Non-fiction

The Sexual Life of Savages in North-Western Melanesia – Bronislaw Malonowski

Bronislaw Malinowski’s landmark book about the sexual life of the people of the Trobriand Islands. Papua New Guinea.

A third edition published in 1932 by Routledge, London after the first of 1929. Contains the important lengthy “Special Forward” by the author who was unhappy that the book had been sensationalised regarding its sexual content, and that his objective of the “synthesis, integration of details, the correlation of aspects, the whole functional mechanism in short was missed”. Time has corrected that and he would be happy now that this important book is more fully understood and appreciated

Large, royal octavo, 505 pages after extensive forwards and preliminaries. Original salmon cloth covered binding, gilt title to spine, faded. Foxing to title and page edges otherwise clean. Complete with map, 91 illustrations from photographic and four figures

Malinowski gives a detailed description of the social organisation of sexuality (social rites, partner choice etc). Tracing the Trobriand life cycle from birth through puberty, marriage and death. At the time of publication chapters such as “Lovemaking and the Psychology of Erotic Life” which includes “The Conversations of Two Lovers” and “Erotic Approaches” were considered rather racy requiring this book to be issued with a special notice indicating to booksellers that it was a work reserved for academic and research purposes. Malinowski argues that the unusual (“co-operative” – our word) lifestyle of the Trobriand Islanders proved the Freudian Oedipus complex is not universal.

Malinowski broadened our minds in the Trobriands

$120.00

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The Use of the Globes [Astronomy] – W. Newton – 1854

The Use of the Globes with a Familiar Introduction to the Science of Astronomy illustrated with Numerous Diagrams.

Published by W.E. and F. Newton, Fleet Street 1854.

Scarce despite fourth edition, small octavo, 145 pages plus index. Original green cloth covered binding with decorative blind stamping and delightful gilt design to front, gilt title to spine. Very good condition, albeit gift inscription, ownership and date to top of Chapter 1 and a faded ink blemish on the front board.

Based on a series of lectures given by the author before several scientific Institutions in London. After some introductory matters the book deals with … the Configuration of the Stars and the Constellations; the Solar System (to Uranus or Georgium Sidus as Neptune and Pluto were still to be found and in the case of Pluto lost again); Planetary Motion; Eclipse of the Sun and Moon; the Tides; the Fixed Stars; the Lines and Projections of the Sphere; the Use of Artificial Globes. This is followed by 34 Problems with their solutions often by reference to the artificial globes.

The author William Edward Newton (1718-1879) was the son of John Newton (1759-1844) who initially through the father then son ran London’s most distinguished globe making business … appointed to Queen Victoria.

Astronomical Curiosity by William Newton London’s distinguished Globe Maker

$140.00

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Original Photograph Lake St Clair – Tasmania – by Peggy C Macintyre

An original photograph by Peggy C Macintyre who was active in the 1930’s. Size 21 x 16cm. In good condition albeit with a crease that comes across the bottom right corner. A strong image with good contrast.

On reverse along with the Tasmania Agent General stamp is written boldly in manuscript (likely the photographers hand) … “ A peep of picturesque Cynthia Bay on Lake St Clair, Tasmania. Photograph by Peggy C Macintyre Hampton Court Sydney.

Peggy wrote about Tasmanian Colonial Homes in the published in the “Home” Annual in 1936.

Lake St Clair by Peggy Macintyre

$40.00

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Rocks and Minerals of Australia – Oliver Chambers

Published by Methuen in Australia a first edition 1976. Very good condition. 246 pages with lots of images, diagrams and maps. And with the striking Crocoite on the front board – see our examples on this website.

Or favourite “Observer Book” part of an Australian contribution to the series. A serious miniature work on the subject and the source of much of Voyager’s knowledge.

The detailed maps at the end and connectivity to the narrative open up the enormous subject to the newcomer

An expert in a day!

$30.00

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The Journals of Thomas Williams Missionary in Fiji 1840-1853 – 2 Vols – G.C. Henderson – First Editions1931

A fine first edition set published by Angus $ Robertson, Sydney in 1931. Large octavo, 278 and 279- 606 pages. Very good if not fine condition. With an annotation of the free endpaper by the author “With the Author’s compliments to his fellow Sabbath-breaker on the xxx links 20/11/31”

Carries the heraldic bookplate of Sir Howard Watson Lloyd, Bank of Adelaide etc and old boy of St Peters surely Australia’s best school.

Thomas Williams recorded in the finest and most intimate detail his observations of and interactions with native Fijians in the first half of the 19th Century. His manuscript accounts are held in the Mitchell Library. The author Henderson a noted expert on Fiji trawled over these difficult to read documents and other related items held in London to produce as complete a work as possible.

Starting from his humble home in Horncastle, England Thomas Williams set out across the world … after a lengthy introduction which deals with this background and a few brief notes on the voyage out we find him on the Fijian Island of Lakemba and then Somosomo and Mbua Bay. Thomas Williams was by no means a brilliant artist, but he left many sketches now in the Michel which have been used as illustrations and bring the narrative alive. The whole embellished with maps, charts and later photographs of localities.

Included a couple of ephemeral scraps in the authors had writing … one has written “Quite recently the British Admiralty has paid me two very gratifying compliments in the publication of their Fijian charts: following certain information given in my last book” … nice work.

Henderson on Williams essential Fiji – Nice copies with author inscription.

$120.00

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The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith -1791

This is a single volume from Goldsmith’s Works published by Morison, Perth and Edinburgh.

What makes it interesting as a single volume is that it contains all of his Poetical works along with his narrative on Lord Bolingbroke and Dr Parnell.

Bound in full original calf with separate red leather title and a volume label. Small octavo, 209 pages, with two full page copper engraved plates. Page edges speckled the whole generally in very good antiquarian condition.

Some quite lengthy and beautiful poems such as … the Deserted Village, the Traveller, the Hermit … and some amusing ones … A Description of an Author’s Bed-Chamber, the haunch of Venison and we quote here partly due to brevity … Epitaph on Edward Purdon

Here lies poor Ned Purdon, from misery freed,
Who long was a bookseller’s hack;
He led such a damnable life in this world, -
I don’t think he’ll wish to come back.

Goldsmith explains … This gentleman was educated at Trinity College, Dublin; but having wasted his patrimony, he enlisted as a foot soldier. Growing tired of that employment, he obtained his discharge, and became a scribbler in the newspapers. He translated Voltaire’s Henriade.

Oliver Goldsmith interesting Poetry and funnier than you thought.

$60.00

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The Sexual Life of Savages in North-Western Melanesia – Bronislaw Malonowski

The Use of the Globes [Astronomy] – W. Newton – 1854

Original Photograph Lake St Clair – Tasmania – by Peggy C Macintyre

Rocks and Minerals of Australia – Oliver Chambers

The Journals of Thomas Williams Missionary in Fiji 1840-1853 – 2 Vols – G.C. Henderson – First Editions1931

The Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith -1791

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