Western Australia

Glimpses of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand – Captain Barry – First edition 1903

Subtitled … “A Thrilling Narrative of the Early Days: Embodying the Life-History of Captain William Jackson Barry Who Arrived in New South Wales in 1829” … and it is really quite “Thrilling”

Published by Brett, Auckland in 1903. Small quarto, 211 pages, decorated end papers, illustrated with photographic portraits. Original cloth covered binding with gilt embossed design and title to front and spine … gilt a little faded … otherwise a very good solid unmarked copy.

William Barry was born in 1819. His father was a vet. At a dinner party Sir John Alcock took a liking to him and asked his father to let William enter his service. With this achieved, Alcock set off for Australia with young William on the “Red Rover” in the year 1828. Typhus broke out onboard and many died. On arrival at Sydney the ship was quarantined for six weeks … it was dreadful… and life ashore not much better. Alcock hated it and organised swift passage to Buenos Ayres. On the way to the dock Barry decided he liked Sydney so much he ran away and hid in a tank until the ship had gone. And so Barry’s life in the Antipodes started then … at the age of ten!

His life was certainly different … at various times he sailed … carrying Timor Ponies to Sydney … shipwrecked nearly starved and rescued. Other times he was in the gold fields in Victoria (Eureka), New Zealand and California. Was variously a butcher (his early trade), farmer, auctioneer and horse dealer (bushrangers robbed him) … married more than once into money.

Near the back of the book is a potted history of Australia and a selection of biographies of notable gents … the most common feature being and incredible collection of beards

Captain Barry the sort of life films should be made about

$60.00

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France Australe – Marchant

Leslie Marchant’s highly regarded book a very good first edition 1982.

A focus on French activity with a strong focus on Western Australia. Based on previously unused naval and other archival records in France.

The story of French exploration and their plans to colonise Australia. Commencing as early as the reign of Louis XII challenging the Spanish and Portuguese a period referred to as “the ancient regime” through the Napoleonic period and the Bourbon restoration.

The French, Western Australia and more

$60.00

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Banded Hare-wallaby or Munning – Lesson – c1830

Le Kangourou elegant (Halmaturus elegans) or …. Banded Hare-wallaby or Munning

Original hand coloured engraving originally drawn by Charles Alexander Lesueur (1778-1846) . Good strong clean example. Produced for Rene Primevere Lesson (1794-1849) for his extension of the great natural history work originally produced by Count Buffon. They were published in Paris in c1830.

The Banded Hare-wallaby is considered vulnerable and is found on Bernier Island and Dorre Island off Western Australia

Lesueur participated in the Baudin Expedition, Geographie and Naturaliste, originally taken on as a gunner. Baudin discovered his talent for art and appointed him to illustrate his private journal. Lesson participated as doctor and naturalist in the Duperry voyage round the world on board La Coquille (1822-1825).

Price $120.00 unframed … enquire if you wish framing options.

The rare Australian Banded Hare-wallaby … look after him!

$90.00

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Willem de Vlamingh’s Explorations of Australia, 1696-1697 – Willem C.H. Robert

Published by Philo Press, Amsterdam a first edition 1972.

Large octavo, 206 pages with fold-out map at rear and nautical charts, illustrated. Very good near fine condition.

A special and hard to get account of Vlamingh’s explorations of the coastline of Western Australia.

They left a pewter dish on Dirk Hartog Island and the journals and maps in the Dutch archive which form the basis of this scholarly work.

In Old Dutch and English translated with care of the then meaning.

Four excellent fold out charts assist the reader.

A special reference hard to find and fine condition

$80.00

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Australian Mineral Specimen – Black Tourmaline – Yinnietharra

A large and weighty example of Black Tourmaline a semi-precious crystalline boron silicate mineral.

This fine example from the Yinnietharra deposit in Western Australia lovely crystal form at termination.

Total weight xx gms

Very good and sizeable example

$40.00

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The Wreck of the Batavia & Prosper – Simon Leys

A fine first hardback published 2005 by Black Inc, Melbourne. Small octavo, 110 pages, illustrated comprising two separate essays of close to equal length.

The author’s account of the unusual going’s on to do with the wreck of the Dutch East Indies Batavia and the horrid aftermath is good succinct account.

Despite the unusual format of the title …Prosper is a totally different narrative and not a wreck account … deeply personal the author Pierre Ryckmans (here under his pen-name Simon Leys) recalls a summer spent on a tuna fishing boat off Brittany … his introduction to “proper sailing”.

Batavia special and unusual combination … Prosper

$22.00

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Glimpses of the Australian Colonies and New Zealand – Captain Barry – First edition 1903

France Australe – Marchant

Banded Hare-wallaby or Munning – Lesson – c1830

Willem de Vlamingh’s Explorations of Australia, 1696-1697 – Willem C.H. Robert

Australian Mineral Specimen – Black Tourmaline – Yinnietharra

The Wreck of the Batavia & Prosper – Simon Leys

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