Western Australia

Black Swan – George Shaw – 1808

An original copper engraving of the Australian Black Swan.

Engraved in copper by Eastgate and published by G Kearlsey of Fleet street, London on October 1st 1808 – dated in the plate. It was published as part of the great George Shaw’s Zoological Lectures which were performed at the Royal Institution the following year.

A good strong engraving, 210mm by 125 mm. paper showing a little age but really a very good example of this very early Black Swan image.

Proud Black Swan done well.

$120.00

Updating cart…

The Voyage of HMS Galatea – Visit to Australia – Prince Alfred – 1867

Medal commemorating the Australian visit of the then Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Alfred, to Australia.

Created and cast by Thomas Stokes of Melbourne. There are two slightly different forms, with differing decorative borders.

On the obverse the Duke’s bust in naval dress uniform with Ribbon and Star of the Garter. Legend HRH Duke of Edinburgh. Surrounded by an ornamental border. Reverse with a starboard broadside view of the “Galatea” under steam and sail, the top gallant sails in the act of being taken in. Legend … to Commemorate the Visit of HRH Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh KG to Australia – HMS Galatea 1867.

See the Greenwich National Maritime museum for an example – reference MEC1362.

47mm in diameter, 40 gm white metal. Holed for a loop as usual, a couple of scratches, negligible edge bumps, a pretty good example.

HMS Galatea circumnavigated the World and spent six months in Australia. During his stay the Prince was subject to an assassination attempt by an Irishman – he was shot but the bullet actually glanced off his ribs and he survived.

Historical Maritime Medal – HMS Galatea in Australia 1867.

$125.00

Updating cart…

No Image Available

A Convict Story – The Lost Lives of Lyra and William Sykes – “These few lines” – Graham Seal

Published by ABC Books, Sydney in 2006. This book took twenty year of research in England and Australia a narrative based around fragments of the separated lives of Lyra and William Sykes.

Living in northern England, William Sykes was a poacher and during such an escapade he got into an altercation and killed the gamekeeper. His penalty was transportation to the Swan River in Western Australia.

Octavo, 234 pages, nicely illustrated with images of letters exchanges, journals and places relevant to both Myra and William. Fine condition.

Interesting convict story well researched, written and presented.

$20.00

Updating cart…

Shipwreck Archaeology in Australia – Michael Nash

A fine copy of Michael Nash’s all embracing Australian shipwreck book.

Published by the University of Western Australia Press in 2007. Squarish large octavo, 244 pages, very nicely illustrated throughout, end paper illustration of the dreadful goings on at the Batavia camp.

Pulled together by Nash with contributions from a number of other experts in the field, or the water really.

The fifteen wrecks dealt with in detail are presented chronologically starting with the Batavia (1629) .. then a leap to Hunter’s Sirius (1790) .. the Pandora (1791) all the way to the Tasman (1883). We say fifteen but the last is a place for wrecks Garden Island (1906-1945). Notes, glossary etc finish what is a really good reference or stand alone work.

The other dimension with this book is the back history of many of wrecks – First Fleet; Bounty Related; Slavers; Walers etc and for some another aspect such as Experimental Reconstruction (Zanoni 1867); Timber Shipbuilding techniques (Water Witch 1842).

Australian Wrecks – the way in to the subject – no better presentation.

$50.00

Updating cart…

Batavia – The first and last voyage – Phillipe Godard.

Published by Abrolhos, Perth in 1993. Large quarto, 332 pages, a high quality production. Heavy will require a postage supplement if going overseas. Fine condition.

Well researched and stunningly illustrated our favourite Batavia book. All about the V.O.C., Francisco Pelsaert, the voyage and the Houtman Abrolhos and the wreck, Cornelisz’ Webb of treachery, Cat’s Island … and then much later the discovery of the wreck the treasures and the building of the replica and rebirth.

Become a true Batavia Expert – a photographic delight

$60.00

Updating cart…

Batavia’s Graveyard – The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led History’s Bloodiest Mutiny – Dash

First edition of Mike Dash’s book on the bloody Batavia story. Published by Weidenfeld & Nicholson, London 2002.

Thick octavo, 398 pages including extensive bibliography. A very good. Illustrated with maps and charts.

The Dutch East India vessel Batavia struck an uncharted reef off the West Coast of Australia on her maiden voyage in 1629. A total of 332 men, women and children were on board. A few headed off in a life boat to seek help. The remainder ended up on a small coral island less than a kilometre long. A band of mutineers began a cold – blooded killing spree … only eight remained alive when help arrived three months later. The ringleader Jeronimus Cornelisz a failed apothecary and heretic.

Gruesome true story of the strangest atrocities following a shipwreck off Australia in 1629.

$35.00

Updating cart…

Black Swan – George Shaw – 1808

The Voyage of HMS Galatea – Visit to Australia – Prince Alfred – 1867

A Convict Story – The Lost Lives of Lyra and William Sykes – “These few lines” – Graham Seal

Shipwreck Archaeology in Australia – Michael Nash

Batavia – The first and last voyage – Phillipe Godard.

Batavia’s Graveyard – The True Story of the Mad Heretic Who Led History’s Bloodiest Mutiny – Dash

Product Categories