Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia
London, Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington, 1887.
Octavo, xii, 368 pages plus a folding colour map (435 × 190 mm).
Original mustard yellow cloth with extensive brown and green floral decoration and attractive gilt lettering; all edges uncut (and now discoloured); cloth a little marked and discoloured, with the spine heavily sunned; corners a little bumped, with light wear to the extremities; minor signs of age and use; overall, a decent copy.
'Shortly after the return of Mr Goyder's surveying expedition to Adelaide in April, 1870, my father was appointed Government Resident of the Northern Territory'; 16 year-old Harriet accompanied William Bloomfield Douglas (see the 'Australian Dictionary of Biography') and the rest of the family north. She spent the better part of the next three years in the Territory (returning south for her marriage in 1871 to a nephew of the late Governor), before leaving for good in 1873 when her father was dismissed for incompetence. Her chatty account based on her personal experiences concludes then (at page 208); the rest of the book is written 'by means of researches in newspapers, official reports and other documents'. Ferguson 8939 (not noting the map). Provenance: [Sir] Edward Charles Stirling (1848-1919), eminent SA surgeon, scientist and politician, with his armorial bookplate on the front pastedown. The contemporary blindstamp of the Adelaide booksellers W.C. Rigby is on the front free endpaper. The later pencil signature of J.W. Bakewell is at the head of the title page. J.W. Bakewell (1846-1923) was an Adelaide solicitor, and a man of many parts according to his obituary in 'The Register', 4 April 1923: 'The deceased was associated with many mining ventures, some of which proved highly successful. He was one of the original promoters of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company. He was latterly also interested in rubber and tea plantations in Ceylon. In his earlier days he was a prominent oarsman, and he held some coveted trophies. He was, in addition, a good shot, and he made one big game hunting expedition in Upper India. He was a keen mathematician and was deeply interested in Einstein's theory'.
Item #139358
Sold