Narrative of the Overland Expedition of the Messrs. Jardine from Rockhampton to Cape York, Northern Queensland, compiled from the Journals of the Brothers, and edited by Frederick J. Byerley
Brisbane, J.W. Buxton, 1867.
Octavo, xii, 88 pages plus a fontispiece (a carte de visite-format albumen paper photograph of the Jardine brothers, mounted on thick paper printed with a border of Aboriginal weapons and foliage), a lithographed view of 'Somerset Cape York, 1866', and a folding map of the expedition route.
Later period-style green cloth lettered in gilt on the spine, and ruled and decorated in blind on the sides; covers a little marked; acidic paper generally browned, with some scattered foxing (heaviest on the plates and adjacent leaves); small stain to the inner margin of the title leaf; two small tears to the map expertly sealed; plate trimmed close to the caption; overall a very good copy.
The rare account of the Jardine brothers' pioneering stock drive up the Cape Yorke Peninsula. 'When [their] father was posted to Somerset, Frank and his brother Alexander overlanded the stock. Accompanied by four Europeans and four Aboriginals [sic] they left Rockhampton on 14 May 1864 with 42 horses and 250 cattle. On the ten months' trek of 1200 miles (1931 km) they were constantly harassed by Aboriginals, forced their way through jungles, scrub and swamps and crossed at least six large rivers. At the Mitchell River on 13 December they withstood a major Aboriginal attack. Clad in tatters, wearing hats of emu skin and living on turkey eggs, they reached Somerset on 2 March 1865 with 12 horses and 50 cattle. Both brothers were elected fellows of the Royal Geographical Society and received the Murchison grant' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'). 'The earliest example found of a photographically illustrated book dealing with Australian exploration' (Holden). The lithographed plate, not issued in all copies, is here present in the first state illustrated in Wantrup (page 249). It is not commonly noted that the plate is after a drawing by J. Jardine, presumably Frank and Alexander's younger brother or father, both named John. Loosely inserted is an autograph letter (two pages octavo, being the outer pages of a bifolium, on Dalgety and Co., Townsville letterhead, 30 April 1914). The letter, signed by one R.A. Macready[?], is addressed to C. Fetherstonhaugh, Sydney, and supplies information requested about the Jardine family. 'Frank Jardine who used to live at Somerset, Cape York Peninsula, is now pearlfishing at Thursday Is. and that address will find him. John Jardine is dead. Alec Jardine, who would have been the one you recently met, was an Engineer in the Queensland Harbours and Rivers Department. He was in Townsville ...'. The recipient was Cuthbert Fetherstonhaugh (1837-1925), pastoralist: in 1862 he 'went to Queensland where with two partners he acquired Ban Ban near Gayndah on the Burnett River. Travelling further north Cuthbert was stricken with dysentery. On recovery, he bought the lease of Burton Downs, 300 miles (482 km) north of Rockhampton, in June 1863 but after a three-year struggle Burton Downs had to be sold. Although penniless and with diminished vitality, he remained adventurous. His reputed encounter with the bushranger Bluecap and his gang was recalled by Barcroft Boake, and he also figured as "Rev. Herbert Heatherstone" in Rolf Boldrewood's "The Colonial Reformer".... In 1918 he published in Sydney his lively autobiography, "After Many Days"' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'). Ferguson 7747; Wantrup 185; Holden 15.
Item #114111
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