Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Discovery – The Quest for the Great South Land – Estensen

Miriam Estensen’s very readable book about the hunt for land in the Southern Hemisphere.

Published by Allen & Unwin in 1998. Octavo, 286 pages including and index and extensive bibliography. Nicely illustrated very good condition.

Estensen employs a much wider and very much earlier time frame for this work. Despite this we have the Spanish, Dutch and Portuguese activities before the French and the English … and a good balance is achieved regarding the relevance of all.

The Quest well researched nicely written

$20.00

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The Cruise of the “Cachalot” Round the World after Sperm Whales – Frank Bullen – 1899

Published by Smith and Elder, a second edition, London 1899 in the more upmarket binding with the striking gilt whale to the front board.

Large octavo, 380 pages with 7 pages of plates and a folding map.

Bullen, a homeless waif, went so sea at twelve years old. After six years he landed at New Bedford, Massachusetts where he secured a berth on the “Cachalot” a whaler that would be his home for the next three years. A ripping yarn of fact and fiction actually based on the authors experiences on the “Splendid” of New Bedford in whaling grounds off “the Solanders, Vau Vau and the Australian Gulf”.

Admired by Rudyard Kipling as the best Whaling Narrative.

Best Whaling Story according to Kipling

$140.00

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Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier

Published by Victor Gollancz, London a 1956 edition. We simply love these yellow jacketed “Cheap editions” very collectable in this condition … very good and a very good jacket. First published in 1938 and then again every year (sometimes multiple times) except 1945 until 1956 one of the great years of all time.

Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca one of the greatest romantic novels of all time … a young bride is thrust into the house of the dead former wife … this “’Cheap Edition” has become iconic and is collected for its near absurd popularity.

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again”

$60.00

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Fiji and The Fijians (1835-1856) – G.C. Henderson

A first edition on Henderson’s book on Fiji and the Fijians a volume published to elucidate the Journal of Rev Thomas Williams who has spent the period !840-1853 as a Missionary in Fiji. Williams being regraded as the principal authority on the state if society among Fijians when European first came upon them.

Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1931.

Large octavo, 33 pages nicely illustrated throughout with images from early engravings, early photographs and charts. Very good condition and with the author’s “Compliments”’ stamp on the end paper ad his manuscript note “To dear old Jeff – from the Author”

A very useful Preface sets the scene and purpose for the book. The first chapter proper refers to the “Mitchellian Manuscripts” the Williams Journal and paper held at the Mitchell … and other primary materials held elsewhere including in the UK. Very good chapters on the Discovery of Fiji … the Duff, James cook and often overlooked Bellingshausen among them. The Bellingshausen journals had yet to be translated to English at the date of this book. The work then moves on to a description of the archipelago, centres of interest and the people. Mission work, medical practices and a chapter on Ono-I-Lau first visited by Calvert. Language and literature etc etc.

Well written account regarding an important historical period. A very good copy.

$120.00

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Map of the World – Cartographer De l’Ilse – Engraved and Published by Chatelain – c1730

An original copper engraved map of the world in two hemispheres by Gullaume De L’Isle published in Amsterdam by Chatelain.

The full title to the map is … “Mappe Monde ou description Generale du Globe Terrestre suivant M. De L’Isle de l’Academie Royale des Sciences”.

A curious map reflecting the unknown and the incorrect at the time. Nothing understood about the North West Coast of America although a land mass. to the east, is identified but not named … this is the fictitious “Campany’s Land”. The Dutch understanding of Australia (Nouvelle Holland)is shown with its limitations but without the south coast of Tasmania, noting also the mountain ranges shown in the North West. A most unusual map with some interesting features.

Gullaume De l’Isle (1675-1726) was a leading French cartographer of his period, following Sanson. His father was involved in geography and education although Gullaume was independent and bright at an early age. He was mentored by the great Astronomer Cassini. He became a member of the Acadamie Royale de Sciences and was appointed by Louis XIV to teach geography to the Dauphin. Like most cartographer his maps continued to be published well after his death. His intellectual property was eventually taken over by cartographer Bauche.

Henri Abraham Chatelain (1684-1743) was a Huguenot who lived variously in Paris, London the Hague and Amsterdam. He was the main mover in a family of engravers and publishers, and produced the Atlas Historic which included maps after De l’Isle of which this delightful World Map is an example.

Price $260.00 unframed or $390.00 framed in Voyager rare map style … enquire if you wish it framed or need to discuss framing options.

Intriguing world map with lots of curiosity.

$260.00

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Journals of Expeditions in Van Diemen’s Land 1833 – John Charles Darke – Sullivan’s Cove Delicacy

A delightful limited edition by Sullivan’s Cove published in 1985. Number 20 of 175 copies. Charming fine gift like quality. Darke’s manuscripts are held by the Tasmanian State Library. Protected in semi-translucent mylar wrap as issued .. not shown here only because it does not photograph well … everything in fine condition.

A diminutive 43 pages Darke’s expeditions are set out in three reports … first, To the Peak of Teneriffe in 1833, second South West of the Peak and finally “Hobart Town Report”’ all dated 1833.

There is an interesting editors note the “Peak of Teneriffe” is Wyld’s Craig and the “Derwent’ variously referred to is in fact the River Nive.

Beautiful things often come in small packages

Posted may well be reduced on this item ..

$60.00

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All products

Discovery – The Quest for the Great South Land – Estensen

The Cruise of the “Cachalot” Round the World after Sperm Whales – Frank Bullen – 1899

Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier

Fiji and The Fijians (1835-1856) – G.C. Henderson

Map of the World – Cartographer De l’Ilse – Engraved and Published by Chatelain – c1730

Journals of Expeditions in Van Diemen’s Land 1833 – John Charles Darke – Sullivan’s Cove Delicacy

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