Crime of the True Variety

Callaghan & Batman (Van Diemens’s Land 1825) – Edited by E.F. [Eustice FitzSymonds]

Number 476 of a limited edition of 500 copies published by the classy Sullivan’s Cove in 1978.

An unusual book in proportions (33cm x 19cm), 43 pages, with double page map at centre. Printed on thick wove paper. Dust jacket from a picture by Lycett. A very good copy.

Intriguing in content. Was the convict Eliza Callaghan hidden at Ben Lomond by John Batman in 1825? Contains police evidence as well as details of her trial at the Old Bailey and statements from the inquest after her murder at Geelong in 1852. A love story portrayed by contemporary documents and reports.

Tasmanian Mystery – a nice production

$40.00

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Operation Cicero – the Espionage Sensation of the War – L.C. Moyzisch – 1950

First edition published 1950 by Wingate, London. Octavo, 208 pages, a nice copy.

Written from a German perspective by Moyzisch who the Attache at the German Embassy in Ankara was. An “authenticity” post-script by Franz von Papen who was the Ambassador.

An Albanian, Elyesa Bazna, code named Cicero had rolls of film for sale about key British intelligence … the German’s paid up and the details of the Moscow, Cairo and Tehran conferences of the Allies were available to Hitler. However, what became of the information … and extraordinary spy account … once disbelieved but now authenticated.

Rare spy story published shortly after WWII

$40.00

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Treks and Palavers [Travels in Nigeria]-Richard Oakley – 1938

Before we go further “Palaver” is meant in the truest sense – an improvised meeting which was often held with groups to iron out some difficulty – Oakley was good with a palaver … Voyager likes this book – there is something special about it …

A first edition published by Seeley etc, London [they published a number of high quality serious travel accounts. Thick octavo, 300 pages, good sketch map and numerous full page illustrations from original photographs. No jacket, original red cloth covered binding, top edge stained red as required – very good condition.

A full and interesting account from Captain Oakley who was for a period a Magistrate in the Nigerian Administrative Service. He draws on other key references as well as his own extensive travels and experiences. We like it even more the deeper he gets into Nigeria up towards the Chad border. Surprisingly few good accounts on this African major and their now disappearing underlying culture(s)

Richard Oakley and one of the better accounts on Nigeria.

$60.00

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Outlaws of the Leopolds – Ion Idriess

One of the more difficult to find Idriess books – about Sandamara, also known as Pigeon, a native tracker who set about to drive out the white settlers from the Kimberley’s and King Leopold Range in northern Western Australia.

Published by Angus and Robertson in 1955. Tall octavo, 244 pages, nicely illustrated from period photographs, end paper maps, very good dust jacket. Overall, a very good and worthy copy.

Idriess with important history of the north-west.

$60.00

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Reminiscences of an Australian Pioneer – Robert Barton [Uncle of Banjo Patterson] – 1917

Barton’s reminiscences – a “squatter of the olden days”. Born in 1842 in the central West belonging to the first generation to follow the original land-takers in the west.

Barton, was an uncle to Banjo Patterson and spent his life in New south Wales and Queensland. His portrait as frontispiece is rather dull but his life was not.

By 1840 the squattocracy was firmly ‘landed’ and well-to-do. Barton looks back positively to the convict origins of his family’s assigned men. As a young man in his twenties the bushrangers Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall bushranging gangs were part of his life. Later he is confronted by the trade union movement and striking shearers.

First edition published by Tyrrells, Sydney in 1917. Octavo, vii, 288 pages with portrait of author. Original purple cloth rather standard binding, spine faded as usual with the plum coloured dye. Pages toned but clean and some age to ends, ownership details on front ends and the odd helpful annotation from an informed early owner – likely first. Scarce and worthwhile copy.

One on the best Australian Pioneering stories

$140.00

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Nemarluk – King of the Wilds

Nermarluk (1911-1940) was an aboriginal warrior who lived near Darwin at Moyle Plain. He was a fighting man well over six foot tall. He was the head man of the Chul-a-mar.

In 1930 he was imprisoned at the Fannie Bay jail but escaped swimming the eight km across the Darwin Harbour to Cox Peninsula. This account represents the last three years of his life when he was tracked by Bul-Bul, who had been brought in by the Northern Territory police to finally capture him.

1951 Edition Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney. Octavo, 213 pages, evenly toned, still war paper and some age in ends, very good dust jacket … all up a good copy of one of the harder to find Idriess reality based books.

Rare Idriess in the Northern Territory and the brave but dangerous Nermaluk

$40.00

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Callaghan & Batman (Van Diemens’s Land 1825) – Edited by E.F. [Eustice FitzSymonds]

Operation Cicero – the Espionage Sensation of the War – L.C. Moyzisch – 1950

Treks and Palavers [Travels in Nigeria]-Richard Oakley – 1938

Outlaws of the Leopolds – Ion Idriess

Reminiscences of an Australian Pioneer – Robert Barton [Uncle of Banjo Patterson] – 1917

Nemarluk – King of the Wilds

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