Non-fiction

Australian Eastern Shovelnose Ray – by Shaw & Nodder – 1791

Very early copper engraved hand coloured engraving of the Australian Eastern Shovelnose Ray (Aptychoterma Rostrata) which you can find along the coast from Newcastle in NSW to the Far North in Queensland, more prevalent around the Barrier Reef. Very good condition original 18thC colouring.

A medium sized ray with a long flattened triangular snout, wedge shaped disk and shark like tail. Sexually dimorphic dentition – the males have elongated carps on their anterior teeth that allow them to grip the female during mating … ouch.

George Shaw oversaw the Natural History Department at the British Museum. Nodder was a natural history artist and worked for Banks on his Florilegium.

Price unframed $90.00 or $190.00 framed in Voyager Natural History style.

Very early Australian Fish Engraving

$90.00

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Bronze Plaque Swedish Polar Explorer Otto Nordenskiöld by Austrian Artist Hugo Taglang – 1905

Produced to commemorate the Antarctic achievements of Swedish explorer Otto Nordenskiöld (1869-1928) who led a Heroic Era expedition to the Antarctic in 1901-1904. A fine image of the man decked out in heavy polar furs.

Nordenskiold arrived in the Antarctic in 1901 and wintered on Snow Hill Island. Unfortunately, their ship the ‘Antarctica” got trapped in ice and sank in 1903. His back up Larsen eventually met up with the stranded team but was unable to get them away. They were eventually rescued by the Uruguayan Navy. Despite all this their visit was hailed a scientific success as they explored and researched much of Graham Land.

Nordenskiöld was made Professor of Geography at Gothenburg University in 1905 the same year this commemorative was struck. He later went on to explore northern Greenland and in the 1920’s certain parts of South America. He was killed by a bus in Gothenburg crossing the road.

80mm by 57mm weighing 170gm. The artist medallist Hugo Taglang (1874-1944) was born in Vienna. An example of this item is shown in the National Maritime Museum Collection, London ID MEC 2149.

Otto Nordenskiöld an unusual Antarctic commemorative
.

$180.00

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The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway – 1967 Edition

Should be everyone’s favourite short read. Nobel citation – “his powerful style-forming mastery of the art of modern narration, as most lately revealed in his novel The Old Man and the Sea”.

A later edition published by Jonathan Cape in 1967.

Octavo, 127 pages. With the colourful wrap around jacket by Hans Tisdall. The jacket in very good condition bar a nibble on the back leading fold. The pages are pretty clean, generally a very good copy.

Much debate among critics regarding this book … the anti-Hemingway brigade miss the point by a nautical mile. No better metaphor for Hemingway’s life than these words. Could the ending be more poignant?

Hans Tisdall was the designer of the Hemingway Cape dust jackets. You can see why we like them at Voyager … they have Universal attraction. Tisdall (1910-1971) born in Germany was originally a textile designer and made his name at Edinburgh Weavers. Later in life he won awards for the design of the entryway to the Battersea Fun Park and was commissioned to produce dust jacket artwork for which he designed these distinctive brushstroke cursive fonts. Michael Harvey subsequently produced a new typeface base on this style named Tisdall Script.

Nobel Classic – Ernest Hemingway

$50.00

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A History of Trains and Trams in Tasmania – Thomas Cooley.

Thomas Cooley previously published “Railroading in Tasmania” and had completed this work concerning his lifetime interest just before he died.

Published posthumously by the Tasmanian Government Printer, Caudell in 1987. Octavo, 184 pages, illustrated from some super period photographs, maps of lines etc.

A quite special book and naturally the train systems being connected so much to the broader history of Tasmania … the development of mining in the West and North East for example. We particularly like the references to and images of early operating traction engines which couldn’t make there way into the unambiguous title.

Super copy of Cooley’s definitive book on the Tasmanian Rail and Tram Systems.

$40.00

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The Usefulness of John West – Dissent and Differences in the Australian Colonies – Patricia Ratcliff.

We think not the most inspiring title for a biography of the great man … and a well researched and voluminous one too.

Published by the Albernian Press, Launceston in 2003. Large royal octavo, 574 pages, illustrated a very good production and a fine copy.

The Reverend John Smith arrived with his wife Narcissa and five children on the barque “Emu” in December 1838. He was contracted to provide pastoral care through the Congregational Church in Brisbane Street, Hobart, allowing the then Minister Miller to take leave in Europe to improve his health. Miller changed his mind and West found himself, eventually, in Launceston.

His influence grew, over time he was to become a major mover in the anti-transportation league and a citizen of true concern about the treatment of the aboriginals. He penned the first great History of Tasmania – a book still cherished today by scholars of Tasmanian History. His obvious love for his family and his “flock” shines through as well as his desire to grow the best marrows in the land.

John West more than a Historian – a thorough account

$60.00

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[Tasmania] Living Stones – Three Volumes Complete – Emberg(s)

Described as “a friendly guide to some Tasmanian graveyards”. So a strange little set of books that may interest those with that sort of curiosity. There is also a helpful assessment of Tasmanian graveyards with points allocated for various criteria – such as possessing a large gum or pine tree or have an obvious tragedy enshrined in stone or … a nice place for a picnic.

Three card covered volumes over circa 340 pages total, illustrated, strangely informative and mildly therapeutic.

Graveyards rated and gravestones described

$40.00

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Australian Eastern Shovelnose Ray – by Shaw & Nodder – 1791

Bronze Plaque Swedish Polar Explorer Otto Nordenskiöld by Austrian Artist Hugo Taglang – 1905

The Old Man and the Sea – Ernest Hemingway – 1967 Edition

A History of Trains and Trams in Tasmania – Thomas Cooley.

The Usefulness of John West – Dissent and Differences in the Australian Colonies – Patricia Ratcliff.

[Tasmania] Living Stones – Three Volumes Complete – Emberg(s)

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