Pacific Islands

Queen Emma – R.W. Robson – Scarce New Guinea

Few New Guinea expatriates have not heard of Queen Emma (Emma Coe) a Samoan-American who built a trading Empire and lived with great style a Ralum near Rabaul in New Britain. An extraordinary account.

A really rather scarce book.

A first edition published by Pacific Publications, Sydney in 1965. Octavo, 239 pages including an Appendix summarising the de Rays Swindle of 1877-1884 of which there is an Emma connection [A story in itself]. Another Appendix summarising Attacks by Natives on European 1876-1904 … they were busy! … and a useful index. End paper maps and illustrated from period photographs. The dust jacket has quite a large piece missing from the back but holds up rather well in Brodart. Internally very clean.

A Queen Emma amongst Cannibals

$60.00

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Nova Guinea et In Salomons – 1612 – Published by Henry Laurentz for Bertius engraved by Peter Van den Keere.

One of the earliest maps of New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. First published in 1598 by Cornelis Claesz in the Langes … Caert-Thresoor and is then issued in the Bertius Tabularum Geographicarum around 1600. This example, with the latinised name of the engraver as Petrus Kaeris clearly seen in the decorative cartouche, published in “Petri Bertii geographischer eyn oder zusammengeezonger tabeln” by Henry Laurentz in Frankfurt in 1612. Refer expert Geoffrey King page 82.

Finely engraved, very good condition, measuring 13cm by 9 cm. Only the northern coastline of New Guinea is shown, but in some detail … the south waiting nearly a further three centuries to be properly charted. Interesting to compare the Solomon Islands with that depicted by Mallet some seventy years later.

The Latin text in the body of the map is of interest. New Guinea being the “sailors” name for the land … also know as the Land of the Bird-of Paradise (“Terra de Piccinacoli”). Similarities with Africa and a land likely of continental proportions. Interestingly, a further development and re-engraving of this map in 1616 included a hint of Australia in the southern regions.

Price $290.00 unframed

A key maps for New Guinea and Solomon Islands collectors.

$290.00

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George Bass 1771-1803: His Discoveries, Romantic Life and Tragic Disappearance – Keith Bowden – First Edition 1952

A very good first edition of this well researched and written book on Bass.

Published by the Oxford University Press Melbourne in 1952. Octavo, 171 pages with illustrations and a fine dust jacket.

The author Keith Macrae Bowden was the author of the official Australian Dictionary of Biography re Bass and therefore holds a certain authority on the subject explorer.

After various introduction we have a family history and the first naval activity on HMS Shark and HMS Reliance. Off to Australia and the exploratory adventures on the Tom Thumb before a trip to South Africa. Time in Port Jackson and the discovery of coal before the “Discovery of the Bass Strait” and the final whale boat voyage. Plans for a fortune and his Pacific voyages and on to South America and his disputable fate.

Nice appendices on the Tom Thumb; Source of Information and a succinct listing of the subjects achievements.

George Bass a fairly full life

$50.00

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Rare Pacific Voyage Books from the Collection of David Parsons – Part I. Dampier to Cook.

Hordern House have done a number of similar works. This by far the best. Published in 2005.

English born David Parsons was executed at Corpus Christi, Oxford. He spent his adult life in the USA were applied his mathematical skills as a top actuary. The collection written up by the House was the first of two parts (see our copy of Part II sold separately), the most important works e would say in chronological order up to Cook.

Parsons had decided to focus in on early Spanish/ Portuguese exploration. The proceeds from this magnificent collection would have provided a pretty healthy budget.

Octavo, unpaginated, circa 125 pages, magnificently illustrated. Contains all of the key works one would expect, often of super quality or special provenance. Generally organised as follows … Dampier to Swift; The Anson Expedition (delicious); The South Pacific before Cook; The North Pacific before Cook; Cook. As always an excellent description of content and relevance of each work with a helpful selection of images

Super reference a collection to envy for sure.

$60.00

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The Japanese Occupation of Rabaul – This Crowd Beats Us All – Bishop Leo Scharmach M.S.C.

A very scarce account of the Japanese occupation of New Britain in WWII.

Polish born Leo Scharmach was a hero and undoubtedly saved many lives I New Britain and the civilian prisoner of war camp later established at Ramale. He held his own against the invading Japanese using humour, irony and strength of character … convincing the Japanese the local mission was still a German Mission and at one time that he was a envoy of Adolf Hitler. He did fight for the Germans during WWI, receiving an Iron Cross which he displayed to Japanese officers to good effect.

This octavo book was published by The Catholic Press, Sydney in 1960. 296 pages, illustrated from photographs and drawings. A bit marked in the ends mainly from old tape residue holding the now chipped and torn dust jacket … but a jacket of real rarity.

Very readable and informative

WWII and the Japanese in New Britain … the account of forgotten hero Bishop Leo Scharmach.

$60.00

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Trimaran to Tahiti – D.E. Barry-Evans

Doug Barry-Evans preferred to be called DE. A WWII naval aircraft pilot born in the UK but spent most of his life in New Zealand.

A First edition 1978, published by Richards o Auckland, NZ. Small quarto, 216 pages plus appendices. Really well illustrated and with really good technical information regarding the boat in the back section. A very good copy

From New Zealand to Tahiti an 1,800 mile there and back voyage with lots of excitement and adventure along the way.

A special sailing adventure with good detail on the islands visited

$30.00

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Queen Emma – R.W. Robson – Scarce New Guinea

Nova Guinea et In Salomons – 1612 – Published by Henry Laurentz for Bertius engraved by Peter Van den Keere.

George Bass 1771-1803: His Discoveries, Romantic Life and Tragic Disappearance – Keith Bowden – First Edition 1952

Rare Pacific Voyage Books from the Collection of David Parsons – Part I. Dampier to Cook.

The Japanese Occupation of Rabaul – This Crowd Beats Us All – Bishop Leo Scharmach M.S.C.

Trimaran to Tahiti – D.E. Barry-Evans

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