Maritime

Medal Commemorating Admiral Vernon’s Capture of Porto Bello [Panama] – Struck 1740.

Half length figure of Admiral Edward Vernon (1684-1757), facing with baton raised in the left hand, right hand outstretched. Inscribed around the edge “THE BRITISH GLORY REVIVE-D BY ADMIRAL VERNON”.

Reverse a view of the Port; six ships [of Vernon’s fleet” and two Spanish gun-boats. Inscribed below “BY COURAGE AND CONDUCT” and around the edge “HE TOOK PORTO BELLO WITH SIX SHIPS ONLY”.

Very good condition, 37mm weighing 19gm.

For those impressed but also confused by the elaborate artwork and extensive description … there is a whole world out there of collectors of Admiral Vernon medals, and the detailed description matters to identify the precise medal, there were quite a few types. He was pretty much admired for his success at capturing Porto Bello in November 1739 and he possibly became the most medal(ised) person in history.

The event was an early conflict in what became known as the War of Jenkins’ Ear. In 1738 Captain Robert Jenkins appeared before the House of Commons with his amputated ear which had been severed by the Spanish in the West Indies. This added to other stories of bad behaviour by the Spanish led to war. Veron, then Vice Admiral was in charge of the Jamaica Station. Vernon preferred small well armed fleets and his attack with only six vessels was seemed foolhardy by others ... he succeeded and had a mountain named after him and the most fashionable street in London was named after the battle.

Vernon takes Porto Bello and gets one back for Jenkins’ Ear …

$180.00

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Narrative of the Wreck of HMS Porpoise – Robert Purdie, Surgeon’s Mate of HMS Investigator [A Matthew Flinders Item]

Octavo, xiv, 134 pages, published by Hordern House in 2014. A very good copy. The best dust jacket ever with a facsimile period map on the reverse from Flinder’s Journal Atlas.

Robert Purdie was a young surgeon who was wrecked on HMS Porpoise on a reef off the Queensland coast (to become known as “Wreck Reef’’). This was the vessel originally taking Matthew Flinders back the England having completed his coastal survey of Australia, confirming the entirety of the land mass. Purdie’s account had been published anonymously in The Naval Chronicle in 1807/07. He had been a junior officer on the Investigator and was among those that stayed on the reef whilst Flinders and others rowed back to Sydney to successfully mount a rescue.

The narrative is lively, informative and readable … here well presented with an excellent introduction and notes by Matthew Fishburn.

Matthew Flinders and Wreck Reef by Surgeon’s Mate Purdie.

$30.00

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Gunfire in Barbary – Perkins and Douglas- Morris

Admiral Lord Exmouth’s battle with the Corsairs of Algeria in 1816

First edition, published by Kenneth Mason, Havant, England. Octavo, 199 pages, slightly toned, very good complete dust jacket a good copy of a most interesting book.

The combined English and Dutch fleets bombarded Algiers with all their might. The objective was to destroy the Corsairs who for near three hundred years had kidnapped masses of white Christians to become slaves to their Moslem captives. The slave markets of Algiers was a busy place. Admiral Lord Exmouth was successful but not without significant losses [greater than Nelson at Trafalgar].

Exmouth deals with the Barbary Corsairs

$30.00

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Sea Dangers [The Affair of the US Brig Somers] – Philip McFarland

First edition, published by Schocken, New York in 1985. Large octavo, 308 pages, a little age to jacket otherwise a very good copy.

In 1842 on the American Brig “Somers” a young officer and two seamen were hung for mutiny, a court martial followed for the commanding officer. A very well researched and written book.

Formed the basis of “Billy Rudd” by Herman Melville.

American Mutiny … or was it?

$25.00

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Raymond Howgego’s Monumental reference on the Exploration of Australia and Beyond.

Four Massive volumes which we regard complete, as they contain all the factual works [Howgego also produced a book on fictional travel]. Published progressively by Hordern House.

Land and sea exploration from the earliest days to circa 1940. Over four thousand pages in all with surely every event and fact worthy of mention. In pristine condition, weighing over 11 kgs so postage will be circa $80.00 at cost.

Raymond Howgego was teacher of physics before he gave that up to become a full-time traveller and travel writer. Possibly put down more words than any other living person. Seemingly can handle almost all European languages and Arabic and probably a few others. He still has an interest in amateur radio and fixing electronic items … we withhold his call sign, but you can find it if you try.

As new comprehensive definitive history of Exploration.

$580.00

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1600 Years Under the Sea – The Quest for a Sunken City – Captain Ted Falcon-Barker

Scarce unusual book. Published by Frederick Muller, London in 1960. Octavo, 225 pages, the odd mark, fading to board edges faded, cocked but excuse it, endpaper maps, better dust jacket than usual.

Ted Falcon-Baker was a most mysterious figure. Born in France in 1923 to a diamond prospector father and Cuban mother. He skipped school at fifteen and ran away to Australia [people grew up more quickly then!].

When WII broke out he joined the army and in Europe became a spy, spending time in Damascus. He was still only twenty-one when the war ended. He bought a yacht [after other adventures], learned to dive and set off on the adventure recorded in this book to find Epidarous a legendary submerged city in the Adriatic – they found … along with a few unexploded WWI ordinance.

Actor Jon Pertwee was one of his backers although commitments meant he makes a brief appearance … all this before Doctor Who.

Epidarous found by the mysterious and adventurous Falcon-Baker

$35.00

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Medal Commemorating Admiral Vernon’s Capture of Porto Bello [Panama] – Struck 1740.

Narrative of the Wreck of HMS Porpoise – Robert Purdie, Surgeon’s Mate of HMS Investigator [A Matthew Flinders Item]

Gunfire in Barbary – Perkins and Douglas- Morris

Sea Dangers [The Affair of the US Brig Somers] – Philip McFarland

Raymond Howgego’s Monumental reference on the Exploration of Australia and Beyond.

1600 Years Under the Sea – The Quest for a Sunken City – Captain Ted Falcon-Barker

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