Archives Fine Books Shortlist No.7 Queensland Early History and Memoir. We re delighted this month to bring your attention to recently acquired curious and collectible Queenslandia. From Opals and Agates penned by Queensland s first commercial traveller (and raconteur) Nehemiah Bartley, to the uncommon Sports and Pastime in Moreton Bay by Queensland Brewery director Thomas Welsby, there is a mix of memoir, history and a little scuttle-butt. Memoirs include T.C. Beirne, successful Brisbane businessman and philanthropist (his generous donation founded the Queensland University Law School); military- and newspaper-man Spencer Browne; as well as William Richard Onslow Hill s colourful Fortyfive Year s Experiences in North Queensland as police magistrate and gold warden. We also have Collinson s five volumes on early Cairns, and Hogan s interesting and chequered history of the town of Gladstone. Perry s Pioneering is a biography of Robert Martin Collins (1843-1913), an important figure in the development of Queensland s pastoral industry, and Tom Petrie s Reminiscences of Early Queensland includes sketches of the early days of the colony of Queensland from 1837, through the eyes of Tom Petrie who was considered an authority on the Aboriginal People. Last but not least (in fact, no.7 on the actual list) is the 2 volume History of Queensland by Morrison, published by the Aldine Publishing Company in 1888.We hope you enjoy browsing this month s shortlist.
1. Bartley, Nehemiah. Opals and Agates, or Scenes under the Southern Cross and the Magelhans....one of Brisbane s best-known eccentrics. ADB online Melbourne: Gordon and Gotch, 1892. First Edition, ocatavo, original red pressed boards with black titles, pp. Xii + 310 + [1] Table, nine pages of plates including frontispiece. Good. Corners crisp. A little rubbing to front joint and fore-edges, rear joint starting, spine is stained obscuring the word Agates, endpapers have been replaced, clean throughout. $175. 2. Beirne, T.C. The Life Story of T.C.Beirne. Edited and arranged by his daughter Eileen Macrossan Peeping between the lines... one can see Irish sentiment, mysticism, courage, and wit aplenty, as well as a glimpse of the rebel. The Worker, Mon 1 September 1947. Brisbane Valley: Printed by Truth and Sportsman Ltd, 1947. First edition, octavo, green linen boards with gilt title on spine, pp. iv + 90, 23 black and white plates (photogrpahs and illustrations). Fine. Corners crisp. Head and tail of spine ever so slightly rubbed. Clean throughout. $250.
3. Browne, Spencer. A Journalist s Memories....tolerant and broadminded and in every sense a gentleman. ADB online Brisbane: The Read Press, Ltd., 1927. First edition. Inscribed by the author. Octavo, red publisher s cloth with gilt titles on front board and spine, pp. xiv + 351 + Index [xiv], 15 photographs. Almost Fine. Spine lightly sunned, head and tail of spine bumped, small (2mm) chip on front joint, corners sharp, clean throughout, inscribed by Spencer Browne to a great old friend of the author J. G. Appel. $295. 4. Collinson, J.W. Early Days of Cairns; Tropic Coasts and Tablelands; More About Cairns: The Second Decade; More About Cairns: Echoes of the Past; More About Cairns: Recollections of a Varied Life. Brisbane: W. R. Paterson and Smith, 1939-1946. First edition, limited and signed. Octavo, original brown cloth, gilt titles on front boards and spines, Each copy stamped, This edition is limited to 500 copies of which this is number 457,447, 469, 459, and 350 (respectively) and signed by the author. Early Days of Cairns [1939]: Pp viii + 157 including Index, Bibliogrpahia and Acknowlegments, 7 in-text maps. Tropic Coasts and Tablelands [1941]: Pp x + 127 including Index. More About Cairns: The Second Decade [1942]: Pp vi + 194 including Index. More About Cairns: Echoes of the Past [1945]: Pp 134 including Index. More About Cairns: Recollections of a Varied Life [1946]: Pp 84 including Appendices A, B, C, and D. The overall condition of the set is Good to Very Good. There is light to moderate insect damage on the covers, gilt titles dulled on one spine and half of one front board, corners lightly bumped, interiors clean. $290.
5. W.R.O. Hill. Forty-Five Years Experiences in North Queensland. Colourful tales: from courtroom incidents in pub dining rooms to drunken revellers falling down mineshafts. Brisbane: H. Pole & Co., Printers, 1907. Octavo, red publisher s cloth with gilt title on front board, authors monograph in gilt centre of front board, 153pp, 12 illustrations including frontis. Very Good. Spine slightly sunned, head of spine pushed in, corners sharp, previous owner s name in sepia ink on front paste-down, some foxing. $350 6. Hogan M.P., J.F. The Gladstone Colony. The interesting and chequered history, as well as the rise and progress, of the town of Gladstone. Sydney: William Brooks & Co., n.d. Edition unstated, maroon boards with gilt titles, t.e.g., vi p., 1 (contents)., 277 p., 1 (colophon). Collation matches the first edition published in London by T.F. Unwin, 1898. Colophon reads Printed at the Edinburgh Press, 9&11 Young St. Almost Fine. Slight rubbing along the joints, top edge gilt in good condition, endpapers a little tanned, otherwise clean throughout. $125.
7. Morrison, W. Frederic. Aldine History of Queensland. Sydney: The Aldine Publishing Company, 1888. Complete in two volumes. First edition. Quarto, both volumes half leather, lettered in gilt on the front cover and on the spine. Vol 1: pp.viii, [vi], 384, numerous coloured plates of flora and fauna and scenes of Queensland and two maps. Title page in red and black ink, all pages framed in red lines. Colophon: Sydney: George Murray and Co., Paper Mills Printing Works, 91 Clarence Street. Alledges gilt. Vol 2: pp.vi (last blank), [ii], [224] numbered 385-608], [ii] (Appendix, biographical sketches, verso blank) xvi, [ccc]. Frontispiece and numerous illustrations, tipped in map of Queensland. Collated. Ferguson 12864. Good. Leather scuffed, corners bumped, joints starting, gilt bright, endpapers split along hinges, loose but holding, no foxing. $500
8. Perry, Harry, C. Pioneering. The Life of the Hon. R.M. Collins, M.L.C. Biography of one of the most prominant historical figures in Queensland s pastoral indistry. Brisbane: Watson, Ferguson & Co. Ltd, 1923. First edition, octavo, brown boards with gilt title to front and spine, pp. Xiv + 373, 11 leaves of plates (photographs, portraits). Very Good. Head and tail of spine ever so slightly bumped. Light scattered foxing. Inscribed by the author to W. Lee. $250. 9. Petrie, Constance Campbell. Tom Petrie s Reminiscences of Early Queensland. Brisbane: Watson, Ferguson & Co. 1904. First edition, octavo, green illustrated boards with title in black on front and spine, pp. xv + 319, frontispiece, numerous plates, folding plan of Brisbane 1839, colophon. Fair only. The cover has been ruthlessly set upon by hungry insects who have gnawed the fabric mostly along the edges of the front board and on the spine. The text block is solid and clean with only a few spots of light foxing, there is a slight lean, and one of the photographic plates is disbound but present. $350
10. Welsby. Thos. Sport and Pastime in Moreton Bay. An uncommon volume. Brisbane: Simpson, Halligan and Co.,n.d. (1931) Limited edition and signed, No. 158 of 300. Octavo, original navy cloth, gilt titles, pp (8) vi + 294, two plates. Fine. Head and tail of spine gently bruised. Bookseller stamp to front free end-paper, previous owner s name in ink at top of edition page. Clean throughout. $550. Terms & Conditions All items are guaranteed as described. Books are subject to prior sale. We accept all major credit cards except Amex and Diners. Money orders are also accepted. We can provide EFT details on request. All prices are in Australian dollars. Postage and handling is extra. Returns Policy Returns are accepted within 10 days of receipt if the book is not as described. Please email or call us if you plan to return your material. A full refund will be issued after the receipt of the book (in original condition). Postage and Handling Within Australia $8.50 unless buying more than one item, in which case additional charges may apply. Please email us if you require a quote for overseas postage: archivesfinebooks@gmail.com