Biography/ autobiography

George Bass 1771-1803: His Discoveries, Romantic Life and Tragic Disappearance – Keith Bowden – First Edition 1952

A very good first edition of this well researched and written book on Bass.

Published by the Oxford University Press Melbourne in 1952. Octavo, 171 pages with illustrations and a fine dust jacket.

The author Keith Macrae Bowden was the author of the official Australian Dictionary of Biography re Bass and therefore holds a certain authority on the subject explorer.

After various introduction we have a family history and the first naval activity on HMS Shark and HMS Reliance. Off to Australia and the exploratory adventures on the Tom Thumb before a trip to South Africa. Time in Port Jackson and the discovery of coal before the “Discovery of the Bass Strait” and the final whale boat voyage. Plans for a fortune and his Pacific voyages and on to South America and his disputable fate.

Nice appendices on the Tom Thumb; Source of Information and a succinct listing of the subjects achievements.

George Bass a fairly full life

$50.00

Updating cart…

Disturbing Element [An Autobiography] – Xavier Herbert – First Edition 1963

A very nice first edition copy of Australian writer Xavier Herbert’s autobiography.

Born in 1901 Xavier Herbert had a rather strange upbringing. He trained as a Pharmacist having worked in a chemist’s shop at the age of 14. He went to Melbourne to study medicine. Writing was a passion but he was in his thirties before his great work “Capricornia” was published to great acclaim. He was much admired by HG Wells.

Xavier Herbert was the “Disturbing Element’. Published by F.W. Cheshire, Melbourne etc in 1963. Octavo, 271 pages, a very good if not better copy.

Xavier Herbert published few works and his final novel “Poor Fellow My Country” was published in 1975 and won him the Miles Franklin award. It is also the longest novel ever published by an Australian writer at 1,466 pages and an estimated 852 thousand words

Interesting autobiography of the elusive talented Xavier Herbert.

$30.00

Updating cart…

The Celebrated George Barrington: A Spurious Author; The Book Trade, And Botany Bay – Nathan Garvey

For collectors of early Australiana the confusion over the Barrington books is well known. There might be the occasional flight to Wantrup but the riddle will most likely still remain unresolved. Here we have it, the essential explanation and reference ..

Octavo, 327 pages nicely illustrated from early Barrington books. Published by Hordern House, Sydney 2008. A fine copy.

Traces the genesis of the Barrington books, with an excellent account of publishing in England in the period. Contains the authoritative bibliography with over eighty works referenced.

George Barrington and his early Australian books … resolved

$40.00

Updating cart…

Bligh – Master Mariner – Rob Mundle

A fine first edition of Rob Mundle’s excellent hardback book on Bligh. Large octavo, 368 pages with end paper illustrations and coloured illustrations inside. Published by Hachette, Sydney in 2010. Very good condition.

The writer, a sailor from a sailing family writes about Bligh with a focus on detail and Bligh’s unrivalled skill as a navigator.

He was at the forefront at an early age. With Cook on his fateful third voyage on the Resolution, it was a 24 years old Bligh who took command of the navigation on the voyage home. He was 34 when he found himself in conflict with Fletcher Christian resulting in the epic 47 day open boat voyage from Tonga to Timor. And, 36 when he commanded HMS Pandora around the world … among his company a young Matthew Flinders

William Bligh – another perspective – and no less enlightening

$30.00

Updating cart…

Lachlan Macquarie – His Life, Adventures and Times – Ellis – First Edition 1947

The definitive work on Australia’s early Scottish Governor. The man that brought civilisation to the country from paved streets to the arts – also pushed harder for inland exploration and a greater understanding of the vast outback.

First edition 1947, quarto, 697 pages, differing end paper maps and eight full page colour plates. Dust jacket a bit tired but scarce and has protected the boards well, flecking to page edges and some age near the ends, otherwise bright and clean internally. Previous ownership name and stamp at front. A pretty good copy priced accordingly. A heavy book which mat require a tad more postage dependent on buyer location.

The author Malcolm Henry Ellis (1890-1969) … Queensland born journalist and historian. An avid ant-communist … he dislike Manning Clark and his historical work believing Clark inclined to leftist’s views in his writing and inclined to via away from historical fact when it suited his point of view.

Lengthy but written in an easily read style, we can see why this has become the go to text on Macquarie. The format is set out as if five separate books covering distinctive periods in his life … the titles of which give little away as to content Needless to say we cover his early years as a dashing lieutenant, time in India, his loves, Egypt and to Australia and his early successes … a period that would stretch from 1810 to 1821. He pioneered the development of commerce, inland exploration and urban development. A patron of the arts and literature.

Macquarie much more than a flash Bank

$50.00

Updating cart…

A Taste of the Hills – Miles Smeeton – First Edition 1961

A first edition published by Rupert Hart-Davis, London in 1961. Octavo, illustrated with maps, and illustrations from photographs. A very good copy.

Miles (1906-1988) and Beryl Smeeton (1905-1979) were adventurers as if from a different era. Well known for their sailing adventures and twice near disaster going East around the Horn .. they made it successfully from the west.

Miles had a distinguished military background … Yorkshire born … full of grit.

Miles was posted to India before WWII and he writes about his time there. And, with Beryl, his overland adventure from Basra back to England. Finishing with an attempt in the Himalayas on 25,460 feet Tirich Mir with Tenzing … Beryl became the highest climbed female at the time.

Miles Smeeton with Beryl on land and just as adventurous as the sea..

$20.00

Updating cart…

George Bass 1771-1803: His Discoveries, Romantic Life and Tragic Disappearance – Keith Bowden – First Edition 1952

Disturbing Element [An Autobiography] – Xavier Herbert – First Edition 1963

The Celebrated George Barrington: A Spurious Author; The Book Trade, And Botany Bay – Nathan Garvey

Bligh – Master Mariner – Rob Mundle

Lachlan Macquarie – His Life, Adventures and Times – Ellis – First Edition 1947

A Taste of the Hills – Miles Smeeton – First Edition 1961

Product Categories