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The Iceland Journals of Henry Holland 1810 – Edited Andrew Wawn

The British had visited Iceland for many years, but little was written about it before this expedition.

Led by Sir George Mackenzie accompanied by a party of young Edinburgh scientists. Among them was Henry Hall, who later became a physician to Queen Victoria in London. Hall was 22 at the time of the expedition.

The object of the exercise was to explore and investigate several volcanic regions to contribute to the important and controversial mineralogical debate that was then taking place in Europe. There are three fundamental journeys … to Gullbringusfsala; the Snaefellsnes Peninsula and Rangarvallasyla.

On return Mackenzie published the first good account on Iceland for over forty years … “Travels in the Island of Iceland etc”. Henry Hall had kept a detailed diary which, never published was retained in family hands until gifted by them to a Reykjavik institution.

The author of this work, Andrew Wawn, carried out the sort of research expected of a Hakluyt contributor concluded that Mackenzie’s published work relied heavily on Hall’s manuscript without acknowledgement. Furthermore, Hall’s more detailed and in the moment account contained much missed by his illustrious leader … so here we have it.

Published by Hakluyt in 1987. Octavo, 342 pages after preliminaries. The extent of Wawn’s work in bringing this account to life is clear from the 70-page introduction. Then we have 200 pages of the text of the journals illustrated by numerous sketches made by Hall. Followed by several useful appendices. A very good copy.

Hall’s missing journals on Iceland 1810.

$50.00

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A Solomons Sojourn: J.E. Philp’s Log of the Makira 1912-1913

A limited edition of 500 available copies published in 1978 by the Tasmanian Historical Research Association and one of their best efforts.

Octavo, 208 pages nicely illustrated from period photographs and with useful maps of the region. A very good copy.

John Ernest Philp was a Tasmanian shipping clerk. Likely seeking greater adventure he served for two year on the Makira as engineer, mate and then captain of the vessel in and around the Solomons. His log reproduced here is an important contribution to the somewhat scant detail available regrading activities during the pre WWI colonial era. His crew drawn from native stock were special to him and his warmth comes through in his writing. Tragedies such as murder and cannibalism arise and are recorded with precision.

Nicely edited by Richard Herr and Anne Rood and a helping hand by Dan Sprod, of course, to get it through the Press

Detailed account of a trading ketch in the Solomons when it was pretty lively.

$40.00

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A Narrative of a Voyage to New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land by Amaso Delano

Published by the Cat & Fiddle Press, Hobart, Tasmania in 1973. One of 500 copies and a fine example of a special work.

Octavo, with dust jacket, unpaginated but complete.

A facsimile extract from a Narrative of Voyages and Travels in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres Comprising Three Voyages Round the World Together with a Voyage of Survey and Discovery in the Pacific Ocean and Oriental Lands.

Set out in two parts.

Part One: Remarks upon a voyage to the South Sea by way of the Cape of Good Hope – King Island – Straits between New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land – Settlements on New Holland and van Diemen’s Land … and,

Part Two: Transactions at New Holland, Van Diemen’s Land, and Bass’s Strait – Letter to Philip Gedney (sic) King, Governor General of New South Wales – remarkable Accident of the Pilgrim’s boat being sunk – Departure from Bass’s Strait – Description of the Snares – Bounty Islands – Passage across the south Pacific Ocean – Rendezvous with the ship Perseverance.

Amas Delano – a rare account brought to life by the Cat & Fiddle.

$50.00

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Historic Sail – The Glory of the Sailing Ship from the 13th to the 19th Century – Wheatley

A massive production principally by Joseph Wheatley as this is a most visual work … text by Stephen Howarth.

Squarish folio, 33cm by 32cm, 206 pages, published by specialist Greenhill Books, London in 2000.

With 91 colour plates of historic vessels with accompanying text page. A quality production and a very good copy. Probably too big for an overseas purchase (and our scanner) .. please enquire though.

Presented in chronological order with the Danish 13thC Cog and then the Cinque Ports Cog and Venetian Merchantman. Along the way we have Carricks and Caravels before the 16thC Galleys and the Flemish Warships. Some specifics … the Revenge and the San Martin and the Golden Lion. The Armada vessels and the Dutch and the mighty Sovereign of the Seas. Gun ships and the first yachts … HMB Endeavour an to finish a Scottish Tea Clipper.

At the time of publication Joseph Wheatley was part of the crew on the replica Endeavour … half your luck … one of the images is that magnificent converted collier.

A special book for grown up Boys who like the Sea.

$50.00

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The Early Maps of Colombia up to 1850 – Kit S. Kapp

The Map Collectors’ Circle publication No 77 by Captain Kit S Kapp published in 1971. Very good condition. T.M. Perry, Australian map expert’s stamp to front cover.

170 maps identified over 32 pages plus 10 full page plates of prime examples. Very good condition.

Colombia a country of contrasts, snow-capped mountains, fertile plains and exotic jungles. First colonised by the Spanish in 1538. The subsequent successful looting of Cartagena by Sir Francis Drake created further interest in the region and the mapping thereof. See if you can spot “El Dorado … the Golden One”

Captain Kit passed away a few years back … he was a much loved member of the map community and a friend of Mick Tooley’s

Colombia … the original gold maps

$25.00

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Maps of the Canary Islands Published before 1850 – C Broekema

The Map Collectors’ Circle publication published Nos 74 by C. Broekema in 1971. Very good condition with T.M. Perry, Australian map expert’s stamp on the front cover.

147 maps identified over 24 pages plus 13 plates of prime historical and decorative examples. Very good condition and a hard one to find.

The Canaries has always held a special place in hearts of travellers and cartographers. Known in antiquity and actively visited by Europeans from the 14thC. Appears on the Medici Portlan map of 1351. On the Hereford Mappamundi it is named “Insulae fortunatae sancti Brandani” … the “Fortunate Isles” moniker dates back to Hesiod, who spoke of the islands where perpetual summer reigned.

Canary Islands more than just a holiday. Perry’s copy.

$25.00

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All products

The Iceland Journals of Henry Holland 1810 – Edited Andrew Wawn

A Solomons Sojourn: J.E. Philp’s Log of the Makira 1912-1913

A Narrative of a Voyage to New Holland and Van Diemen’s Land by Amaso Delano

Historic Sail – The Glory of the Sailing Ship from the 13th to the 19th Century – Wheatley

The Early Maps of Colombia up to 1850 – Kit S. Kapp

Maps of the Canary Islands Published before 1850 – C Broekema

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