The Bells of Sunda Strait
Adelaide, Rigby, 1971.
Octavo, 135 pages with 2 diagrams plus 28 plates (16 in colour).
Papered boards; extremities slightly bumped; small relevant newspaper clipping tipped in on the front pastedown; an excellent copy with the very slightly rubbed and bumped dustwrapper.
A unique copy of this account of the raising of the ship's bell from the HMAS 'Perth', sunk on 28 February 1942. Not only is it inscribed and signed by the author (twice), but it also contains the signatures of 22 survivors of the sinking, gathered at reunions in 1992 and 1993. Furthermore, approximately 90 signatures of crew-members of HMAS 'Perth' (II) (commissioned in 1965 and decommissioned in 1999) are to be found on the rear endpapers and a tipped-in bifolium. These signatures were collected at reunions and shore visits in 1997 and 1998. Loosely inserted is a portrait photograph (138 × 88 mm) of another HMAS 'Perth' survivor, John Hepburn (R58763 LSWM S.J. Hepburn), with his signature on the verso. 328 men survived the sinking; 218 men returned from assorted Japanese POW camps after the war. Offered together with a copy of the UK edition (Robert Hale, 1972; fine with the fine dustwrapper).
Item #20428
Price (AUD):
$550.00