Exploration

Manga Reva – The Forgotten Islands – Signed by Author Robert Eskeridge – First Edition1931

A Voyager favourite and the book about Manga Reva the largest island within the Gambier Group.

The Polynesian Gambier group are tiny with a total population of around 1,400 people mostly on Manga Reva. The total area is about 30 square kms. At one time the islands supported several thousand but over logging ruined the islands position in Polynesian trade routed and they fell into decline before stabilising in the late 19th century. It is an important link to anyone wanting to travel to the Pitcairn Islands and also, unfortunately, has been affected by French nuclear testing in the Pacific.

Published by Bobbs-Merrill in 1931, a first edition. Large octavo, 286 pages, original blue cloth covered binding. Good to better condition some evidence of a damp mark in against the spine, more evident in the endpapers, bar that very clean and readable.

Signed by the author Robert Lee Eskeridge (1891-1975) a very talented American artist, and the book contains many illustrations based on his superb paintings, as well as his photographs. It is not clear how long he spent on the island but it was quite some years based on the relationships he formed and the depth of his observations.

Unique book on Manga Reva – Signed

$70.00

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Early Observations of Marquesan Culture 1595-1813 – Edwin Ferdon

First published University of Arizona, 1993. Octavo, 184 pages in very good if not fine condition.

A scholarly work by Edwin Ferdon who as a young man was archaeologist on the Thor Heyerdahl 1955 expedition to Easter Island. The notes and bibliography make it extra useful for those that want to more broadly study the history of the Marquesas.

Ferdon was thorough

$40.00

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Captain Henry Byam Martin R.N. – Polynesian Journal

Published by the Peabody Museum in 1981, Octavo 192 pages beautifully illustrated. A very good copy in a complete dust jacket.

Captain Martin’s first command, H.M.S. Grampus with orders to sail for Hawaii to await further orders which were to sail for Tahiti the French planning to subjugate the island, which they did by “bloody force”.

The actual journal was in the bowels of the British Museum … it is characterised by in the moment observations and a sense of humour regarding the struggle between the French and the British and the oft hopeless position the islanders found themselves in.

The text of an important one time “lost” journal .

$40.00

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Sailor and Beachcomber – Safroni-Middleton – First Edition 1915

“Confessions of a Life at Sea, In Australia and amid the Islands of the Pacific”. Published by Grant Richards, London a first edition 1915.

Thick octavo, 304 pages private library stamp at front and rear of Thomas Kinmore of Cork, Ireland. Nicely illustrated with 23 images from photographs. Pretty good condition.

An unusual book starting with “I run away to sea” but finds himself stranded in Brisbane and then off to the bush before leaving for the South Sea Islands. The usual chapter on cannibalism with much time spent in Samoa and Fiji, then Tahiti (and the usual chapter on morals) and the Marquesan Queens and back to Samoa before returning to Australia. Lost in the bush and on to the Gold Fields and Coolgardie. References to the Bounty and of course R.L.S. And quite a bit of violin playing – see his biography below.

Written in an interesting somewhat casual style but packed with observation if not sometimes a bit puffed up.

The author George Arnold Haynes Safroni-Middleton (1873-1950), also known as Count Safroni, was a British Composer, violinist, harpist, writer and astronomer. Born in Kent he studied violin with Pablo de Sarasate and later played with the orchestra at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Sydney. He toured Australia and explored Borneo, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia (and also obviously the Pacific). He composed “Imperial Echoes” in 1913 which for many years was the theme of “Radio Newsreel” on the BBC. Quite an odd chap.

In Australian and (mainly) in the Pacific – entertaining

$80.00

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Kamet Conquered (One of the Decisive Climbs in the History of Mountaineering) – Frank S. Smythe

This is the Uniform edition published by Hodder and Stoughton. London in 1947. First published in 1932. Thick octavo 371 pages with complete dust jacket. Some ageing on a couple of pages from a relevant inserted newspaper article … we have left it there as it adds to the interest. End paper maps, 36 photographic images and two maps in the text. A pretty good copy of an excellent account. Foreword by the formidable Francis Younghusband

In 1931 Frank Smythe and his team were the first to climb Kamet in the Himalayas in Northern India. It was the first of 70 plus peaks over 25,000 feet to be climbed. At this time the Tibetan authorities would not allow access to Everest. A brilliant mountaineer, Smythe gained a reputation as a special writer and packed his books with excellent photography. He died when only 49 after suffering food poisoning and malaria whilst in Delhi.

Kamet conquered at last … and not a bad place to smoke your pipe!

$50.00

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In the Heart of the Canadian Rockies – James Outram 1906

A superb copy, second printing 1906 published by Macmillan, New York one year after the first.

Octavo, 466 pages with the stunning pictorial covers a fresh as you will see. Nicely illustrated with 46 images mainly views of the dramatic scenery. Three maps two full page in the text and one large folding map at the rear in very good condition.

The writer, James Outram, apologises for his efforts. He need not as this beautiful book takes one through the Canadian Rockies without losing your attention or interest.

Chapters cover Banff; Mt Assiniboine; Lake Louise; a tragedy at Mt Lefroy; the Valley of the Ten Peaks; Field and Mt Stephen; the Yoho Valley and the Ottertail Group; the Upper Bow and the sources of the North Saskatchewan; Mt Forbes, Mt Bryce and further North. Useful appendices include the Selkirks; an accident on the glaciers of Mt Gordon; a record of “First Ascents” and “Hints on Outfits” – very stylish.

The maps are of the neighbourhood of Laggan and Field; the Yoho Valley and the large folding map is of the broader area encompassing the Canadian Rockies. The latter map is too big for our scanner so we will try and get and image online soon.

The Northern Rockies Beautifully Presented

$140.00

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Manga Reva – The Forgotten Islands – Signed by Author Robert Eskeridge – First Edition1931

Early Observations of Marquesan Culture 1595-1813 – Edwin Ferdon

Captain Henry Byam Martin R.N. – Polynesian Journal

Sailor and Beachcomber – Safroni-Middleton – First Edition 1915

Kamet Conquered (One of the Decisive Climbs in the History of Mountaineering) – Frank S. Smythe

In the Heart of the Canadian Rockies – James Outram 1906

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