15th Century Renaissance Book Featuring One of the Earliest Printed Acknowledgements of Australia’s Existence to Go On Sale at the Melbourne Rare Book Fair
Announcement posted by Peter Harrington Ltd 06 Jul 2023
JULY 2023: A rare incunable, Saturnalia by Macrobius, one of the earliest books ever to be printed, which features one of the first-ever printed maps to acknowledge Australia’s existence, will go on sale for AU$120,000 at the upcoming Melbourne Rare Book Fair.
The first illustrated edition of Macrobius’ popular Renaissance work is just one of a trove of early printed books that will be brought to the fair by the world-leading rare book seller Peter Harrington, who expects to attract the attention of some of Australia’s leading libraries and museums, in addition to private collectors.
Other highlights include a first edition of the earliest published account of Malaspina’s voyage from California to Alaska by Francisco Javier de Viana. Published in 1849, it gives an important early account of life in Port Jackson, based on observations made during the Spanish visit only five years after the foundation of the colony.
An extremely rare first edition of Philip Parker King’s Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia from 1826, which charts the greater part of the west, north and north-east coasts, and also contains important surveys in the area of the Barrier Reef, will also be offered for sale for AU$27,000. It is one of the most sought-after rarities in Australian collecting.
The selection of 70 rare books features other desirable collectables, ranging from early examples of convict literature to the first published account of Australia by a woman, A Voyage Round the World, in the Gorgon Man of War by Mary Ann Parker from 1795.
“We are thrilled to be back in Melbourne after a hiatus of a few years. The Melbourne Rare Book Fair is one of the only major rare book fairs to take place in the southern hemisphere, and we expect our selection of early printed works on Australia to attract considerable interest among institutional collectors. We have gathered some significant rarities of exceptional interest to this part of the world, and it is fantastic to finally have the chance to show them in Australia,” says Pom Harrington, Owner of Peter Harrington.
HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
- A fascinating manuscript journal covering service predominantly aboard the Bostonian trading ship the Avon by George Melcher, which offers a detailed picture of Pacific maritime commerce during a tumultuous period when the Hawaiian islands opened up to foreign trade and consequential commercial exploitation – AU$55,000
- A first edition of the first published account of Cook’s second voyage, Journal of the Resolution’s Voyage, in 1772, 1773, 1774, and 1775 by John Marra. Marra’s narrative, published anonymously and surreptitiously, was issued about a year and a half before Cook’s official account became available; it forms “the first printed account of man’s entry into the region south of the Antarctic circle”, the plates including the first published images of the region – AU$22,500
- A first edition of A Narrative of the Sufferings of T. F. Palmer and W. Skirving, during a Voyage to New South Wales, 1794, on board the Surprise Transport by Thomas Fyshe Palmer, a scarce contribution to early Australian convict literature. Only 3 copies traced at auction in the last 40 years and only 3 three copies traced in Australasian libraries – AU$6,500
- Descriptiones animalium, quae in itinere ad maris Australis terras per annos 1772, 1773 et 1774 by Johann Reinhold Forster, a first edition of Forster’s study of the Australasian fauna encountered on Cook’s second voyage, listing 305 animal species. Forster was employed as official naturalist on Cook’s second voyage, accompanied by his son Georg as an assistant – AU$7,000
- First edition of Robert O’Hara Burke and the Australian Exploring Expedition of 1860 by Andrew Jackson – one of the key books in the saga of the 2,000-mile Burke and Wills expedition, the first European south-north crossing of Australia – AU$1,800
- The first eye-witness account of Australia by a European woman – A Voyage Round the World, in the Gorgon Man of War: Captain John Parker by Mary Ann Parker – AU$22,500
- A delicately rendered original drawing with watercolour highlights of Captain Cook’s “ship of choice”, the HMS Resolution, sketched by one of his draughtsmen on the second voyage – AU$80,000
- First and only edition of The Surf Riders of Hawaii, a noted rarity with fewer than ten copies known, self-published by the father of surf photography, A. R. Gurrey. This is the first known book dedicated entirely to surfing, which inspired the genre of surf photography – AU$65,000
- Isaac Newton’s copy of An essay on the value of mines, a privately published appeal by the mine manager William Waller, written to convince company partners of the imminent success of the Welsh Potosi mines. Welsh Potosi silver was eventually used in recoinage efforts overseen by Newton, who at the time of publication of this essay was warden of the Royal Mint, making this a testament to the success of Waller’s efforts – AU$45,000
NOTE ON INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY: Items in this catalogue are available for sale at www.peterharrington.co.uk We offer free standard international delivery on book orders above the equivalent of £200.
ABOUT PETER HARRINGTON
Since its establishment in 1969, Peter Harrington has specialised in sourcing, selling and buying the finest-quality original first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, fine bindings, and library sets.
One of the leading rare book dealers in the world and the largest antiquarian book dealer in Europe, Peter Harrington has, for over half a century, dealt with a stock of thousands of fine books from rare seventeenth-century Shakespeare folios to highly sought-after contemporary classics such as signed and inscribed first editions of the Harry Potter series.
Peter Harrington operates two stores in London – a flagship double-fronted store in Chelsea with more than 20,000 volumes and 6,000 works on paper displayed over four floors, and a store on Dover Street in the West End of London that offers a carefully curated selection of its best stock in a gallery-style environment. As highly respected authorities in their fields, its team of rare book specialists are regularly called upon to advise individual and institutional collectors around the world seeking to enhance their collections and build specialist libraries on niche topics on everything ranging from jazz, climate change and feminist writers, to early travel literature from the Middle East, the Far East, Central Asia and the Pacific, as well as landmark literary, economic and philosophical works.
Peter Harrington Rare Books is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association and offers an unconditional guarantee on the authenticity and completeness of each item it sells, as described in the Editor’s Notes. The company has been named on the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 (2021), Sunday Times SME Export Track 100 (2015) and Business Hot 100 (2015).
CONTACT
For further information on Peter Harrington, hi-res images, copies of its catalogues, and to arrange interviews with Pom Harrington or any of Peter Harrington’s team of specialist book dealers, please contact:
Radhina Almeida Coutinho, Head of Public Relations
Tel +44 20 3763 3220 / Mob: +44 7961865354
www.peterharrington.co.uk
ENDS