Papua New Guinea

Isles of Despair – Ion Idriess – 1949

A very good copy just a little chipped to the dust jacket.

Octavo, 290 pages, end paper maps, illustrated with good line drawings befitting the historical nature of the account. Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney a second printing 1949.

A fictionalised account of the the true story of Barbara Thompson [Idriess Thomson] shipwrecked on the cutter “America” on the reef at Horn island and only survivor. She swam to Prince of Wales Island and lived with the Kaurareg people for five years before being found by Captain Owen Stanley and a young Thomas Huxley who as a junior officer on board the exploring vessel Rattlesnake.

Barbara saved at last

$70.00

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Special Maritime Book: On the Wind of a Dream (The Saga of the Solace) – Commander Victor Clark – First Edition 1960

A first edition of this sought after and outstanding voyage account.

Commander Victor Clark found himself released from the Admiralty in London and decided to satisfy his adventurous spirit with a round the world voyage, which was to take six years.

The Solace was purchased, and his adventure began sailing south and west to take the route through the Panama Canal. Galapagos, Marquesas, Tuamotu, Society and Cook Islands. Then to Palmerston Island … a whole story must be written about this strange place … a form of English being the language of the day and many of the people descend from their Birmingham England forefather. Unfortunately, Solace was wrecked here which meant Clark had to undertake a full year stop over, but because of which we learn something special about Palmerston Island .

Published by Hutchinson in 1960 a first edition. Octavo, 308 pages, illustrations from photographs taken on the voyage, end paper maps a bit more informative than most. With the rare, un-clipped dust jacket albeit taped at some time along the top and bottom of spine.

This book commands significant prices around the world … apart from being hard to come by we feel the observations and writing, the events and adventures, the detail on the unusual Palmerston Island and its society make it special and therefore desired by those in the know.

Victor Clark RN in the Solace and what an adventure

$180.00

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Report to The Council of the League of Nations on the Administration of the Territory of New Guinea from 1st July 1930 to 30th June 1931.

A very good, near fine copy of the annual report on all things New Guinea. The Council of the League of Nations was the first inter-Governmental organisation formed to maintain world peace. It was established after WWI, the consequences of which saw the administration of New Guinea pass from German to Australian hands.

Foolscap, stapled, 130 pages plus large folding coloured map at rear. Printed in Canberra by L.F. Johnston for the Commonwealth Government.

We are always taken aback by the depth and detail of these reports. The key items of interest, we believe, are … the report on the state of gold mining and associated aviation activities … Edie’s Creek was just starting to produce; the District Patrols; the lengthy report from Sir Hubert Murray on his mammoth tour covering 4,440 miles in the steam yacht Franklin … and the super coloured map 72cm by 34cm.

Complete New Guinea report during the gold discovery era, special tour by Hubert Murray and fine map of “influence”.

$120.00

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Forty Fathoms Deep – Ion Idriess – Signed Annotated 1937 Edition

Signed, annotated third edition published February 1937, a month after the first edition.

A vivid and thrilling edition from Idriess on the pearling industry centred in Broome, in the Northern Territory of Australia.

Published by Angus & Robertson, Sydney. Octavo, 343 pages, 10 pages advertisements for other Idriess titles. Green cloth covered boards black titles to spine and front cover. Dust jacket designed by Edgar Alfred Holloway This is the orange variant (sometimes yellow or yellow and orange – see authority Feain and Aronry page 42). Map of northern Australia, Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea on front endpaper, rear blank. 19 pages of black and white illustrations.

Very good condition, very clean inside and a dust jacket with minor nibbles along the top and a part removed top of inside flap.

Annotated and signed boldly by Idriess on the title page … “Wishing Mrs Noah Van Cleef many happy memories on her trip to Australia. Ion L Idriess Sydney 1937” … a further note March 1, 1937 in Idriess hand bottom left of title.

Australian pearling essential early edition signed and annotated by author.

$180.00

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Queen Emma – R.W. Robson – Scarce New Guinea

Few New Guinea expatriates have not heard of Queen Emma (Emma Coe) a Samoan-American who built a trading Empire and lived with great style a Ralum near Rabaul in New Britain. An extraordinary account.

A really rather scarce book.

A first edition published by Pacific Publications, Sydney in 1965. Octavo, 239 pages including an Appendix summarising the de Rays Swindle of 1877-1884 of which there is an Emma connection [A story in itself]. Another Appendix summarising Attacks by Natives on European 1876-1904 … they were busy! … and a useful index. End paper maps and illustrated from period photographs. The dust jacket has quite a large piece missing from the back but holds up rather well in Brodart. Internally very clean.

A Queen Emma amongst Cannibals

$60.00

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Paradise Quest – A Naturalist’s Experiences in New Guinea – Lee Crandall – First Edition 1931

First Edition published by Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York in 1931. Octavo, 226 pages, 52 illustrations from period photographs … some really special ones.

Crandall was the Curator of Birds at the New York Zoological Park. This is an excellent account of his travels in Papua New Guinea. He journeys up the back of the Owen Stanley Range, meets the Mekeo and Kuni people, the latter being excellent bird catchers. Visits Deva-deva and many Birds of Paradise are seen. Mountain climbs, hidden villages and friendly cannibals (the best type) are all par for the course.

Numerous birds identified include the Sun Bird, New Guinea Pitta, Macklot Pitta, Magnificent Bird of Paradise, Lawes’ Six-plumed Bird of Paradise and the Prince Rudolph, Count Raggi’s, Long-tailed, King Birds of Paradise and, several Bower Birds and the Bonaparte Flycatcher and, many more …

Excellent naturalist’s account – Papua and Birds

$50.00

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Isles of Despair – Ion Idriess – 1949

Special Maritime Book: On the Wind of a Dream (The Saga of the Solace) – Commander Victor Clark – First Edition 1960

Report to The Council of the League of Nations on the Administration of the Territory of New Guinea from 1st July 1930 to 30th June 1931.

Forty Fathoms Deep – Ion Idriess – Signed Annotated 1937 Edition

Queen Emma – R.W. Robson – Scarce New Guinea

Paradise Quest – A Naturalist’s Experiences in New Guinea – Lee Crandall – First Edition 1931

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