Aboriginal

Over The Range Sunshine and Shadows in the Kimberley’s – Ion Idriess

Idriess on patrol for twelve hundred miles with the North West Mounted Police. First published interpretations of aboriginal message sticks.

A first printing of the re-set edition published in 1951, the earlier form first in 1937. Tall octavo, 245 pages, illustrated from original photographs – some super images of aboriginal groups. Some age marks throughout, still a good copy.

Idriess in the Kimberleys

$35.00

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The Moth Hunters – Aboriginal Prehistory of the Australian Alps – Josephine Flood.

First edition of this important work – the very first history of the Aboriginal people who inhabited a large area of south-eastern Australia.

Published by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra in 1980. Large sized soft cover [no equivalent hardback] 388 pages after preface and helpful guides. Well illustrated with diagrams, images from photographs [50 plates] and sketches [60 figures, maps, tables etc.

Chapters include – archaeological background; geographical setting; ethnohistorical evidence; demography; material culture; of Moths and Men; tribal territories; rock art; settlement patterns; - Canberra, Alps, southern uplands; stone assemblages of open campsites etc etc.

Near the end we have commentary on the excavation of nine rocks shelters.

Followed by numerous appendices re specific understandings and discoveries – a wealth of information and a most rewarding book.

Readable most comprehensive work of Australian Aboriginal pre-history.

$240.00

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Reminiscences of an Australian Pioneer – Robert Barton [Uncle of Banjo Patterson] – 1917

Barton’s reminiscences – a “squatter of the olden days”. Born in 1842 in the central West belonging to the first generation to follow the original land-takers in the west.

Barton, was an uncle to Banjo Patterson and spent his life in New south Wales and Queensland. His portrait as frontispiece is rather dull but his life was not.

By 1840 the squattocracy was firmly ‘landed’ and well-to-do. Barton looks back positively to the convict origins of his family’s assigned men. As a young man in his twenties the bushrangers Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall bushranging gangs were part of his life. Later he is confronted by the trade union movement and striking shearers.

First edition published by Tyrrells, Sydney in 1917. Octavo, vii, 288 pages with portrait of author. Original purple cloth rather standard binding, spine faded as usual with the plum coloured dye. Pages toned but clean and some age to ends, ownership details on front ends and the odd helpful annotation from an informed early owner – likely first. Scarce and worthwhile copy.

One on the best Australian Pioneering stories

$140.00

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The Yellow Joss [Coral Sea, Cape York, Torres Strait] – Ion Idriess – 1942

Selection of tales from Cape York, Coral Sea and Torres Strait based on fact. Great photographs.

An early edition published in 1942 by Angus and Robertson, Sydney. Octavo, 266 pages, some age, the odd spot but overall a very good pre-war edition with a nice dust jacket – we love the design. Illustrated throughout from relevant period photographs

Idriess tales of adventure in the very North

$60.00

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Nemarluk – King of the Wilds

Nermarluk (1911-1940) was an aboriginal warrior who lived near Darwin at Moyle Plain. He was a fighting man well over six foot tall. He was the head man of the Chul-a-mar.

In 1930 he was imprisoned at the Fannie Bay jail but escaped swimming the eight km across the Darwin Harbour to Cox Peninsula. This account represents the last three years of his life when he was tracked by Bul-Bul, who had been brought in by the Northern Territory police to finally capture him.

1951 Edition Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney. Octavo, 213 pages, evenly toned, still war paper and some age in ends, very good dust jacket … all up a good copy of one of the harder to find Idriess reality based books.

Rare Idriess in the Northern Territory and the brave but dangerous Nermaluk

$40.00

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Headhunters of the Coral Sea – Ion Idriess – 1955

Idriess scarcity a tale for the young or the “young at heart”. Based on the true story of two young lads captured in the Coral Sea and their subsequent adventures. Based around the shipwreck of the Charles Eaton.

This is the new edition of 1955. Published by Angus and Robertson, octavo 207 pages, plus a list of the passengers and crew of the Charles Eaton and a chart of the cruise of the Isabella rescue ship. Within the text a chart of the Coral Sea – where the boys were wrecked.

Idriess – stories based on truth always have a special interest

$40.00

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Over The Range Sunshine and Shadows in the Kimberley’s – Ion Idriess

The Moth Hunters – Aboriginal Prehistory of the Australian Alps – Josephine Flood.

Reminiscences of an Australian Pioneer – Robert Barton [Uncle of Banjo Patterson] – 1917

The Yellow Joss [Coral Sea, Cape York, Torres Strait] – Ion Idriess – 1942

Nemarluk – King of the Wilds

Headhunters of the Coral Sea – Ion Idriess – 1955

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