Non-fiction

Mortmain – Van Diemen’s Land – Eustace Fitz-Symonds – Limited No 90 of 500

Published by Sullivans Cove, 1977 title continues … A Collection of choice petitions, memorials and letters of protest and request from the convict colony of Van Diemen’s Land; written by divers person’s both eminent and lowly.

A fine copy of a folio edition limited to 500 (this being no 90) carrying the bookplate of collector Harold Royle. Dust jacket now protected in fine condition. Mortmain (Dead Hand)

A veritable potpourri of historical documents of interest and humour. A goldmine of stories, both grave and gay, of those early days in the history of Tasmania when men and women practised terrible savageries on each other.

Members of the convict community had to obtain permission to marry. When Norah Corbett petitioned Governor Arthur for permission to marry Jorgen Jorgensen, the police magistrate of the Oatlands District, R. Anstey, warned Jorgensen his ruin was inevitable if he married the woman, as the woman was much addicted to liquor and had a propensity to beat and scratch the back of her lover when she was intoxicated. Arthur allowed them to marry on the condition they exchange vows that they would love and cherish each other from that day forward to the exclusion of all others.

As a contrast – a letter from John Gould listing the marsupial specimens he would like (including the Thylacine in male and female form) and that he would pay for the effort involved.

And many, many more

Real history in fine condition

A heavy book that will require an overseas freight supplement … please enquire

$80.00

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The Cruise of the Marchesa – Guillemard (engravings by Whymper) -1889

Published by John Murray, London 1889.

The magnificent account of the voyage of the schooner yacht Marchesa from Cowes on the Isle of Wight in 1881 first to Ceylon, then via Singapore to Formosa and the Liu-Kiu islands to Japan. She left Yokohama for Kamschatka returning three months later, thence to China and Hong Kong at the end of March 1883 from where the Sulu islands were explored and then the Celebes and on to New Guinea.

Many maps and special Whymper illustrations. One of the most interesting Victorian travel accounts. Very good condition.

Superb voyage and natural history account

$180.00

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The Modern Openings in Theory and Practice – A.P. Sokolsky

Published by Pitman, London in 1973. 238 pages plus index of players all in pretty good condition with an intact bright dust jacket.

Sokolsky new his beginnings … capable of thinking outside the central square. Original thinking is the key to this essential work.

Get it right from the start

$25.00

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Larsen’s Selected Games of Chess (1948-1969) – Bent Larsen

Published by Bell, London a First English edition 1970. 181 pages all in very good condition with a complete dust jacket.

The Danish Chess Grandmaster Bent Larsen was an aggressive player using every piece in full force. A man who thought there was forever a better game in him. Sought after edition

Have you played your best game yet?

$50.00

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Karpov’s Collected Games – David Levy

Published by RHM, New York in 1975 a First Edition of this must have chess book. Just over 300 pages of Karpov delight all in very good condition

A childhood chess genius and a champion of the Fischer/ Spassky era. This collection compiled with the co-operation of Karpov and includes 150 games from his own records along with many additional annotations provided by the great man himself.

Chess champagne or is it best Vodka

$40.00

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Tasmanian Invention – 1909 Patent – Fred Dando (of Beaconsfield) Game of Skill

British Patent no 19,390 by Fred Dando of Beaconsfield, Tasmania. Lodged 1908 and accepted ‘as patented” in 1909 – four pages of text and one double page with excleent drawings showing how the invention is constructed.

The invention relates to an improved game of skill and apparatus for playing same the game being played preferably by two persons one against the other, from each end of a race or box whereat is located a compound lever designed when quickly depressed to project a marble or ball to the desired distance and height to strike and, if possible, displace one of a series of marbles or balls of similar size arranged centrally one each on a tier located transversely at about midway of the said race or box [Long sentences patented also!]

The compound lever near each end of the box is designed to be struck by the players finger and thus cause its inner part upon which the marble is placed to project it forward with the object of striking on the before mentioned shelves and which latter are numbered 1 to 5 representing the players count when a marble is struck or displaced

The apparatus is made in the form of a two part box hinged together under the tier of shelves and capable of being folded together while also pockets or recesses are provided at each end for the players marbles and further the edges of the box are perforated and numbered to receive count pins etc etc…

Voyager considering making this device although probably not meet modern safety standard (hum) or have many digital application (ho hum) … but good marble chucking fun!

Games ingenuity in Beaconsfield in 1909

$70.00

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Mortmain – Van Diemen’s Land – Eustace Fitz-Symonds – Limited No 90 of 500

The Cruise of the Marchesa – Guillemard (engravings by Whymper) -1889

The Modern Openings in Theory and Practice – A.P. Sokolsky

Larsen’s Selected Games of Chess (1948-1969) – Bent Larsen

Karpov’s Collected Games – David Levy

Tasmanian Invention – 1909 Patent – Fred Dando (of Beaconsfield) Game of Skill

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