Prestige Items

The Menzies Era. The Years that Shaped Modern Australia – John Howard – Signed Edition

John Howard’s comprehensive account and views on the Menzies era.

Published by Harper Collins, Sydney in 2014. Fine hardback with very good dust jacket, 717 pages with useful index and illustrations from relevant photographs.

Signed boldly by the former Prime Minister on the title page.

John Howard and an impressive work on the era that shaped Australia more than any. Probably no better scholar on the subject.

$80.00

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Shackleton’s Last Voyage -The Story of the Quest – Frank Wild – First Edition 1923

First US Edition published by Stokes, New York in 1923 – Scarce. Carries the imprint of Cassell, London Publisher, on spine.

Thick large octavo, xvi, and 372 pages, illustrated throughout from relevant photographs, maps etc. Decorated sky blue boards making a very attractive presentation. Scattered pale foxing aside a very good collectable copy.

Written by Commander Frank Wild C.B.E. from the Official Journal and Private Diary kept by Dr A.H. Macklin.

Shackleton driven to be in the Antarctic went back a fourth and for him final time in 1921.

The vessel the ill suited “Quest” a converted Norwegian sealer. The objectives were rather imprecise but included a circumnavigation of the Antarctic continent. Early in the voyage (at Rio) Shackleton had a suspected heart attack. He pushed on refusing proper treatment. On the 4^th January 1922 at South Georgia in the early hours of the morning he suffered a fatal attack.

The events are recorded here by his right-hand man Frank Wild (he had been on very Shackleton expedition). Wild believed that the “Boss” would have desired them to go on with the mission – which they did, and this is the record of the whole of the voyage and effort. In accordance with the widows wishes Shackleton was buried on South Georgia – later Frank Wild’s ashes were interred alongside Shackleton’s grave.

Shackleton and Wild no braver combination.

$890.00

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Admiral Byng – A Letter to a member of Parliament in the Country, from His Friend in London relative to the Case of Admiral Byng – with some Original Papers and Letters which Passes during the Expedition – First Edition 1756

Admiral Bying was famously executed on his ship at Plymouth having been found guilty of retiring against the enemy [cowardice].

It was a terrible set-up and much information was withheld during his Trial and much more was bent out of shape – noting much changed there!

An anonymous author but obviously with many contacts relevant to the matter.

A pamphlet printed by J Cooke at the King’s Arms, Great Turnstile, Holborn [London] in 1756. Saddle stitch as original 31 pages, pretty good condition, very clean.

Contains extracts from numerous contemporary reports and letters and a set of tables that prove the assertion that Byng retreated from and “inferior” force to be very wrong.

Byng a thorough rebuttal of the case against him – but too late.

SO SORRY SOLD

$150.00

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[important Aboriginal Content] Where Strange Paths Go Down – Alice Duncan-Kemp

This would appear to be the most collectable and cherished edition published in 1964 by Smith and Paterson, Brisbane. Previously issued in 1952.

Thick royal octavo, xxxii and 299 pages over 200 plates from photographs, artwork by James Wienke. Endpaper maps. Some age but otherwise an excellent very good copy.

Alice Duncan-Kemp [1901-1988] was brought up on Mooraberrie Station west of Windarah in the far west of south Queensland. Her brother and father died before she was seven years old and she was brought up by her mother who decided to stay on the property assisted by local aboriginals. Because of these circumstances Alice’s relationship with the aboriginals was intimate – she and her sister would go on extended mustering trips etc during which she would learn aboriginal ways and hear about heir customs, folklore etc. As well as the history of frontier conflict and resistance.

Her knowledge, set down in this book is both unique and extensive. The photographic imagery that supports the text makes the work that more special.

Treasured work by Duncan-Kemp

$390.00

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Paris – Alvin Eiger – Wattle Grove Press – Limited Number Edition No 128 of 300 Copies – Hand Made Private Press – Tasmania.

See out other item re the Wattle Grove Press, Newham, Tasmania. Limited edition, few overall printings, hand-made books mainly publishing the works of Alvin Eiger [Rolf Hennequel].

This is numbered 128 of a limited edition of 300 copies all announced as printed on glare-free eucalyptus paper made in Tasmania, published in 1960.

Initialled by the author at the limitation in his own name not nom de plume.

Large format 30cm by 20cm. Stiff card covers, with several inner blank protective cover, tired to edges, art form paper title pasted to front [we have seen some variations even within only 300 – ours preferred, naturally].

Alvin [or Rolf] travelled extensively before settling in Tasmania – he was multilingual at a high standard.

This book 34 pages one side printed unusual bold font is devoted to Paris. Other booksellers having read each other blurb focus on its interest in the seedy side of the City of Light. It is not like that at all, it’s a lengthy observation and part tour of the most interesting elements with place, history and purpose being the underlying subject. We love it, a sophisticated view that tells a story too, making it very readable and somewhat unique. No smutty here.

Unusual Collectable Tasmanian Private Press and all about Paris

$140.00

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Gallipoli to the Somme – the Story of Charles. E.W. Bean – Dudley McCarthy – First edition 1983

The definitive relevant biography of Australia’s principal war correspondent of WWI. To say principal may even be understating his role if you have seen and read [a monumental task] Bean’s twelve thick volume work on Australians in the Great War.

Such a man requires quite a lengthy biography, 400 pages in total well illustrated from contemporary photographs.

Published by John Ferguson, Sydney in 1983 a first edition. Large octavo bound in grey leatherette, full dust jacket. A very good copy, excuse a bit of tape residue on the end papers. Internally super clean.

Understanding Charles Bean and how he went about documenting WWI.

$50.00

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The Menzies Era. The Years that Shaped Modern Australia – John Howard – Signed Edition

Shackleton’s Last Voyage -The Story of the Quest – Frank Wild – First Edition 1923

Admiral Byng – A Letter to a member of Parliament in the Country, from His Friend in London relative to the Case of Admiral Byng – with some Original Papers and Letters which Passes during the Expedition – First Edition 1756

[important Aboriginal Content] Where Strange Paths Go Down – Alice Duncan-Kemp

Paris – Alvin Eiger – Wattle Grove Press – Limited Number Edition No 128 of 300 Copies – Hand Made Private Press – Tasmania.

Gallipoli to the Somme – the Story of Charles. E.W. Bean – Dudley McCarthy – First edition 1983

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