antiquarian bookseller - Peter Harrington

Peter Harrington Antiquarian Bookseller
219.JACK, Robert Logan.
110
Northmost Australia. Three
Centuries of Exploration, Discovery,
and Adventure in and around the
Cape York Peninsula, Queensland.
With a Study of the Narratives of all
Explorers by Sea and Land in the
Light of Modern Charting, many
Original or hitherto Unpublished
Documents…
London, Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co. Ltd., 1921 [38449]
£600
2 volumes, 8vo. Portrait frontispiece to vol. I and 38 other
plates, 17 folding maps including Index Map. Pastedowns of
vol. I a little marked from the turn-in of the cloth, some light
foxing, but overall a very good set in the original green cloth,
slightly rubbed.
FIRST EDITION. Born in Scotland, Jack was Queensland
Government Geologist from 1877 to 1899, making
numerous important mineralogical surveys, “Jack’s
geological work for Queensland is outstanding in both
quality and quantity and remarkable for its accurate
and detailed observation. His recognition of the basinal
structure of western Queensland and its potential for
artesian water led to the first government bore in the
Great Artesian Basin being sunk at Barcaldine in 1887.
He personally mapped and appraised the Bowen River
coalfield and coal prospects near Cooktown, Townsville
and the Flinders River, and reported on twelve goldfields
including Mount Morgan, Charters Towers and the Palmer
as well as the Stanthorpe and four northern tinfields,
the Argentine and other silver mines, the Chillagoe and
Koorboora mining districts and the sapphire deposits of
Withersfield” (DAB). In this his last major published work
he gives detailed accounts of all of the explorations in
northern Queensland including his own.
220.MAWSON, Sir Douglas.
The Home of the Blizzard being the
Story of the Australasian Antarctic
Expedition, 1911–1914;…
London, William Heinemann, 1915 [39299] £750
2 volumes, large 8vo. Original blue pictorial cloth stamped
in silver and lettered in gold, blue top-stain. Photogravure
frontispiece in each volume, numerous plates ,18 of them
coloured, and 9 folding panoramas, 3 folding maps in endpocket
to vol. II. Light browning and scattered foxing, as often,
lower joint of vol. I a little cracked, externally slightly rubbed,
corners bumped, spines dulled, nonetheless a very good set.
FIRST EDITION. Initially intending to be a member of
Scott’s party, Mawson decided to command his own
expedition, the first official Australasian Antarctic
Expedition. Mawson charted more than 2000 miles of
coastline and nearly lost his life in a wild sledge journey.
In the process, he developed a detailed scientific analysis
of George V Land and Macquarie Island, and produced this
classic account of “heroic age” exploits, which includes
stunning photography from the camera of Frank Hurley.
The book is in the same format as Shackleton’s Heart of the
Antarctic, which is advertised on the first half-title verso.
Conrad, p. 208; Spence 774; Taurus 100.
221.MEREDITH, Louisa
Anne.
My Home in Tasmania, during a
residence of nine years.
London, John Murray, 1852 [32932] £450
2 volumes, 8vo. Publisher’s blindstamped green cloth, spines
lettered gilt, brick-red endpapers, edges uncut. Frontispieces,
title vignettes, 14 illustrations in the text. Armorial bookplates
of C. H. Rouse Boughton; adhesion marks on pastedowns.
Front cover of vol. 2 a little marked, contents a little shaken,
a little foxing, chiefly to endpapers and outer leaves, withal a
good copy in original cloth.
FIRST EDITION, “invaluable as the first detailed account of
this colony by a woman settler” (ODNB).
222.[PHILLIP, Arthur]
The Voyage of Governor Phillip
to Botany Bay; with an Account of
the Establishment of the Colonies
of Port Jackson & Norfolk Island;
compiled from the Authentic Papers,
which have been obtained from
the Several Departments, to which
are added, The Journals of Lieuts.
Shortland, Watts, Ball, & Capt.
Marshall; with an Account of their
New Discoveries.
London, John Stockdale, 1789 [24809] £6000
4to (295 × 227 mm). Contemporary streaked calf, rubbed
at the extremities, corners worn, rebacked, black morocco
label to the spine, slightly later ownership inscription “Wm.
Wilmington, 1809” to the front free endpaper. With portrait
frontispiece, allegorical title page vignette after a design by
Wedgwood, and 46 engraved plates, 7 folding or doublepage
maps and plans. Complete with all adverts, and with
the early states of the “Kangooroo” and “Wulpine Oppossum”
plates, which were later changed to “Kanguroo” and “Vulpine”
and page 122 misnumbered 221. Some light spotting and
browning, one leaf torn in upper margin affecting the running
title but without loss, minor splits at the folds of some maps,
overall a very good copy.
FIRST EDITION of this foundation work on Australia as a
European colony, the official account of the voyage of the First
Fleet to Botany Bay and the settlement of Australia, based
on the Governor’s journals and despatches. Noteworthy
names on the subscriber’s list include Joseph Banks, George
Anson, Nathaniel Portlock and Alexander Dalrymple.
“A work of primary importance for Australian history. In
1787 Arthur Phillip commanded the frigate Sirius and the
Catalogue 57: Travel Section 5: Australia and Antarctica
A work of primary importance
for Australian history
first fleet of eleven ships carrying the earliest contingent
of convicts transported to Australia. Reaching Botany Bay
in 1788, via Tenerife, Rio de Janeiro and the Cape of Good
Hope, Phillip decided that the site was unsatisfactory and
sailed to Port Jackson, where he founded Sydney, named
for Thomas Townshend, Viscount Sydney, secretary of
state. Phillip was appointed first British governor and
commander-in-chief in Australia” (Hill). Setting out with
three boats to investigate the extent of Port Jackson,
which Cook had named but had not charted, Phillip
was overjoyed: “Here all regret arising from the former
disappointments was at once obliterated; and Governor
Phillip had the satisfaction to find one of the finest
harbours in the world, in which a thousand sail of the
line might ride in perfect security.” Phillip’s discovery of
Sydney Harbour was of paramount importance, providing
as it did a secure place for settlement. Phillip’s journal and
that of Hunter, which both contain the first charts of the
Harbour based on Hunter’s surveys, therefore represent
“the foundation stones of any collection of books devoted
to coastal discovery” (Wantrup). Also noteworthy is the
inclusion of the first published account of the voyage of
La Pérouse, who had anchored out in the roads watching
“their fumbling manoeuvres out of the bay” (Howgego)
and vouchsafed his papers to Phillip for forwarding to
France; and the first representation of the settlement,
“View of the Settlement on Sydney Cove” by Dawes after
a sketch by Capt. John Hunter. The appended “List of
Convicts” is the basic source for all First Fleet genealogy.
Ferguson 47; Hill 1346; Howgego P79; Wantrup 5.
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