Item #114407 A typed letter signed with manuscript additions and corrections by Michael Terry, written in response to a letter from a reader of an article about Lasseter's Reef, published in the Brisbane 'Courier-Mail' in January 1979. Michael TERRY.
A typed letter signed with manuscript additions and corrections by Michael Terry, written in response to a letter from a reader of an article about Lasseter's Reef, published in the Brisbane 'Courier-Mail' in January 1979

A typed letter signed with manuscript additions and corrections by Michael Terry, written in response to a letter from a reader of an article about Lasseter's Reef, published in the Brisbane 'Courier-Mail' in January 1979

The letter (dated Sydney, 30 January 1979) is pretty badly typed on the recto of a sheet of paper (175 × 138 mm, with the left-hand margin a little unevenly trimmed); apart from three horizontal folds and two pinholes in the top left corner (where the original newspaper article was attached - it is still present), the letter is in very good condition (although the recipient has put yellow highlighter through the signature, and emphasised a couple of points in blue ink).

Michael Terry (1899-1981), explorer and author; 'Despite ill health in his later years, Terry retained his zest for life' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'), and this letter exemplifies these facts. 'I know Ion Idriess "Lasseter's Last Ride" and read it years ago. Knowing the areas concerned very well through many expeditions during many years I was amazed with the 49 major factual mistakes which I listed. Ion when he wrote was essentially an east coast man out of his depth in The Centre. That book has persuaded folk that the reef was fact not FANCY.' Terry recommends two of his own books and makes some interesting observations about them: 'In the first book ['Untold Miles'] theres heaps of facts and history, including 73 parties from Forrest in 1869 till I came on stage in 1930. Never got payable mineral but we got interesting prospects ... once of nickel there in the discard. I still hope to do work on that. [Bear in mind Terry was a few months shy of 80 at this stage!] But not a sign of gold as the outcrops are the wrong sort of quartz. I had all these things in my first draft but the Editor cut them out and made the piece merely a personal interview'. A handwritten note at the top of the page clinches it: 'P.S. We of The Centre, & especially prospectors, call it "Lasseter's Last Lie"'. Offered together with a small quantity of related books and ephemera: Lasseter's Diary (1986, facsimile edition). + IDRIESS: Lasseter's Last Ride (1932, sixth edition). + STAPLETON: Lasseter Did Not Lie! (1981). + MARSHALL-STONEKING: Lasseter - the Making of a Legend (1985). + A small quantity of related ephemera and newspaper cuttings.

Item #114407

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