Non-fiction

The Discovery of the South Shetland Islands. The Voyage of the Brig Williams – Journal of Midshipman Poynter [ed R.J. Campbell]

One of our favourite Hakluyt production, published 2000, on the discovery of the South Shetland Islands – which are very south and remote and play such a big part in the whole Antarctic exploration story.

The story of the Brig Williams voyage of 1819-20 referencing the Journal of Midshipman C.W. Poynter and other contemporary documents. As with all Hakluyt the editor does a special job with thorough and intense research and a quality honed narrative.

Quarto, xvi, 232 pages with 31 illustrations and maps. Original blue cloth binding, good dust jacket a very good all round copy. Heavy item.

In 1819 a general cargo vessel in sailing from Montevideo to Valparaiso ventured to the extreme south hoping for more favourable winds, spotting land at around 62 degrees south. On a second voyage they deliberately sough out the coastline taking soundings etc. Following these reports the Brig Williams was prepared to properly survey this new discovery under Master Edward Bransfield.

The journal of Midshipman Poynter was recently found in New Zealand and is the backbone to this book. It is the only first hand account of a voyage during which the Antarctic mainland was sighted.

South Shetlands all to like it’s namesake, cold and windy but more isolated.

$60.00

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The Spirit Ridden Konde [Lake Nyasa Tanzania] – First Edition D.R. Mackenzie – 1925

Longer title – The Spirit Ridden Konde. A record of the interesting but steadily vanishing customs & ideas gathered during twenty four year residence amongst these shy inhabitants of the Lake Nyasa region, from witch doctors, diviners, hunters, fishers & every native source.

Published by Lippincott a first American edition 1925. A beautifully presented book with serious content regarding the Konde people of Tanzania.

Octavo, 318 pages with folding map and 21 illustrations from photographs. Strikingly vivid blue cloth covered binding with gilt image of native to front, titles to spine. A very good copy.

Mackenzie explores the complex relationship of the Konde people with the spirit world and how it affects their daily lives and their rituals and traditions. He traces their origins and how they migrated to the Lake Nyasa region. Good descriptions of initiation rites of both young men and women. A super book.

No better book about the Konde of Lake Nyasa

$220.00

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Kushan Empire Artefact (First Century BCE) – Hand Holding a Serpent by the Head

A fragment well carved in the red sandstone of the region. From the Kushan Empire of Northern India and beyond, circa 1st – 2nd Century BCE. A lovely and curious example.

Dimensions roughly 10cm x 9cm x 8cm; 16cm high on its stand; weighs 450gm. The simple stand is all that is needed to make this unusual sculpture accessible. Acquired by Voyager from a broader beautiful private collection.

The Kushan Empire was then at the heart of the world between the Roman Empire in the west and the Chinese Han Dynasty in the east. They were heavily influenced by the Greeks and in the earlier years used the Greek alphabet and language for official matters.

The hand here is interesting and the grip unusual but likely the best way to hold a serpent or snake which students of the region will know had special meaning … the snakes not the way of holding.

Special for its age, origin and symbolism. A pretty unique item.

$420.00

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Kaleidoscope – E.R. Jim Henry

A solid humorous memoir by Tasmanian legal identity and raconteur Eric Rutherford “Jim” Henry. A funny man – author of self described best seller “Revelations of a Retired Lawyer” –

The first page of this book proves he had not lost his wit – a man that definitely wore his heart on his sleeve. Not quite the Dubliner’s but there is also some gossip in here. Not only good with the law and the pen he could hold a tennis racket with some style and success.

Self published in 1981 and signed, soft cover, perfect bound, 242 pages, lots of images from photographs. If you went to Hutchins then this should be on your shelf.

Call me “Jim” Henry and his life and observations with fun and information thrown in.

$30.00

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The Struggle of the Penguin Tramway and the Tasmanian Iron Mines at Penguin 1897-1910 – Ron Parnell.

Well this is one of the best local histories we have put eyes on – not only because of the unusual mining connection, but the rivalry between the two major players .. Parnell has done a wonderful job bringing the story to life. There is a movie in this.

Soft covers, 59 pages, illustrated well throughout with maps, diagrams, images etc, effectively self published, no date but 1986 and scarce.

If you get this before you read it skim the chronology on page 52 as it gives you a heads up on what is to come and joins the while together nicely. There is also and extensive bibliography and it’s no surprise to us that Fenton’s “Bush Life in Tasmania” starts the list.

Scarce mining, tramway, Penguin collectable packed with information.

$40.00

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First Discovery of Australia and New Guinea George Collingridge – First Edition1906 [Important Work]

Cornerstone book on the early exploration of Australia / New Guinea … a Voyager favourite/

A narrative on the Portuguese and Spanish Discoveries in the Australasian Regions, between the Years 1492-1606, with descriptions of their old charts.

Octavo, 132 pages the appendices with maps striking maps and images throughout. Published by Brooks, Sydney in 1906. Original green cloth covered binding with gilt title at front, bumped and rubbed, previous ownership signatures, very good internally.

Includes the 16th century voyages to the spice islands and the discovery of New Guinea, the Villalobos Expedition and further discoveries in Papua, Jave-le-Grande and the early map of Australia, the maps of Pierre Descelier, and Deslien. The discovery of the Solomons by Mendana and Sarmiento with an early map and of course Queiroz voyage to Espiritu- Santo and Torres and his important discoveries.

Frontispiece map and many others mostly coloured plus black and white illustrations and a useful chronology.

Collingridge on the early discoveries.

$120.00

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The Discovery of the South Shetland Islands. The Voyage of the Brig Williams – Journal of Midshipman Poynter [ed R.J. Campbell]

The Spirit Ridden Konde [Lake Nyasa Tanzania] – First Edition D.R. Mackenzie – 1925

Kushan Empire Artefact (First Century BCE) – Hand Holding a Serpent by the Head

Kaleidoscope – E.R. Jim Henry

The Struggle of the Penguin Tramway and the Tasmanian Iron Mines at Penguin 1897-1910 – Ron Parnell.

First Discovery of Australia and New Guinea George Collingridge – First Edition1906 [Important Work]

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