Travel & Voyages

Hokule’a The Way to Tahiti – Ben Finney.

Published by Dodd. Mead & Co, New York a first edition 1979. Octavo, 310 pages with numerous illustrations from photographs as well as charts, diagrams drawings etc.

A fine first edition of Professor Ben Finney’s book … about the re-construction of an ancient double-hull Polynesian canoe to sail and prove the theory of early navigation between Hawaii and Tahiti. An exercise that proved very difficult with cultural and personal arguments getting in the way at almost every step. Makes for interesting reading as does the account of the successful voyage .. written well and nicely illustrated.

Professor Ben Finney (1933-2017) was pretty remarkable man. Professor of Anthropology who held positions at a number of Universities including the ANU. He spent most of his life in Hawaii and regarded as the world’s greatest authority on surfing history … the sport of Hawaiian Kings.

Maritime History Proven by Ben Finney

$35.00

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Hooded Racket-Tailed Magpie (Crypsirhina Cucullata) From Burma – John Gould – The Birds of Asia – 1860′s

Original hand-coloured lithograph produced on limestone from John Gould’s most impressive series “Birds of Asia” completed and published in London in the1860’s.

A striking bird found the in the lower jungles of Northern Burma. Threatened by clearing but currently still strong in numbers. Also known as the Hooded Crypsirhina and Hooded Treepie

First formally described by Thomas Jerden a British ornithologist in 1862. You can see form John Gould’s narrative that he was working from sketches provided by Jerden and unlikely to have an example of the bird.

The birds appear to be figured in natural size being roughly 30 cm long and two thirds of that being the remarkable tail… the accompanying narrative describes their colouring is some detail. The execution of the lithograph is excellent, it is very clean and the colouring still very bright and full and enhanced by the use of gum arabic which creates a sense of richness and depth

We all know about John Gould but maybe not so much about Jensen.

Thomas Caverhill Jenson (1811-1872) was a Scottish born surgeon in the East India Company and then the Military and spent most of his working life in India. He was a keen naturalist in a number of fields. Early on he sent birds back to Sir William Jardine in Scotland to be classified. They arrived moth eaten so from then on Jerden decided to complete that work himself. He became the leading authority in the broader region and sponsored by Lords Canning and Elgin produced The Birds of India in three volumes in the 1860’s. He was also an instigator of the broader work The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma.

Price $590.00 unframed … enquire if you wish

Unusual well executed Magpie from Burma

$390.00

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Melanesians and Polynesians – Their Life Histories Described and Compared – George Brown – First 1910

Hard to find first edition published in 1910. George Brown had published his autobiography “George Brown, Pioneer Missionary and Explorer” two years earlier. Brown had spent time in Samoa (1860-1874) was the first European to live in New Britain and New Ireland (1875-1880). After New Britain he spent time in the Solomon Islands from where he visited the broader Pacific Island Groups.

An important anthropological work. Published by Macmillan, London. Royal octavo, 451 pages, with 70 illustration from original photographs, many rather special. Bound in original light green cloth covered boards with a gilt image of a carved bowl to the front. Very good condition.

The chapters build progressively … the Islands in which the People live; Homes and Families; Childhood and early life; Food Cooking and Cannibalism; Wars Disease and Medicines; Religion; Magic Witchcraft Omens and Superstitions; Morals Crimes and Covenants; Government Laws and Tabu; Arithmetic Money Measure and Trade; Property Ornament and Industry; Hunting Fishing Agriculture and Games; History and Mythology; Language; Sickness Death and Burial. The beginning to the end in a readable and fully informed style.

George Brown no better first hand knowledge – fundamental work on the Melanesian and Polynesian People – one of our most treasured books

$160.00

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Wake of the Invercauld – Madelene Ferguson Allen

First edition 1997, published by Exisle Publishers, Auckland, New Zealand. Large octavo, 256 pages well illustrated with images and maps. Very good if not as new condition. A super book.

In 1864 the Invercauld was shipwrecked on the remote Auckland Islands in the sub-Antarctic Ocean south of New Zealand. The author Madelene Ferguson Allen is the great-granddaughter of one of only three who ultimately survived the shipwreck or the subsequent hash conditions on the island.

More than a shipwreck book Allen draws on original manuscripts, details the early year of Robert Holding and his time in Australia, refers to the First Mate’s Narrative (kindly gifted) … her two visits to the Auckland Islands produced some lovely photographic images and extended the historical content … now carefully controlled as a genuinely untouched wildlife sanctuary the book brings the cold island group to life

Special book about a tragic event and a special island

$50.00

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Riviere de Sourabaya – by Sigismond Himely – from the Voyage of La Favourite – 1835

An original aquatint by Sigismond Himely (1801-1872)) of the River Sourabaya, Java Indonesia .

Executed on India-laid paper being plate number 58 from “Voyage Autour du Monde par les Mers de l’Inde et de la Chine de la corvette de sa Majeste La Favorite execute pendant les annees 1830,1831,1832 sous le commandement de M. Laplace” published in Paris in 1835 under the direction of Louise Auguste de Sainson.

Plate size 28.8 x 38.2 cm. Included in the National Collection as part of the Rex Nan Kivell bequest NK685. Some minor ageing around the border a pretty clean image as can be seen from the scans

Price $140.00 unframed

Delicate image of the River Sourabaya, Java – 1835

$120.00

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Polar Exploration Cards – John Player – First Series Complete -1916

A complete set of 25 cards of the sought after First Series of Polar Exploration cards issued by John Player & Sons of Nottingham, England. Good condition front and back.

Includes – Lieut. Sir E.H. Shackleton C.V.O.; The Northern Party at the South Magnetic Pole; The Aurora Borealis; The Aurora Australis; The British Antarctic Expedition 1910; Dr Fridjof Nansen; The “Nimrod” Picking up the Northern Party; A Remarkable Fumarole in the Old Crater of Mount Erebus etc

First series Complete and getting scarce

$120.00

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Hokule’a The Way to Tahiti – Ben Finney.

Hooded Racket-Tailed Magpie (Crypsirhina Cucullata) From Burma – John Gould – The Birds of Asia – 1860′s

Melanesians and Polynesians – Their Life Histories Described and Compared – George Brown – First 1910

Wake of the Invercauld – Madelene Ferguson Allen

Riviere de Sourabaya – by Sigismond Himely – from the Voyage of La Favourite – 1835

Polar Exploration Cards – John Player – First Series Complete -1916

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