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  • Encountering Terra Australia – The Australian Voyages of Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders – Fornasiero, Monteath and West-Sooby

    Encountering Terra Australia – The Australian Voyages of Nicolas Baudin and Matthew Flinders – Fornasiero, Monteath and West-Sooby

    A first edition hardback published by Wakefield Press, Adelaide in 2004.

    A substantial book, small quarto, 411 pages heavily illustrated with some beautiful colour reproduction of the artwork from the voyages. A closed nick to the dustjacket and a gift inscription back of half title, otherwise a fine copy.

    Written by three of Australia’s finest historians. Peter Monteath being a descendant of Philip Gidley King.

    The Preface deals with the “Encounter” of Baudin and Flinders and the “Lure of the South”.

    Part I deals with the “Journey Out” and Charting the Western Coast of Australia … Baudin from Cape Leeuwin to the Boneparte Archipelago. The South-West from Leeuwin to Nuyts Archipelago. The Prospecting of Van Diemen’s Land and the French in Tasmania. Then the race to chart the extended South Coast. The detail of the meeting at Encounter Bay. Flinders and Baudin from Encounter Bay to Port Jackson. Baudin on King Island and the exploration of Kangaroo Island etc.

    Part II with the authors views on the “Reputations” arising and the “Artistic and Scientific Records” and the inevitable “Clash of Cultures” ..

    A good bibliography at the end although this book contains enough for many on this interesting subject.

    A Thorough and Beautifully Illustrated Production on Baudin and Flinders Down Under.

    $50.00

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  • The Story of the Pacific – Van Loon – 1940

    The Story of the Pacific – Van Loon – 1940

    First Edition published by George Harrap, London 1940.

    Octavo, 315 pages, illustrated from the authors sketches (his usual style) and with end paper maps. Gift inscription across front map otherwise a very good unjacketed copy.

    Hendrik Willem Van Loon (1882 -1944) was a prolific Dutch / American writer of historical works. His language is really good and he gets to the point … the publishers of Roget’s Thesaurus specifically honoured him in publications after his death as being the person that most communicated new entries to them… quite an honour.

    Here he is writing about the Polynesians and how they came to be in the Pacific … the places they went to and the places they avoided. Amongst all that is elements relating to the discovery of Australia … an interesting and of overlooked work.

    The Van loon theories regrading the populating of the Pacific.

    $40.00

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  • Travels Amongst the Great Andes of the Equator [Ecuador] – Edward Whymper -1892

    Travels Amongst the Great Andes of the Equator [Ecuador] – Edward Whymper -1892

    Travels and exploration in Ecuador – a classic.

    Published by John Murray, London. A second printing, same year as the first, of a special book by the great mountaineer, Edward Whymper.

    Large thick octavo, 456 pages. Nicely illustrated and with three maps, one folding and very large (85cm x 59cm) folding map in rear pocket. Original cloth covered binding with embellished gilt rule and lettering on front and spine, blind embossed in similar fashion on rear. Showing a little age, as usual, some scattered foxing near ends, otherwise a lovely clean copy. A heavy book which will require an Overseas postage supplement.

    The classic South American Mountaineering book, Whymper climbing Cotopaxi and Chimborazo among others. Broader writing includes the natural history and geology of the Andes.

    Essential reading for climbers and South American devotee.

    Edward Whymper – nothing held him back

    $140.00

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  • Knights Errant of Papua – Lewis Lett  – First Ed 1935

    Knights Errant of Papua – Lewis Lett – First Ed 1935

    Published by William Blackwood & Sons, Edinburgh and London a first edition 1935. Octavo, 238 pages, end paper map and frontispiece of native police in marching order. A special introduction by Sir Hubert Murray which provided a very good overview in the absence of a formal contents page by Lett. A few superficial marks here and there still a pretty good copy.

    Longtime expat Peter Villier Best’s copy with his stamp. Peter was with the Australian Petroleum Co and spent time in the Civil System and at BP and Steamies.

    Lewis Lett had been in Papua New Guinea for over twenty years before he wrote this book. He knew Hubert Murray well and many of the Patrol Officers who had adventured into the unexplored regions. This is a book about those adventurous officers … the “Knights Errant’.

    Some amazing stories from the early ascents of Mount Victoria and Mount Albert Edward by Sir William MacGregor, the crossing of the island by Karius and Champion and the well documented patrols of Monckton, Beaver, Griffin et al. Interesting that despite the dangers in what were often first encounters very little violence is noted and not from any “cleansing’ of history. Patrol leaders had one common thread and that was an ability to remain calm and communicate carefully without undue irritation.

    Knights Errant is a unique work that brings together many adventures in very readable form.

    $60.00

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  • Lady Nelson (Tasmania) Ship’s Manual.

    Lady Nelson (Tasmania) Ship’s Manual.

    Published by the Tasmanian Sail Training Association in 2003 a first printing.

    A Training Manual and guide to the operating systems aboard the Sail Training Vessel Lady Nelson.

    Anyone who has been to Hobart has heard of the Lady Nelson a magnificent working replica of her 1799 namesake which had such an important place in Australian maritime history … more so Tasmania.

    The original vessel a unique sliding keel design was built at Deptford, London. She sailed for Australia under the command of Grant and was the first vessel to pass west to east through the Bass Strait. Grant completed significant coastal charts of the southern mainland regions … the advantage of the sliding keel was the vessel could get in close in shallow water. Later the Lady Nelson was to play an important part in the history of Tasmania or Van Diemen’s Land as it was then known … including being part of relocation of convicts from Norfolk Island.

    The replica is a beauty and the manual does it justice. Just under 200 pages, octavo, spiral bound. It starts proper with a useful history of the original vessel and, the replica which was launched in 1988 having taken two year to build.

    The manual comprises sections … Basic re rigging, mooring lines, heaving, helming, knots, lookout duties. Then intermediate … preparing for sea, sails and handling, anchoring, bells etc, closing down, man overboard! fires. The advanced section … emergency steering, fuels systems, freshwater systems, sullage and bilge, alarms etc. Safety includes first aid and “abandon ship!” … and a final catch-all includes a glossary of terms and a useful “where is it” for those on the find.

    An interesting book for anyone interested in the maritime and especially anyone coming to Hobart who wants to achieve a greater experience of the grand Lady herself

    A scarce and interesting item the Lady Nelson Manual

    $40.00

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  • Aphrodite’s Island – The European Discovery of Tahiti – Anne Salmond.

    Aphrodite’s Island – The European Discovery of Tahiti – Anne Salmond.

    The author a distinguished Professor of Anthropology at Auckland University.

    Large thick octavo, 537 pages, nicely illustrated. Published by the University of California Press. Los Angeles and London in 2010. A fine copy. A heavy book which may require and overseas postage surcharge.

    Comprehensive and sophisticated drawing on many references including Tahitian oral histories and artefacts as well as European manuscripts. A book that explores Tahiti and the European interactions with an outward perspective. The perceptions of the Tahitian and the fascinations of the Europeans.

    Tahiti and the arrival of the Europeans – a comprehensive work by Salmond

    $40.00

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