Tasmania and Van Diemens Land

19th Century Microscope Slide – Soundings 240 Fathoms Storm Bay Tasmania – Norman London

A terrific slide of historical importance to Tasmania.

Prepared by Norma of London carrying the Norma monogrammed label and the familiar Norma cursive writing.

John Norman (1814-1893) was maybe the most prolific preparer of specimen microscope slides for the London scientific gentry. He operated most of the time out of various places in City Road, London. He won prize medals for mounts at the 1862 Expedition. Super quality and variety. He was joined by his sons Alfred and Edwin who continued his business after his death. There are many entries in the authority Bracegirdle showing numerous images of Norman examples.

This fine condition slide is from soundings taken [as stated at 240 fathoms] in Storm Bay on the way into the Derwent, Hobart, Tasmania. The soundings could well have been made by HMS Dart which was at one time conduction a survey of Australasia. The ship has an unusual history – well worth some research.

The soundings show remains of foraminifera [forams for short] set into a deep beautifully preserved mount – a quality typical of Norman.

Scientific dredgings from a deep part of Storm Bay, Tasmania. Top maker well over 130 year old and still in perfect condition.

$120.00

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Wooden Hookers [Fishing Boat] of Hobart Town & Whalers Out of Van Diemen’s Land – Harry O’May

Published by the author a fine copy published at Hobart in 1978.

The word “Hooker” in this context comes from the Irish :”Huiceir” a name for a Galway fishing vessel.

Octavo, 137 pages plus 101 pages indices not paginated. Very clean superb dust jacket.

Harry O’May’s compilation of two books packed with historic detail about the Tasmanian early whalers – superb photographic record nowhere else seen.

One of the best Tasmanian Maritime

$30.00

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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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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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19th Century Microscope Slide – Soundings 240 Fathoms Storm Bay Tasmania – Norman London

Wooden Hookers [Fishing Boat] of Hobart Town & Whalers Out of Van Diemen’s Land – Harry O’May

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

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

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