Sketch of the History of Van Diemen's Land, illustrated by a Map of the Island, and an Account of the Van Diemen's Land Company
London, John Richardson, 1832.
Octavo, xii, 260 pages plus 2 engraved plates and a large folding hand-coloured map by John Arrowsmith (printed surface 604 × 477 mm).
Handsomely rebound in later half maroon morocco and red cloth (not signed, but almost certainly by Sangorski & Sutcliffe); spine lettered and decorated in gilt; top edge gilt, others uncut; folding map a little foxed, offset, creased and marked, with an old sealed tear near the stub and two short sealed splits along folds; both plates lightly foxed; mild signs of age and handling; overall, an excellent copy.
An important account of Tasmania, prepared at the behest of the proprietors of the Van Diemen's Land Company. One lengthy appendix contains detailed reports of explorations in 1826-27 by the Company's surveyors, Alexander Goldie, Henry Hellyer and Joseph Fossey (27 pages in small print, extracted from the Company's third annual report, 1828). Another appendix ('Treatment of the Aborigines' in the index) contains Lieutenant-Governor George Arthur's despatches on the Aborigines and their growing resistance to European settlement (76 pages). Ferguson 1517; Wantrup 148 (and page 281).
Item #139432
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