Non-fiction | Archive | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

A Tutor to Astronomy and Geography. Or and Easie and Speedy way to Know the Use of Bothe the Globes, Celestial and Terrestrial – Joseph Moxon – 1674

Small quarto published in London by Thomas Roycroft for the author. Original binding distressed with front board off and other deficiencies. Missing frontispiece and title page starting with dedication “to Samuel Pepys Esq Principal Officer of the Navy, Secretary to the Admiralty, Fellow of the Royal Society and Brother of the Trinity-house of Deptford-Strand” … 271, 9 pp. Third edition 1674 (first 1659) corrected and enlarged. Set out as a series of six books with Appendix etc

The First Book being the first Rudiments of Astronomy and Geography or a Description of the Lines, Circles and other Parts of the Globes.

The Second Book Shewing the Practical Use of the Globes applying them to the Solution of Astronomical and Geographical Problems.

The Third Book Being the Practical Use of the Globes Applying to the Solution of Problems in the Art of Navigation.

The Fourth Book Shewing the Practical Use of the Globes Applying them to the Solution of Astrological Problemes.

The Fifth Book Shewing the Practical Use of the Globes Applying them to the Solution of Gnomonical Problemes.

The Sixth Book without and never had title on Trigonometrical Problemes

Followed by An Appendix shewing the Explanation and Use of the Ptolomaick Sphere. Followed by “Ancient Stories of the Several Stars and Constellations …. Collected by Dr Hood” and “a Discourse of the Antiquity, Progress and Augmentation of Astronomy” … A catalogue of Moxon’s published items and a useful index of each book.

Many illustrations, tables and mathematical explanations in the text including one of the first publications of the key elements of Kepler’s Rudolphine Tables showing data for extrapolation of the position of a number of stars between the years 1600 and 1700.

$490.00

Updating cart…

In the Land of Pearl and Gold – Alexander MacDonald – First Edition 1907

First edition 1907. A Pioneer’s wanderings in the backblocks and Pearling grounds of Australia and New Guinea.

A nice copy with the striking front board illustration. Prospecting, mining and travel experiences in and around Australia with an excursion into New Guinea.

Good collectable relevant with nice illustrations

$120.00

Updating cart…

Headhunting in The Solomon Islands – Caroline Mytinger

A First edition 1942 of Caroline Mytinger’s well regarded book about the Solomon Islands. Mytinger (1897-1980) was an American portrait painter and a truly independent woman. She was a noted beauty and had modelled for Charles Dana Gibson.

In the 1920’s she decided to travel with a friend Margaret Warner to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. This is one of two book resulting from those expeditions. In her writing she records important ethnographic detail describing individuals with great respect bordering on affection. On returning to the USA the art she produced was exhibited first by famed anthropologist Margaret Mead.

Special book by a special person

$60.00

Updating cart…

A Naturalist in Cannibal Land – 1913 – Arthur Stewart Meek

Meek (1871-1943) was born into a Natural History family. Before he was twenty he was at Coomooboolaroo Station in Queensland collecting for the great Lionel Rothschild for his zoo at Tring. He then travelled New Guinea and the Solomons for both Tring and the Natural History Museum. This is a second impression in very good condition.

This is the book on his travels. Amongst his great finds were the holotyoe and paratype of the Woodlark venomous snake, rare there are still only twelve specimens known. In 1906 he discovered (and shot) the first specimen of the Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Butterfly … the largest in the world.

Many species are named after him … a crested pigeon, lorikeet, pygmy-parrot, crow, dwarf kingfisher etc and several butterflies and moths.

Meek a fearless Natural Historian who made his mark in New Guinea and the Solomons

$160.00

Updating cart…

Curious Map of the Eastern Hemisphere – Calmet 1728 – Early Australia Outline

An original special and unusual copper engraved map by Antoine Calmet (1672-1757) published in 1728 for his work on the Creation of the World. Below the map of the Old World is a sphere representing the creation of the Universe with the Earth at its centre. Very good condition un-coloured as it should be with a strong plate impression. 33cms by 22cms in plate impression.

Whilst the map highlights Africa, Europa and Asia the strong depiction of those parts of Australia discovered and mapped by the Dutch is charming with the Gulf of Carpentaria connected to New Guinea as was thought then.

Calmet was a French Benedictine monk and scholar born in Lorraine. He became very learned and out of humility refused honours from the Pope. The map is believed to have been engraved by Strackman (1680-1730) who worked with distinguished cartographers De Fer and De L’ilsle

Price $290.00 framed in stylish charcoal frame in cream mat with black core … a combination that works well with early uncoloured maps … enquire if you wish this map unframed or an alternative.

Unusual early 18thC map with good Australian relevance

$290.00

Updating cart…

Patrolling in Papua – 1923 – First Edition W.R. Humphries

Extremely rare London First 1923. Very good condition bar some occasional foxing. Bright and tight boards as published.

W.R. (Dickie) Humphries arrived in Papua in 1917 and took over an ambitious patrolling plan under the guidance of Hubert Murray. This excellent book records in detail a number of exploratory expeditions. Taking in Nepa, Tiveris, Kerma and Christmas on the Lakekamu, the Kukukukus and their raids on Nepa. Off into the unknown … ascending Mount Chapman and to the valley at Kwolum, friendly natives (rare) at Biaru and gigantic cigars. Ascending Mount Waria and a close shave. At Dunai-ia strange graves and thumb nails and to Boli, Nele and Morobe before turning back to Kokoda. Nicely illustrated with unique with over 40 photographic images. In 1924 Humphries escorted Frank Hurley on his famous photographic expedition into the Mount Yule area.

Scarce as they get patrolling expeditions immediately post WWI

$190.00

Updating cart…

A Tutor to Astronomy and Geography. Or and Easie and Speedy way to Know the Use of Bothe the Globes, Celestial and Terrestrial – Joseph Moxon – 1674

In the Land of Pearl and Gold – Alexander MacDonald – First Edition 1907

Headhunting in The Solomon Islands – Caroline Mytinger

A Naturalist in Cannibal Land – 1913 – Arthur Stewart Meek

Curious Map of the Eastern Hemisphere – Calmet 1728 – Early Australia Outline

Patrolling in Papua – 1923 – First Edition W.R. Humphries

Product Categories