Non-fiction

A Journalist’s Memories – Spencer Browne – Published in Brisbane 1927

Published in Brisbane in 1927 based on a series of articles published by the Courier Mail the year before.

An absolutely superb memoir covering Queensland notables and goings on over the period 1877 – 1926. The number of people included is monumental and the detail encyclopedic. Great book. Lots about goings on in the gold fields, robbery, explorers and their successes and failures and one or two corrections of commonly held facts.

Queensland recounted by the most able Spencer Browne – superb

$120.00

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Collection of Vintage Fishing Floats

A super collection of vintage fishing floats an number hand made. Some quite well used but float collecting is not like stamps – a mint float is unromantic.

Thirty or so in all – would make an interesting display or just to have would be good.

What floats your boat?

$90.00

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Leichhardt’s Expeditioners – Dan Sprod

A limited edition of 750 this book by Dan Sprod provides enlightening detail from the journals kept by William Philips and John Murphy who participated in Leichhardt’s successful expedition from Moreton Bay up through Northern Queensland and the North Coast to Port Essington.

Well written as with all of Dan Sprod’s work dealing with the personalities and contributions of each party as well as progress of the expedition.

Nicely illustrated and with a map in rear pocket. Never before published content makes this a must for those interested in Australian inland exploration.

Lechhardt’s party get properly on the record

$50.00

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Trial By Ice – The Antarctic Journals of John King Davis

The collectable Erskine Press 1997 edition in fine condition.

The greatest Ship’s Captain of the Heroic Antarctic era with seven voyages from 1907 to 1930. Unrivalled experience in Ice Navigation. Stern discipline earned him the nickname “Gloomy Davis”.

This book, taken from his journals provides an interesting contrast to those of Mawson in particular.

Maybe Gloomy but Very Good

$80.00

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Sarangi – Indian Stringed Instrument

The sarangi is a short necked bowed stringed instrument with a skin covered resonator. Carved from a single piece of wood. The playing strings typically gut and the numerous sympathetic strings from steel. The instrument is played predominantly in Northern India and also in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal.

The sound it produces is very emotional and can resemble the human voice with special techniques such as gamaks (shakes) and meends (sliding movements).

Its origins could be Persian the derivation of the name suggests that.

The sarangi has a box like shape with three hollow chambers .. the names of which translate to stomach, chest and brain. This good example is around the usual size (slightly bigger) at 67cm. the lower chamber is covered in parchment. There is a bridge made from bone, earlier they would have been ivory. The bridge is strong as it supports the pressure from the numerous metal sympathetic strings.

Nor really suitable for Overseas postage and will require a postage supplement in Australia dependent on buyers location. We are careful to pack well and obtain the most cost effect mailing.

Expand your musical horizons with a Sarangi.

$440.00

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Australia – Magic Lantern Slide Set – c1905.

Produced by W. Butcher & sons, London (1870-1906) under the brand name Primus. Sold as a set of eight in cardboard box with Lantern Lecture Reading notes. Complete.

Standard magic lantern glass size 3.5 inch by 3.5 inch. All images square with rounded corners, original black mounting tape along edges. Very bright colouring, super condition apart from a crack in one slide.

The slides comprise

Government House Melbourne
Sydney Harbour – Well before the bridge and heavily treed.
Gold Mining Past and Present
Sheep Shearing
Richmond River [Northern NSW]
In the Bush
A Kangaroo Hunt
Australian Aborigines

There is much more about these images than observed at first glance.

The image of aborigines includes an inset of a proud Murray River Warrior which is clearly derived from a photograph taken in 1880 by Samuel White Sweet. Resplendent in a possum skin coat holding a fighting waddy and decorated malcarra (shield) and string bag the subject cuts a proud figure. Maggs are currently selling a collection including the photograph – eye watering $.

The kangaroo hunt is rather gruesome particularly the practice of cutting the tendon.

The gold mining slide is super albeit cracked with an inset image of the old time cradle against the powerful mechanised image of Ballarat mines.

The accompanying words are fairly comprehensive and interesting but of the period so anti C’s beware.

Australia as it was seen over 100 years ago.

$270.00

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A Journalist’s Memories – Spencer Browne – Published in Brisbane 1927

Collection of Vintage Fishing Floats

Leichhardt’s Expeditioners – Dan Sprod

Trial By Ice – The Antarctic Journals of John King Davis

Sarangi – Indian Stringed Instrument

Australia – Magic Lantern Slide Set – c1905.

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