Non-fiction

Journals of Expeditions in Van Diemen’s Land 1833 – John Charles Darke – Sullivan’s Cove Delicacy

A delightful limited edition by Sullivan’s Cove published in 1985. Number 20 of 175 copies. Charming fine gift like quality. Darke’s manuscripts are held by the Tasmanian State Library. Protected in semi-translucent mylar wrap as issued .. not shown here only because it does not photograph well … everything in fine condition.

A diminutive 43 pages Darke’s expeditions are set out in three reports … first, To the Peak of Teneriffe in 1833, second South West of the Peak and finally “Hobart Town Report”’ all dated 1833.

There is an interesting editors note the “Peak of Teneriffe” is Wyld’s Craig and the “Derwent’ variously referred to is in fact the River Nive.

Beautiful things often come in small packages

Posted may well be reduced on this item ..

$60.00

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The Wonders Of The Modern Railway – Archibald Williams – 1913

We really love the series of book written by Archibald William, this is one of his early ones having only at this time published “the Romance of Modern Engineering” and the Romance of Early Exploration” … there were more to come in this vein.

Published by Seeley, London in 1913 a first edition. Octavo, 163 pages plus Publisher’s Catalogue. The much preferred embossed pictorial binding with superb images to front [the Railway Pass between Lucerne and Brienz] and spine, titles in gilt. Some scattered foxing on the spongy paper … still a delightful rarity. Eight illustrations from period photographs.

Contents includes .. How the Midland Railway came into being; the Great Western Railway or the struggle of the gauges; the building of the Canadian Pacific and what it had done for Canada; the first of the Transcontinentals; the Highroad to Orange Land; the USA Railroads; the Railway as Conqueror and Mountain Railways.

Delightful historic record of the “Modern” Railway

$60.00

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Sea of Dangers – Captain Cook and His Rivals- Geoffrey Blainey

A modern book by our choices but a special one by academic author Geoffrey Blainey.

Published by Viking, Melbourne in 2008 a first edition. Large octavo, 420 pages, nicely illustrated and in fine near new condition. A substantial book.

Blainey interestingly writes a co-mingled account of the first voyage of James Cook where he discovers the eastern coastline of Australia when at the same time Frenchman Jean de Surville was in the Pacific looking for a supposed Pacific based Jewish colony.

It is suggested that de Surville was in and around Sydney in the months before Cook arrived.

Nice work – Cook not alone the French were around!

$22.00

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The Great White South or, With Scott in the Antarctic – Herbert G. Ponting

Subtitle … Being and account of Experiences with Captain Scott’s South Pole Expedition and of the Nature life of the Antarctic.

Herbert Ponting’s highly regarded and popular contribution to the heroic era library. A tenth edition 1930 having been first published in 1921 and it continued to be popular for many years to come.

Published by Duckworth , London. Octavo, 305 pages plus In Memoriam, with an introduction by Kathleen Scott which has numerous references to Scott’s diary where he praises Ponting’s abilities and contribution. Blue covers marked and pages carry some foxing, gift inscription on ffep. Altogether and acceptable copy and we feel nicely priced for the edition.

Of course this book is about the fateful Tera Nova expedition so its not without sadness at the end. The narrative as a whole is well written and a different perspective. The images sublime making the narrative come to life in a manner that could not be done otherwise.

Ponting essential Antarctic and photography.

$30.00

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Willem de Vlamingh’s Explorations of Australia, 1696-1697 – Willem C.H. Robert

Published by Philo Press, Amsterdam a first edition 1972.

Large octavo, 206 pages with fold-out map at rear and nautical charts, illustrated. Very good near fine condition.

A special and hard to get account of Vlamingh’s explorations of the coastline of Western Australia.

They left a pewter dish on Dirk Hartog Island and the journals and maps in the Dutch archive which form the basis of this scholarly work.

In Old Dutch and English translated with care of the then meaning.

Four excellent fold out charts assist the reader.

A special reference hard to find and fine condition

$80.00

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Voyage to the Great South Land – Willem de Vlamingh 1696-1697 – Ed Gunter Schilder

First published in Dutch then this version in English 1985 by the Royal Australian Historical Society. Translated by C De Heer and edited by Gunter Schilder. Fine condition. Nicely illustrated with fold out map at front.

The last voyage of exploration of the Dutch East India Company which included the West Coast of Australia. Incredible research and here published extracts from letters and journals pertinent to their discoveries.

Astounding detail and a superb reference of early Australian Coastal Exploration.

$60.00

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Journals of Expeditions in Van Diemen’s Land 1833 – John Charles Darke – Sullivan’s Cove Delicacy

The Wonders Of The Modern Railway – Archibald Williams – 1913

Sea of Dangers – Captain Cook and His Rivals- Geoffrey Blainey

The Great White South or, With Scott in the Antarctic – Herbert G. Ponting

Willem de Vlamingh’s Explorations of Australia, 1696-1697 – Willem C.H. Robert

Voyage to the Great South Land – Willem de Vlamingh 1696-1697 – Ed Gunter Schilder

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