Maritime

The Story of Charles Francis Hall, Explorer – Weird and Tragic Shores – Chauncey Loomis 1972

The writer a Professor and arctic adventurer himself was well qualified to pen this thorough biography of the great and somewhat unusual American Polar explorer, Charles Francis Hall. His research included access to key papers at the Scott Polar Institute; the Stefansson Collection and unique documents held by descendants of Paul Fenimore Cooper.

Published by MacMillan, London in 1972 a first UK edition. Octavo, 367 pages, plus index etc. Illustrations from early images and a useful map. A very good copy.

Hall was a successful printer who out of the blue had a urge to become an explorer. His first venture was in the path of Eliza Kane to search for evidence of the lost Franklin expedition. He essentially set off by himself having tagged along on a whaling expedition. Fame a support followed and he was to go back several time before succumbing himself possibly like Franklin from food poisoning of sorts. He is said to be the first to live with the Eskimo and had good and bad vies on their approach to life.

Charles Francis Hall devoted a large part of and his life to Arctic exploration.

$40.00

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High Latitudes – A History of Swedish Polar Travels and Research – Gosta Liljequist

Published in 1993 a monumental book by Polar Participant Professor Gosta Liljequist who was metrologist in the Norwegian-British-Swedish expedition to the Antarctic in 1949-52 and also leader of the 1957-58 expedition to Svalbard … so he is in here.

Weighting nearly 3 kgs so pricey to mail Overseas, cannot be found elsewhere in Australia. Largo quarto, 606 pages, with many illustrations from expedition photographs, maps, charts etc a worthy production. Very good copy in a very good dust jacket.

Hard to summarise but we start with the Pioneers 1758-1863 including Anton Martin, the first scientist to go truly North. Involvement with the French Le Recherche Expedition; then Otto Torell and Spitzbergen and his later expeditions to the Aeolus Group north of Svalbard. Quennerstedt’s zoological studies in the west Ice in 1863.

Then we have the Nordenskiold Epoch between 1863-1883 and here for sure too much to write about at both ends of the World. If you haven’t got the book on the Vega this covers it with many other ventures.

We move through some interesting low budget expeditions that did much for the dollar spent and on to Andree and the ill-fated balloon attempt … the searching for him and his companions was a lengthy event and a good Noir movie was made out of it.

We are only a third through and too many highlights to record here. Interesting side stories – the Arctic flight of the German Graf Zeppelin in 1931 – then the attempt from Stockholm to New York.

The Many Swedish Polar Achievements all in one place. Never again.

$280.00

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Easter Island – Earth Island – Bahn and Flenley

A high quality book published by Thames and Hudson, London in 1992, a first hardcover edition.

Large squarish octavo, 240 pages, over 200 illustrations from photographs, sketches of digs, designs, maps and charts etc. Nice bibliography. A fine copy.

They reference previous visits from Cook etc and then the scientific efforts of Katherine Routledge (Voyager Hero) in WWI and then Thor Heyerdahl who brought with him William Mulloy who would become the expert on the island and its past. Bahn and Flenley are a bit harsh with their criticism of Heyerdahl.

A super book and essential for any Easter Island enthusiast. We are going to dig out some work by Mulloy shortly.

Easter Island should be part of a tight collection.

$50.00

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Sailing with Flinders: The Journal of Seaman Samuel Smith – Peter Monteath (Hardback version one of 200 Copies)

First edition, readily available as a softcover but rare as a hardback due to the tight limitation. Numbered 154 of 200 copies thus.

Published by the super Corkwood Press, Adelaide in 2002. Professor Peter Monteath [descendant of Gidley King] of Adelaide University a well published historian. This book marries well with his “Encountering Terra Australis” of which Voyager usually has a copy.

Fine condition, xiv, 86 pages, maps in text numerous other illustrations, notes and bibliography.

Monteath edits the extant journal and provided his sizeable introduction. Apart from Flinders writings this is the only journal kept during the Voyage of the Investigator 1801-1803 during which Flinders circumnavigated Australia proving undisputedly its island form and filling in many parts of the then “Unknown Coast”. The writer of the journal [It was more like an exercise book] , Samuel Smith, was from Manchester and joined Flinders’ crew below decks as low a rank as could be got. Nevertheless, Flinders had a small tightly bound crew and Smith’s account makes for good and full reading.

An important historical account one of the tightly held hardbacks.

$80.00

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The Life of Jean-Francois de La Perouse – Where Fate Beckons – Ian Harman

First edition published by the ABC in 2006. Large octavo, 292 pages, nicely illustrated . A quality production printed in heavy paper. Neat name on end papers. A very good copy.

The book on La Perouse by John Dunmore a recognised world authority on La Perouse and many things Pacific.

From his teenage life at war, the American War, issues in the Indian Ocean and the Great tragic Voyage and “the Mystery”.

La Perouse by Dunmore

$40.00

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The Southern Cross – Australia’s 1974 Challenge for America’s cup – Hugh Whall

Bondy won the Cup for Australia in 1984 … it had been a long haul … this the book about the mighty effort made in 1974.

Published by Admiralty Publishing, Maryland, USA in 1974, a first edition.

Octavo, 172 pages, finished with the “Basic 12 metre formula”… learn it by heart. Nicely illustrated throughout from photographs taken along the way. Very nice copy.

The author a sailor of note, ex Fastnet, Sydney Hobart etc. From Rhode Island where he kept his hand in. Bondy … well we all know about Bondy.

A super book with good concentration on the design development and the desire to win at all costs.

The America’s Cup maybe the best thing invented in America..

$25.00

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The Story of Charles Francis Hall, Explorer – Weird and Tragic Shores – Chauncey Loomis 1972

High Latitudes – A History of Swedish Polar Travels and Research – Gosta Liljequist

Easter Island – Earth Island – Bahn and Flenley

Sailing with Flinders: The Journal of Seaman Samuel Smith – Peter Monteath (Hardback version one of 200 Copies)

The Life of Jean-Francois de La Perouse – Where Fate Beckons – Ian Harman

The Southern Cross – Australia’s 1974 Challenge for America’s cup – Hugh Whall

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