Non-fiction

Close to the Wind – [Round the World Single Handed and Rescue] – Pete Goss

The story of adventurer Pete Goss’s involvement in the 1996/7 Vandee Globe – round the World single handed event France and back.

Only six finished and Goss was fifth … he had however to go back in the Southern Ocean to rescue Raphael Dinelli who would have died for sure without Pete Goss. He took Dinelli back to Hobart and continued on in the race alone. This is the same race that saw the famous capsizing of Tony Bullimore and, sadly the loss of Gerry Roufs.

Softcover, published by Headline in 1998. Large octavo, 282 pages nicely illustrated. A very good near fine copy.

Pete Goss received and deserved his Legion d’Honneur.

$25.00

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Don Giovanni – Mozart [In English by Edward Dent]

A smashing little reference … a libretto [little book]. Published by the Oxford University Press in 1948. Perfect bond soft cover, xix and 72 pages.

Very good Preface by the translator describing the movement in language, so to speak, in Opera and the difficulties of good performance in English and German. The a good introduction to Don Giovanni, Voyager’s favourite.

The translator points out that the words are there to be sung not just read out and “if the reader discovers in these pages any line that they can call poetry, they may be sure that is has been stolen from some respectable – and, I hope, non-copyright author” …we will not tell!

Now we don’t have to watch the subtitles and miss the action!

Understandable Don Giovanni by Dent.

$20.00

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Beyond the Frozen Sea – Visions of Antarctica – Edwin Mickleburgh

A first edition published by The Bodley Head, London in 1987. Large octavo, 256 pages, endpaper maps, charts and great photographs throughout. Very good condition

Much admired by the late Sir Peter Scott which makes it a winner for Voyager on that fact alone.

This book is for one not only interested in the history of the discovery of Antarctica but also the preservation of its natural resources and environment.

In the history we have from Cook and an interesting reference to Coleridge and the Rime of the Ancient Mariner [Spurred Voyage on to find a special copy]. Then the first sighting, perhaps first landfall, over-wintering and the heroic era.

Moving to resources the best narrative we have read on the devastation of the seal colonies … island to island. Mineral resources, changes [then] in weather patterns, preservation of the krill, the Treaty and the reality of its working … food for thought with a big renewal coming up not too far off.

In terms of depth and breadth of content a big book on the Antarctic.

$35.00

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Illustrated Games of Patience – Lady Adelaide Cadogan – 1880

Card games of all sorts were all the rage in Victorian times among all classes. Here we have none other than Lady Cadogan the leading expert on the many many variations of a card game generally known as Patience.

This is fourth more glamorous edition published by Sampson Low, London in 1880. Quarto, strangely paginated around the description both in narrative and pictorially of each game. The images are truly delightful a feature that is carried over to the decorated green cloth binding. A very good copy of a scarce form.

The names of the various game forms points to the French derivations .. La Belle Lucie; Le Cadran; La Quinzaine; La Loi Salique; Les Quatre Coins; Le Moulin; Le Shah etc although ending with the rather drearily named “the British Constitution”

Patience is a blessing .. let’s have more of it!

$80.00

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Ross Bridge Tasmania – Studies in Historical Archaeology – Maureen Byrne

Maureen Byrne was a professional archaeologist which makes this “local history” rather more honed and full of well researched fact.

Anyone who loves Tasmania either as a local or a visitor cannot help fall in love with the town of Ross and its magnificent convict built bridge.

Published in 1969 by the Australian Society of Historical Archaeology in conjunction with the Ross Council and its then appointed Bridge Restoration Committee .. now there’s a worthwhile cause.

Squarish perfect bound card covered, 51 pages with folding plans at rear. Extensively illustrated from photographs taken by the author. A very good copy.

The bridge was to undergo restoration with the removal of badly laid thick tarmacadam … this was the chance to call in the expert Byrne. A special record was made … the best part being something that could have received better treatment earlier .. 186 carvings, 31 over the top of each arch. Among the carvings along with those involved in the creation of the bridge we have … Jorgen Jorgensen the Danish adventurer then part of life in Van Diemens Land; Governor George Arthur resplendent in his top hat; John Headlam a hated school master in his mortar board; William Kermode a local grazier .. along with horned goods and wild beasts.

Comparison with Italian bridge architecture add interest.

The Ross Bridge rivals European Bridge Architecture with its numerous carvings.

$50.00

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The Horse Tramways of Adelaide 1875-1907 – L.S. Kingsborough

Now this is a local history of special interest. The intensity and variety of horse drawn trams in the city of Adelaide and its suburbs was special by any standards.

A card covered perfect bound publication of the Adelaide Libraries Board so done to a good standard with photographic images, diagrams etc that really enhance the understanding.

Squarish octavo, 86 pages plus a5 pages of appendices. Published in 1965 a rare and very good condition copy.

The number of enterprises paints a picture in itself .. Adelaide and Suburban Tramway Co; Unley and Mitcham Tramway Co; Adelaide and Hindmarah Tramway Co; Port Adelaide, Queenstown, Alberton and Portland Estate Tramway Co … and many more

Horse drawn trams … everywhere … what fun .. and green?

$50.00

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Close to the Wind – [Round the World Single Handed and Rescue] – Pete Goss

Don Giovanni – Mozart [In English by Edward Dent]

Beyond the Frozen Sea – Visions of Antarctica – Edwin Mickleburgh

Illustrated Games of Patience – Lady Adelaide Cadogan – 1880

Ross Bridge Tasmania – Studies in Historical Archaeology – Maureen Byrne

The Horse Tramways of Adelaide 1875-1907 – L.S. Kingsborough

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