Maritime

The Dutch Seaborne Empire 1600-1800 – C.R. Boxer

Published by Hutchinson, London 1n 1965, a first edition. The author Charles Boxer was the Professor of Portuguese at Kings College, London at the time – he would likely have been the Dutch Professor also .. if they had had one.

Large octavo, 326 pages, illustrated throughout, very good dust jacket, a lightly embossed stamp on title,. A very good copy of a special work now hard to find.

Not your usual narrative, this book looks at the reasons behind the rise of the Dutch as a major seafaring nation from the mid 1600’s for over a century. Peace was signed after an eighty year war with Spain in 1648 and for the Dutch the seagoing expansion was near to phenomenal in terms of speed and ambition. Useful appendices include a chronology 1568-1795 which provides a framework …

The author Charles Boxer was an incredibly colourful character. Born into a military family (although his mothers family had been early sheep farmers in Tasmania). He enlisted and found himself in Japan in the 1930’s. Then a full blown spy in Hong Kong at the beginning of War II, imprisoned by the Japanese for three years. He married the most beautiful woman in Hong Kong , Ursula Tulloch, but left her for a life with the equally glamorous American writer Emily Hahn. Back in England his depth of knowledge was recognised in receiving the Lisbon sponsored Professorship which he made is own.

The Dutch … their power at sea and what was behind it …

$40.00

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Faeroe Islands – The Atlantic Islands – a Study of the Faeroe Life and Scene – Kenneth Williamson – First Edition 1948

First Edition published by Collins, London in 1948. Octavo, 360 pages, with the elusive dust jacket albeit foxed. Book a bit aged but excuse it for its now rarity.

The author, Williamson, was staged on the Faeroe Islands during WWII and this book is based on the seemingly ample spare time he had whilst there.

Forward by the distinguished Eric Linklater.

Illustrated with the authors pen drawings and from original photographs.

Good chapter on the whale hunting festival “Grindarakstur’ which will interest those that are interested. Excellent on the natural history, terrain, outer islands etc with a super Glossary of Faeroese Words and index of place names for those challenged by modern devices!

The Faeroes more than just a trivia quiz subject.

$70.00

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South Australia – Marine Bryozoan – Antique Microscope Slide – Ernest Hinton – 150 Years Old

Ernest Hinton worked as a professional microscope slide preparer from 1864 to the end of the 19th Century. His mounts are identifiable by his standard slide labels and small distinctive and very neat handwriting. See example in authority Bracegirdle Plate 21 and page 52. This slide we believe circa 1875.

Hinton became a member of The Quekett Microscopical Club in 1872 [as an aside if you want to know more about the Q.M.C. contact Voyager Bill]. He spent his first 20 years working for Edmund Wheeler, some think he produced all of Wheeler’s slides from 1870. He worked in his own name from Holloway, London. His slides are considered to be of the highest quality.

Here we have an interesting Australian subject a marine lacy bryozoan from the waters off South Australia where they particularly occur. They are actually colonies of small marine animals [or zoids] fused together. Millions can form a colony, and South Australia has over 500 species.

Fine Australian specimen from top London maker circa 150 years old

$70.00

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Bass Strait Crossing – the Shipping History – David Hopkins

This is a fine copy of the second printing of David Hopkins delightful work on the ships that have crossed the Bass Strait.

Self published, set and with artwork and illustration by the author. Published in 1997.

Large format softcover, 36 pages, with a hundred or more images from period photographs. An enjoyable book for those with an interested – the trading ketches are our favourite – something special about their “romantic” rigging.

Surprise your friends with you knowledge of the Bass Strait and its history of shipping from the beginning to the modern (ish) days. No planning issues encountered!

$30.00

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Sightings – The Gray Whales’ Mysterious Journey – Peterson and Hogan

A National Geographic Publication, 2002, first edition and quite hard to find for one of theirs – possibly because of its then price.

Octavo, 286 pages, nice photographic illustrations. A very good if not better copy.

The Gray Whale travels 10,000 along the western coastline of North America… breeding in the warm waters off Mexico and feeding in the chill of the Arctic.

Probably no better book on the subject and one that more should take an interest in.

Gray whales put the effort in – makes walking to work seem a breeze!

$35.00

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The Happy Island – Bengt Danielsson – First UK Edition 1952

A scarce book, the first UK edition published by George Allen & Unwin, London 1952 .. we also have the first US Edition. Octavo, 256 pages nicely illustrated with the authors photographs. Good to better condition with a chip lower dust jacket.

The author was part of the Kon-Tiki expedition. They were shipwrecked at Raroia which is a coral atoll in the Tuamotu Archipelago, to the east of Tahiti.

Danielsson and his wife returned there and spent a year and a half enjoying the relaxed lifestyle. A very funny account but there is tragedy in the death of a key character and the inevitable cyclone.

Perspective .. in 2012 the population of Raroia was 233, there is nowhere to stay so visitors are always invited to stay in the homes of maybe the friendliest people on earth!

Unusual Pacific account

$30.00

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The Dutch Seaborne Empire 1600-1800 – C.R. Boxer

Faeroe Islands – The Atlantic Islands – a Study of the Faeroe Life and Scene – Kenneth Williamson – First Edition 1948

South Australia – Marine Bryozoan – Antique Microscope Slide – Ernest Hinton – 150 Years Old

Bass Strait Crossing – the Shipping History – David Hopkins

Sightings – The Gray Whales’ Mysterious Journey – Peterson and Hogan

The Happy Island – Bengt Danielsson – First UK Edition 1952

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