Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

The Final Hours [A Novel of the Night Life of Madrid] – Jose Suarez Carreno – First English Language Edition 1954– Typography, Binding and Jacket Design by Alvin Lustig.

Published by Alfred Knopf, New York 1954. Octavo, 273 pages printed by the Kingsport Press Tennessee under the art instructions of Alvin Lustig. It is interesting how the striking graphic jacket image has been repeated in blind on the front red cloth covered board. Very good if not better copy.

Translated from the original Spanish by Anthony Kerrigan.

The author Jose Suarez Carreno (1915-2002) was born in Guadalupe, Mexico but spent most of his adult life living in Madrid. He won several literary awards including the distinguished Nadal Prize in 1949 for this work … “Las Ultimas Horas”. At the time of printing few contemporary Spanish works were translated into English.

Recounting the events of one night only we see into the lives of a drifting street boy, a beautiful young prostitute, and a rich married man of unusual character … and the night life of Madrid.

A Night in Madrid – Carreno dressed in Lustig

$120.00

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A View of the Island of St Helena – Allain Mallet -1683

An original copper engraved view of the island of St Helena in the Southern Atlantic by Mallet published in Paris in 1683 as part of his great work on the Universe.

Allain Manesson Mallet (1630-1706) was a French cartographer and engineer. He started his career as a soldier in the army of Louis XIV and became a Sergeant Major and an Inspector of Fortifications. He at one time acted as a mercenary for the Portuguese. His work contains unique imagery. The map of St Helena supports that view in that he portrays the island in perspective as if viewed from the ocean. The rugged landscape emphasised and the Governors House not far from the solitary landing place. The cannon firing fully rigged ships emphasise a time of turmoil and hostility. Not long earlier in 1673 the Dutch had taken the island before British re-enforcements restored control.

It is thought that St Helena was discovered by the Portuguese circa 1503 but they never exploited the island. Sir Francis Drake likely called in during his circumnavigation in 1580. It was the Dutch who formally first made claim on the island in 1633 but they soon abandoned it in favour of the Cape of Good Hope. Oliver Cromwell granted the English East India Company the right to govern St Helena in 1658. In 1815 the island was selected to be the second place of detention of Napoleon Bonaparte [having previously escaped from Elba]. Napoleon died there in 1821. Britain applied Crown rule of the island from 1834.

Price $90.00 unframed. $190 framed … includes postage subsidy.

Cannon’s blazing off St Helena – Mallet

$90.00

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Special Maritime Book: On the Wind of a Dream (The Saga of the Solace) – Commander Victor Clark – First Edition 1960

A first edition of this sought after and outstanding voyage account.

Commander Victor Clark found himself released from the Admiralty in London and decided to satisfy his adventurous spirit with a round the world voyage, which was to take six years.

The Solace was purchased, and his adventure began sailing south and west to take the route through the Panama Canal. Galapagos, Marquesas, Tuamotu, Society and Cook Islands. Then to Palmerston Island … a whole story must be written about this strange place … a form of English being the language of the day and many of the people descend from their Birmingham England forefather. Unfortunately, Solace was wrecked here which meant Clark had to undertake a full year stop over, but because of which we learn something special about Palmerston Island .

Published by Hutchinson in 1960 a first edition. Octavo, 308 pages, illustrations from photographs taken on the voyage, end paper maps a bit more informative than most. With the rare, un-clipped dust jacket albeit taped at some time along the top and bottom of spine.

This book commands significant prices around the world … apart from being hard to come by we feel the observations and writing, the events and adventures, the detail on the unusual Palmerston Island and its society make it special and therefore desired by those in the know.

Victor Clark RN in the Solace and what an adventure

$180.00

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Newnes’ Slide Rule Manual

A 1960’s revised edition of the “go to” book on the slide rule produced and published by George Newnes, London.

Octavo, 112 pages of slide rule lovers delight. Covers the … Principle of the Slide Rule; Principle of Logarithms; Using the Slide Rule; Examples; Circular Slide Rules etc. Very good condition albeit a little creasing to the otherwise good dust jacket.

The Preface starts … “The slide rule is considered by many a mysterious instrument requiring years of study before it can be used with facility”.

Within twenty years sophisticated electronic calculators and personal computers made the slide made the slide rule obsolete and an “antique” of the past. Pity … to use the slide rule properly a knowledge of mathematics was required …

A very interesting “modern” curiosity … get your slide rule today.

Slide rules and the mathematics that flows from them.

$25.00

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Australian Poetry – The Road to Burrandong [A Collection] – George Althofer – First Work – Self Published 1936

George William Francis Althofer (1903-1993) was an Australian botanist, author and poet. He founded the 410 acre Burrendong Botanic Garden and Arboretum specialising in Australian native plants.

This was his first proper publication. Quite a number of the poems had found their way into various rural magazines previously. Self published in 1936. Small octavo, original thick paper wraps, 62 pages, staple bound, with 37 poems of various lengths. Poetry of a good standard, easy on the mind often reflecting on the Australian bush ….

Signed by the poet on the title. Pretty good condition albeit the spine is tired, internally bright and make allowances for a very rare item.

A Voyager favourite rare Australian poetry.

$25.00

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Towards Tahiti – W.I.B. Crealock – First Edition 1955

A very good near fine copy of the first edition of Crealock’s second book on voyaging.

Published by Peter Davis, London in 1955. Octavo, 263 pages plus “Calendar of trip” at rear. Nicely illustrated from photographs from the voyage.

William Crealock sailed across the Atlantic. This is another voyage in 1951 from Panama towards Tahiti hitting on San Blas Islands; Galapagos; Mangareva (for fish and hips!); the Marquesas; Hao and Tahiti. His fellow sailors Tom and Diana (ex fashion model) Hepworth. Superb read great images.

The vessel was the Arthur Rogers a Brixham Trawler and what a beautiful boat she was.

Crealock went on to be one of the great yacht designers from 1960 through 1990’s … built a beauty for actor William Hurt!

Crealock in the Pacific one of the great 1950’s sailing accounts

$40.00

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All products

The Final Hours [A Novel of the Night Life of Madrid] – Jose Suarez Carreno – First English Language Edition 1954– Typography, Binding and Jacket Design by Alvin Lustig.

A View of the Island of St Helena – Allain Mallet -1683

Special Maritime Book: On the Wind of a Dream (The Saga of the Solace) – Commander Victor Clark – First Edition 1960

Newnes’ Slide Rule Manual

Australian Poetry – The Road to Burrandong [A Collection] – George Althofer – First Work – Self Published 1936

Towards Tahiti – W.I.B. Crealock – First Edition 1955

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