The featured item introducing our latest catalogue - a larger-than-lifesize portrait of Sir James Hurtle Fisher (1790-1875), exquisitely hand-painted by the 'Artist Photographer' Townsend Duryea - is singular on many levels, not least by being quintessentially parochial, yet assuredly world-class.
The rest of the offering tends to fall somewhere between these two extremes, but common threads are rarity and desirability.
Reader's tip for busy people: if you are not interested in facsimile editions of Australian unit histories, skip the first fifteen items!
Adelaide, South Australian Department of Mines, 1954. Reduced copies of a blueprint of the main shaft head-frame and winder house are loosely inserted. 'It is visualized that the emergence and growth of nuclear-power plants will come to supplement and not supplant existing ones' (introduction). More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1989 (reset and enlarged edition)]/ 1919. This reprint edition, limited to 300 copies, is reset, and contains additional material, a two-page preface by the author's great-nephew, the frontispiece portrait, and a six-page index. See Trigellis-Smith 212. More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1980s facsimile edition]/ 1929. One of only 200 copies. More
[Perth, John Burridge, 1980s facsimile edition]/ 1948. One of only 200 copies. More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1983 (facsimile edition)]/ 1922. Number 11 of only 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 227. More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1984 (facsimile edition)]/ 1936. One of only 200 copies. See Trigellis-Smith 233. More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1990 (facsimile edition)]/ 1919. The limitation is not stated, but the Burridge editions were typically limited to between 200 and 300 copies. More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1985 (enlarged reprint edition)]/ 1921. One of only 250 copies. This reset edition contains a 91-page supplement, compiled by John Burridge, new to this reprint. It includes KIA, Nominal and Honour Rolls, and a detailed itinerary of the Battalion. The reset title page of this edition omits..... More
[Swanbourne, John Burridge, 1992 (facsimile edition)]/ 1927. The limitation is not stated, but the Burridge editions were typically limited to between 200 and 300 copies. More
Cape Town, Purnell, 1967. A large label mounted on the verso of the front flyleaf records that this is number 270 of 400 copies of the Collector's Edition, signed by both authors and the two principal artists. More
Adelaide, Rigby, 1979. The first book on the Papunya painting movement by the man responsible for its development. It presents 'twenty-four of the best paintings by twenty artists who are recognised leaders'. Inscribed, dated (4 March 1980) and signed by the author - and very rare thus. More
London, Printed [by Richard Field] for William Ponsonby, 1598. STC 1500; Cockle 68 ('A Bibliography of English Military History Books up to 1642'; 'Sigs. in 6s ... A-Y; no O' suggests to us that his reference copy lacked the large folding leaf, signed O in our copy). Bound together with..... More
The photographs (image size approximately 120 × 190 mm) are mounted one per page on both sides of thick card leaves, with printed borders and captions. All the usual suspects are there: Brussells, Bruges, Waterloo, Louvain, Dinant, Ypres ... but with the passage of time, the best would have to..... More
London, John Murray, 1821 [second edition]/ [1820]. The last nine pages are 'Remarks on Mr Belzoni's Plates'; they refer to the plates in the separately-issued - and now rare and costly - atlas, not present (as often) with this volume. More
Adelaide, W.K. Thomas & Co., Printers, 1908. Provenance: Lady Fay Angas (1899-1991), with her George Perrottet-designed bookplate on the front flyleaf. More
Rouen, The Editors, September 1917. Melbourne-born William Farrow described himself as a 'Black & White Artist' on his enlistment form in March 1916. He was in the 3rd Division Cyclists' Corps, before transferring to the 2nd Battalion and going to France in September 1916. His service records indicate that for..... More
London, Smith, Elder & Co., 1916. An account of two trips to the Antarctic in the 'Morning', relief ship to Scott's 'Discovery'. With the ownership signature in pencil of D[orothy] Irving-Bell, mentioned in the 'Encyclopedia of the Antarctic', Volume 1, in the section on 'Women in Antarctica: from Companions to..... More
Venetiis [Venice], Typis Bartolomaei Locatelli ('accurata & pulcherrima Veneta editio, summo studio elaborata, atque diligentissime aere incisa'), 1769. Bartolomeo Eustachius (circa 1510/20-1574) completed the plates in 1554. Less stylized than those of his contemporary and antagonist Vesalius, his anatomical illustrations are remarkably accurate despite his support of the old Galenic..... More
The very fine portrait (visible image size 545 × 395 mm, in its original ornate gilt frame, external dimensions 740 × 595 mm) is exquisitely hand-painted and signed by the famous colonial photographer, Townsend Duryea (1823-1888). His original label is affixed to the paper backing on the verso of the..... More
Guildford, Genesis/ Hedley Australia, 1986. More
London, Chatto & Windus, 1921. More
Melbourne, Charlwood and Son, Booksellers, Stationers, and Printers, [July 1867]. Trove has enabled us to established beyond doubt the date of publication - Saturday 20 July 1867 - according to the advertisements in the 'Argus' on that and the previous day. Ferguson 9927 (noting a curious variant, with the four..... More
Glasgow, John Smith & Sons, 1884. The University Philosophical Society, Dublin, Members' Library bookplate is mounted on the front flyleaf (cockling it a little); an inscription by the librarian on the pastedown notes that the book was presented to the Society by the author in February 1887. Thomas Graham (1805-1869)..... More
Melbourne, Michael Graham-Stewart, 2017. 'The images included here are inevitably skewed in viewpoint, most having been taken by non-Aboriginal men. But they have a value to the extent that they show actual people in actual situations. This publication does not aim to fix interpretations, like butterflies on a specimen board..... More
London, Dulau, 1896. The purpose of this scientific expedition, sponsored by mining magnate and philanthropist William Austin Horn, and with Charles Winnecke as commander and surveyor, was to examine the MacDonnell Ranges on the not unreasonable premise that 'when the rest of the Continent was submerged the elevated portions of..... More
The party consisted of Missionaries Johann Goessling and Ernst Homann, and two lay-helpers, Hermann Vogelsang and Johann Jacob. They set out from Langmeil [Tanunda] church on Tuesday 9 October 1866 with two large covered wagons and seven horses. This image, along with the full details of the epic journey and..... More
The original plate was engraved by Robert Havell, and published in London by Smith, Elder and Co. in 1838. The subtitle states that it is 'Forming the First of a Series of Views of that Colony now preparing for Publication'. This is certainly the best-known of them. The 1928 Francis..... More
Adelaide, Printed by Halliday Bros. Ltd for S.C. Ward and Co., 1933. Despite its prosaic title and relative youth, this is an item of great charm, printed in two-toned blocks in fifteen different colours. Suitably framed, it would create a magnificent panorama well over a metre and a half wide..... More
Adelaide, Wakefield Press, 1942. Number 170 of 250 copies signed by the author (and the first publication of his Wakefield Press). With the ownership signature of Edward Edgar Pescott. More
Seaforth, Craftsman House, 1987. Signed by the artist on the half-title; not identified as such, but from the collection of Kym Bonython. More
London, Griffith & Farran, 1883 [first edition, with the advertisements dated '9.83']. With a gift inscription on the front pastedown: 'R.M.W. Thirkell & G.L.A. Thirkell, Christmas 1904, from L.F. Piesse'. The Tasmanian Thirkell brothers, who would have been in their early teens when they were given this book, both served..... More
![Item #107541 Art Christmas Cards [cover title]. Cabinet of Assorted Christmas Cards ... Contents...](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/107541_00.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1536738869)
One leaf, captioned 'Genuine Etchings', contains three cards by T.R. Amies. Thomas Reginald Amies (1883-1973) was born in England, but lived in Australia from 1908 (Australian Prints + Printmaking website). The monogram 'BL' is printed on the front cover; a clearer example of it on the front pastedown may be..... More
![Item #107853 Catalogue. William Adams & Company Limited. Everything for Engineers [cover title]....](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/107853.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1633419416)
Sydney, The Company, [1939]. The knotted piece of twine in the hole punched through the top left-hand corner of the entire publication appears to be as issued. More
![Item #108128 Robur Profit-sharing Catalogue. Ninth Edition [cover title]. Trade Catalogue](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/108128.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1601252744)
Melbourne, Robur Tea Company, [late 1930s?]. 'As tea and coffee are better bought in small quantities for immediate use, we give a discount or share of savings for continuous purchasing.' These attractive catalogues are rare in our experience, probably accountably so, given the presumed target audience, the budget-conscious housewife. Trove..... More
Adelaide, A.C. Harley and Co., 1914. 'Notwithstanding the fact that we have more than doubled the number of illustrations, it has been found impossible to include all our patterns, as we are constantly adding to their number.' A rare, handsome and important catalogue of decorative ironwork; the very rare first..... More
![Item #107716 Sweet's Architectural Catalogue. Twenty-third Annual Edition, 1929 [cover title]. An...](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/107716_00.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1536747361)
New York, Sweet's Catalogue Service, 1928. Number 14417 of an unspecified print run. 'Sweet's Architectural Catalogues are loaned for reference purposes, with the understanding that they are to be returned upon publication of the next annual edition.' A third volume, Section C (pages 2701-4160 plus the index), was also published;..... More
![Item #108174 Burra Burra Show Incorporated. Back to Burra Souvenir, 1845-1925 [cover title]....](https://treloars.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/108174_00.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1536736685)
