A complete list of our stock for the Melbourne Rare Book Fair 2024
Sydney, 'Printed and Published by Eric N. Birks, late O.C. No. 1 Sect. 5th A.M.G. Coy, Proprietor, Radcliffe Press', [1923]. 'Subscription Edition limited to 300 copies of which this is No. 58' is printed on the half-title; needless to say, this is a fiendishly rare regimental history. A small strip..... More
![Item #138169 960th Album [cover title]. 960th Engineer Aviation Topographic Company](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/138169_01.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1721624354)
[The Philippines? 960th Engineer Aviation Topographic Company, 1945?]. The first leaf contains a large illustration of a Lockheed P-38 Lightning, designed as a fighter, but used in a variety of roles, including aerial reconnaissance. An inscription in ink on the illustration identifies the pilot as '1st. Lt. Alexander Roberts, |..... More
London, Thomas M'Lean, 1847. '"South Australia Illustrated" is without question Angas's greatest and most accomplished work. His views of towns and scenery, of the Aborigines and of the flora and fauna offer an outstanding - if romantic - interpretation of the Australian landscape. It is a very scarce book ....... More
Adelaide (Numbers 1 to 4), Adelaide University Arts Association (Numbers 1 and 2), and Max Harris (Numbers 3 and 4), and Melbourne, Reed & Harris (Number 5), [1940] to September 1943. There were eventually nine issues: the first number was edited by D.B. Kerr and Max Harris; the next three..... More
Essex House, Bow, London, The Guild & School of Handicraft, 1896. The publication was produced as part of an effort to stop 'the breaking up of the Hospital, and the consequent destruction of the Almshouses', which dated from the seventeenth century. A prefatory note states that 'While these sheets are..... More
Adelaide, Surveyor General's Office, 1877 [but 1878]. Lithographed throughout by Frazer S. Crawford (Government Printer); signed on the double-page title 'G.W. Goyder Sur Genl 29/6/78' with a two-digit number (71 in this case) in his hand under the date - presumably the copy number of what we suggest was a...... More
Auckland, SeTo Publishing, 1988 (facsimile edition)/ 1908. A faithful facsimile reprint of the first book published - written, edited, illustrated, printed and bound - in the Antarctic, during Sir Ernest Shackleton's British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-1909; less than 100 copies were originally produced. This facsimile edition is prepared from the 'Julienne..... More
A striking view showing two unidentified expeditioners among the royal penguins at the colony on Nuggets Beach, Macquarie Island. This vintage print comes from the original 1915 Australian exhibition of Hurley photographs; this was a slightly larger version of the London exhibition held earlier in the same year. The label..... More
Philadelphia, J.B. Lippincott Company ('Printed at the Ballantyne Press, London & Edinburgh'), [1915] (first edition, first state). The superlative bibliography by Michael H. Rosove, 'Antarctica, 1772-1922. Freestanding Publications through 1999' (2001), contains much valuable information about the unusual circumstances surrounding the release of this work soon after the outbreak of..... More
London, William Heinemann, [1915] (first edition, second state). A presentation set, inscribed and signed by the author to 'Professor J.A. Prescott | With kind regards | D. Mawson | 8/7/25' in both volumes (with the addition of the word 'To' at the start of the second inscription). In 1925 Professor..... More
Kent Town, Wakefield Press in association with the Mawson Antarctic Collection Appeal, 1996 (first thus)/ 1930 (abridged edition)/ 1915. Number 129 of only 500 copies in boards. This copy is signed in ink by Mawson's two daughters, Patricia Thomas and Jessica McEwin, with both signatures dated 1996. More
Edgar Hercules Reynolds (1878-1965) and Eric Harrison (1886-1945) are two significant figures in the history of Australian military aviation. 'In 1912 the Australian government advertised in the British press for two "mechanists and aviators". H.A. Petre [Henry Aloysius Petre, 1884-1962], who was at that time employed by the British Deperdussin..... More
[Adelaide, 'The Sunday Mail'], February 1959. 'Sponsored by "The Sunday Mail". Public Library Lecture Room, North Terrace, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., February 17-24, 1959'; 29 paintings listed, with prices on all but the four items not for sale. 'Winnie Bamara is a 19-year-old aboriginal living in the Umeewarra..... More
Adelaide, Printed by W.C. Cox, Government Printer, 1869. The very rare first edition of this short vocabulary of the Wulna or Wuna language (now extinct) of the Darwin region. This is only the third copy we have handled in nearly five decades of trading, there are no sales recorded in..... More
Melbourne, Arbuckle, Waddell & Fawckner, Printers, 1906 [first edition]. The book was in its tenth edition by 1913. More
London, Printed and Published by C. Lowndes and sold by H.D. Symonds, 1800 [first edition]. An early chapbook relating to New South Wales, spuriously attributed to Third Fleet convict George Barrington. 'The first of these fraudulent "Barrington" accounts was published in London by the chapbook publisher H.D. Symonds in 1795..... More
![Item #118957 A linen map of the Western Front, showing the 'Allies' Line June 30 [and] ... Oct....](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/118957_00.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1592548634)
[London], By Permission of the 'Manchester Guardian', [1916]. A piece of hemmed white linen (overall dimensions 610 × 465 mm), the map (510 × 382 mm) printed in black, within a decorative blue and red border; in fine condition. The area depicted is roughly from Arras, Pozières, Albert and Rosières-en-Santerre..... More
Perth, V.K. Jones & Co., 1915. A rare and important work of perennial interest and value, with extensive details of approximately 230 North West pioneers and early settlers and their families, and about 100 pastoral properties. Provenance: 'Mr John Heydon | Cue 1922' is written in pencil on the front..... More
London, J. and P. Knapton, and P. Vailant, 1744 [first edition in English]. The nine-page introduction by the unidentified Bazin quotes his sources: 'To what M. de Réaumur has said, in his Memoir concerning Bees, I have added every thing which had relation to that subject, which is found in..... More
Antverpiae [Antwerp], Ex officina Christophori Plantini [Christophe Plantin], 1584 (first thus). An early edition of the Louvain (Leuven) Vulgate, from the famous press of Christophe Plantin. The colophon gives a publication date of 1583. The Louvain Vulgate, edited by John Henten (Hentenius) was first published in 1547. This 1584 Plantin..... More
Adelaide, E. Spiller, Government Printer, 1881. The elaborate binding was likely executed by Emanuel Spiller, the South Australian Government Printer at the time. Spiller's name appears as exhibitor and jury-member of competitions and exhibitions of binding and printing throughout the 1880s. The 'Sydney Mail and New South Wales Advertiser' for..... More
London, George Eyre and Andrew Strahan, 1816 (this edition). The front free endpaper is inscribed in ink to 'Anne Rebecca Collins from her affectionate husband. March 1832'. The pierced brass clasp features her initials 'ARC'. More
![Item #138750 Hat takes a Holiday. [Together with] Schoolgirl takes a Flip [cover titles]....](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/138750_01.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1721632085)
[Melbourne, The Artist, 1979?]. A flipbook is a small book of drawings which change gradually from leaf to leaf, giving the illusion of animation when the leaves are flipped in quick succession with the thumb. These two artist's books by Charles Blackman (1928-2018) are by all accounts very rare. The..... More
Paris, Augustin-Martin Lottin, Michel Lambert and Nicolas-Bonaventure Duchesne, 1756 ('IIe Edition, corrigée et augmentée', but in fact the first complete edition). Part of this treatise on vocal technique and interpretation appeared in 1755 under the title 'L'art du chant, dedié a Madame de Pompadour', with the authorship attributed to vocal..... More
London, Printed for George Nicol, 1792. The revised, official account of the voyage of the 'Bounty', including the mutiny and Bligh's subsequent voyage in the ship's launch with eighteen loyal crewmen. 'In their small boat Bligh and his companions made a remarkable journey of more than three and a half..... More
London, William Heinemann, 1909 [first edition: the deluxe large-paper issue of 'The Heart of the Antarctic', with the supplementary volume in its second - corrected - state]. Number 177 of only 300 sets of this deluxe edition, signed by 16 members of the expedition on the double-page frontispiece of 'The..... More
Melbourne, Wilson and Mackinnon, 1861. Ferguson 7702; Wantrup 163 (identifying this as an early issue, probably the first, by the two misprints in the second column on page 25: 'explana ions' for 'explanations', and 'Fred.' for 'Ferd.' Mueller). More
Sydney, Kemp and Fairfax, 1849. The account of Kennedy's disastrous expedition to explore Cape York in 1848, '... the most tragic of all Australian explorations, not least because he and his men were defeated at the outset. The bravery, skill, good humour and generosity of Kennedy, the loyalty and bravery..... More
[Cairo], Printed, by the Survey of Egypt, under Authority from the War Office ('Geographical Section, Government Staff, No. 2321'), 22 January 1917. In 1929, when Sir Harry Chauvel (1865-1945) was promoted general, he was the first Australian to attain this rank; he had been the first Australian to lead a...... More
James Chauvel embarked Brisbane on 26 October 1916, disembarking at Suez on 3 December. He was appointed for transport duty back to Australia, and was attached to the Remount Unit awaiting embarkation on A50 'Itonus' on 24 December 1916. When the vessel was torpedoed off Port Said on 21 December..... More
London, Thornton Butterworth Ltd., 1937 (first edition, first impression). 'These biographical essays on twenty-one Great Men of this eventful age cover a wide and varied field, but they illustrate from different standpoints the main story of the fortunes of Great Britain and Europe as we have known them. In nearly..... More
London, The Home Library Book Company (George Newnes, Ltd.), [1934]. This edition, 'though its text is abridged, constitutes the first illustrated edition of "The World Crisis". It began as a serialisation, issued in 26 magazine-format parts every fortnight between September 1933 and October 1934 ... After these were published, Newnes..... More
London, Thornton Butterworth, Ltd., 1931 (first edition, first impression, the primary variant with the horizontal spine lettering). Provenance: Lesley Kilmeny Symon (1885-1969), one of the daughters of Sir Josiah Symon (1846-1934), South Australian lawyer and politician; he was a member of the Australian Senate in the First Australian Parliament, and..... More
[Paris], Vaenundatur Iodoco Badio Asce[n]sio ... [Sub prelo Ascensiano], 1535/ 1531. Cicero's oration 'For Cornelius Balbus' in an early edition, the second to be printed by the influential Parisian printer and scholar Jodocus Badius (Josse Bade). The well-known woodcut device of his Ascensius Press (Prelum Asce[n]sianum), showing a busy Renaissance..... More
Parisiis [Paris], Apud Simonem Colinaeum [Simon de Colines], 1530 (first thus). A plain but attractive edition of Claudian's works edited and published by Simon de Colines, one of the leading lights of early French printing. This edition comprises 'De Raptu Proserpinae', 'In Ruffinum', 'De Bello Gildonico', 'Epithalamium in Nuptijs Honorii..... More
Adelaide, Publishers Limited, 1925 and 1927 (first editions). An important series of lengthy biographical sketches of SA pioneering pastoralists. 'Publication of the series began in the "Adelaide Stock and Station Journal" on January 10, 1923, and continued weekly until August 10, 1927.... During that period, a total of 230 articles..... More
Geelong, H. Tatlock Miller, The Book Nook, 1932. 'I have carved a tree in the Fitzroy Gardens for you and the Fairies; but mostly for the Fairies, and those who believe in them, for they will understand how necessary it is to have a Fairy Sanctuary - a place that..... More
London, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2008. The black front free endpaper, printed with a small portrait of a young Able Seaman Connery, is inscribed in silver ink 'For Robert | all best wishes | from Sean'. His co-author has added his first-name signature and an appealing doodle, captioned 'Slainte!'. The recipient..... More
![Item #135841 The Coppin Portfolio [cover title]. George Selth COPPIN](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/135841_01.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1720748233)
Melbourne, Waddington & Co, Photographers, [1881]. Seven of the cabinet cards depict the famous English-born comic actor in character; the eighth one is a fine portrait of the man himself. All eight are signed by him in the bottom right-hand corner of the mount; he has inscribed six of them..... More
[Venice, Accademia Cosmografica degli Argonauti, circa 1701]. The plates for these gores were engraved in 1688 for Coronelli's large 110 cm (42 inch) globe. Engraved vignettes and text show speculative scenes from the unknown interior (including an elephant and numerous deer), drawing on the accounts of Marco Polo. The large..... More
Adelaide, Wakefield Press/ SACA, 1984. One of 299 numbered copies of the deluxe edition, issued with a gilt-embossed leather cricket ball signed by Don Bradman (still present with this copy - many are no longer so!). The odd limitation number was chosen because it is the Test record for the..... More
Sydney, N.S.W. Bookstall Co., 1909. 'Why the idea should ever have occurred to me to risk a ride on a bicycle over eight thousand miles of territory, much of which was practically pathless, it would be difficult to explain' (page 3). Fortunately, over the following 220-odd pages, he does a...... More
Deakin was sworn in as Prime Minister on 2 June 1909 after being elected leader of the Liberal Party, which had recently formed from the 'Fusion' of his Protectionist Party with the Anti-Socialist Party. Sir Langdon Bonython, a fellow Protectionist, had sat with Deakin in the inaugural Parliament of Australia..... More
The letter reads in full: 'Oct 19.6. My Dear Sir Langdon, Was delighted to receive your letter with extract from Benson's letter to you, for which many thanks. It makes an extremely interesting memento of our joint enjoyment of his books & I am indebted to you for your kindness..... More
London, John Murray, 1873 (second edition)/ [1872]. The half-title is inscribed and signed by the author's wife 'To Mr Smith | From Lady Elgin | Feby. 1875'. Loosely inserted is a short autograph letter signed by Lord Elgin to Bertram Ashburnham, 4th Earl of Ashburnham (two pages on one leaf..... More
Heidelberg, The Editors, 1952 to 1955. 'Six years ago Ern Malley lived and died in Australia. Child of the unintended creative act of two other Australian poets he became overnight the most significant figure in the current literary scene. Alike as poet and as a symbol of creative living ....... More
[Kingston, Jamaica], M. DeCordova & Co., Printers, 1866. Edward John Eyre (1815-1901) is best remembered in Australia for his epic year-long journey in 1840-41 from Adelaide to Albany, which only he and his Indigenous companion Wylie survived. He then served as Protector of Aborigines in South Australia until 1844, lieutenant-governor..... More
Supporting documentation includes a lengthy extract from 'Flying Fury' (1918) by James Thomas Byford McCudden, VC, DSO and bar, MC and bar, MM and Croix de Guerre (1895-1918), describing his attack on an LVG C.VI, a two-seater German reconnaissance and artillery-spotting aircraft, on 17 October 1917 over Vlamertinghe ... the..... More
The biplane is housed in a contemporary cardboard box (approximately 115 × 105 × 35 mm) inscribed on the lid 'Made By A.E. Campbell. 1918. R.F.C. Traded Water Pistol. 1922'. We have traced in the records of the Royal Flying Corps one Albert Edward Campbell (1901-1919), 'Air Force (RAF/RFC) Air..... More
The portrait has a personal inscription on the verso (unfortunately not fully identifying the subject). The snapshots are basically in chronological order, with the first group captioned 'R.A.D. 1937'. 'The Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD), or National (Empire) Labour Service, had its origins with the formation of a volunteer labour force that was..... More