Papua New Guinea

Up from South – A Prospector in New Guinea, 1931 – 1937 – Jack O’Neal

The author Jack O’Neal prospected for gold at Edie Creek, Wau, Bulolo, Ramu and Waria. Pure Morobe goldfield adventure often in danger yet he admired the native tribesman. Based on his diaries and edited by the knowledgeable James Sinclair. Nice list of Pidgin terms for the uninitiated and curious.

Morobe Gold

$50.00

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WG Lawes of Savage Island and New Guinea – Joseph King – 1909 First Edition

Published by The Religious Tract Society London in 1909, a First Edition. Original binding with snag top of spine glued otherwise a pretty good complete copy. Gilt titles and image all bright.

388 pages with folding coloured map of PNG and 21 most interesting black and white photographs. Lawes (1839-1907) went to Niue in 1861 for 11 years before then serving in Papua New Guinea in and around Port Moresby for 32 years from 1874. A tough man who worked with Chalmers met Bully Hayes and built the first church and school in Port Moresby.

Pioneering Missionary in PNG – Cornerstone PNG

$120.00

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In the Land of Pearl and Gold – Alexander MacDonald – First Edition 1907

First edition 1907. A Pioneer’s wanderings in the backblocks and Pearling grounds of Australia and New Guinea.

A nice copy with the striking front board illustration. Prospecting, mining and travel experiences in and around Australia with an excursion into New Guinea.

Good collectable relevant with nice illustrations

$120.00

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Headhunting in The Solomon Islands – Caroline Mytinger

A First edition 1942 of Caroline Mytinger’s well regarded book about the Solomon Islands. Mytinger (1897-1980) was an American portrait painter and a truly independent woman. She was a noted beauty and had modelled for Charles Dana Gibson.

In the 1920’s she decided to travel with a friend Margaret Warner to the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea. This is one of two book resulting from those expeditions. In her writing she records important ethnographic detail describing individuals with great respect bordering on affection. On returning to the USA the art she produced was exhibited first by famed anthropologist Margaret Mead.

Special book by a special person

$60.00

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A Naturalist in Cannibal Land – 1913 – Arthur Stewart Meek

Meek (1871-1943) was born into a Natural History family. Before he was twenty he was at Coomooboolaroo Station in Queensland collecting for the great Lionel Rothschild for his zoo at Tring. He then travelled New Guinea and the Solomons for both Tring and the Natural History Museum. This is a second impression in very good condition.

This is the book on his travels. Amongst his great finds were the holotyoe and paratype of the Woodlark venomous snake, rare there are still only twelve specimens known. In 1906 he discovered (and shot) the first specimen of the Queen Alexandra’s Birdwing Butterfly … the largest in the world.

Many species are named after him … a crested pigeon, lorikeet, pygmy-parrot, crow, dwarf kingfisher etc and several butterflies and moths.

Meek a fearless Natural Historian who made his mark in New Guinea and the Solomons

$160.00

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Patrolling in Papua – 1923 – First Edition W.R. Humphries

Extremely rare London First 1923. Very good condition bar some occasional foxing. Bright and tight boards as published.

W.R. (Dickie) Humphries arrived in Papua in 1917 and took over an ambitious patrolling plan under the guidance of Hubert Murray. This excellent book records in detail a number of exploratory expeditions. Taking in Nepa, Tiveris, Kerma and Christmas on the Lakekamu, the Kukukukus and their raids on Nepa. Off into the unknown … ascending Mount Chapman and to the valley at Kwolum, friendly natives (rare) at Biaru and gigantic cigars. Ascending Mount Waria and a close shave. At Dunai-ia strange graves and thumb nails and to Boli, Nele and Morobe before turning back to Kokoda. Nicely illustrated with unique with over 40 photographic images. In 1924 Humphries escorted Frank Hurley on his famous photographic expedition into the Mount Yule area.

Scarce as they get patrolling expeditions immediately post WWI

$190.00

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Up from South – A Prospector in New Guinea, 1931 – 1937 – Jack O’Neal

WG Lawes of Savage Island and New Guinea – Joseph King – 1909 First Edition

In the Land of Pearl and Gold – Alexander MacDonald – First Edition 1907

Headhunting in The Solomon Islands – Caroline Mytinger

A Naturalist in Cannibal Land – 1913 – Arthur Stewart Meek

Patrolling in Papua – 1923 – First Edition W.R. Humphries

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