Travel & Voyages

Autobiography of Australia’s Great Aviator – Sir Gordon Taylor – First Edition

A particularly good copy of the first edition of this desirable autobiography published by Cassell in 1963.

Subtitled – “A famous aviator’s personal story of pioneering aviation: 1916 to 1951”.

Octavo, 366 pages, illustrated from period photographs.

Gordan Taylor (1896-1966) was one of those adventurous Aussies, one of the few that flew in WWI – he won the Military Cross [the Air Force was part of the Army in those days]. So, his story starts in 1916 at the age of twenty. On return to Australia, he pursued his passion for flying with vigour – teaming up with Charles Kingsford-Smith there are many adventures. One of which saw him out of the aircraft [Southern Cross] over the Tasman Sea shifting oil from one engine to the other, in a thermos flask, in order to make terra firma.

Lots more.

Gordon Taylor – one of the great pioneering aviation heroes

$95.00

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Antarctica – a Traveller’s Tale – Jean Bailey

First edition published in 1980 by Angus & Robertson. Tall octavo, 182 pages, well illustrated from the author’s couloured photographs and charcoal drawings by Lorraine Hannay. Good condition.

Jean Bailey is neither and adventurer or a scientist, which makes this book a bit different for the subject matter as easy going informative travel books on the Antarctic don’t come along very often.

She did the Argentinian route … around the Falklands [Islas Malvinos] then down through the Scotia Sea south of the South Shetlands and into true Antarctic waters, Anvers Island and Palmer Station through the Lemaire Channel and beyond the “Circle” proper to Adelaide Island. Deception Island with all its history follows … before making north across Drake Passage to Ushuaia.

Like we say written in a familiar story telling style with some gritty elements such as the tussle for the Falklands … not sure whose side she is on?

Antarctica a more relaxed, still informative approach.

$30.00

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Two Middle-Aged Ladies in Andalusia – P Chetwode – First Edition 1963

A very good copy of the first edition of this unusual travel book published by Voyager’s favourite publisher John Murray in 1963.

Octavo, 153 pages, nice images form the author’s photographs, maps etc. Good dust jacket.

The unusual title refers to the author and her mode of transport – a mule with a few years. They trek around this interesting part of southern Spain, Andalusia. A different sort of narrative with a strong, honest in the moment style of writing. You could be there, not only the place but the time.

Most interesting element – Don Diego – Valley of the Cave Dwellers. Wonder what it is like today?

Andalusia – a place to experience …. Take care of the mule.

$30.00

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The Search for the Islands of Solomon 1567-1838 – Colin Jack-Hinton.

A first edition of this substantial book [size and depth of content] published by the Clarendon [Oxford University] Press, Oxford in 1969.

Large scale royal octavo, 411 pages, illustrated very nicely with maps and charts. Good condition, some marks to page edges and title otherwise clean . A heavy book not really suitable for Overseas postage.

Starting with the Spaniard Mendana’a expedition and taking in several later voyages of discovery the Solomon Islands were finally understood from a geographical form point of view in the first half of the 19^th Century.

The author not only undertook painstaking research of manuscripts, early volumes and charts but also set out himself to understand this elusive group first hand.

The Solomon Islands probably the best in depth book on the early adventurous explorations that put the islands on the map.

$80.00

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Manga Reva – The Forgotten Islands – Signed by Author Robert Eskeridge – First Edition 1931

A Voyager favourite and the book about Manga Reva the largest island within the Gambier Group.

The Polynesian Gambier group are tiny with a total population of around 1,400 people mostly on Manga Reva. The total area is about 30 square km. At one time the islands supported several thousand but over logging ruined the islands position in Polynesian trade routed and they fell into decline before stabilising in the late 19th century. It is an important link to anyone wanting to travel to the Pitcairn Islands and also, unfortunately, has been affected by French nuclear testing in the Pacific.

Published by Bobbs-Merrill in 1931, a first edition. Large octavo, 286 pages, original blue cloth covered binding. Good to better condition some evidence of a damp mark in against the spine, bar that very clean and readable.

Signed by the author Robert Lee Eskeridge (1891-1975) a very talented American artist, and the book contains many illustrations based on his superb paintings, as well as his photographs. It is not clear how long he spent on the island but it was quite some years based on the relationships he formed and the depth of his observations.

Unique book on Manga Reva – Signed by the author

$70.00

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Antarctica – The NZ Party of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition – Helm and Miller – First Edition 1964

Published by the NZ Government in 1964 a first edition. Large octavo, 435 pages with numerous illustrations from photographs, charts and maps. A very good copy.

It was not until 1958 that the Antarctic was successfully crossed from one side to the other led by British explorer Vivian Fuchs. Edmund Hillary led the NZ contingent and this book is a handsome record of that contribution.

An essential Polar account – all the way across …. by adventure royalty.

$40.00

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Autobiography of Australia’s Great Aviator – Sir Gordon Taylor – First Edition

Antarctica – a Traveller’s Tale – Jean Bailey

Two Middle-Aged Ladies in Andalusia – P Chetwode – First Edition 1963

The Search for the Islands of Solomon 1567-1838 – Colin Jack-Hinton.

Manga Reva – The Forgotten Islands – Signed by Author Robert Eskeridge – First Edition 1931

Antarctica – The NZ Party of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition – Helm and Miller – First Edition 1964

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