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George Bass 1771-1803: His Discoveries, Romantic Life and Tragic Disappearance – Keith Bowden – First Edition 1952

A very good first edition of this well researched and written book on Bass.

Published by the Oxford University Press Melbourne in 1952. Octavo, 171 pages with illustrations and a fine dust jacket.

The author Keith Macrae Bowden was the author of the official Australian Dictionary of Biography re Bass and therefore holds a certain authority on the subject explorer.

After various introduction we have a family history and the first naval activity on HMS Shark and HMS Reliance. Off to Australia and the exploratory adventures on the Tom Thumb before a trip to South Africa. Time in Port Jackson and the discovery of coal before the “Discovery of the Bass Strait” and the final whale boat voyage. Plans for a fortune and his Pacific voyages and on to South America and his disputable fate.

Nice appendices on the Tom Thumb; Source of Information and a succinct listing of the subjects achievements.

George Bass a fairly full life

$50.00

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Original Herculaneium Mezzotint By Vanni – Late 18th Century

An original copper engraved hand coloured mezzotint after Vanni depicting antiquities unearthed at Ercolano (Herculaneum) a Roman municipium buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in AD79.

Engraved area 24 cm by 12c, with very strong plate mark, excellent condition. Matted ready to frame.

The engraving was included in set of rare books entitled “Le Antichita di Ercolano Espotse” (the Antiquites discovered at Herculaneum) published under the command of Carlo II, King of Naples. They were printed by the Royal Printing House in Naples between 1755 and 1792, This production was the first item published on the excavations and made a major contribution to the formation of the neoclassic style which spread over Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Price $220.00 matted and unframed.

Super classical image.

$220.00

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Madagascar – I.S. Lauretij Published by Cornelis Claesz, Petrus Bertius, Barent Langenes, – engraved by Benjamin Wright – c1600

A very rare and early state of this classic miniature map of the island of Madagascar. Plates engraved by Benjamin Wright are scarce and it is particularly interesting to see his engraved signature to the bottom left, inside the map area. Printed map area 12.5cm by 8.8cm, strong black image, very good condition, some mild age marks in the margin, printed area clean. Latin text on reverse. Uncoloured as it should be. Text in Latin on reverse.

Madagascar here called I. S Laurentij .. Island of Saint Lawrence, and early European naming. The orientation of the map is with East to the top. Very finely engraved with super topographical detail and. The numerous offshore islands and reefs clearly displayed.

Wright originally worked in London and then found employment on the continent. While in Amsterdam he worked for Cornelis Claesz on new plates for Caert-thresoor effectively a joint venture with Middleburg printer Barent Langenes; Java, Madagascar (this one), St Helena and Sumatra. The first printing was in 1598. The text was edited by Petrus Bertius and Jacobus Viverius.

Accepted authority on Miniature Antique Maps, Geoffrey King writes about this history. His text on the subject cross refers several pages and in its entirety is confusing and possibly contradictory. Our conclusion is to reference this important map as Wright/ Claesz/ Langenes/ Bertius c1600.

Price $160.00 unframed

Early map of Madagascar – Benjamin Wright signature in plate.

$160.00

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Fine Carte de Visite – Adventure Author and Secretary to the Marine Society – Samuel Whitchurch Sadler – William Trindall Pembroke Dock. 1860’s.

Samuel Whitchurch Sadler was a prolific writer of maritime adventure stories of the period. Quite a number involved slave ships … The African Cruiser; Slavers and Cruisers; The Good Ship Barbara; The Flag Lieutenant and our favourite The Ship of Ice. The Marine Society is the World’s oldest Maritime Charity. Formed in 1756 at the Kings Arms Tavern, Cornhill London. The objective of the charity … to train and improve the lot of young men, often orphans, and train then up, cloth them etc so they had more chance of survival in the Navy.

The photographer was William Trindall, an Oxford born “photographic artist” who was operating out of premises in the Docks at Pembroke from 1868. A previous owner has written 1864 on the reverse … this might be a tad early.

A very good image in fine condition.

Distinguished Marine Identity and prolific story teller

$40.00

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(South) Polar Operations – Edwin MacDonald

First edition published by The US Naval Institute, Maryland in 1969.

A square octavo format, 239 pages illustrated throughout with images from photographs, amps and charts.

The author was a Deputy Commander of the US Naval Support Force in Antarctica in 1962. He was in charge of the exploration of coastline of Marie Byrd Land on the USS Glacier.

A boo focused, naturally on the ocean and coastline with chapters covering … the Environment; Polar Icebreakers and Icebreaking; the Convoy.. Procedures on Iceworking Vessels; Polar Navigation, Seamanship and Wintering Over… Safety and (importantly) Survival.

More than an Operation Manual – South with the US

$25.00

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Some Songs of the South Pole [From Operation Deep Freeze] – Edward Bacon

Published privately, first and only, by the author, Washington DC in 1960. Landscape presentation, 72 pages. A trifle marked to covers … still a very good copy.

Edward Bacon participated in the US “Operation Deep Freeze I” in 1955 when the Americans established their permanent base on the Antarctic. Here he documents his cold climate experiences, songs and poetry. A really interesting companion to the “Songs of the Morning” … see our separate listing

Curious South Polar Item from Operation Deep Freeze.

$70.00

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George Bass 1771-1803: His Discoveries, Romantic Life and Tragic Disappearance – Keith Bowden – First Edition 1952

Original Herculaneium Mezzotint By Vanni – Late 18th Century

Madagascar – I.S. Lauretij Published by Cornelis Claesz, Petrus Bertius, Barent Langenes, – engraved by Benjamin Wright – c1600

Fine Carte de Visite – Adventure Author and Secretary to the Marine Society – Samuel Whitchurch Sadler – William Trindall Pembroke Dock. 1860’s.

(South) Polar Operations – Edwin MacDonald

Some Songs of the South Pole [From Operation Deep Freeze] – Edward Bacon

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