Non-fiction

Captain Henry Byam Martin R.N. – Polynesian Journal

Published by the Peabody Museum in 1981, Octavo 192 pages beautifully illustrated. A very good copy in a complete dust jacket.

Captain Martin’s first command, H.M.S. Grampus with orders to sail for Hawaii to await further orders which were to sail for Tahiti the French planning to subjugate the island, which they did by “bloody force”.

The actual journal was in the bowels of the British Museum … it is characterised by in the moment observations and a sense of humour regarding the struggle between the French and the British and the oft hopeless position the islanders found themselves in.

The text of an important one time “lost” journal .

$40.00

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Sailor and Beachcomber – Safroni-Middleton – First Edition 1915

“Confessions of a Life at Sea, In Australia and amid the Islands of the Pacific”. Published by Grant Richards, London a first edition 1915.

Thick octavo, 304 pages private library stamp at front and rear of Thomas Kinmore of Cork, Ireland. Nicely illustrated with 23 images from photographs. Pretty good condition.

An unusual book starting with “I run away to sea” but finds himself stranded in Brisbane and then off to the bush before leaving for the South Sea Islands. The usual chapter on cannibalism with much time spent in Samoa and Fiji, then Tahiti (and the usual chapter on morals) and the Marquesan Queens and back to Samoa before returning to Australia. Lost in the bush and on to the Gold Fields and Coolgardie. References to the Bounty and of course R.L.S. And quite a bit of violin playing – see his biography below.

Written in an interesting somewhat casual style but packed with observation if not sometimes a bit puffed up.

The author George Arnold Haynes Safroni-Middleton (1873-1950), also known as Count Safroni, was a British Composer, violinist, harpist, writer and astronomer. Born in Kent he studied violin with Pablo de Sarasate and later played with the orchestra at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. He toured Australia and explored Borneo, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia (and also obviously the Pacific). He composed “Imperial Echoes” in 1913 which for many years was the theme of “Radio Newsreel” on the BBC. Quite an odd chap.

In Australian and (mainly) in the Pacific – entertaining

$80.00

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Bounty / Pitcairn Item – Harper’s New Monthly Magazine – 1871

Bound as one volume Harper’s Magazine from December 1870 to May 1871. Small quarto, 952 pages bound in half black leather worn but strong, page edges speckled red.

The usual smorgasbord of 19th century articles. The star is a 15 page illustrated article on the Pitcairn Islanders largely based on Lady Belchers book

Unusual Bounty/ Pitcairn item often overlooked

$85.00

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A Young Pitcairn Girl – Original Hand Coloured Engraving – 1845

A beautiful hand coloured engraving from Die Volker des Erdballs ….The Peoples of the Globe According to their Descent and Kindship by German geographer Heinrich Karl Wilhelm Berghaus (1797-1884).

Junges Madchen von Pitcairn … Young Pitcairn Girl. Finely engraved in steel with vivid colouring and gum Arabic applied to create highlights and depth.

Good condition the paper 25cm x 16cm … the girl’s image 16cm. Would frame as a nice library item for a Bounty/Pitcairn collector.

Price $90.00 unframed … enquire if you wish framing options.

Delightful engraving beautifully coloured

$80.00

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Kamet Conquered (One of the Decisive Climbs in the History of Mountaineering) – Frank S. Smythe

This is the Uniform edition published by Hodder and Stoughton. London in 1947. First published in 1932. Thick octavo 371 pages with complete dust jacket. Some ageing on a couple of pages from a relevant inserted newspaper article … we have left it there as it adds to the interest. End paper maps, 36 photographic images and two maps in the text. A pretty good copy of an excellent account. Foreword by the formidable Francis Younghusband

In 1931 Frank Smythe and his team were the first to climb Kamet in the Himalayas in Northern India. It was the first of 70 plus peaks over 25,000 feet to be climbed. At this time the Tibetan authorities would not allow access to Everest. A brilliant mountaineer, Smythe gained a reputation as a special writer and packed his books with excellent photography. He died when only 49 after suffering food poisoning and malaria whilst in Delhi.

Kamet conquered at last … and not a bad place to smoke your pipe!

$50.00

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In the Heart of the Canadian Rockies – James Outram 1906

A superb copy, second printing 1906 published by Macmillan, New York one year after the first.

Octavo, 466 pages with the stunning pictorial covers a fresh as you will see. Nicely illustrated with 46 images mainly views of the dramatic scenery. Three maps two full page in the text and one large folding map at the rear in very good condition.

The writer, James Outram, apologises for his efforts. He need not as this beautiful book takes one through the Canadian Rockies without losing your attention or interest.

Chapters cover Banff; Mt Assiniboine; Lake Louise; a tragedy at Mt Lefroy; the Valley of the Ten Peaks; Field and Mt Stephen; the Yoho Valley and the Ottertail Group; the Upper Bow and the sources of the North Saskatchewan; Mt Forbes, Mt Bryce and further North. Useful appendices include the Selkirks; an accident on the glaciers of Mt Gordon; a record of “First Ascents” and “Hints on Outfits” – very stylish.

The maps are of the neighbourhood of Laggan and Field; the Yoho Valley and the large folding map is of the broader area encompassing the Canadian Rockies. The latter map is too big for our scanner so we will try and get and image online soon.

The Northern Rockies Beautifully Presented

$140.00

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Captain Henry Byam Martin R.N. – Polynesian Journal

Sailor and Beachcomber – Safroni-Middleton – First Edition 1915

Bounty / Pitcairn Item – Harper’s New Monthly Magazine – 1871

A Young Pitcairn Girl – Original Hand Coloured Engraving – 1845

Kamet Conquered (One of the Decisive Climbs in the History of Mountaineering) – Frank S. Smythe

In the Heart of the Canadian Rockies – James Outram 1906

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