Prestige Items

An Essay on the Ancient and Modern Use of Armories; Shewing Their Origin, Definition, and Division of them into their several Species. The Method of Composing them, and Marshalling many Coats together in one Shield. Alexander Nisbet – First Edition 1718 – Nice Item

Title continues … Illustrated by many Examples and Sculptures of the Armorial Ensigns of Noble Families in this and other Nations … To which is added, An Index explaining the Terms of Blazon made use of in this Essay.

First Edition and scarce. Printed by William Adams Jnr for James MackEuen (to be sold at his shop), Edinburgh 1718.

Small quarto, 224 pages preceded by introductions and subscribers list. With seven folding plates of multiple images of arms, and the aforementioned Index of Terms. Contains a detailed account of the reigns of British Royalty and the origins of their arms. Bound in original full calf in very good condition. Internally, very light browning and signs of old worming long gone. The quality and the condition of the copper engraved plates is something special.

Scottish historian Alexander Nisbet’s works on heraldry are considered the best on the subject.

Nisbet the Authority and an early First Edition of his “Essay on Heraldry”

$290.00

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Mawson’s Antarctic Diaries & Remembering Sir Douglas Mawson – Audio Collection

A audio tape (cassette) set of six – representing a five part radio series produced with the assistance of the University of Adelaide Foundation.

Surely a Polar Exploration antique of the future. The programs were produced in the studios of Radio 5UV at the University of Adelaide and broadcast in October 1990. The box set of tapes was produced in 1991.

After an introductory tape we have two tapes covering the AAE expedition and two for the later BANZARE expedition … a final tape “Remembering Sir Douglas Mawson”. The producer and narrator was Helen Oliver with Colin Elix being the voice of Mawson. A distinguished list of contributors includes Fred and Eleanor Jacka who compiled the diaries, Eric Rudd, Patrick Quilty and may others.

Anyone struggling to find a cassette player … get in touch!

An unusual yet special item of Mawson memorabilia.

$150.00

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The Narrative of Captain David Woodward [Adventures and Suffering in the Celebes] -1805

An extremely scarce account, we can only find one other copy available.

The lengthy full title explains … The Narrative of Captain David Woodward and Four Seamen Who Lost their Ship while in a Boat at Sea and Surrendered Themselves up to the Malays in the Island of Celebes … containing an Interesting Account of their Sufferings from Hunger and Various Hardships, and their Escape from the Malays. After a Captivity of Two Year and a Half: Also, an Account of the Manners and Customs of That Country, and a Description of the Harbours & Coasts etc. Together with An Introduction and an Appendix containing Narratives of Various Escapes from Shipwrecks, under Great Hardships and Abstinence; holding out a Valuable Seaman’s Guide. And the Importance of Union, Confidence and Perseverance in the Midst of Distress.

Printed by Johnson, St Paul’s Church-Yard a second edition 1805 and despite this truly scarce. Octavo, 236 pages, rough cut edges as issued. Contemporary half calf with marbled paper covered boards showing some wear.

Frontispiece a profile of Woodward, folding chart of the Island of Celebes, larger folding chart of the Western Part of the Island (Celebes) visited by Captain Woodward and a two page plate of Proas, Canoes and Implements of War of the Malays.

The first 143 pages comprises Woodward’s narrative the events of which commenced in March 1791. Woodward had departed on an American Ship from Batavia to Manilla. There was a scarcity of provisions and Woodward along with five sailors (one died soon in the events if you are curious about the title) set off on a quest to find supplies. They got separated from their ship and after many adventures and near death with thirst and starvation surrendered themselves to the Malay of the Celebes. They were treated as slaves and suffered many hardships. Eventually they begin to find help and after a failed attempt to escape finally make it to safety at Macassar. From there they are engaged on an American ship, Woodward as Chief-mate and sail for Calcutta. There Woodward meets Captain Hubbard with whom he sails to Mauritius and there Woodward is given Command of the Ship. From there to Bourbon, round the Cape of Good Hope to St Helena for repairs. Then to Ascension and on to England.

Woodward follows this adventure with a description of the Celebes its climate and natural history, religion and manners and a brief vocabulary of the Malay language.

The other misadventures described include … Captain Inglefield’s Narrative; William Boys’s Narrative of the Luxembourgh Galley; Lieutenant Bligh’s Narrative; Loss of the Lady Hobart Packet; Loss of the Pandora Frigate and several more.

Appendices include several useful articles including …. Case of Thomas Travis – seven days in a Pit; Experiment of a Physician; Remarkable Case of the Effects of Long Abstinence, List of a Number of Accidents, Shipwrecks, Escapes etc.

Captain Woodward’s incredible hardship is the Celebes among the Malay’s

$1,290.00

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Egyptology – “The Mummy’s Curse” – Letter from Sir John Alexander Cockburn 1929 re mysterious death of Hackett on Sayce expedition.

Manuscript letter over two sides on Cockburn’s letterhead – Dean’s Hill, Harrietsham, Kent, January 1929. To Mr Chesson concerning the mysterious death of Hackett, signed John A Cockburn. Very legible and excellent condition.

“I wonder if you ever heard that Hackett died dome years ago when with Sayce in Egypt. They had been witnessing the desecration of the royal tombs & superstitious folk imagined that the curse which falls on the sacrilegious had lighted on him …”

Sir John Cockburn was a politician and Premier of South Australia and later Agent General in London. He had wide and varied interests.

Archibald Sayce was a leading British Egyptologist and Voyager hero … we have an original letter penned by the great man and usually one or two of his books online.

James Thompson Hackett (1858-1974) was born in Collinwood, Victoria. He became a solicitor and partnered John Cox Bray who also became Premier and Agent General of South Australia. Hackett became greatly interested in metaphysics and the supernatural hence ending up in Egypt with Sayce. He died (of the curse?) in Luxor on 6th March 1924.

The recipient of the letter was Wilfred Hugh Chesson (1870-1952) writer and editor at publishers Unwin, London. Chesson has been involved published Hackett’s books on the unusual.

Mysterious Death in Egypt! Intriguing Australian connections

$120.00

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Tender is the Night – F Scott Fitzgerald – First UK Revised Edition – Grey Walls Press 1953

There are two versions of “Tender”. Scott Fitzgerald was unhappy with the result of his first writing published in 1934. And it was not very successful at the time selling only 12,000 copies.

Before his death he revised the text and left numerous notes and mark-up’s as well as a complete re-ordering of the work. His friend and literary critic Malcolm Cowley took the notes and helped re-publish the work consistent with Fitzgerald’s wishes.

Published by Grey Walls Press, London 1953. Octavo, 418 pages. Contents include an xi-page introduction by Cowley which explains the context and corrections. Pages 1 through 392 represent the novel and at the rear through to page 418 we have notes on the manuscripts … genuinely interesting and informative.

The book is in fine with a complete fine unclipped dust jacket. We have followed this scarce book for years and never come across a better copy.

In 1932 Fitzgerald’s wife Zelda was hospitalised with metal health issues. Fitzgerald lived near by and started a novel about Dick Diver a promising young psychiatrist and his wife Nicole who also was one of his patients. The story line mirroring his and Zelda’s own lives. The original issue of Tender used flashbacks making the narrative awkward to follow. This revised edition based on Fitzgerald’s notes and mark-up is re-set in chronological order. Fitzgerald regarded “Tender” as his best work.

First UK Revised Edition by the special Grey Walls Press, London. With the unique dust jacket by Edward Pagram. A real treasure.

$340.00

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19thC Cased Brass Surveyors Cross – French Maker

A very good example of a octagonal design surveyors cross in its original case.

A Victorian surveying cross, French in origin. The solid brass body bright, undamaged and not over polished. Comes in two threaded parts, the neck resting inside the head whilst in its box. Sighting threads intact.

The box is in good shape and measures 13cm by 9cm by 9cm. The whole weighs just short of a kilogram.

A nicely cased brass surveyors cross

$240.00

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An Essay on the Ancient and Modern Use of Armories; Shewing Their Origin, Definition, and Division of them into their several Species. The Method of Composing them, and Marshalling many Coats together in one Shield. Alexander Nisbet – First Edition 1718 – Nice Item

Mawson’s Antarctic Diaries & Remembering Sir Douglas Mawson – Audio Collection

The Narrative of Captain David Woodward [Adventures and Suffering in the Celebes] -1805

Egyptology – “The Mummy’s Curse” – Letter from Sir John Alexander Cockburn 1929 re mysterious death of Hackett on Sayce expedition.

Tender is the Night – F Scott Fitzgerald – First UK Revised Edition – Grey Walls Press 1953

19thC Cased Brass Surveyors Cross – French Maker

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