Non-fiction

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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Gunfire in Barbary – Perkins and Douglas- Morris

Admiral Lord Exmouth’s battle with the Corsairs of Algeria in 1816

First edition, published by Kenneth Mason, Havant, England. Octavo, 199 pages, slightly toned, very good complete dust jacket a good copy of a most interesting book.

The combined English and Dutch fleets bombarded Algiers with all their might. The objective was to destroy the Corsairs who for near three hundred years had kidnapped masses of white Christians to become slaves to their Moslem captives. The slave markets of Algiers was a busy place. Admiral Lord Exmouth was successful but not without significant losses [greater than Nelson at Trafalgar].

Exmouth deals with the Barbary Corsairs

$30.00

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Some Early Records of the Macarthurs of Camden – Edited by Sibella Macarthur Onslow – 1914

First edition published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1914. A substantial book, royal octavo, 496 pages with illustrations and foldout facsimile documents. A very good copy in a nice firm binding with coloured frontispiece.

This comprehensive record is based on papers by the authors father James Macarthur. She dedicated the book to her father and mother (Emily) and her uncle Sir William Macarthur.

This is a family that stood up to their adopted motto “Fide et Opera” – “Faith and Work”

$90.00

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The Romance of the Huon River – Garnsey nee Anne Staffard Bird – First edition

Published by Whitcombe & Tombs, Melbourne Circa 1940’s [no date shown]. A scarce specific account of the Huan Valley.

Octavo, 219 pages, blue cloth covered boards, end paper maps which are themselves as delight – Sleeping Beauty to the north; skinning in the Hartz Mountains and the southerly hot water springs. Whilst of its time a surprisingly interesting collection of anecdotes, vents, people … essential knowledge for anyone trying to “carry it off”.

Huon Valley true history and goings on revealed.

$40.00

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The Wild White Man of Badu – Ion Idriess

Second printing of the first edition published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1951.

Tall octavo, 232 pages, well illustrated with images from photographs, maps of the islands, end paper maps etc. A very good copy in an even better dust jacket.

The incredible true story of a convict escaping from Norfolk Island and becoming the Chief of Badu. See map on rear end papers for some clues.

Strange and exciting Farthest North.

$50.00

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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]

Gunfire in Barbary – Perkins and Douglas- Morris

Some Early Records of the Macarthurs of Camden – Edited by Sibella Macarthur Onslow – 1914

The Romance of the Huon River – Garnsey nee Anne Staffard Bird – First edition

The Wild White Man of Badu – Ion Idriess

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