Exploration

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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Red Peak – Ascent of Pik Kommunizma [Now named Ismoil Somoni Peak in Modern Day Tajikistan - 7,495 m]

An unusual mountaineering event form start to finish written by the expedition second Malcolm Slesser seemingly without the authority of leader Sir John Hunt.

First American Edition, published by Coward McCann, New York in 1964. Octavo, 256 pages well illustrated from expedition photographs, charts , diagrams etc. A little ageing but still a very good copy.

The first British / Soviet joint expedition to climb in the Soviet Asia Pamir Mountains [Now Tajlikistan]. And a venture not without drama. No local porters were taken. Things got tense between the groups, two Englishmen died during the ascent of a particularly rugged stage. Hunt and several others gave up and went home. Slesser elected to stay … the frankness with which he describes the flare-ups as they struggled to reach the 25,000 foot peak adds to the drama of this unique climb

Slesser writes frankly about the first British / Soviet joint mountaineering expedition.

$25.00

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Raymond Howgego’s Monumental reference on the Exploration of Australia and Beyond.

Four Massive volumes which we regard complete, as they contain all the factual works [Howgego also produced a book on fictional travel]. Published progressively by Hordern House.

Land and sea exploration from the earliest days to circa 1940. Over four thousand pages in all with surely every event and fact worthy of mention. In pristine condition, weighing over 11 kgs so postage will be circa $80.00 at cost.

Raymond Howgego was teacher of physics before he gave that up to become a full-time traveller and travel writer. Possibly put down more words than any other living person. Seemingly can handle almost all European languages and Arabic and probably a few others. He still has an interest in amateur radio and fixing electronic items … we withhold his call sign, but you can find it if you try.

As new comprehensive definitive history of Exploration.

$580.00

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Uttermost Part of the Earth – A History of Tierra Del Fuego and the Fuegians – E Lucas Bridges.

This is a high quality reissue of “The” classic book on this fascinating part of the world and its equally fascinating inhabitants.

First published in 1948, this issue by Rookery, New York in 2007. Thick Royal octavo, 558 pages, illustrated as the original from period photographs, maps including in the end paper. Nice dust jacket, and extremely clean fine copy.

With a new introduction and epilogue by Natalie Goodall.

The author was born in Tierra Del Fuego in 1874, on the southern coast to his missionary parents. He grew up among the coastal Yaghans and later met and hunted with the wild inland Ona tribe.

The book recounts early history and starts with the arrival of HMS Beagle and then the disastrous expedition of Captain Gardiner. The arrival of his parents and as he grew up the many adventures he had and the very extensive knowledge gained. Cannot be overtaken.

Uttermost Part of the World – quality production of this famous account.

$60.00

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Manga Reva – The Forgotten Islands – Signed by Author Robert Eskeridge – First Edition 1931

A Voyager favourite and the book about Manga Reva the largest island within the Gambier Group.

The Polynesian Gambier group are tiny with a total population of around 1,400 people mostly on Manga Reva. The total area is about 30 square km. At one time the islands supported several thousand but over logging ruined the islands position in Polynesian trade routed and they fell into decline before stabilising in the late 19th century. It is an important link to anyone wanting to travel to the Pitcairn Islands and also, unfortunately, has been affected by French nuclear testing in the Pacific.

Published by Bobbs-Merrill in 1931, a first edition. Large octavo, 286 pages, original blue cloth covered binding. Good to better condition some evidence of a damp mark in against the spine, bar that very clean and readable.

Signed by the author Robert Lee Eskeridge (1891-1975) a very talented American artist, and the book contains many illustrations based on his superb paintings, as well as his photographs. It is not clear how long he spent on the island but it was quite some years based on the relationships he formed and the depth of his observations.

Unique book on Manga Reva – Signed by the author

$70.00

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Antarctica – The NZ Party of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition – Helm and Miller – First Edition 1964

Published by the NZ Government in 1964 a first edition. Large octavo, 435 pages with numerous illustrations from photographs, charts and maps. A very good copy.

It was not until 1958 that the Antarctic was successfully crossed from one side to the other led by British explorer Vivian Fuchs. Edmund Hillary led the NZ contingent and this book is a handsome record of that contribution.

An essential Polar account – all the way across …. by adventure royalty.

$40.00

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

Red Peak – Ascent of Pik Kommunizma [Now named Ismoil Somoni Peak in Modern Day Tajikistan - 7,495 m]

Raymond Howgego’s Monumental reference on the Exploration of Australia and Beyond.

Uttermost Part of the Earth – A History of Tierra Del Fuego and the Fuegians – E Lucas Bridges.

Manga Reva – The Forgotten Islands – Signed by Author Robert Eskeridge – First Edition 1931

Antarctica – The NZ Party of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition – Helm and Miller – First Edition 1964

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