Impressive in both their very large format and impeccable provenance are two vintage photographs by Frank Hurley of Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-1914, from the personal collection of Sir Douglas Mawson himself.

Also on offer are Sir John William Downer's copies of the elaborate commemorative rolls from both the 1891 and 1897 Federation Conventions, signed by all the delegates (a Who's Who of Australian political history). Downer was one of only sixteen delegates to attend both conventions.

A fine selection of the acclaimed colour-plate books of George French Angas is available, including South Australia Illustrated (1847), The Kafirs Illustrated (1849), and Description of the Barossa Range (1849).

Other impressive illustrated books include limited editions signed by Edmund Dulac, Thomas Mackenzie, Arthur Rackham, Charles Robinson, and W. Heath Robinson. An eclectic range of manuscripts, photographs and maps rounds out the catalogue.

To view these items (and much else!) visit us at Stand 19 at the Melbourne Rare Book Fair, at Wilson Hall, University of Melbourne, 22-24 July 2016. For more details go to www.rarebookfair.com

The preparations for our forthcoming two-part auction on April 10 have monopolized our time and energy for most of this new year, at the expense of some of our routine activities. So the current catalogue is as much to let you know we haven't forgotten you as anything else!

The Local (about the pubs of London) contains 15 delightful colour lithographs by Edward Ardizzone. Explorations of a different kind are Cook's final voyage (1784, three volumes, alas no atlas!); Bligh (first French edition of A Voyage to the South Sea, 1792); James Ross in the Antarctic (1847); Lindsay's Elder Expedition journal (1893); a signed certificate from the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, 1928-30; and a complete run of The South Australian Register for 1858, with much original content by Babbage, Gregory, Stuart and Warburton.

Autograph items include letters from Lord Baden-Powell and Alexander Humboldt; cards and an original lithograph signed by Oscar Kokoschka; and books signed by George Fife Angas, Mary Grant Bruce, Russell Drysdale, and Donald Friend.

There's Australia's first fly-fishing book, Joseland's Angling in Australia (1921); the very rare original volumes of Pastoral Pioneers of South Australia (1925 and 1927); and signed vintage photographs of the Flinders Ranges by Frederick Joyner (1920s) ... you get the idea!

Our latest list features a magnificent vintage hand-coloured photograph of Phar Lap about to cross the line to win the 1930 Melbourne Cup; a signed letter from Roald Dahl with a unique inscribed and signed copy of Matilda; an impressive vintage photograph of the 1902 Australian XI signed by Joe Darling; and Grahame Walsh's Bradshaw Art of the Kimberley (2000), Bradshaws – Ancient Rock Paintings of North-West Australia (1994) and Australia's Greatest Rock Art (1988).

Well-represented areas of interest include modern literature, Australian history, military history, children's books, and trade catalogues.

Happy browsing!

Highlights of our latest catalogue include a stunning copy of Cormac McCarthy's first novel The Orchard Keeper (London, 1966), a superb group of May Moore portrait photographs of 1920s English Test cricketers (signed by both photographer and subjects); rare Aboriginal history titles (Meyer 1846, Taplin 1874 and 1879, Worsnop 1897); much militaria, with numerous unit histories; important early South Australian history and exploration; and excellent selections of antiquarian, big game hunting, and wine-making books.

Happy browsing!