Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Van Dieman’s Land – Cartographer John Dower – 1836

An original map of Tasmania or Van-Diemans Land, drawn and engraved by John Dower published in London in the 1830’s. Note the misspelling “Dieman’s”. This is a very early version of the Dower map published by Orr & Smith of Paternoster Row, London. Engraved area 26cm by 21cm. Very good condition, clean and bright colouring. Refer Tooley Printed Maps of Tasmania number 196.

This map was first published in 1831. In this updated version Lake St Clair is added. And bottom left the following note … Population 31,718; Capitol(sic) Hobart Town; The estimated average importation of Convicts into Van Dieman’s Land is 1,709 per Annum.

Much of the terrain to the west half remains unexplored. A number of interesting features can be found in the detail. Above the “rocky and barren shore” below Rocky Point in the west we see “White topped mountains apparently granite”, north of which are “Higher and less barren hills”. Travelling north from Hobart Town are a string of pubs … The Stokell Inn, Crown Inn, Swan Inn, Ransome Inn, Lovely Bank Inn, New Inn, Sorrell Spring Inn, Stockers In and on to Launceston. Whilst known high ground is shown with hachures certain peaks are estimated … Ben Lomond 4,200 feet, Peak of Teneriffe 4,500 feet, interestingly not Mt Wellington.

John Dower (1791-1847) was a quality map maker, print seller and publisher based in London. He worked with many prominent map makers of the time including Weller, Cassell, Bacon and Petermann.

Price $190.00 unframed

Earlier scarce Dower Map of Tasmania c1836

$190.00

Updating cart…

Around Cape Horn to Honolulu on the Bark “Amy Turner” – L.V. Briggs

Around Cape Horn to Honolulu on the Bark “Amy Turner”

Originally published in 1926 this classic sailing account is reprinted here by the Macdonald Maritime History Series, London in 1974.

Octavo, 186 pages, top edge blue, with images from photographs, charts, diagrams and embellishments as per the original. End paper maps. Bound in quarter morocco, gilt line and blue sailing ship motif clothe covered boards. Dust jacket torn to top, and tape mended. A paper wave at the bottom as if it has stood onboard for a time but nothing offensive.

The author Vernon Briggs was only sixteen at the time he left Boston for Honolulu. His observations and penmanship mature well beyond his years. Part journal part narrative Briggs learns sea skills fast and is also a keen observer of his surroundings and the abundance of natural history along the way … including the Amy Turner cockroaches!

Prized narrative onboard the Amy Turner.

$25.00

Updating cart…

The Hand its Mechanism and Vital Endowments as Evincing Design – Sir Charles Bell – 1833

Published by William Pickering, London in 1833. A second printing same year as the first, revised and expanded.

Octavo, 314 pages with numerous engravings throughout the text. Bound in contemporary half calf, spine gilt ruled with raised bands and separate leather title label. A very nice copy of an important fundamental work.

Constituted the fourth volume of the remarkable Bridgewater Treatises (See our other listing).

A landmark book by Scottish Surgeon Sir Charles Bell (1774-1842). He was the first Professor of Anatomy and Surgery at the London College of Surgeons and established the Medical School at the University of London where he headed up the Surgery Department.

Medical Classic by Sir Charles Bell

$180.00

Updating cart…

Platypus Hand Coloured Copper Engraving – Schmuzer – 1798

Original hand coloured copper engraving of the Platypus by Schumzer for Gottlieb Tobias Wilhelm. It was produced for Wilhelm’s “Discourses in Natural history”.

Wilhelm (1758-1811) was a Protestant Pastor born to an engraver and publisher in Augsburg, Germany. He began his great work on natural history in 1792. It was printed by his father and issued in installments. This engraving by Jacob Schmuzer was completed in 1798 and is clearly based on the image in Hunter’s First Fleet Journal.

Price $120.00 unframed … enquire if you would like this item framed …

Very early Platypus Engraving from the late 18th Century

$120.00

Updating cart…

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

Updating cart…

Yacht Sails – Their Care and Handling – Ernest Ratsey and W.H. de Fontaine – First edition 1948

A first edition 1948 published by Norton of New York with an sticker for Putnam, London below.

Octavo, 258 pages, with 12 plates from photographs and circa 110 technical diagrams. Dust jacket with a tape strip along top and bottom, internally clean, a good copy.

Described as … A book of useful information for the yachtsman interested in getting the most from his sails – including chapters by Roderick Stephens Jnr on handling head sails and parachute spinnakers.

Other chapters include … recent developments in yacht rigs; light sails – the genoa jib; passage sails and storm canvas; sailcloth and sail making; care and repair; rope and rope work; finding the area and centre of effort; familiar yacht rigs etc

A Sailmakers book on Sails and Rigging

$25.00

Updating cart…

All products

Van Dieman’s Land – Cartographer John Dower – 1836

Around Cape Horn to Honolulu on the Bark “Amy Turner” – L.V. Briggs

The Hand its Mechanism and Vital Endowments as Evincing Design – Sir Charles Bell – 1833

Platypus Hand Coloured Copper Engraving – Schmuzer – 1798

Banded Hare-wallaby or Munning – Lesson – c1830

Yacht Sails – Their Care and Handling – Ernest Ratsey and W.H. de Fontaine – First edition 1948

Product Categories