Australiana

Scented Isles and Coral Gardens – Torres Straits, German New Guinea, and the Dutch East Indies – C.D. Mackellar – 1912

Published by John Murray, London in 1912. The greatest travel and adventure publisher of all time.

A very interesting a quite early book on the authors travels. Whilst published in 1912 it contains accounts, primarily from his detailed letter from 1885 onwards. Some of the illustrations are from his watercolours for which he apologises regarding quality. He need not as they are really quite good. There is some mild foxing which is usual for this book as it is printed on that spongy paper of the period.

Nice images and content on the Torres Straits islanders, of Kerapuna in New Guinea and the birds of paradise, the Solomon Islands and New Britain under German rule.

The last 70 pages of 190 are devoted to Java and Sumatra similarly written as if in the moment and with numerous relevant images.

A valuable New Guinea and broader book from the pre WWI era.

The author Campbell Duncan Mackellar (1859-1925) was born in Australia. Little is know of his early life. He wrote novels of which only one was published in Austalia … the rest in England and the USA. This, and one other was his only non-fiction works. In his later life in England he became quite a celebrity through [Unusually} his interest in Balkan politics. He amassed some wealth and was a sponsor to Shakleton’s Nimrod Expedition (1907-1909) and Mawson’s Australian Antarctic Expedition (1911-1914). As a result he got a mountain named after him by the former and a group of islands by the latter.

$90.00

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The Fortune Hunters – Frank Clune – First Edition 1957 Near Fine

Angus and Robertson First Edition 1957 in very good if nit fine condition.

Frank Clune out in Jeep amongst the minerals and aboriginals. Uranium and Jack Noble (discovered Nobles Nob) and confronting story and images of murdered Kai-umen. More than the usual Clune.

Best Clune – First and Good

$40.00

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The Identity of Captain Cook’s Kangaroo – Morrison-Scott & Sawyer – British Museum -1950

Card cover Bulletin Volume 1 No 3 from the British Museum … brief 10 pages in total … nice images.

Captain Cook took back three kangaroo specimens all from the Endeavour River. The skull of one was in the Royal College of Surgeons, London until it was destroyed by a bomb in WWII. The only figure of original material is the plate in Hawkesworth, this was later copied even though it is a poor depiction (it was a skin after all). Then there is the painting of a skull by Nathaniel Dunce most likely one of Cook’s. And then a photograph (reproduced here) of the R.C.S. bombed skull.

Unusual kangaroos certified

$25.00

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Brady McCabe, Dunne, Bryan Crawford, Murphy, Bird McKenney, Goodwin, Pawley, Bryant, Cody, Hodgetts Gregory, Tilley, Ryan Williams and their Associates – Bushrangers in Van Diemen’s Land 1824-1827

Another superb folio sized publication by Sullivan’s Cove 1979 number 338 of a limited edition of 750 – in fine condition.

Based on the text of James Calder originally published in 1873 together with later discovered documents edited beautifully by Eustace Fitzsymonds. Heavy in content as would be expected of an authoritative work. End paper maps assist in the following of the bushranger(y) developments

Collectable and complete

A large book will attract Overseas freight supplement … please enquire

$80.00

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Mortmain – Van Diemen’s Land – Eustace Fitz-Symonds – Limited No 90 of 500

Published by Sullivans Cove, 1977 title continues … A Collection of choice petitions, memorials and letters of protest and request from the convict colony of Van Diemen’s Land; written by divers person’s both eminent and lowly.

A fine copy of a folio edition limited to 500 (this being no 90) carrying the bookplate of collector Harold Royle. Dust jacket now protected in fine condition. Mortmain (Dead Hand)

A veritable potpourri of historical documents of interest and humour. A goldmine of stories, both grave and gay, of those early days in the history of Tasmania when men and women practised terrible savageries on each other.

Members of the convict community had to obtain permission to marry. When Norah Corbett petitioned Governor Arthur for permission to marry Jorgen Jorgensen, the police magistrate of the Oatlands District, R. Anstey, warned Jorgensen his ruin was inevitable if he married the woman, as the woman was much addicted to liquor and had a propensity to beat and scratch the back of her lover when she was intoxicated. Arthur allowed them to marry on the condition they exchange vows that they would love and cherish each other from that day forward to the exclusion of all others.

As a contrast – a letter from John Gould listing the marsupial specimens he would like (including the Thylacine in male and female form) and that he would pay for the effort involved.

And many, many more

Real history in fine condition

A heavy book that will require an overseas freight supplement … please enquire

$80.00

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Governor Phillip in Retirment – Sir Frederick Chapman – Ed George Mackaness – Limited to 200 Copies and Boldly Signed by Mackaness

Original narrative by Sir Frederick Chapman. Here presented edited with an introduction, notes and commentary by noted historian George Mackaness. Published in 1962 this soft covered collectable was limited issue of only 200 copies all signed and numbered by Mackaness. This copy being number 11 nicely signed and complete as original.

Sir Frederick Chapman’s family knew Phillip in his later years – Mackaness uncovered previously unpublished material which adds to his usual well researched offering.

Governor Phillip More of his Illustrious Life

$40.00

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Scented Isles and Coral Gardens – Torres Straits, German New Guinea, and the Dutch East Indies – C.D. Mackellar – 1912

The Fortune Hunters – Frank Clune – First Edition 1957 Near Fine

The Identity of Captain Cook’s Kangaroo – Morrison-Scott & Sawyer – British Museum -1950

Brady McCabe, Dunne, Bryan Crawford, Murphy, Bird McKenney, Goodwin, Pawley, Bryant, Cody, Hodgetts Gregory, Tilley, Ryan Williams and their Associates – Bushrangers in Van Diemen’s Land 1824-1827

Mortmain – Van Diemen’s Land – Eustace Fitz-Symonds – Limited No 90 of 500

Governor Phillip in Retirment – Sir Frederick Chapman – Ed George Mackaness – Limited to 200 Copies and Boldly Signed by Mackaness

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