Non-fiction

400 Year Old Map of Portugal – Portugallia – Cartrographer Jodocus Hondius Jnr for Geographer Petrus Bertius – 1616

A striking copper engraved miniature map of Portugal engraved by Jodocus Hondius Junior to illustrate a geography book by Petrus Bertius published in Amsterdam in 1616. Bertius was only responsible for the Latin text what was titled “Tabularum Geographicarum Contractarum”.

The maps in this work were miniature renditions of the maps contained in the famous folio atlas by Gerard Mercator and Jodocus Hondius Senior.

The maps are considered by authority Geoffrey King as the most beautiful set of miniature maps ever. Scarce.

On the death of Jodocus Hondius Junior in 1629 the miniature map plates came into the possession of William J Blaeu who used them in his own version in 1635.

Printed area 12.5cm by 9.0cm, with fine wash colouring. An attractive engraving with good detail. The map is aligned with North to the right [Not unsual for the period for maps to be presented this way]. With swash lettering, cartouche and distance scale.

We have included an additional image of the map aligned North to the top for those confused by the “horizontal” presentation. Also, we have provided an image of the title page of Tabularum Geographicarum … taken from Geoffrey King’s reference. We have a copy of King’s book for sale for those interested in collecting and/or understanding the history behind the creation of beautiful small scale maps.

Price $160.00 unframed … $280.00 framed in Voyager miniature map style.

High quality map of Portugal from 1616

$140.00

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The Lake Regions of Africa – John Giddie – 1883

Published by Nelson, Edinburgh in 1883 described as a record of modern discovery. So a book that build on the first hand account of all of the great African explorers to date.

Octavo, 275 pages, with 32 illustrations, some light foxing, mark to rear cover otherwise a pretty good copy, with the delightful black and gilt illustrated front board and spine.

The contents separated into three principal sections covering exploration of the Nile, Congo and Zambesi rivers. Nicely done.

Nice book provides timeframe and perspective to 19thC African exploration.

$75.00

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Antarctica – Key Reference to Antarctic Literature – Renard – 1994

The mammoth and quality Antarctica sale of Gaston Renard, through Leonard Joel in 1994 made the associated catalogue a principal reference for Antarctic narratives. Catalogued by Julien Renard who acknowledges the substantial assistance of Mileva Ilic and of his wife Pam and of Thelma Finn.

The descriptions are full and where unique because of ownership, annotation etc they make for interesting reading in themselves. For those that collect and use Spence etc this is an essential addition and will be often off the shelf as scarce items raise their heads.

Quarto, soft covers, 244 pages cataloguing 1,744 items followed by a useful “Reference List” and preceded by a useful bibliophilic “Explanatory Note”. Carries master collector Rodney Davidson’s bookplate … a little wave to front cover perhaps as a result.

Renard first place of reference anything Antarctic of worth.

$70.00

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Ungava: A Tale of Esquimax-Land – Robert M. Ballantyne

One of the most prolific writers of adventure for the young Scottish born Robert Michael Ballantyne (1825-1894) went to Canada at the age of 16. There he worked for six years for the Hudson Bay Company. In his autobiography he said that writing long letters to his mother on the goings on of the fur traders was the stimulus behind his first books.

His first was “The Hudson Bay Company” and then “The Young Fur Traders” … this book was his fourth. He went on to pen over 100 books to the delight of his adventure seeking followers.

An early 20th century edition published by Nelson, London. Octavo, 509 pages, blue cloth covered boards with sailing ship design and design to spine, coloured frontispiece. A very good copy indeed.

A party of explorers head into Eskimo territory to establish a fur trading post at Ungava Bay. Situated in the Nunavik region of Quebec.

Ballantyne in one of those “live there did that” adventures.

$60.00

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Australian Shipwrecks – Volume 2 (1851-1871) – Jack Loney

A first edition published by Reed, Sydney in 1980. Small quarto, 239 pages all in very good condition with a very good to better dust jacket. A few illustrations from period engravings and early photographs.

Jack Loney’s excellent work on shipwrecks representing part of the Australian Shipwrecks series started by Bateson.

An essential edition for those interested in wrecks. Follows the usual format with notes on sources followed by a chronology and notes on ships and their wrecking. Index of ships at the end.

Essential Australian Wreck Book

$30.00

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The Day of Fire [Suggested by the Life of Arthur Rimbaud] – James Ullman – First Edition 1959

First Edition published by Collins, London in 1959. Octavo, 638 pages. A little sign of age, dust jacket chipped at head, still a very good copy of a special book.

The author had been working on this book for a number of years and provides a nice foreword about Rimbaud, He thanks New Directions for quotes from their “A Season in Hell”, possibly Voyager’s favourite book.

No wonder the author invested so much time, Arthur Rimbaud was an extraordinary individual and apart from his poetry and writing led an extraordinary life, not always on the right side of the law.

Based on the life of Arthur Rimbaud and a colourful life that was.

$30.00

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400 Year Old Map of Portugal – Portugallia – Cartrographer Jodocus Hondius Jnr for Geographer Petrus Bertius – 1616

The Lake Regions of Africa – John Giddie – 1883

Antarctica – Key Reference to Antarctic Literature – Renard – 1994

Ungava: A Tale of Esquimax-Land – Robert M. Ballantyne

Australian Shipwrecks – Volume 2 (1851-1871) – Jack Loney

The Day of Fire [Suggested by the Life of Arthur Rimbaud] – James Ullman – First Edition 1959

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