Non-fiction

Kiap – Australia’s Patrol Officers in Papua New Guinea – Jmes Sinclair – First Edition 1981

Published by Pacific Publications, Sydney a first edition 1981. Quarto, 294 pages with illustrated end paper and many many images from photographs … quite afew iconic of the people particularly the KuKuKuKu. A very good copy in a complete and bright dust jacket.

The author James Sinclair is the man , if you understand us. After WWII he too up the position of Cadet Patrol Officer and rose to District Commissioner by Independence in 1975. He was there all through the period with a keen eye a handy camera and an ability and desire to record activities as he and others saw them.

This book is much more than about the Kiap role … it is about the people, the many varied people of this remarkable place on Earth. The photographic record contained within this volume is justification alone.

The Kiaps had their place and surrounded by the people and the environment of Papua New Guinea

Postage will be more than the automatic allowance for this heavy book … we will absorb that within Australia.

$70.00

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Hokule’a The Way to Tahiti – Ben Finney.

Published by Dodd. Mead & Co, New York a first edition 1979. Octavo, 310 pages with numerous illustrations from photographs as well as charts, diagrams drawings etc.

A fine first edition of Professor Ben Finney’s book … about the re-construction of an ancient double-hull Polynesian canoe to sail and prove the theory of early navigation between Hawaii and Tahiti. An exercise that proved very difficult with cultural and personal arguments getting in the way at almost every step. Makes for interesting reading as does the account of the successful voyage .. written well and nicely illustrated.

Professor Ben Finney (1933-2017) was pretty remarkable man. Professor of Anthropology who held positions at a number of Universities including the ANU. He spent most of his life in Hawaii and regarded as the world’s greatest authority on surfing history … the sport of Hawaiian Kings.

Maritime History Proven by Ben Finney

$35.00

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Hooded Racket-Tailed Magpie (Crypsirhina Cucullata) From Burma – John Gould – The Birds of Asia – 1860′s

Original hand-coloured lithograph produced on limestone from John Gould’s most impressive series “Birds of Asia” completed and published in London in the1860’s.

A striking bird found the in the lower jungles of Northern Burma. Threatened by clearing but currently still strong in numbers. Also known as the Hooded Crypsirhina and Hooded Treepie

First formally described by Thomas Jerden a British ornithologist in 1862. You can see form John Gould’s narrative that he was working from sketches provided by Jerden and unlikely to have an example of the bird.

The birds appear to be figured in natural size being roughly 30 cm long and two thirds of that being the remarkable tail… the accompanying narrative describes their colouring is some detail. The execution of the lithograph is excellent, it is very clean and the colouring still very bright and full and enhanced by the use of gum arabic which creates a sense of richness and depth

We all know about John Gould but maybe not so much about Jensen.

Thomas Caverhill Jenson (1811-1872) was a Scottish born surgeon in the East India Company and then the Military and spent most of his working life in India. He was a keen naturalist in a number of fields. Early on he sent birds back to Sir William Jardine in Scotland to be classified. They arrived moth eaten so from then on Jerden decided to complete that work himself. He became the leading authority in the broader region and sponsored by Lords Canning and Elgin produced The Birds of India in three volumes in the 1860’s. He was also an instigator of the broader work The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma.

Price $390.00 unframed … enquire if you wish

Unusual well executed Magpie from Burma

$390.00

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Photograph by B Sheppard – Spiky Bridge [Built by Convicts], Near Swansea, East Coast Road Tasmania

An original photograph by B (Benjamin) Sheppard (1902-1987). Size 21 x 16cm. Overall in good condition. Sheppard was most active in the 1950’s and the photograph likely cones from that period. The rear of the photograph carries B Sheppard’s stamp, that of the Agent General for Tasmania and a manuscript note identifying the location … a rather obvious one to those that love and live in the Apple Isle.

You can still see the solid Spiky Bridge built by Convict labour in 1843. The road has been moved onto a more modern and rather boring structure. The spikiness is thought to be an invention to stop cattle falling into the water … maybe. If you go there the remain of the Governor’s cottage can be seen on the hill nearby.

A Tasmanian landmark … Spiky Bridge a strange structure built by convicts

$50.00

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In Unknown New Guinea – W.J.V. Saville (Intro Malinowski) – First Edition 1926

Longer title explains … In Unknown New Guinea – A Record of Twenty-Five Years of Personal Observation & Experience Amongst the Interesting People of an Almost Unknown Part of the Vast Island & a Description of Their Manners & Customs, Occupations in Peace & Method of Warfare, Their Secret Rites & Public Ceremonies.

Published by Seeley, London in 1926 a first edition.

Thick octavo, 316 pages and sixty very good illustrations mainly from period photographs, folding map near rear. Original red cloth covered binding with the striking gilt design to the front. Very good if not better condition.

A superb work based the authors lengthy experiences on and around Mailu Island. To have the introduction written by the great anthropologist of the era Bronislaw Malinowski is testament to its quality and importance.

Rare early New Guinea Anthropology

$140.00

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Melanesians and Polynesians – Their Life Histories Described and Compared – George Brown – First 1910

Hard to find first edition published in 1910. George Brown had published his autobiography “George Brown, Pioneer Missionary and Explorer” two years earlier. Brown had spent time in Samoa (1860-1874) was the first European to live in New Britain and New Ireland (1875-1880). After New Britain he spent time in the Solomon Islands from where he visited the broader Pacific Island Groups.

An important anthropological work. Published by Macmillan, London. Royal octavo, 451 pages, with 70 illustration from original photographs, many rather special. Bound in original light green cloth covered boards with a gilt image of a carved bowl to the front. Very good condition.

The chapters build progressively … the Islands in which the People live; Homes and Families; Childhood and early life; Food Cooking and Cannibalism; Wars Disease and Medicines; Religion; Magic Witchcraft Omens and Superstitions; Morals Crimes and Covenants; Government Laws and Tabu; Arithmetic Money Measure and Trade; Property Ornament and Industry; Hunting Fishing Agriculture and Games; History and Mythology; Language; Sickness Death and Burial. The beginning to the end in a readable and fully informed style.

George Brown no better first hand knowledge – fundamental work on the Melanesian and Polynesian People – one of our most treasured books

$160.00

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Kiap – Australia’s Patrol Officers in Papua New Guinea – Jmes Sinclair – First Edition 1981

Hokule’a The Way to Tahiti – Ben Finney.

Hooded Racket-Tailed Magpie (Crypsirhina Cucullata) From Burma – John Gould – The Birds of Asia – 1860′s

Photograph by B Sheppard – Spiky Bridge [Built by Convicts], Near Swansea, East Coast Road Tasmania

In Unknown New Guinea – W.J.V. Saville (Intro Malinowski) – First Edition 1926

Melanesians and Polynesians – Their Life Histories Described and Compared – George Brown – First 1910

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