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Important Voyage Account – The Voyage of the Duff to the South Sea Islands – Captain James Wilson – First edition 1799

Full title … A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean Performed in the Years 1796, 1797, 1798, in the Ship Duff, Commanded by Captain James Wilson. Compiled from Journals of the Officers and the Missionaries; and Illustrated with Maps, Charts and Views drawn by Mr William Wilson, and engraved by the most eminent Artists. With a Preliminary Discourse on the Geography and History of the South Sea Islands; and an Appendix, including details never before published, of the Natural and Civil State of Otaheite.

Several neat manuscript corrections to names, places and dates in such a manner that the book, at one time, must have been in the hands of someone intimately involved in the adventures, if not a member of the exploring group. Add’s a touch of class and intrigue.

Printed by Gosnell for Publisher T. Chapman, Fleet Street, London 1799. Large quarto, the wide margin version. 420 pages after preliminaries and before substantial and distinguished subscribers list. With seven folded engraved maps and six beautifully engraved plates. Rebound at some time in half crimson morocco over matching red cloth covered boards, headband, top edge freshly gilt; a very professional job. Overall a very good solid copy..

An early voyage to the Pacific, undertaken for the purpose of establishing a mission in Tahiti. A settlement of was formed with twenty five members. Though the King befriended them, they met with continual difficulties due to continuous civil wars and were finally forced to flee to Australia. Though some returning some time much later in 1815. The work contains many valuable details regarding Tahiti, the Fiji Islands, Tonga, the Marquesas, etc. The discovery of a new group of islands, named the Duff Group among the Santa Cruz Islands. The narrative is full and readable with considerable valuable observation – not at all in the often dry “missionary” style. Stands, in our view, as a key read in the early Pacific Voyages genre.

The large folding “Chart of the Duff’s Track in the Pacific Ocean” was the first map to use the name Australia than New Holland.

Other important maps comprise – Feejee Islands; Marquesas Islands; Duff’s Group; Gambier Islands; Island of Otaheite and Island of Tongataboo.

Views comprise … Harbour of Rio Janeiro; Missionary Settlement at Matavai; View of Tallo Harbour; Great Morai of Oberca; Morai and Ark of the Eatooa at Attahooroo and Fiatookas of Futtasaihe.

One of classic late 18thC voyage accounts of significant exploration interest – a very good copy..

$890.00

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Trans-Himalaya: Discoveries and Adventures in Tibet – Two Volumes – Sven Hedin – First Editions -1909

Published by MacMillan and Co, London first editions 1909. A third volume was added a few years later ….

Thick royal octavo volumes 436 pages and 441 pages with 388 illustrations from photographs and sketches by the author, some in colour. Seven maps at end of Vol I and 3 colour fold out maps at end of Vol II. Original burgundy cloth covered boards with gilt decoration to front cover still quite bright. A little rubbed on the joints and a couple of old marks to the boards. Some age generally, still an excellent set of this valuable account.

Swedish explorer Sven Hedin (1865-1952), despite efforts to stop him, made his way “undercover” into Tibet and explored the southern and western regions. He claimed the discovery of major mountain systems and the sources of major rivers (Brahmaputra, Indus and Subtle) flowing east. He explored extensively around Lake Manasarovar and Mount Kailash and spent time in Shigatse where he interacted with Panchen Lama. A special Asian collectable.

Classic Travel account Sven Hedin in Tibet

$390.00

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The Faerie Queene – Edmund Spenser – Full Calf 1860′s Copy

Spenser’s Faerie Queene disposed in twelve bookes fashioning XII moral virtues to which is added his Epithalamion a new edition, with a glossary; illustrated by Edward Corbould.

Published by George Routledge & Sons, no date but 1860’s. Octavo, 820 pages.

A beautiful book bound in full polished rich green calf with six compartments to the spine with bright gilt devices and red leather title label lavish marbled endpaper continuing to page edges, gilt lines to boards … a few marks but still a superb copy.

Spenser one of the greatest English poets; and here his longest work originally written in 1590. Allegorical, with references to Queen Elizabeth I. the illustrator Edward Corbould (1815-1905) was active in the Victorian era.

Deliciously bound Faerie Queene

$140.00

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Rocks and Minerals of Australia – Oliver Chalmers

Published by Methuen in Australia a first edition 1976. Very good condition. 246 pages with lots of images, diagrams and maps. And with the striking Crocoite on the front board – see our examples on this website.

Or favourite “Observer Book” part of an Australian contribution to the series. A serious miniature work on the subject and the source of much of Voyager’s knowledge.

The detailed maps at the end and connectivity to the narrative open up the enormous subject to the newcomer

An expert in a day!

$30.00

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Narrative of the Wreck of HMS Porpoise – Robert Purdie, Surgeon’s Mate of HMS Investigator [A Matthew Flinders Item]

Octavo, xiv, 134 pages, published by Hordern House in 2014. A very good copy. The best dust jacket ever with a facsimile period map on the reverse from Flinder’s Journal Atlas.

Robert Purdie was a young surgeon who was wrecked on HMS Porpoise on a reef off the Queensland coast (to become known as “Wreck Reef’’). This was the vessel originally taking Matthew Flinders back the England having completed his coastal survey of Australia, confirming the entirety of the land mass. Purdie’s account had been published anonymously in The Naval Chronicle in 1807/07. He had been a junior officer on the Investigator and was among those that stayed on the reef whilst Flinders and others rowed back to Sydney to successfully mount a rescue.

The narrative is lively, informative and readable … here well presented with an excellent introduction and notes by Matthew Fishburn.

Matthew Flinders and Wreck Reef by Surgeon’s Mate Purdie.

$30.00

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Books and Persons – Being Comments on a Past Epoch 1908-1911 – Arnold Bennett. {Ernest H. Shackleton book label – warning see below]

A first edition published by Chatto & Windus in 1917. Octavo, 338 pages. Black cloth covered boards, paper title label [original spare label at rear for anyone that wants to refresh]. No dust jacket probably as issued.

An interesting book by the talented and highly productive wordsmith – Bennett. Dedicated to Hugh Walpole. Bennett had had a number of articles published in the “New Age’ under the nom de plume “Jacob Tonson”. About one third of those re-appear in this book … with some misprints corrected and various crudity softened.

Various subjects tackled with the usual wit and pointedness include … Ugliness of fiction; French Publishers; German Expansion [note 1908]; the Book-buyer; Joseph Conrad and the Athenaeum; Unclean books; the New Machiavelli; Anatole France etc etc

The mystery of the Ernest H Shackleton book label … many booksellers around the world have fallen into the mire in promoting such items as once owned by the distinguished Polar explorer … we think it’s either the “H” for Henry or the desire for profit that traps them – and their customers. Unfortunately, about the right time, a not so distinguished [no writs please] New York lawyer amassed quite a collection and affixed his unpretentious label to each. You have been warned – but may see an opportunity!

Arnold Bennett a keen observer who shared – if Polar add a nought!

$35.00

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All products

Important Voyage Account – The Voyage of the Duff to the South Sea Islands – Captain James Wilson – First edition 1799

Trans-Himalaya: Discoveries and Adventures in Tibet – Two Volumes – Sven Hedin – First Editions -1909

The Faerie Queene – Edmund Spenser – Full Calf 1860′s Copy

Rocks and Minerals of Australia – Oliver Chalmers

Narrative of the Wreck of HMS Porpoise – Robert Purdie, Surgeon’s Mate of HMS Investigator [A Matthew Flinders Item]

Books and Persons – Being Comments on a Past Epoch 1908-1911 – Arnold Bennett. {Ernest H. Shackleton book label – warning see below]

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