Convicts, transporation etc

A Geographical, Historical and Topographical Description of Van Diemen’s Land – by George Evans – First Edition 1822

A very good copy of the first edition of this important early book devoted to Tasmania, published by Souter London in 1822. Octavo, xii, 140 pages with 2 tables and lists plus the famous frontispiece a very early engraved folding view of Hobart after a sketch by the author. Bound in original papered boards [rare to be as issued] with a later somewhat crude calf spine. A hint of foxing and the odd crease otherwise as good a copy as one will find.

Carries the armorial bookplate John Francis Basset (1831-1869), on the front pastedown. The Basset’s were Norman settlers following William the Conquerer. They had a large country home Tehidy Park in Cornwall. A long line of Basset’s were the High Sheriff of Cornwall including John Francis.

and the later bookplate of Salve, Lowenac, Camborne. Cambourne is also in Cornwall and there is a nice Hotel at Lowenac … Salve, we believe, is a local greeting … good wishes, best of health etc.

Title continues… with Important Hints to Emigrants, and Useful Information respecting the Application for Grants of Land; together with a List of the Most Necessary Articles For Persons to Take Out etc. The whole “embellished by a Correct View of Hobart Town”.

Contents include – Advertisement by the Editor (dealing with the Lieutenant Jeffrey’s book that plagiarised Evans). A general description of the discovery and exploration of the island, early population; climate and seasonal issues and a description of its topography and agricultural possibilities; the towns and villages, roads, commerce and field sports and the bushrangers. The appendices detail land granted in the Colony.

A good copy of a scarce early Tasmanian item

$690.00

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White Blackfellows – Charles Barrett

Published in 1948 by Hallcraft, Melbourne. Octavo, 261 pages, well illustrated. A very good copy in a nice albeit chipped dust jacket.

We recognise that the title of the book is unacceptable. Accept the book though for the history within. Sixteen different histories from all over Australia. Many of these have inspired other works – Patrick White etc. And, quite a few appear in longer form within the Voyager collection – but in no other place do we have a balanced presentation of so many.

Mrs Fraser, William Buckley, James Murrells, Barbara Thompson etc and the dubious Louis de Rougemont

$40.00

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The Men That God Forgot – Richard Butler

First edition published by Hutchinson’s London in 1975. Octavo, 254 pages plus bibliography, end paper maps. Very good condition.

The most remote penal colony in the world was Sarah Island on the west coast of Van Diemen’s Land. In 1833 after eleven years of misery it was decided to close it down and move the convicts to Port Arthur. Ten convicts were commissioned with the task of constructing a Brig to make the voyage around the coast. They saw their chance and seized the vessel and made their escape … but as always there is more to the story.

A well researched highly fact backed novelisation – super read.

The story of the final escape form Sarah’s Island through the Gates of Hell

$30.00

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Reminiscences of an Australian Pioneer – Robert Barton [Uncle of Banjo Patterson] – 1917

Barton’s reminiscences – a “squatter of the olden days”. Born in 1842 in the central West belonging to the first generation to follow the original land-takers in the west.

Barton, was an uncle to Banjo Patterson and spent his life in New south Wales and Queensland. His portrait as frontispiece is rather dull but his life was not.

By 1840 the squattocracy was firmly ‘landed’ and well-to-do. Barton looks back positively to the convict origins of his family’s assigned men. As a young man in his twenties the bushrangers Frank Gardiner and Ben Hall bushranging gangs were part of his life. Later he is confronted by the trade union movement and striking shearers.

First edition published by Tyrrells, Sydney in 1917. Octavo, vii, 288 pages with portrait of author. Original purple cloth rather standard binding, spine faded as usual with the plum coloured dye. Pages toned but clean and some age to ends, ownership details on front ends and the odd helpful annotation from an informed early owner – likely first. Scarce and worthwhile copy.

One on the best Australian Pioneering stories

$140.00

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Clay Pipes from Port Arthur 1830-1877 – Maureen Byrne’s 1977-1978 Excavations at Port Arthur – Descriptive Account by Alexandra Dane and Richard Morrison.

Maureen Byrne was emerging as one of Australia’s best archaeologists before she tragically died from a terrible asthma attack in 1978, she was only 24-year-old. [See also our copy of her work on the Ross Bridge]

The massive collection of clay pipe fragments she found are held at Port Arthur. Dane and Morrison produced this thorough analysis. Published by the Department of Prehistory at the ANU, Canberra – Technical Bulletin No 2 – issued in 1979.

Large sized, original wrappers, spiral bound fifty-five pages with eleven pages of plates covering a multitude of examples.

Port Arthur established as a convict settlement in 1830 and remained so for a quarter of a century, after that it was a home for the poor and those with metal health issues. This work identifies that at some time it was likely a home for a number of military officers.

The pipes [over a thousand of them] were mainly made in Scotland which in the Victorian era was the centre of such pipe making in the World. Makers are identified – Mc Dougall, Murray, Coghill, Burns etc and the many decorative bowls that followed such lines as heraldic, heads, botanicals etc.

An unusual subject the detail of which could make you the star of the next dinner party – do people still have dinner parties?

Port Arthur its history through the pipes left behind.

$40.00

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Tasmanian Rogues & Absconders 1803-1875 – Graeme-Evans

This is volume II and our favourite the middle years, being 1821-1836 … so a subset of the main title.

Self published by Alex Graeme-Evans of Launceston in 1994.

Larger soft cover format, perfect bound. 104 pages, nicely illustrated throughout.

What is it that makes rogues and absconders interesting … a rhetorical question. Much better reading than “everyday folk” … apologies. One thing for sure there were plenty of them … threaded intimately through the history of the Apple Isle.

For every rogue there seems to have been at least one absconder

$25.00

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A Geographical, Historical and Topographical Description of Van Diemen’s Land – by George Evans – First Edition 1822

White Blackfellows – Charles Barrett

The Men That God Forgot – Richard Butler

Reminiscences of an Australian Pioneer – Robert Barton [Uncle of Banjo Patterson] – 1917

Clay Pipes from Port Arthur 1830-1877 – Maureen Byrne’s 1977-1978 Excavations at Port Arthur – Descriptive Account by Alexandra Dane and Richard Morrison.

Tasmanian Rogues & Absconders 1803-1875 – Graeme-Evans

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