Travel & Voyages

The Convict Ship – Colin Browning M.D. R.N. – First US Edition 1855

Extended title …. The Convict Ship. A Narrative of the Results of Scriptural Instruction and Moral Discipline on Board the “Earl Grey”” [to Tasmanian].

This is the first US edition published by Robert Craighead, New York in 1855, having previously been published in London. Octavo, 263 pages, bound in original embossed slate blue cloth covered boards. Title to spine fairly faded and end papers aged with original owners name and gift inscription to front free end paper. The odd mark and crease internally but really rather clean and bright overall.

Colin Arrott Browning MD was appointed Surgeon on HMS earl Grey carrying 264 male prisoners to the penal colony of Van Diemen’s Land in 1842. He had undertaken that position a number of times … in the Surrey (1831); the Arab (1834); the Elphinstone (1840). He was certainly a confident man and the book mainly deals with the subject of the longer title … scriptural instruction and discipline. Along with this are observations on prisoners and crew along the way … a storm is encountered and they reactive words of the loss of the Waterloo and all of the prisoners who sailed in her … which made them very nervous. On arrival in Hobart they are inspected by Sir John Franklin who is impressed by their condition and mental state … a positive for scriptural instruction. Testimonies follow which make for interesting reading.

Fundamental record of practices onboard convict ships bound for Van Diemen’s Land

$180.00

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Shackleton – His Antarctic Writings – Ralling – First edition 1983

Octavo, first edition 264 pages with endpaper maps and illustrations. A fine like new copy.

The editor Christopher Ralling wrote the script for the BBC series on the great man … as a result they published this superb book. With pertinent extracts from The Heart of the Antarctic and South and magnificently illustrated this makes a a special companion book for the Polar collector.

Shackleton well put together

$30.00

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Red Mains’l – E.A. Pye – First edition 1952

Published by Herbert Jenkins, London a first edition 1952. Octavo, 199 pages well illustrated and with endpaper maps. Very good condition albeit some age given its age.

The Pye’s purchased Moonraker for twenty five pounds. She had been built at the end of the 19th Century and the builder had been paid an additional fifteen pounds then to make her “Extra strong”. She had been used as a fishing vessel so the Pye’s had to fit out the cabin and make quite a few improvements before they set off on an adventure of a lifetime.

They head out from Fowey south to the Canary Islands and across to Barbados and skirt the northern West Indies to the Bahma’s and Florida before a return voyage through huge seas via Bermuda and the Azores.

North Atlantic in a converted fishing boat – The Royal Cruising Club’s … outstanding Cruise of the Year.

$25.00

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The Last Voyage of the Schooner Rosamond – Haakon Chevalier

A first edition published by Andre Deutsch, London in 1970. Octavo, 248 pages including “Glossary of Nautical Terms” Illustrations limited to the endpaper maps and the schematic of the vessel. Reflects the lengthy delay to the publication of the account.

It is 1920 and Haakon Chevalier and Donald Snedden decide to skip University to experience the last voyage of the four-masted schooner Rosamond. And what an experience. Just check out the chart of the voyage and imagine the sailing conditions in more than one or two spots. Great narrative.

Hard to beat a four-master on its final mammoth voyage.

$25.00

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Sea Wanderers to Australia – Martin

Published by Macmillan, Sydney a first edition 1977. Octavo, 192 pages with endpaper maps and nicely illustrated. A very good if not fine copy.

Norman Martin’s car hire business got into difficulty as UK Governments changed the rules. This was partly the stimulus that drove him and wife Sheila to give it all up in 1970 and spend five years at sea in their 42 foot ketch “Shebessa”.

And what an adventure. Circumnavigating west to the Caribbean through Panama to the Galapagos, on to the Marquesas, the Tuamato Group, Tahiti, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji then down to Australia landing at Byron. Down to Sydney and Melbourne before sailing for Lord Howe Island and on up to New Caledonia, Santa Cruz, Cheery Islands. Through the Solomon Islands to Rabaul and on to Madang before turning back to Cairns and on through the Torres Straits and the long sail to the Maldives. The voyage continues with equal intensity.

Martins in the Shebessa a full voyage every beauty spot visited.

$25.00

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Sails Full and By – Dom Degnon

Published by Sheridan House, Dobbs Ferry a first edition 1995. Octavo, 244 pages illustrated. Very good near fine condition.

A seven-year circumnavigation in the 41 foot ketch “Taku”. With so much time they need a full crew of friends and family who come and go during the “voyage”. With more time than some they have more time for the exotic .. and in the Pacific Ahe, Tahiti, Samoa, Sunwarrow, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand. Then off to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea and then difficulties with the boat and they just made it to Australia’s Lizard island. And then more ….

A long time around the world an unusual narrative

$25.00

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The Convict Ship – Colin Browning M.D. R.N. – First US Edition 1855

Shackleton – His Antarctic Writings – Ralling – First edition 1983

Red Mains’l – E.A. Pye – First edition 1952

The Last Voyage of the Schooner Rosamond – Haakon Chevalier

Sea Wanderers to Australia – Martin

Sails Full and By – Dom Degnon

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