Biography/ autobiography

T.E. Lawrence by his friends – Edited A.W.Lawrence 1938

“I deem him one of the greatest beings alive in our time. I do not see his like elsewhere. I fear whatever our need we shall never see his like again” – Churchill.

An important book in the Lawrence cannon. Published in January1938 a fourth impression, seven months after the first. Large thick octavo, 595 pages, with illustrations. No jacket (scarce) but a pretty clean and solid copy.

Contributors include numerous historical figures – Churchill, Allenby, Bernard Shaw, Kennington, Robert Graves, E.M. Forster, Ronald Storrs.

We also very much like … at the front “Dates in the life of T.E. Lawrence” the Chapter by Jonathan Cape – his Publisher and near the back “Books at Clouds Hill” a complete descriptive list and following that ”Gramophone Records at Clouds Hill”.

Voyager has fantasised about getting a copy of all the Clouds Hill books – unfortunately a number e.g. the early Morris books are out of Voyager’s pocket size.

Lawrence by his special Friends few could compete.

$90.00

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Errol Flynn – The Tasmanian Story – Don Norman

Scarce, first and only edition of this ditty on Errol Flynn, the most dangerous man ever in tights. Born a stones throw from Voyager’s abode he is a Sandy Bay / Battery Point legend.

This work was promoted by Messrs Hurst and Metcalf who at the time of publication in 1981 were the owners of the Errol Flynn Theatre of Tasmanian History which was poised within the Masterpiece Fine Art Gallery in Sandy Bay.

Card covered, 57 pages plus list of Errol Flynn’s Motion Pictures – there were lots; and a dapper image of “In like” on the rear cover. Lots of images throughout – Flynn looked rather mischievous even at two year old. A number of his schools – we think he was asked to leave a couple.

Errol Flynn the best account of his Tasmanian upbringing

$40.00

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Matthew Flinders Private journal 1803-1814 – the Mitchell Library Manuscript

This is the deluxe edition by Genesis Publications in association with Hedley Australia printed in 1986. Originally published with another work here presented alone. Quarter leather bound with gilt Flinders to front, impressed title to spine which has faux raised bands, all page edges richly gilt … a quality expected from Genesis.

Fine condition. A heavy book unsuitable for Overseas purchase.

Folio, 365 pages of facsimile and useful index at the end … Geoffrey Ingleton’s useful introductory note helps one in to the manuscript. This is Flinders in Mauritius incarcerated by the French on his way black to England to complete his charts and publication which was to change the name of the lucky continent to Australia. Flinders hand surprisingly readable which is what makes for a good facsimile manuscript … still needs a little patience and the index helps you around

We say incarcerated, and he did have his freedom removed, but he had an easy time of it .. albeit rather lengthy and annoying.

Flinders in Mauritius beautifully presented.

$220.00

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The Randall Art Gallery and School of Painting – South Brisbane – Catalogue of Works in Oils, Water Colours, Pastels, Black and White etc by the Late R.J. Randall

A very scarce dedication to Richard John Randall (1869-1906), Queensland Artist. As you can see he died early – of a suggested brain tumour. In such a short time he had produced an incredibly broad body of work – he was a poet also.

No date of publication, we can only find the National Library copy and they suggest with a ? 1919 – we think maybe 1907 because of a memoriam dated such, at the very back, from his father.

His father George was involved in immigration and spent quite some time in England. Richard accompanied him on an extended stay in early adulthood and studied under known English landscape masters .. Randall himself was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Art for his “Hay Mill”.

His death was a tragic jolt for his father George who spent many years afterwards promoting his sons works – he commissioned this Catalogue of Works.

Softcover, 90 pages, illustrated throughout with images of the paintings and super images of his studios and the official collection of his works which were donated to a named gallery at the City Hall. Very good 12 page narrative appreciation to front.

There is a further story if you have the patience for it. Randall’s Studio was preserved in South Brisbane but came under pressure from developers in the 1990’s – the type that knocked things down in the night – then and still now. The top floor was preserved and it was moved by the Council – it then suffered from neglect and vandalism and was moved again to the Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens – you can see it there near the car park.

John Randall perhaps up there for Queensland’s greatest artist taken early but left a lot.

$140.00

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The Scandalous Adventures of Captain Frederick Watson Wentworth – Hysterical Memoirs “edited” by Reg A Watson – Signed by the Author

Reg Watson, who left us last year, was a prolific writer. Many serious and seriously researched works flowed from his pen.

Effectively self published by the author in 2016 backed by the Anglo-Keltic Society. Large format perfect bound 92 pages, very good condition.

This is for sure a work of humour right from the Hysterical and the warning from the Canberra Censor … restricted publication adults only we – know this is yarn over fact.

Captain Wentworth – A Tasmanian Rake and Cad (1872-1949) certainly had an eventful life. Always wore his trousers one size to small to show his fine cut to the female kind. During his exploits he meets Breaker Morant and Chubbie Miller the female aviator and survives the Titanic. The erotic parts exit but are tame enough for general release – he seemed to attract women with a penchant for high leather boots and whips …

Signed copy of the readable enjoyable adventures of Captain Wentworth.

$35.00

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Lake Victoria to Khartoum with Rifle and Camera – Captain F.A. Dickinson [Introduction by Winston Churchill] – First Edition 1910.

A rare book and one of the rarest books in the Churchill cannon. If you have a first edition of Churchill’s “My African Journey” then you are lucky and you will appreciate that this book by the guide of that event would make the perfect companion.

Published by John Lane (Bodley Head), London, 1910.. in the days when you spoke to John Lane. Thick octavo, 334 pages after preliminaries and before publishers catalogue. Well over a hundred illustrations from photographs [not included in the pagination]. Bound in unusual orange/ red cloth covered boards, gilt titles and embellishment, decorative lines. The covers are quite well faded especially to the spine and the odd mark, this is common for this binding. Otherwise internally very clean indeed, just a couple of light spots on the title.

Churchill in his introduction lavishes praise on Ricketts as a guide and organiser. The party walked/ travelled the whole Uganda and more, some 1,500 miles. Churchill did some of it on bicycle. A lot of bagging went on along the way – all very jolly. Churchill took them to Khartoum and enlivened the conversation with his first hand account of encounters during his various African military skirmishes.

Churchill in Africa – mutual admiration – Ricketts

$390.00

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T.E. Lawrence by his friends – Edited A.W.Lawrence 1938

Errol Flynn – The Tasmanian Story – Don Norman

Matthew Flinders Private journal 1803-1814 – the Mitchell Library Manuscript

The Randall Art Gallery and School of Painting – South Brisbane – Catalogue of Works in Oils, Water Colours, Pastels, Black and White etc by the Late R.J. Randall

The Scandalous Adventures of Captain Frederick Watson Wentworth – Hysterical Memoirs “edited” by Reg A Watson – Signed by the Author

Lake Victoria to Khartoum with Rifle and Camera – Captain F.A. Dickinson [Introduction by Winston Churchill] – First Edition 1910.

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