Fram would be deliberately frozen into the ice and the design would lift the boat higher rather than crush it from the sides. They set off in June 1893 and successfully achieved this primary objective, the ship returning to Norway in 1896. Meanwhile, Nansen and Johansen had left the ship with husky drawn sleds in an attempt to reach the North Pole. They failed in this endeavour, as their dogs deteriorated, but still managed to reach the point “Farthest North” yet attained by man.

Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930) was a very talented individual. He held a doctorate in zoology, contributed to the field of neurology, worked a a museum curator and a was great athlete. Prior to this expedition he was the first to explore the interior of Greenland on skis

Nansen’s Farthest North in our favourite Pictorial Bindings

$420.00

Updating cart…

Kennedy – The Barcoo and Beyond 1847 – Beale – Limited Signed Edition

A limited edition signed by the author Edgar Beale and published by the tremendous Blubber Head Press of Hobart.

The quality of the book is best bar none and the condition near fine. Octavo, 292 pages, nicely illustrate, some in colour, end paper maps an, a most unusual printed thick glassine dust cover, often chipped but here completely undamaged.

The author was taken aback by the contents of fresh papers that surfaced from the descendants of Kennedy – and along with records held in Northern Ireland and the journals and papers at the Royal Geographical Society London the rich content of this book has been crafted.

Edmund Besley Court Kennedy (1818-1848) was chosen by Mitchell as his second for the 1846 expedition into southern and central Queensland. He was given command of a further expedition the nest year to trace Mitchell’s “Victoria River” to an expected mouth in the Gulf of Carpentaria. This turned out not to be true, Kennedy proving that that the Victoria was in fact the Barcoo, the upper waters of Cooper Creek … and in doing so discovered the valuable Channel Country. He then went on to track the Werrego River and in a further expedition from Rockingham Bay in 1848, setting its sights on the very tip of the Cape York Peninsula, he was killed by aboriginals.

Three folding maps near rear.

Essential and Fine Kennedy

$80.00

Updating cart…

Francois Valentjin’s Description of Ceylon – Translated and Edited by Arasaratnam

Francois Valentijn (1666-1727) was a Dutch scientific theologian and author of “Oud en Niew Oost-Indien” [Old and New East-India] a rather comprehensive history of the Dutch East India Company and the Far East.

Valentijn spent 16 years in the East employed in a ministerial capacity by the VOC … he returned to Dordrecht where he compiled the massive work, containing over one thousand plates and maps … he clearly had access to the VOC archives.

The translator and editor of this work Sinnappah Arasaratnam had thought for some time that a work, relating to Ceylon, based on Valentijn was a worthy endeavour. The original rather repetitive and encyclopaedic in form required a special talent to product a modern readable effective translation. Arasaratnam found the Hakluyt Society the ideal partner to assist in achieving his objective and the result is something special.

Octavo, 374 pages, illustrated and with large folding map at rear. A very good copy bar without dust jacket.

Sri Lanka (Ceylon) as described by Valentjin from VOC records in modern readable form by Hakluyt

$40.00

Updating cart…

The Expedition to Borneo of H.M.S. Dido for the Suppression of Piracy with Extracts from the Journal of James Brooke, Esq of Sarawak – 2 Volumes 1847

Original Press Photograph – The Archbold Expedition at Mount Wilhelmina – 1939

Bass and Flinders – Circumnavigation of Tasmania – 200th Anniversary Medal

Farthest North [The Voyage of the Fram] – Fridtjof Nansen – 1898

Kennedy – The Barcoo and Beyond 1847 – Beale – Limited Signed Edition

Francois Valentjin’s Description of Ceylon – Translated and Edited by Arasaratnam

Product Categories