Tasmania and Van Diemens Land

Hobart River Craft and Sealers of Bass Strait – Harry O’May

Published privately by the author this is a second impression 1973. Octavo, 113 pages plus 31 pages, illustrations and indices not paginated. Folding map at back. Dust jacket a bit scuffed and closed tear to read, otherwise a very clean good copy.

A special little book packed full of information by Harry O’May who knew his boats.

Two works in one the first a compendium all things wooden in the Tasmanian boat world and it’s a big world. Sorted in terms of chapters to include barges, cutters, ketches and passage boats; fishing craft, racing vessels, paddle steamers (wish you were here) and a special on Wilson Shipyard, Cygnet. All the other shipyards are mentioned along with good detail on many many craft – with some interesting early photographic images. The Sealers of the Bass Strait does not disappoint either.

Nice Tasmanian Early Boat Book – We Like it!

$40.00

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An Imperial Disaster – The Wreck of George the Third (off Bruny Island) – Michael Roe

Published in Hobart by Blubber Press in 2006. Large octavo, 293 pages, well illustrated and in very good near fine condition.

This limited edition (750) book by Michael Roe is packed with research.

On 12 April 1835 the George the Third hit a rock entering the D’Entrecasteaux Channel with the loss of 133 lives all but six convicts. Essential Tasmanian reading.

More than a shipwreck book

$50.00

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Tasmanian Ground Parrot – Greene – 1884

Original wood cut hand finished engraving of the shy Tasmanian Ground Parrot or Green Ground Parrot from Parrots in Captivity published in London in 1884.

A beautifully patterned Ground Parrot of medium size, bright green with black and yellow markings and a pale yellow wing bar. It has a small red band on the lower forehead.

A secretive bird found in the west of Tasmania, where it prefers buttongrass and open heathlands.Not usually seen unless flushed out from cover. Although it also occurs on mainland Australia, it is now only found there in fragmented populations due to disturbed habitats. the bird constructs a shallow nest of fine sticks and grass hidden under low shrubs. The female incubates the eggs and broods the young. She is fed by the male who also feeds the young when they hatch.

Greene’s delightful work comprising wood-engraved plates printed by Benjamin Fawcett after drawings by A.F. Lydon. The prints are hand finished with delicate highlighting in gum arabic to accentuate the bright colouring.

Benjamin Fawcett was one of the great colour printers of the 19th century. He pioneered a system of wood block engraving from multiple blocks that resulted in vivid finely coloured works. Fawcett had an association of some 50 years with Francis Orpen Morris to produce many beautiful works on birds. The engravings are the finest illustrations of parrots from the period.

Pricing structure … the prints alone $120.00, matted as shown $135.00 or framed in gilt $290.00 ready to hang. Just let us know which option … default is matted only

Rare 19th Century print of the Tasmanian Ground Parrot

$120.00

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The Convict Ship – Colin Browning M.D. R.N. – First US Edition 1855

Extended title …. The Convict Ship. A Narrative of the Results of Scriptural Instruction and Moral Discipline on Board the “Earl Grey”” [to Tasmanian].

This is the first US edition published by Robert Craighead, New York in 1855, having previously been published in London. Octavo, 263 pages, bound in original embossed slate blue cloth covered boards. Title to spine fairly faded and end papers aged with original owners name and gift inscription to front free end paper. The odd mark and crease internally but really rather clean and bright overall.

Colin Arrott Browning MD was appointed Surgeon on HMS earl Grey carrying 264 male prisoners to the penal colony of Van Diemen’s Land in 1842. He had undertaken that position a number of times … in the Surrey (1831); the Arab (1834); the Elphinstone (1840). He was certainly a confident man and the book mainly deals with the subject of the longer title … scriptural instruction and discipline. Along with this are observations on prisoners and crew along the way … a storm is encountered and they reactive words of the loss of the Waterloo and all of the prisoners who sailed in her … which made them very nervous. On arrival in Hobart they are inspected by Sir John Franklin who is impressed by their condition and mental state … a positive for scriptural instruction. Testimonies follow which make for interesting reading.

Fundamental record of practices onboard convict ships bound for Van Diemen’s Land

$180.00

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Michael Howe: The Last and Worst of the Bush rangers of Van Diemen’s Land

A nice facsimile production by The Folio Society, London, published in 1977. With useful introduction by Ian Atkins

Three copies of the original book are known to exist, one in the Bodleian (from which this facsimile is produced), one in the British Museum and the other in the National Collection, Canberra from which was bought from Maggs in 1946 having been purchased by them at Sotheby’s.

This original account was the first book of general literature published in Australia, in Hobart Town, in December 1818.

Nostalgic and interesting in many ways

$25.00

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Spore Coal – Tasmania – Microscope Slide

A very good prepared slide of spore coal (Pelionite) labelled as from Tasmania. Late 19th or early 20th century in preparation we do not know by who but we recognise their handwriting!

The most likely location for spore coal is around Barn Bluff and walkers on the Overland track may encounter outcrops. Joseph Will operated a mine in the area in the 1890’s. Seemingly, the coal type is loaded with oil a fact that was hotly debated in the technical press around the 1920’s.

Rare slide preparation subject – Tasmanian

$50.00

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Hobart River Craft and Sealers of Bass Strait – Harry O’May

An Imperial Disaster – The Wreck of George the Third (off Bruny Island) – Michael Roe

Tasmanian Ground Parrot – Greene – 1884

The Convict Ship – Colin Browning M.D. R.N. – First US Edition 1855

Michael Howe: The Last and Worst of the Bush rangers of Van Diemen’s Land

Spore Coal – Tasmania – Microscope Slide

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