Papua New Guinea

The Happy Isles of Oceania (Paddling the Pacific) – Paul Theroux

Value for money, the best modern book by far on the western Pacific – Oceania by the talented Theroux.

Published by Hamish Hamilton, London in 1992 a first edition. Thick octavo, 541 pages with maps at the end for those that are unfamiliar.

Seemingly Theroux was encouraged to visit the Trobriand Islands by Malinowski’s “the Sexual Life of Savages” a ground breaking and “’writer’s taboo” breaking work from the esteemed anthropologist.

All of this is after the Land of the Long White Cloud and before the paddle to Fifi and Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Marquesas. Then straying east to Easter Island and up and back a bit to Hawaii and “Paradise” … and some others in-between.

Theroux throws his lot into the Pacific.

$30.00

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Albert Hahl – Governor in New Guinea – Edited and Translated by Sack and Clark

Albert Hahl (1868-1945) was the German Governor of New Guinea until relived through the consequences of WWI. This excellent book about his life and work in New Guinea was first published as “Gouverneursjahre” in Germany. This edition translated by Peter Sack and Dymphna Clark, published by ANU, Australia in 1980.

Octavo, 164 pages, illustrated from period photographs. The editors have added significant introductory content of 22 pages which must significantly enhance the original work. A glossary of the many German named organisations and institutions is included.

Includes maps of German New Guinea, Astrolabe Bay, Ponape and New Britain. Photographs of the survivors of the Ehlers Expedition, Ponape, Hotel Furst Bismark, Herbertshohe, Namanula etc hint at the contents.

A scarce book of an important story in the history of Papua New Guinea.

Albert Hahl put his lasting stamp on New Guinea

$40.00

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Chance or Design? – A Pioneer Looks Back [Papua New Guinea] – George Seymour Fort

George Fort (1851-1951) was prodding ninety when he wrote this reminiscence and it’s an interesting one particularly his time in New Guinea as an aid to Sir Peter Scratchley who carried out the annexation. Some history of events in that period that we have not seen elsewhere,

Published by Robert Hale, London in 1942. Octavo, 180 pages, good images from early New Guinea photographs. Original blue cloth covered boards, a very good copy.

As well as Australasia and New Guinea, Fort spent time in South Africa and Rhodesia. Chapters on Prospecting Experiences in Manicaland.

Fort kept the Fort in New Guinea and had some interesting things to say about it…

$40.00

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Zoo Quest for a Dragon including the Quest for the Paradise Birds – David Attenborough

Two books in one and a first of type published by Lutterworth for the Readers Book Club. An unusual arrangement the Dragon book has previously been published by Lutterworth, the Birds of paradise book was specially written by Attenborough for the Book Club and has since become somewhat of a classic.

Published in 1959 , a first edition effectively, 256 pages, illustrated from original photographs, simple map etc. tallow cloth covered boards, the dust jacket is nearly all there bar some loss front lower area; now protected in removable Brodart. Good image of a young Sir David.

Pages to 159 regarding the Indonesian expedition taking in some culture before the focus on natural history. Taking in Bali, Borneo, Sumbawa and of course Komodo for the Dragons.

In New Guinea we go to the Waghi region and then up the Jimi River Valley … with much on the unusual people encountered and of course the beautiful birds.

Attenborough out among the animals and birds – how it all started.

$30.00

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Through Wildest Papua – Jack Hides 1937

Published by Blackie, London and Glasgow in 1937 part of the Travel Library Series. Not sure what sort of “’travel” they were envisaging you would have to be pretty tough. Published in the USA under a different title “Savage Patrol”.

Octavo, 165 pages, end paper maps, very good illustrations throughout from period photographs. Presume previous ownership name cut from free endpaper corner, some spots to page edges otherwise a very good copy of a getting scarce and important New Guinea account.

With an introduction by Sir Hubert Murray a great supporter of the Port Moresby born Hides. On patrol Jack Hides describes in vivid detail the raid on Lakekamu and the patrol to Loloipa west of Mount Nelson at the source of the Alabule River. Stunning photographs as suggested.

Jack Hides, Voyager Hero, on Patrol deep into New Guinea

$90.00

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The Gold Trail – Henry Stacpoole – First Edition 1916

From the author of The Blue Lagoon and The Pearl Fishers.

A first U.S. edition published by John Lane, New York in 1916. Octavo, 308 pages plus publishers advertisements. Original clay coloured cloth covered boards with striking design in black and gilt to front. Inner hinges re-enforced, bookplate removed from front past down, some age marks, internally pretty bright and clean. A pretty good copy of a now very scarce book

Irish born Henry Stacpoole (1863-1951) was for some time a ship’s Doctor mostly in the South Pacific. He later became a very successful author. His novels often based in New Guinea or the Pacific Islands reflect his in depth understanding of the environment, people etc.

This novel, titled “The Reef of Stars” in the UK starts in Sydney .. a venture is formed and off to New Guinea … up a river a heroine is found among the local tribes … the unfortunate Maquart goes made over his inability to move a fortune in gold … etc tense stuff in equatorial New Guinea,

Scarce early novel based in unknown New Guinea

$50.00

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The Happy Isles of Oceania (Paddling the Pacific) – Paul Theroux

Albert Hahl – Governor in New Guinea – Edited and Translated by Sack and Clark

Chance or Design? – A Pioneer Looks Back [Papua New Guinea] – George Seymour Fort

Zoo Quest for a Dragon including the Quest for the Paradise Birds – David Attenborough

Through Wildest Papua – Jack Hides 1937

The Gold Trail – Henry Stacpoole – First Edition 1916

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