Travel & Voyages

The Voyage of the Brig Mercury – Including Maria’s Islands near Van Diemen’s Land

Full title … Observations and Remarks made during a Voyage to the Islands of Tenerife, Amsterdam, Maria’s Islands near Van Diemen’s Land; Otaheite, Sandwich Islands, Owhyhee, the Fox Islands on the North West Coast of America, Tinian, and then to Canton, in the Brig Mercury, Commanded by John Henry Cox …

Illustrated with a Sketch of the Island of Amsterdam, a Plan of Oyster Harbour at the Maria Islands, with some views of the Land; a Curious Medal; and a Club accurately engraved.

Originally published for the author Lieutenant George Mortimer of the Marines, T Cadell in the Strand et al. in 1792.

This fine facsimile published by Israel, Amsterdam in 1975. Small quarto, 73 pages with the charts faithfully reproduced. A clean crisp copy.

The original account of this voyage difficult near impossible to obtain. Mortimer suggests that the Voyage was chiefly undertaken from motives of curiosity by Mr Cox, the fur trade on the North West Coast of America was the ultimate objective.

Mortimer’s narrative is a pleasing and easily read account. The visit to Amsterdam Island well to the South in the Indian Ocean, nearly Antarctic, is important to cold weather island enthusiasts. Cox had planned to call in at Adventure Bay in Van Diemen’s Land but missed it and ended up at Maria’s Island … he named Oyster Bay and the charts produced is of historical value. The progression across the Pacific to the North west Coast of America has unique elements and interesting encounters with Russians in the locale.

Mortimer on Cox’s Voyage .. important Tasmanian content

$60.00

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Wanderings in A Wild Country Or Three Years Amongst the Cannibals of New Britain – Wilfred Powell – First Edition 1883

Scarce, one of the prized early New Guinea accounts. Published by Sampson Low, London 1883 a first edition.

Octavo, 283 pages including vocabulary of words. 5 full page plates and 29 illustrations in the text plus four pages with illustrations on New Britain sign language. Folding sketch survey of the North-east Portion of New Britain by the author. A little ribbing to the cloth on the front board and age toning near the ends otherwise a very good copy.

The book begins with the selection of an appropriate vessel, the ketch Star of the preparation and departure from Sydney. An eventful voyage with waterspouts, recounting the tragedy of Lizard Island (gruesome) … remarkable whirlpool near the Duke of York Islands. Reaching Matupi Island. Visiting George Brown first white in the region. Port Hunter natives, first signs of cannibalism … the Duk-duk. To Kininigunun and a native battle. To Spacious Bay with Brown and more hostilities, full on volcanic eruption. The murder of the teachers, forced to fight, saving the native women. Turtle catching and wife hunting .. exploration of the interior … natives board vessel and destroy everything.

We lost track of how many times Powell escaped from danger …

Wilfred Powell early adventures in New Britain

$190.00

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Jenolan Caves (The Underground Wonderland) New South Wales, Australia – H. Phillips – c1910

Superior period view book of the glorious Jenolan Caves. Photographed, printed and published by H Phillips (1873-1844) of Katoomba in the Blue Mountains.

This is a scarce edition with superior illustrated cover and more images than his more standard work on the Jenolan Caves. No date but circa 1910. Not in Trove.

Landscape presentation … soft covers with exotic gilt title and illustration to front. 30cm by 24cm with title page, 2 page introduction plus 49 pages of plates, 3 of which are double folding with five excellent panoramas. Captioned images include …The Grand arch; Carlotta Arch; Devil’s Coach House and Bridge from Lucas Entrance; Grand Stalactites Imperial Cave; The Giant Shawl; Cleopatra’s Needle; Mons Meg; The Proscenium; Brookes Column; Crystal Palace; The Mystery; The Willows Nettle cave; Gem of the South etc etc

Beautiful record of the Jenolan Caves by Harry Phillips

$80.00

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Wildlife and Wilderness – An Artist’s World – Keith Shackleton

A really super book of Keith Shackleton’s Polar art. Much of the work completed on the Ms Lindblad Explorer (see our copy of Keith Shackleton’s Antarctic Pilot). In his well written introduction he expresses his gratitude to Lars-Eric Lindblad for putting his vessel on the high seas with him aboard.

First US edition published by Salem House 1986. Small quarto, landscape 120 pages with 8 full page colour images of selected cold weather painting with a nice page of attendant narrative. Very good if not fine condition.

A nice forward by HRH Prince Charles. But to the art … something special … the subjects naturally well chosen and the style clean bright and dramatic

Keith Shackleton’s beautiful paintings – where can we get one?

$50.00

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Wings of Gold – How the Aeroplane Developed New Guinea – James Sinclair

No greater expert in his subject, James Sinclair’s formidable book about the exploration driven development of aviation in New Guinea. Covering the period from 1922 to 1942 during which New Guinea was the busiest place for aircraft movements anywhere in the world.

Published by Robert Brown in 1983 in fine condition. Quarto, 326 pages a substantial book. Images to end papers and illustrated throughout with numerous period photographs, maps, facsimile documents etc. The aviation images are to die for.

Expatriates will know the Leahy family and Jack Hides and pleased to see Frank Hurley standing on the Curtiss Seagull flying boat and a special image of Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan just before they left Lae on their fateful attempt to cross the Pacific.

Wings of Gold – Best book on the period vies with Sinclair’s Three Volume “Balus” as the best aviation book ever.

$90.00

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Kiap – Australia’s Patrol Officers in Papua New Guinea – Jmes Sinclair – First Edition 1981

Published by Pacific Publications, Sydney a first edition 1981. Quarto, 294 pages with illustrated end paper and many many images from photographs … quite afew iconic of the people particularly the KuKuKuKu. A very good copy in a complete and bright dust jacket.

The author James Sinclair is the man , if you understand us. After WWII he too up the position of Cadet Patrol Officer and rose to District Commissioner by Independence in 1975. He was there all through the period with a keen eye a handy camera and an ability and desire to record activities as he and others saw them.

This book is much more than about the Kiap role … it is about the people, the many varied people of this remarkable place on Earth. The photographic record contained within this volume is justification alone.

The Kiaps had their place and surrounded by the people and the environment of Papua New Guinea

Postage will be more than the automatic allowance for this heavy book … we will absorb that within Australia.

$70.00

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The Voyage of the Brig Mercury – Including Maria’s Islands near Van Diemen’s Land

Wanderings in A Wild Country Or Three Years Amongst the Cannibals of New Britain – Wilfred Powell – First Edition 1883

Jenolan Caves (The Underground Wonderland) New South Wales, Australia – H. Phillips – c1910

Wildlife and Wilderness – An Artist’s World – Keith Shackleton

Wings of Gold – How the Aeroplane Developed New Guinea – James Sinclair

Kiap – Australia’s Patrol Officers in Papua New Guinea – Jmes Sinclair – First Edition 1981

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