Non-fiction

Historic Stanley [North West Tasmania] – From Original Sketches by Marquerite Close – Signed by the author and artist.

Well for those that have not been there, Stanley with its impossible to miss “Nut” is one of the most picturesque places you are likely to come across. And, steeped in history being a very early settlement associated with Australia’s first major corporation the Van Diemen’s Land Co.

Soft cover, landscape, 68 pages with a page of narrative followed by a sketch throughout. A super reference and keepsake for any Stanley lover.

Beautiful historic Stanley and Artist’s record.

$30.00

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Governor’s Ladies [The Wives and Mistresses of Van Diemen’s Land Governors] – Alison Alexander.

An interesting and enlightening book published as a quality book by the Tasmanian Historical Research Association in 1987.

Tall octavo, 188 pages, produced by Dan Sprod’s Blubber Press. Illustrated with images from early photographs, maps, colour frontispiece of the Old Government House. An excellent copy bar previous name tipped out on a free end paper.

The official and unofficial companions include … Martha Hayes, Maria Lord, Mary Geils, Margaret Davey, Lady Franklin [of course], Caroline Denison and many more. Well researched and written, a book about strong women and their role up front and behind the scenes.

Governor’s got the glory – but what about the women alongside them.

$50.00

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Tibetan Marches – Andre Migot

Translated from the French by Peter Fleming.

Published by the Readers Union in conjunction with Rupert Hart-Davis , London in 1956. Published first by RHD the year before.

Octavo, 302 pages, with illustration from original photographs and end paper maps of the route of Andre Migot in his travels between Kunming to Tangar between December 1946 to September 1947.

A super travel account soon after the end of WWII and just before the Chinese influence altered traditional Buddhist Tibet. Migot loved the Tibetans with a passion despite being robbed during his journey by bandits.

Frenchman Migot a super travel writer in Tibet and all through it at an important time.

$30.00

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In Old Days and These and Other Stories – Tasmania – By The Captain

Extremely scarce and only edition published in 1930 printed at the Monotone Art Printers, Hobart, effectively self published by the anonymous “Captain”.

Octavo, soft covers 159 pages, illustrated throughout, the highlight being an unusual large folding map at the front of the Derwent Estuary. A number of “old style” advertisements for various Hobart businesses scattered throughout.

The “Captain” starts by suggestion the book contains numerous ancient and modern historical facts of Tasmania in general and Hobart in particular.

The detail in this book is quite astonishing. It wanders through the City streets referring to building after building .. the history of who owned it from its first existence, what use it was put to and the successes and failures that ensued. Amusing and fateful anecdotes along the way. Pubs feature strongly and, we are entertained with the new ways of making good beer that have been adopted in Hobart. Key individuals feature and we hear of the great family difficulties suffered by Voyager hero James Kelly, whaling entrepreneur and Derwent Pilot.

Few copies exits in libraries and none we can see for sale.

Special book on Hobart for anyone interested in the fine details.

$90.00

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Joseph Mason – assigned Convict 1831-1837 – Edited by Kent and Townsend.

Published by the Melbourne University Press, a fine copy of the first edition 1996. Octavo, 182 pages with end paper maps. Gift inscription on half title otherwise clean as a whistle.

Joseph Mason was transported to New South Wales, one of many who protested against the mechanisation of agriculture … threshing machines.

The large part of this book is his Memoir of goings on a wonderful insight into the Colony … referencing encounters with aboriginal people and good descriptions of convict “assignments” around Sydney, Parramatta and Campbelltown and explorations along the Nepean River.

Good introductory chapters with contributions from David Kent as well as the industrious editors.

One of the more thorough and thoughtful convict accounts

$20.00

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Scents of Flying – Maki Horanai and Hillel Weintraub

Self published hand made by Mountain Dreams Press in 2010. A special beautiful book displaying the highly original artwork of Maki Horanai.

Unpaginated but 28 pages of thick handmade paper so lovely you could eat it. Fourteen images by Horanai, alternating full page and double page. Signed boldly on the front pastedown by the artist and the wordsmith Hillel Weintrub. The image of the title, an element of “Homage” is repeated pasted to the front boards. Boards covered in rich handmade paper.

As you can tell … we love it.

Wish and you could be a “Sky Carpet Traveller”

$70.00

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Historic Stanley [North West Tasmania] – From Original Sketches by Marquerite Close – Signed by the author and artist.

Governor’s Ladies [The Wives and Mistresses of Van Diemen’s Land Governors] – Alison Alexander.

Tibetan Marches – Andre Migot

In Old Days and These and Other Stories – Tasmania – By The Captain

Joseph Mason – assigned Convict 1831-1837 – Edited by Kent and Townsend.

Scents of Flying – Maki Horanai and Hillel Weintraub

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