Non-fiction

Polar Exploration Cards – First Series – John Player – Issued in 1915

A complete set of the 25 cards published by John Player in 1915. Very good condition.

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 – over 110 years old.

$120.00

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Hobart River Craft and Sealers of Bass Strait – Harry O’May – First Edition

Published privately by the author this the first edition, no date but accepted as early 1960′s . Octavo, 113 pages plus 31 pages, illustrations and indices not paginated. Folding map at back. Dust jacket a little aged. A very good copy, clean inside, map intact.

A special little book packed full of information by Harry O’May who knew his boats.

Two works in one the first a compendium all things wooden in the Tasmanian boat world and it’s a big world. Sorted in terms of chapters to include barges, cutters, ketches and passage boats; fishing craft, racing vessels, paddle steamers (wish you were here) and a special on Wilson Shipyard, Cygnet. All the other shipyards are mentioned along with good detail on many many craft – with some interesting early photographic images. The Sealers of the Bass Strait does not disappoint either.

Nice Tasmanian Early Boat Book – We Like it!

$30.00

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Original Regency Lady’s Commonplace Book [1822/23] featuring numerous poetic and artistic contributions.

A most unusual example and one that warrants further research … we are not entirely sure who the owner was – but she was posh – there are a few clues – and the contributors are also somewhat elusive – we have tracked down a couple of distinguished types.

Landscape format, approximately 70 or so leaves, marbled covered boards, leather bound as original, some pages loose but we have left it as original.

Commonplace books were, as the name goes, commonplace … they were kept as a repository of information of interest to the owner. What is much more unusual is that this one has been circulated among many contributors and must have taken a logistics exercise to keep it under control.

Overall, there are 12 artistic contributions including six watercolours. There are over 35 contributions of original poetry. Enough items are dated to give us our 1822/23 description.

Included, and now at the right page is a letter from Charles R Forrester apologising to “Honoured Madam” for “detaining your “Album” and to so little purpose as to have received a trifling addition as the lines which are offered for your approval- Their sole merit consists in their being Original and being written by “originals” and believe me Madam with the utmost respect” etc etc. the writer Charles Forester [1803-1850] was a well published poet and author – but just to make it hard often under a variety of pseudonyms. Likewise, his brother Alfred was a literary illustrator. Other poems include words from the Rev. John Marriot who was a chum of Sir Walter Scott – they used to discuss poetry together.

It’s a nice thing and a couple of the artistic contributions show some talent, standard of poetry likewise – the Zephyr and the Rose especially – and perfect handwriting even when dainty.

Please never submit this item to AI or SI for that matter.

Over 200 years old a veritable time-capsule awaiting further exploration and/or to be enjoyed.

$290.00

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Mountaineering in Patagonia – Alan Kearney

A very special book for those that love mountaineering or reading about mountain adventures and in particular Patagonia.

Published in 1993 by Cloudcap, Seattle, Washington USA which we think means effectively self-published by the very active Kearney. Fine condition.

Born in Washington State and trained in the North Cascades by climbing parents Kearney has climbed mot parts of the world worth climbing.

This book is both a history of who and when and the story behind the ascent of the numerous spectacular peaks of the regions, including his own accomplishments.

Tall octavo, 143 pages including useful glossary, reference appendices and a multitude of colour photographs of the most dramatic views, regional maps and one or tow climbing routes / strategies if you want to give them a go!

Patagonia – if you can’t make it this will fill in the gaps.

SO SORRY SOLD

$45.00

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An Account of the New Zealand Himalayan Expedition 1953 [Himalayan Holiday]

A four-man group spent 18 months in the region. Athol Roberts [leader], Maurice Bishop, Philip Gardner and Graham McCallum.

Soft cover, yap wrapped covers, 72 pages, perfect bound, many illustrations in colour from expedition photographs, map of the Central Nepalese Himalaya with routes marked. Very good if not fine condition.

Of course, this was the year that Everest was conquered and the fact that this expedition was also on the go allows one to understand how active Himalayan discovery was at the time and the extent of the New Zealand participation.

This includes areas of Central Nepal never seen properly before by outsiders. They made the first ascent of Mt Chamar, completed an invaluable botanical study with over a thousand species sent to the British Museum for identification and /or classification.

Roberts and his team in Nepal – it’s not all about Everest.

$25.00

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Gold Mine Cyanide Vats, Western Australia – Magic Lantern Slide – Issued by Newton & Co 1913

An original magic lantern slide showing substantial early cyanide vats used for gold extraction, Western Australia, by Newton & Co, London. This formed part of a set on Australasia sold in 1913.

A very substantial structure, we are counting fourteen vats, maybe more – so likely to be at Kalgoorlie – let use know if you have specific information or a more informed guess.

Newton & Co were formed in 1858. In the period 1912-1925 they had premises in Covent Garden, London.

Standard size circa 3.5 inches or 8 cm by 8 cm. Some soiling leaked into lower area – the image mostly in very good condition.

Cyaniding for Gold in Western Australia over a hundred years ago.

$40.00

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Polar Exploration Cards – First Series – John Player – Issued in 1915

Hobart River Craft and Sealers of Bass Strait – Harry O’May – First Edition

Original Regency Lady’s Commonplace Book [1822/23] featuring numerous poetic and artistic contributions.

Mountaineering in Patagonia – Alan Kearney

An Account of the New Zealand Himalayan Expedition 1953 [Himalayan Holiday]

Gold Mine Cyanide Vats, Western Australia – Magic Lantern Slide – Issued by Newton & Co 1913

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