Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

The Hunter Sketchbook. Birds & Flowers of New South Wales drawn on The Spot in 1788 89 & 90 By Captain John Hunter of the First Fleet.

A really rather beautiful and slightly strangely titled work.

We say strangely titled because we do not have to read far about the original sketchbook, (once owned by the great Rex Nan Kivell and now housed in the Australian National Library) to find that the sketches include fishes and people … and of New South Wales and also Norfolk and Lord Howe islands. Peeking at the reproductions of the sketches we can also see a kangaroo and a dolphin. What is really surprising is the rarity now of some of the birds he drew e.g. the Swift Parrot and we wonder where he saw that bird …

Captain Hunter, to be Governor Hunter, known as a skilled sketch artist through the illustrations in his sought after First Fleet journal .. but these images take one’s understanding and admiration to a whole new level.

No expense spared production limited to 500 copies and with a further 50 sets of unbound plates. Edited by John Calaby with assistance. Published in 1989. Quarto, x, 252 pages with 100 full page colour plates and other illustrations in the lengthy introductions. Bound in quarter calf, raised bands to spine, separate green leather title label, exotic marble paper covered boards, original removable glassine protector, silk ribbon release from original open slip cover. A fine copy.

A special edition from a unique work of historical significance – an Australian National Treasure.

$190.00

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The Silent Service – Ion Idriess and T.M. Jones – First edition 1944

Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney during WWII. A bit foxed particularly, title and page edges.

A super book about the part played by the Australian and New Zealand navies during WWII. Idriess’s co-contributor was know as Torpedo-Man.

Octavo, 338 , end paper maps, chipped but quite worthwhile dust jacket.

A very worthwhile book and these should not be forgotten exploits.

$50.00

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Oriental and Western Siberia – Atkinson

Published by Asian Educational, Delhi Madras in the year 2000. A faithful facsimile of the original published by Bradley, Philadelphia in 1859.

Longer title demonstrated territory covered … Oriental and Western Siberia: A Narrative of Seven Years’ Explorations and adventures in Siberia, Mongolia, The Kirghis Steppes, Chinese Tartary, and Part of Central Asia.

The author Thomas Witlam Atkinson certainly put the steps in (pun intended) and amasses a sizeable narrative in his lengthy period in Asia – super commitment and nice writing.

Octavo,483 pages, illustrated as in the original. Blue heavily embossed decorative hard covers. A little age but still very good. Good folded map in pocket at rear, too big to scan and showing the route(s) taken on the adventures.

Ceylon and its Natural History, more than a “sketch” by Tennent

$60.00

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The Natural History of Ceylon – J Emerson Tennant

A good facsimile of this scarce book by the man who knew Ceylon so well. First published by Longman, London in 1861.

Longer title … Sketches of the Natural History of Ceylon with Narratives and Anecdotes illustrative of the Habits and Instincts of the Mammalia, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes etc including a Monograph of The Elephant and a description of the Modes of Capturing and Training It- with engravings from original drawings.

Re-published by Asian Educational Services, Delhi, Madras in 1999. Octavo, 500 pages, embossed faux leather binding, gilt a touch worn, a little age but a good faithful facsimile of an important work of the period.

Ceylon and its Natural History, more than a “sketch” by Tennent

$60.00

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De Re Metallica – Georgius Agricola – the Hoover Translation.

This is the second printing of the famous Hoover translation of the equally famous 16th Century monumental publication by Georgius Agricola on all things then known in mining, metallurgy, geology etc. Published by Dover, New York in 1950.

Longer title … De re Metallica translated from the first Latin edition of 1556 with biographical introduction, annotations and appendices upon the development of mining methods, metallurgical processes, geology, mineralogy & mining law from the earliest times to the 16th century by Herbert Clark Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover.

This edition, large royal octavo blue cloth covered boards, 638 pages after xxxi preliminaries, illustrated throughout from the images of the original wood engravings, simply superb. Dust jacket closed tear at top front otherwise pretty good, a very good copy overall. Quite a heavy book which will require and Overseas postage supplement.

The series of books within the book (an early style) I Arguments against the art of mining II The miner and the mining of veins III Veins and stringers and seams in rocks IV The method of delimiting veins and the functions of the mining officials V The digging of ore and the Surveyor’s art VI The miner’s tools and machines VII The assaying of ore VIII Rules for the work of roasting, crushing, and washing the ore IX Methods of smelting ores X the work of separating silver from gold, and lead from gold and silver XI Separating silver from copper XII rules for manufacturing salt, soda, alum, vitriol, sulphur, bitumen, and glass … Agricola’s works – Ancient authors on mineralogy, mining, metallurgy- Nomenclature to be adopted for weights and measures etc.

There is so much to admire about this book … the date of the foundation work, its breadth and quality, the learning from the engravings. Strangely maybe we particularly like the section on pumps in mines – essential equipment for water bound mines and the ingenuity pre powered machines is very interesting. Regarding the translation – what a job done by Hoover(s). The difficulty must have been very challenging – for example Agricola struggled to find Latin equivalents for many mining terms so had to contrive them from everyday Latin words – Hoover then had to decipher these once and only Latin words – unsurprising that his hair was depleted.

De Re Metallica – The Foundation Work for all Mining and related – the readable version

$140.00

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United States Antarctic Program – Personnel Manual – 1994 edition

Published by the Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington VA.

Largish softcover, 70 pages. A manual on how to do things in the colder climates. Interspersed with historical information which provides perspective and readability.

Starts with a section on the first US expedition sealers and then the industrious Nathaniel Palmer in the 47 foot sloop Hero.

Usual chapters on preparations, safety, health, travel to and from etc. More interesting chapters on Conservation, the Stations and Vessels, Handling Cores etc Sanctuaries …

Very interesting section detailing the Historic Monuments – 60 in all and a summary of the Treaty which we should all understand before the day of reckoning – not too far away.

Is there a Polar Explorer /Historian in you – be prepared and informed!

$40.00

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All products

The Hunter Sketchbook. Birds & Flowers of New South Wales drawn on The Spot in 1788 89 & 90 By Captain John Hunter of the First Fleet.

The Silent Service – Ion Idriess and T.M. Jones – First edition 1944

Oriental and Western Siberia – Atkinson

The Natural History of Ceylon – J Emerson Tennant

De Re Metallica – Georgius Agricola – the Hoover Translation.

United States Antarctic Program – Personnel Manual – 1994 edition

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