Aboriginal

The Invention of Terra Nullius – Historical and Legal Fictions on the Foundation of Australia. – Michael Connor

Hobart author Michael Connor has a varied career including teaching in North Africa and management at the famous Sadler’s Wells Theatre. Then he decided to broaden his education in Colonial History at James Cook University and then a PhD in Colonial History at the University of Tasmania.

Published by Macleay Press Sydney in 2005. Octavo, 361 pages, a super fine copy. Very hard to find must have had a very small print run.

This book explores the concept of Terra Nullius “Land belonging to no-one” a principal applied not only in Australia but in many parts of the World subject to colonisation. This is not intended, we believe, to be a provoking works … its sets out the facts and issues comprehensively and there are clues to its direction from the first paragraph.

A special book about an important and now in our faces subject. Worth reading with an open and inquisitive mind.

The defining principal [or was it] now struggling to get support albeit rather late

$60.00

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Marion Dufresne – An Officer of the Blue – South Sea Explorer 1724-1772 – Edward Duyker

The French Explorer who was the first to encounter Tasmanian Aborigines and was a precursor to the voyages of La Perouse, d’Entrecasteaux, Baudin and Dumont d’Urville.

This book is traces his life in incredible detail, as one would expect from author Duyker. Chronologies, references, bibliographies make this a first source.

Dufresne from start to finish

$70.00

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Of Rascals and Rusty Relics [Introduction to North East Tasmania] – G & S Miller – Limited Editon 1979

Effectively self-published by the authors, Hobart in 1979. Only edition limited to 1,000 copies.

A really super history so specific to the North-East of Tasmania an area rather neglected by historical writers and it shouldn’t be …

Quarto, vii and 106 pages, end paper maps, loads of interesting illustrations mainly from period photographs. A nice production in very good condition.

Starts with early European exploration and the sealers. Settlers and the hostilities and then the “gold” and the numerous rushes and mines and false alarms .. super stuff. The Chinese involvement and then eventually the decline of some townships as mining prospects became more realistic.

One of our favourite Tasmanian historical accounts … the neglected North East

$60.00

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Van Diemen’s Land [History of Tasmania to 1838] – James Boyce

A new edition of James Boyce’s super book on Tasmania. Published in 2018, with a Forward by Richard Flanagan.

Octavo, 388 pages, with maps, plates, notes and references. very good condition. The winner of a number of prestigious awards.

Van Diemen’s Land a Colony formed out of transportation of convicts. How they survived and settled and adapted to the land. Conflicts with establishment and bushrangers. The fate of the aboriginal community.

James Boyce’s thoughtful perspective of the early years and the impact of colonialism

$40.00

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The Dawn of Time – Australian Aboriginal Myths in Paintings – Roberts and Mountford.

A first edition of this “sequel” to Dreamtime. Another wonderful book by ethnologist Charles Mountford and artist Ainslie Roberts.

Published in 1969 again by Rugby, Adelaide. Same small quarto format 79 pages with a beautiful image for each of the myths recounted by Mountford received from Elders and Storytellers.

Includes some from the coast such as Kondole the Whale; Pipinyawari the Queen Fish … the Fighting Cloud Women; the Black Kangaroo; and our favourite Brolga the Dancing Girl .. albeit a little sad.

Remember this story when you see a Brolga.

$30.00

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A Living Voice of the Living Bush – William Ricketts – Wonderfully Annotated and Signed.

First and only edition published by the Victorian Forestry Commission in 1965 celebrating the incredible art of William Ricketts. Larger format soft cover, 24 pages with sixteen colour illustrations. A bit marked and aged on the cover, clean inside, forgive any deficiencies for his manuscript additions.

The annotation on the first blank page reads as follows … “From my Mountain of Remembrance where we remember with love everything that was created … [followed by his creation symbol underscored with his signature] … The Prayer of the Mountain – The Prayer of the Forest – My prayer – all are one Prayer … “

Added in different hand the name of the receiver.

William Ricketts (1898-1993) misunderstood and maybe he misunderstood … regardless he made beautiful objects. If it offends, well then that’s a bit sad. He was a religious man and felt the earth and whether he misrepresented and misplaced .. well that gives a job for the academic critics. Just enjoy them. They were badly damaged in a massive storm a couple of years ago … we hope they have been resurrected.

In the 1950’s he spent quite some time with the Pitjantjatjara and Arrente people in Central Australia … they inspired his work among the trees in the Dandenong Mountains.

William Ricketts – A rare annotation we believe.

$60.00

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The Invention of Terra Nullius – Historical and Legal Fictions on the Foundation of Australia. – Michael Connor

Marion Dufresne – An Officer of the Blue – South Sea Explorer 1724-1772 – Edward Duyker

Of Rascals and Rusty Relics [Introduction to North East Tasmania] – G & S Miller – Limited Editon 1979

Van Diemen’s Land [History of Tasmania to 1838] – James Boyce

The Dawn of Time – Australian Aboriginal Myths in Paintings – Roberts and Mountford.

A Living Voice of the Living Bush – William Ricketts – Wonderfully Annotated and Signed.

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