Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Polar Gleams – An Account of a Voyage on the Yacht “Blencathra” [An Arctic Voyage] – Helen Peel – First Edition 1894

The author Helen Peel was the granddaughter of Sir Robert Peel, twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

With a Preface by Arctic voyager The Marquess of Dufferin and Ava and contributions by Joseph Wiggins and Frederick G. Jackson.

A first edition published in the same year in the UK and the USA. This is the American first by McClurg, Chicago, 1894.

Large Octavo, 211 pages, cloth covered boards with bright silver gilt titling to front and spine, with walrus head design on spine. Burgundy end paper, portrait frontispiece with signature facsimile. 15 other illustrations and two maps – the Sea Route to Siberia and the Great Siberian Railway. Re-cased expertly by Roger Perry, original spine laid down, very clean inside a nice copy of a very rare item.

The acknowledged adventurer the Marquess of Dufferin was the godfather of the adventurous Helen Peel. He admired her vigour and abilities in putting together this account of the Arctic voyage of the Blencathra that he provided his esteemed and thoughtful Preface.

From Britain through the northern Norwegian waters, the Barents and Kara Seas, up the Yenisei River to Gol’chikha and back to Archangel in the farthest reaches of Siberia… much interaction with Laps and Samoyeds.

The Blencathra (then named HMS Newport) was built in 1867 in the Pembroke Dockyard. Part of the Philomel class – a wooden screw gun vessel, with a single two-cylinder single expansion, single screw steam engine. She was the first ship to pass through the Suez Canal. She was bought by F.W. Laybourne-Popham in 1890 as a yacht. He had an interest in Arctic waters and appointed Joseph Wiggins as Captain for a voyage, the subject of this book. The whole exercise turned into a commercial one with the organisation of support vessels and the transport of rails for the Trans-Siberian Railway. Later the yacht was used by William Speirs Bruce and new owner Major Andrew Coats to cruise the Arctic as far as Novaya Zemyla and Kolguyev and then Spitzbergen. It was later purchased by the Russians who lost it near Franz Josef Land.

Rare Arctic Voyage – Unusual Author and Pedigree – Hard Working and Fated Polar Vessel.

$260.00

Updating cart…

One Ceremony One Song. An Economy of Religious Knowledge Among Yolnu of North-East Arnhem Land. A PhD Thesis – Australia National University – 1978 – Ian Keen

An original copy of the monumental Thesis written by Ian Keen to obtain his PhD from ANU in 1978. Keen to go on to be a respected anthropologist holding positions at Queensland University and ANU and spending time at Oxford, visiting Professor at Osaka etc.

Perfect bound in blue cloth covered boards, gilt titles to front and spine. Typed on one side 412 pages with 19 pages of plates from the authors photographs; 72 Figures in text; 45 tables of information and 4 maps. This copy gifted to “Jimmy” clearly an associated academic with a few marginal notes etc. Over 3 kgs in weight so if Overseas a postage supplement will be necessary.

The English born author was late to the academic world having first worked as an art restorer before doing an undergraduate degree at the University of London under Mary Douglas in his mid thirties. He did well and soon won a scholarship to work on Aboriginal religion through song symbolism in Arnhem Land, Northern Australia. This thesis demonstrates the depth of his research and provides a meticulous record of his findings.

He commenced his work on the island of Milingimbi in 1974 and worked there for fourteen months before completing a further 10 months on the mainland at Nanggalala. Its is not surprising that “’writing up” took him some time.

His “Abstract” explains his examination of the relationship between the organisation, ownership and content of religious practice and knowledge, marriage and power relations in Yolnu society. He argues that older men require the authority gained through their control of secret ceremonies and religious knowledge, in order to sustain a polygamous regime. Making possible a system of marriage through which some men gain many wives. Keen’s description of the various ceremonies is highly detailed … we doubt if any broadly published material covers such content with similar vigour.

A special reference relating to the Yolnu of Northern Australia.

$280.00

Updating cart…

The Port Arthur Coal Mines [Tasmania] 1833-1877 – Ian Brand

A first edition, soft cover of this enlightening Industrial Local History about the convict worked coal mines on the Tasman Peninsula.

Perfect bound, octavo size, ninety pages nicely illustrated. Published by Regal Press, Launceston, no date but generally agreed c1995. A super as new copy.

A great history from the discovery of coal in the 1830’s and the initial years of working with convict labour before their eventual passing to private hands in 1848 and closure in 1877.

Interesting Industrial History – Coal in Tasmania

$30.00

Updating cart…

The Nature of Crime – Joseph Conrad and Ford Madox Hueffer (Ford) – First Edition 1924

An unusual novel the third and final collaboration between Joseph Conrad and Ford Madox Ford. Originally written in 1909 but only published until June 1924 … Conrad was to die in August that year.

Published by Duckworth, London. Octavo, 119 pages, a short, pointed story. Preface by Conrad, one of the last things he penned. And, another Preface by Ford Madox Ford. Both particularly interesting writing about the effects of their collaboration [Conrad didn’t like Madox Ford’s choice of verbs]. A particularly good copy in a rather fine dust jacket.

Described by Conrad as a “Fragment” … it is a short read … we agree with Conrad’s conclusion that it is well honed and written to be read out loud for dramatic effect. They did this to each other in its crafting.

The unnamed protagonist tells his story through a series of letters to a love interest. The protagonist, a lawyer, has committed a crime, the embezzlement of trust funds over and extended period. He becomes more inwardly affected as time goes by … the letters become more frequent, and his deteriorating moral stance leads him downwards. Likely echoes difficult periods in Conrad’s early life and makes for a powerful intense drama.

An unusual novel from the Conrad / Madox Ford co-operative … when alone read out loud!

$40.00

Updating cart…

Some Mines and Mineral Deposits at the Heads of the Brisbane, Burnett and Mary Rivers – Jackson 1901

Queensland Department of Mines Report to both Houses of Parliament published in Brisbane in 1901, first year of Federation. At that time Dunstan was Assistant Government Geologist. The Report is presented by William Rands, Government Geologist.

Foolscap, 19 pages plus 5 full page plates. Chipped and repaired to leading edge of front page, otherwise in good condition.

Covers silver-lead deposits at Monsildale; the Rising Star, North Star and Great Pyramid Prospects at Biarra; Gold found near Milford Rocks Head Station; Gympie Copper Mines at Gooroomjam Creek; Nanango Gold Field; Jimma and a Cobalt Deposit at the Black Snake District.

A few diagrams within the text and a good image from an early photograph of the entrance to the Cobalt prospect [Certainly one worth following up!]. The Plates include a god Geological sketch of the Monsildale Silver Deposit; a Plan of the Rising Star Workings; Section of Workings at Gympie Copper; the Jimna Prospecting Tunnel [looks dangerous] and the Secrets of the aforementioned Cobalt.

A rare one and focusing on some quite boutique mining prospects of the period in the South-East of Queensland.

$90.00

Updating cart…

Everest is Climbed [Special Illustrated Work 1954] – Wilfred Noyce and Richard Taylor

A very good copy of a very usual period “Puffin Picture Book” describing and celebrating the fits ascent of Everest. Noyce (teacher) was part of the expedition team lead by Hunt (soldier) and remembered for Hillary (beekeeper) and Tenzing (sirdar).

Landscape staple bound soft cover 31 pages, profusely illustrated a really super piece of work not like anything else on the subject. Published by Penguin with permission from Hodder in 1954.

Starts with the history of the “objective” after the team backgrounds … with Mallory and the 1922 expedition. The finding of Mallory’s ice axe 1933 and a table on notable achievements up to the final success. The Southern Route and the Great Crevasse. Oxygen systems and how they work. Base camp and the choices of tents as they advance. Climbing equipment and the nine camps to the top. The Western Cwm and the author Noyce at the Geneva Spur overlooking the South Col. The final trek to the top along the South east Ridge.

Postage will likely be reduced on final billing.

Rather unique Everest ephemera with genuine content and special illustrations of the period.

$40.00

Updating cart…

All products

Polar Gleams – An Account of a Voyage on the Yacht “Blencathra” [An Arctic Voyage] – Helen Peel – First Edition 1894

One Ceremony One Song. An Economy of Religious Knowledge Among Yolnu of North-East Arnhem Land. A PhD Thesis – Australia National University – 1978 – Ian Keen

The Port Arthur Coal Mines [Tasmania] 1833-1877 – Ian Brand

The Nature of Crime – Joseph Conrad and Ford Madox Hueffer (Ford) – First Edition 1924

Some Mines and Mineral Deposits at the Heads of the Brisbane, Burnett and Mary Rivers – Jackson 1901

Everest is Climbed [Special Illustrated Work 1954] – Wilfred Noyce and Richard Taylor

Product Categories