Maritime

Tek Sing Shipwreck Treasure – Dish decorated in Lotus, Lingzhi and Peach – 1822

Qing Dynasty decorated dish recovered by Mike Hatcher from the Tek Sing shipwreck of 1822. Nice condition.

Beautifully decorated with bands of lotus flower around a central spiral and set in alternate designs of lingzhi fungus and fruiting peach. Similar decorations to external rim, potters mark at bottom. Bright and clean. 15cm in diameter 6cm high, weighs 220gm. Retains Nagel auction sticker.

Price $240.00

Bright well decorated treasure from the Tek Sing
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The Tek Sing Shipwreck – Background

The Tek Sing (Chinese for “Bright Star”’) was a large Chinese Junk which sank in 1822 in the South China Sea at the Belvidere Shoals. She was 50 meters long, 10 metres wide and weighed a thousand tons. Manned by a crew of 200. The great loss of life has led to the Tek Sing being referred to as the “Titanic of the East”.

Sailing from the port of Amoy (now Xiamen), the Tek Sing was bound for Jakarta, with a cargo of porcelain goods and 1,600 Chinese immigrants. After a month of sailing, Captain Lo Tauko took a shortcut through the Gaspar Straits and ran aground on a reef and sank in 100 feet of water.

The next morning and English East Indiaman captained by James Pearl sailing from Indonesia to Borneo passed through the Gaspar Straits. He found debris from the sunken Chinese vessel and survivors. They managed to rescue 190 people.

In 1999, marine salvor Mike Hatcher discovered the wreck. His crew raised what has been described as the largest cache of Chinese porcelain ever recovered. It was auctioned by Nagle in Stuttgart, Germany the following year

$240.00

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Voyages Toward Antarctica 1699-1839 – Below the Convergence – Alan Gurney

We have swapped the title and sub-title around as the sub makes perfect sense.

Another well researched book by Alan Gurney published by Norton, New York / London in 1997.

Octavo, 315 pages, some illustrations, great useful maps, 15 in all, at the back and the extensive bibliography. A fine copy.

This earlier Antarctic period is of special interest to Voyager. We start with Halley and the Paramore, Cook, Bellingshausen, Weddell, Biscoe, Kemp and Balleny etc. Earlier sealers made their mark without too much fuss.

Antarctic – the early years one for the left hand side of the bookshelf

$35.00

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Return to Tahiti – Bligh’s Second Breadfruit Voyage – Douglas Oliver – 1988

First edition published by Melbourne University [Miegunyah Press] in 1988. A super fine copy.

The first voyage written about a thousand times and in film of various qualities. The second successful voyage less well covered. This excellent book by Douglas Oliver covers it well.

Small quarto, 281 pages, illustrated to a high standard as you would expect from the Miegunyah Press, Melbourne.

After scholarly introductions we the Preparations for the Voyage and the outward journey first to Tasmania … then on to Tahiti and goings on at Matavai Bay. The return voyage with the true “Bounty”.

Bligh and the Breadfruit – finally

$45.00

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Confessions of a Beachcomber – E.J. Banfield – 1910

Published London 1910 Second Impression of the first edition of this Queensland classic – title continues.. “Scenes and Incidents in the Career of An Unprofessional Beachcomber in Tropical Queensland”.

Published by Fisher Unwin, London. Thick octavo, 336 pages, illustrated with map and 51 plates. Some wear to the striking pictorial red themed cover, bumps etc. Internally some foxing especially near ends – still a handy copy of this desired edition and priced accordingly.

Banfield an early confession of a Dunk Island one of the world’s most tranquil places.

$80.00

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The Life of John Ledyard the American Traveller; comprising Selections from His Journals and Correspondence. – Jared Sparks – First edition 1828

First edition of this scarce work published by Henry Colburn, London in 1828.

Octavo, 428 pages, bound in green cloth binding with gilt titles and library call no to spine. New ends but front free endpaper retained – manuscript ownership note George Stokes, Hean Castle – August 31, 1842. Despite the binding the interior is as clean and crisp, the odd spot but really very good if not better.

America’s first true explorer who was with James Cook on his third fateful voyage to the Pacific, Northwest Coast of America, Alaska and Hawaii. Ledyard subsequently attempted to reach America by traversing Russia. He died whilst exploring the Nile.

Ledyard did not publish during is foreshortened life. After his death, his journals and papers and other materials were collected by his relative Dr Isaac Ledyard. That was a far as he got, and it was down to Jared Sparks to edit and arrange the narrative for publication. Little is changed in the journals etc the words are those of the traveller explorer.

Over fifty pages are devoted to Cook’s voyage. Of particular interest is that Ledyard was in the landing party with Cook at Kearakekua [Kealakekua] Bay, Hawaii “and was near his person’ when Cook was slain. His narrative of the events and his views on Cook’s approach to the encounter with the natives are unique. Many other interesting elements … such as organising a party to climb Hawaii’s highest mountain (near 14,000 feet) Mouna Roa … give a clue to the explorer he became.

His travels in Siberia were extensive, completing some lengthy stretches by canoe … eventually politics and confusion came into play, and he was arrested by order of the Empress Catherine the Great. He survived … but not the Nile … the plans for which he part formulated with Joseph Banks in London. He died in Cairo after having taken too much vitriolic (sulphuric) acid seemingly to deal with heartburn!

Ledyard’s Travels Important Cook Content and More

$390.00

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The Life of George Bass – Surgeon and Sailor of the Enlightenment – Miriam Estensen – Signed and Inscribed by the Author

Published by Allen & Unwin in 2005. Octavo, 259 pages, nicely illustrated and in fine condition.

A thorough account by the meticulous researcher Miriam Estensen .. the end notes and references take up the last 35 pages.

Boldly signed by the author, on the half title, as a gift to a clearly very good friend

Bass the surgeon, and a good one seemingly, more at home on the waves as an explorer adventurer. Later after much accomplished his adventures turned to money making and off he set for South America only to disappear. And throughout all this his beloved Bess … who he left following his primary passion. Estensen explores all of this and provides insight regarding his whereabouts at the end.

George Bass a truly adventures medic.

$30.00

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Tek Sing Shipwreck Treasure – Dish decorated in Lotus, Lingzhi and Peach – 1822

Voyages Toward Antarctica 1699-1839 – Below the Convergence – Alan Gurney

Return to Tahiti – Bligh’s Second Breadfruit Voyage – Douglas Oliver – 1988

Confessions of a Beachcomber – E.J. Banfield – 1910

The Life of John Ledyard the American Traveller; comprising Selections from His Journals and Correspondence. – Jared Sparks – First edition 1828

The Life of George Bass – Surgeon and Sailor of the Enlightenment – Miriam Estensen – Signed and Inscribed by the Author

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