Maritime

The Voyage of the Brig Mercury – Including Maria’s Islands near Van Diemen’s Land

Full title … Observations and Remarks made during a Voyage to the Islands of Tenerife, Amsterdam, Maria’s Islands near Van Diemen’s Land; Otaheite, Sandwich Islands, Owhyhee, the Fox Islands on the North West Coast of America, Tinian, and then to Canton, in the Brig Mercury, Commanded by John Henry Cox …

Illustrated with a Sketch of the Island of Amsterdam, a Plan of Oyster Harbour at the Maria Islands, with some views of the Land; a Curious Medal; and a Club accurately engraved.

Originally published for the author Lieutenant George Mortimer of the Marines, T Cadell in the Strand et al. in 1792.

This fine facsimile published by Israel, Amsterdam in 1975. Small quarto, 73 pages with the charts faithfully reproduced. A clean crisp copy.

The original account of this voyage difficult near impossible to obtain. Mortimer suggests that the Voyage was chiefly undertaken from motives of curiosity by Mr Cox, the fur trade on the North West Coast of America was the ultimate objective.

Mortimer’s narrative is a pleasing and easily read account. The visit to Amsterdam Island well to the South in the Indian Ocean, nearly Antarctic, is important to cold weather island enthusiasts. Cox had planned to call in at Adventure Bay in Van Diemen’s Land but missed it and ended up at Maria’s Island … he named Oyster Bay and the charts produced is of historical value. The progression across the Pacific to the North west Coast of America has unique elements and interesting encounters with Russians in the locale.

Mortimer on Cox’s Voyage .. important Tasmanian content

$60.00

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Spotted Seal (Phoque de Choris) – Lesson – Paris 1838

Original hand coloured engraving drawn by Antoine Charles Vauthier and engraved by Smith. Good strong clean example.

Produced for Rene Primevere Lesson (1794-1849) for his extension of the great natural history work originally produced by Count Buffon. They were published in Paris in 1838. Interesting that Lesson himself originally classified this species.

The spotted seal inhabits the Arctic regions, at one time thought to be endangered but now seen in large numbers from Alaska right through Northern Siberia.

Very good condition, clean with bright colours and a sophisticated stipple technique. Strong thick paper.. 24cm by 17cm unframed … external dimensions when framed would be 36cm by 28cm a nice size for the study or hallway.

Lesson participated as doctor and naturalist in the Duperry voyage round the world on board La Coquille (1822-1825).

Price $90.00 unframed or $190.00 framed in Voyager Natural History style … enquire if you wish …

The spotted seal now quite often seen!

$90.00

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Wildlife and Wilderness – An Artist’s World – Keith Shackleton

A really super book of Keith Shackleton’s Polar art. Much of the work completed on the Ms Lindblad Explorer (see our copy of Keith Shackleton’s Antarctic Pilot). In his well written introduction he expresses his gratitude to Lars-Eric Lindblad for putting his vessel on the high seas with him aboard.

First US edition published by Salem House 1986. Small quarto, landscape 120 pages with 8 full page colour images of selected cold weather painting with a nice page of attendant narrative. Very good if not fine condition.

A nice forward by HRH Prince Charles. But to the art … something special … the subjects naturally well chosen and the style clean bright and dramatic

Keith Shackleton’s beautiful paintings – where can we get one?

$50.00

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Hokule’a The Way to Tahiti – Ben Finney.

Published by Dodd. Mead & Co, New York a first edition 1979. Octavo, 310 pages with numerous illustrations from photographs as well as charts, diagrams drawings etc.

A fine first edition of Professor Ben Finney’s book … about the re-construction of an ancient double-hull Polynesian canoe to sail and prove the theory of early navigation between Hawaii and Tahiti. An exercise that proved very difficult with cultural and personal arguments getting in the way at almost every step. Makes for interesting reading as does the account of the successful voyage .. written well and nicely illustrated.

Professor Ben Finney (1933-2017) was pretty remarkable man. Professor of Anthropology who held positions at a number of Universities including the ANU. He spent most of his life in Hawaii and regarded as the world’s greatest authority on surfing history … the sport of Hawaiian Kings.

Maritime History Proven by Ben Finney

$35.00

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Wake of the Invercauld – Madelene Ferguson Allen

First edition 1997, published by Exisle Publishers, Auckland, New Zealand. Large octavo, 256 pages well illustrated with images and maps. Very good if not as new condition. A super book.

In 1864 the Invercauld was shipwrecked on the remote Auckland Islands in the sub-Antarctic Ocean south of New Zealand. The author Madelene Ferguson Allen is the great-granddaughter of one of only three who ultimately survived the shipwreck or the subsequent hash conditions on the island.

More than a shipwreck book Allen draws on original manuscripts, details the early year of Robert Holding and his time in Australia, refers to the First Mate’s Narrative (kindly gifted) … her two visits to the Auckland Islands produced some lovely photographic images and extended the historical content … now carefully controlled as a genuinely untouched wildlife sanctuary the book brings the cold island group to life

Special book about a tragic event and a special island

$50.00

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Riviere de Sourabaya – by Sigismond Himely – from the Voyage of La Favourite – 1835

An original aquatint by Sigismond Himely (1801-1872)) of the River Sourabaya, Java Indonesia .

Executed on India-laid paper being plate number 58 from “Voyage Autour du Monde par les Mers de l’Inde et de la Chine de la corvette de sa Majeste La Favorite execute pendant les annees 1830,1831,1832 sous le commandement de M. Laplace” published in Paris in 1835 under the direction of Louise Auguste de Sainson.

Plate size 28.8 x 38.2 cm. Included in the National Collection as part of the Rex Nan Kivell bequest NK685. Some minor ageing around the border a pretty clean image as can be seen from the scans

Price $140.00 unframed

Delicate image of the River Sourabaya, Java – 1835

$120.00

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The Voyage of the Brig Mercury – Including Maria’s Islands near Van Diemen’s Land

Spotted Seal (Phoque de Choris) – Lesson – Paris 1838

Wildlife and Wilderness – An Artist’s World – Keith Shackleton

Hokule’a The Way to Tahiti – Ben Finney.

Wake of the Invercauld – Madelene Ferguson Allen

Riviere de Sourabaya – by Sigismond Himely – from the Voyage of La Favourite – 1835

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