Tasmania and Van Diemens Land

Under the Southern Cross [Or Travels in Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Samoa and Other Pacific Islands] – Maturin Ballou – 1888

Matrurin Ballou was a respected travel writer of his day, and he put the effort and miles into his work.

Published by Ticknor and Company, Boston in 1888 we think a second printing. Also, published in London at the same time.

Octavo, 405 pages, original decorated binding. Chipped top to spine and frayed at bottom, otherwise a nice original copy, very clean inside.

One where we think the depth of observation carries the book. Much interest in gold discoveries wherever he went and a tendency to see Pacific Islanders as rather savage as was fashionable at the time. So usual references to eating human flesh here and there. Nice chapter on Samoa. Amusingly he was surprised to see women riding astride in Hawaii.

Please to see he went to Australia and Tasmania if you get the joke – suppose it was before federation … but still. And, he rightly thought Tasmania was beautiful and its women likewise.

Ballou well and truly under the Southern Cross

$90.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1885 [Including Johnston’s Coloured Geological Map of Tasmania]

Printed at the “Mercury” in 1886 a first published. An important journal containing a number of geological papers including Ore at Mt Bischoff by Baron Von Grodeck and some on coal measures. At the end we have Johnston’s Geological Table showing the proposed classification of stratified rock in Tasmania and his rather superb large, folding coloured sketch map of the General Geological Features of Tasmania.

Other papers that may be of interest include … an Eclipse on March 30^th 1885 by Biggs; Mosses by Bastow; Tasmanian Earth Tremors also by Biggs; Fossil Plants by the aforementioned Johnstone.

Original soft wrappers, clxi pages followed by 407 pages including a good index. A very solid edition to support the substantial content.

Scarce 1885 Journal with map often missing.

$120.00

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Seven Years in Tibet – Heinrich Harrer

This edition published by the Reprint Society, part of Rupert Hart-Davis in 1955. A super copy.

Translated by Richard Graves and with an introduction by Peter Fleming, the travel writer who liked extra adventure and elder brother of the James Bond inventor and spy master himself Ian Fleming.

Harrer in 1943 made a third and successful attempt to escape from an internment camp in Dehra-Dyn [look it up]. He headed for Tibet on foot. It was winter and he followed a circuitous route across the Changthang plateau and down into Lhasa. And this is just the beginning of the story.

Octavo, 320 pages with some good illustrations and a sketch map of the route which helps you along…. some of the photographic illustrations are very special.

Harrer deserved his freedom – truly riveting story

$35.00

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Honey Calcite – Northern Tasmania

An attractive piece of honey calcite from Flowery Gully, Tamar Valley, Tasmania.

Good example, like this, are occasionally found in pockets within massive dolerite. In the Tamar Valley, the calcite crystals include iron or manganese inclusions which gives it the lovely amber [honey] colouring without removing the natural translucent qualities. Fluorescent under ultraviolet light. Lovely mass of rhombic structures to this example.

10cm by 8cm by 6cm weighing 125gm.

Honey calcite a nice display and seemingly very soothing on the mind

SO SORRY SOLD

$40.00

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A Pair of Jacks [Two Tasmanian “Diggers” exploits in WWI] – J.C. Sheppard – Signed by Author.

A novelised account of the authors father, Jack Sheppard [born at Ranelagh in the Huon Valley] and Jack Doderidge [from Koonya on the Tasman Peninsula].

Self-published by the author in 2015, octavo, 258 pages. Super near fine condition. We can only find print on demand copies. This not so as it’s signed by the Author to Maria.

The author is not Hemingway, but nevertheless we find this book lively, information and entertaining when allowed. After all there are some tricky times including an enforced stay at Stalag 13C.

Novelised based on the true story of two Jacks from Tasmania.

$40.00

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Coins and Tokens of Tasmania – 1803-1910 – Roger McNiece

The definitive work. We really admire people like McNiece who through their passion for their interest put the hard yards in, the effort, to produce such a useful work. Tooley, Spence, King etc all come to mind.

Published by Platypus Publication, Hobart in 1969, a first edition. Rather rare. Printed on the Mercury Presses bound by Walch .. how more Tasmanian can you get.

Octavo, 112 pages, numerous illustrations to help one along. An excellent copy with a full dust jacket a little rubbed.

Roger McNiece was a founding member of the Tasmanian Numismatics Society.

And, more than coins and tokens. We start with Specie .. the currency of NSW and the consequences of the Settlement of Van Diemen’s Land. Sorrell and Brisbane’s reforms. Arthur and the Sterling Money Act. The allowance for South American Dollars, Sicca Rupees, Mexican Dollars ..

Then Paper Currency and Police Fund Notes and Treasury Bills. A lengthy chapter on Private Promissory Notes and numerous individual issuers. A chapter on Barter and the use of Rum Therein. Special Bank Issues and then the last third of the book taken up with Trade Tokens – so collectable.

More than Coins and Tokens – the McNiece Standard

$80.00

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Under the Southern Cross [Or Travels in Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Samoa and Other Pacific Islands] – Maturin Ballou – 1888

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1885 [Including Johnston’s Coloured Geological Map of Tasmania]

Seven Years in Tibet – Heinrich Harrer

Honey Calcite – Northern Tasmania

A Pair of Jacks [Two Tasmanian “Diggers” exploits in WWI] – J.C. Sheppard – Signed by Author.

Coins and Tokens of Tasmania – 1803-1910 – Roger McNiece

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