Our latest list features two very large-format vintage Frank Hurley photographs, both carbon prints from his 1915 Fine Art Society Exhibition: the superb 'Panorama of Bergs in the Davis Sea', from Mawson's Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911-14, and 'Haunt of the Wild Duck', from Hurley's trip to the Northern Territory in April-July 1914. Another key polar item is the first edition of Shackleton's South (1919), from the personal collection of one of the ill-fated Ross Shore Party.

Other rarities include an album of over 100 bookplates by George Perrottet (many signed); the deluxe edition of the Alsop sisters' Some Childrens' [sic] Songs (1910); Bodyline umpire George Hele's copy of Sir David Sergeant's Australia: Its Cricket Bat, Its Kangaroo, Its Farming, Fruit and Flowers (inscribed by the author, who faced the first ball bowled in the first match between Victoria and NSW in 1856); two sets of Bean's Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 (one of them a complete set of first editions); half-a-dozen items 'not in Trove'; significant photograph albums; numerous books with interesting provenance ... you get the drift ... and with only 102 items to choose from, you haven't got time to lose!

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!