Travel & Voyages

A Naturalist in Cannibal Land – 1913 – Arthur Stewart Meek

Meek (1871-1943) was born into a Natural History family. Before he was twenty he was at Coomooboolaroo Station in Queensland collecting for the great Lionel Rothschild for his zoo at Tring. He then travelled New Guinea and the Solomons for both Tring and the Natural History Museum. This is a second impression in very good condition.

This is the book on his travels. Amongst his great finds were the holotyoe and paratype of the Woodlark venomous snake, rare there are still only twelve specimens known. In 1906 he discovered (and shot) the first specimen of the Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Butterfly … the largest in the world.

Many species are named after him … a crested pigeon, lorikeet, pygmy-parrot, crow, dwarf kingfisher etc and several butterflies and moths.

Meek a fearless Natural Historian who made his mark in New Guinea and the Solomons

$160.00

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Patrolling in Papua – 1923 – First Edition W.R. Humphries

Extremely rare London First 1923. Very good condition bar some occasional foxing. Bright and tight boards as published.

W.R. (Dickie) Humphries arrived in Papua in 1917 and took over an ambitious patrolling plan under the guidance of Hubert Murray. This excellent book records in detail a number of exploratory expeditions. Taking in Nepa, Tiveris, Kerma and Christmas on the Lakekamu, the Kukukukus and their raids on Nepa. Off into the unknown … ascending Mount Chapman and to the valley at Kwolum, friendly natives (rare) at Biaru and gigantic cigars. Ascending Mount Waria and a close shave. At Dunai-ia strange graves and thumb nails and to Boli, Nele and Morobe before turning back to Kokoda. Nicely illustrated with unique with over 40 photographic images. In 1924 Humphries escorted Frank Hurley on his famous photographic expedition into the Mount Yule area.

Scarce as they get patrolling expeditions immediately post WWI

$190.00

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The Ancient Ruins of Rhodesia – Hall and Neal – First Edition 1902 – A Special Book with Superb Map

A first edition of Hall and Neal’s legendary book about the ancient ruins of Rhodesia.

The binding is in very good condition and the gilt top edge clean and bright as day one. The pages are rough cut as required and there is some foxing internally as usual especially around the many plates where there is a change in paper type. Accepting this it is a very good copy with the gilt device to the front board strong and impressive. There is no fading along the bottom of the front cover that is just a glitch with Voyager’s scanner!

11 plans some folding along with 36 plates and a massive folding map of the ruins and ancient gold mines. An incredible effort and a Voyager favourite.

Early history in Zimbabwe that will surprise.

$170.00

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Mountain Stereoviews – Group of Twelve Early 20th Century – Fine Condition

A mixed and interesting group of early 20th Century stereoviews of mountains with a few early climbers.

Includes … Lady Mountain, Utah; Teton Mountains, Wyoming; El Misti, Peru; Mount Kasbek, Caucasus; Mt Sir Donald, British Columbia; Ngarruhoe, New Zealand; Spearhead Utah, Inca Lake Andes, Peru; Swiss Alps; the Himalayas; Mt Rundle, Banff and the Selkirks British Columbia.

All but one are by Keystone with the usual interesting information on the reverse, the other by White all in fine condition.

Nice views of high places

$80.00

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Scott’s Last Expedition – a Play – “The Fire and the Snow”

A play by Douglas Stewart about Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition.

It premiered on ABC radio in June 1941 to great acclaim. It was to star Peter Finch as Scott but he joined the army four days before broadcast so Frank Harvey stepped in. No copy of the original production appears to exist. The BBC produced another version in 1951 which superseded this publication in 1945.

Comes along with the script of the play “The Golden Lover” a Maori romance.

Scott’s on the Radio and in Film!

$50.00

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Jardine’s Journal – Narrative of the Overland Expedition of the Messrs. Jardine from Rockhampton to Cape York – First Facsimile Issue 1994

Originally published by J.W. Buxton, Brisbane in 1867. Compiled from the Journals of the Brothers, and edited by Frederick Byerley, Engineer of Roads, Northern Division of Queensland.

This is the first and preferred Corkwood Press (Bundaberg) facsimile of 1994 of the near impossible to get 1867 Brisbane original. Very good condition … Manfred Cross’s copy

Includes a facsimile of the map published with that original account.

Voyager Background Note

In 1863 it was decided by Governor Bowen that a settlement should be established at the tip of Cape York at Albany. He selected John Jardine a magistrate at Rockhampton for the task who in turn thought that his sons Frank (22) and Alexander (20) could make their way overland with a mob of cattle. They put together a party and set off in May 1864. There were ten in all including six aborigines. They all convened at Carpentaria Downs the property of J.G. McDonald beyond here the country was basically unknown. It was not until October that they finally set off with a mob of 250 head and 42 horses. They were well armed. They moved North West along the Einasleigh River and were soon followed by native aborigines in war paint but were not attacked – at this point. They reached Parallel Creek and found evidence of cannibalism in an abandoned fire. The landscape softened from large granite boulders to flat sandy beds. They reached 120 miles and decided to rest a few days and it was observed that the forage was good and the cattle and horses improved. They moved on and crossed and later named the Byerley Creek. A fire demolished their camp and much of their supplies were lost. They made on to Staaten River (named by the Dutch during their early marine explorations) and then on to find the Mitchell River having been lost a number of times. On 20th November 1864 the first fight with the aborigines took place on a river bank and several aborigines were wounded or killed but none of the Jardine party. A number of encounters followed and they decided to move on North. Eventually they found the Mitchell which was the site of their bloodiest encounter with up to 30 aborigines killed or wounded before they retreated. As they moved into December storms rolled in and the journey became difficult – they had to resort to killing their cattle as supplies ran out. They moved quickly noting beautiful grazing country in the region of the Archer River. On 11th January 1865 they reached the Batavia River where several of their horses died from eating poisonous plants. They pushed on as hard as they could and sent a scouting party out on 30th January 1865 to find their destination estimated to be 25 miles distant but were unsuccessful. The terrain was difficult steep hills and gullies crossed by narrow deep creeks overgrown by dense tropical vegetation. It was not until 1st March 1865 that the party heard the yelling of scouts sent out from the settlement to find them – just in time. Their journal records that a camp was made at Vallack Point and “there the weary cattle and horses at last found rest, while their drivers were able to indulge in the luxuries of regular feeding and uninterrupted sleep”

$80.00

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A Naturalist in Cannibal Land – 1913 – Arthur Stewart Meek

Patrolling in Papua – 1923 – First Edition W.R. Humphries

The Ancient Ruins of Rhodesia – Hall and Neal – First Edition 1902 – A Special Book with Superb Map

Mountain Stereoviews – Group of Twelve Early 20th Century – Fine Condition

Scott’s Last Expedition – a Play – “The Fire and the Snow”

Jardine’s Journal – Narrative of the Overland Expedition of the Messrs. Jardine from Rockhampton to Cape York – First Facsimile Issue 1994

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