LINDSAY, David

The Royal Geographical Society of Australasia. South Australian Branch. Explorations in the Northern Territory of South Australia [cover title]

Adelaide, H.F. Leader, Government Printer, 1888.

Octavo, 16 pages plus the title-wrappers.

Wrappers lightly marked, a little rubbed at the extremities and slightly worn at the head and foot of the spine; slight loss to silverfish to the plain rear wrapper; small nick to the top edge of the front cover and the first two leaves; light vertical crease down the centre of the entire pamphlet; contemporary ownership details ('Sidney Plint P118') at the head of the front cover; a very good copy.

This rare pamphlet contains an account of Lindsay's 'Arnheim's Land Explorations in 1883', but it primarily concerns a more recent expedition, 'a private one, fitted out at my own expense'. The 'Australian Dictionary of Biography' has the following to say about this series of explorations by David Lindsay: 'In 1883 the South Australian government commissioned him to explore the central and eastern part of Arnheim's (Arnhem) Land; his party survived fierce attacks by Aborigines, one group numbering 300. In 1885-86 he took seven men and twelve camels from Hergott Springs to the Gulf of Carpentaria, tracing the Finke River to its mouth and seeking information about Ludwig Leichhardt. Lindsay surveyed the country between the overland telegraph line and the Queensland border, explored the MacDonnell Ranges, made a brief foray into the Simpson Desert, and spent six months in the country between Lake Nash and Powell's Creek'.This account first appeared in the 'Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia,' Volume 2, Third Session, 1887-8; the title-wrappers and pagination are new to this separate issue. Ferguson 11653; McLaren 12608.

Item #81968

Price (AUD): $750.00
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