Catalogues

Pacific discovery and exploration

Pacific discovery and exploration

Our catalogue foregrounds Solvyns' great colour plate study of Indian manners and costume, Arago's intimate study of a priest of Guam, together with an 18th Century table globe and a fine watercolour of the iconic Black Swan. Also included are Shaw's catalogue of Tapa: a highly unusual example with extra specimens, Samwell's Narrative of the Death of Cook as well as maps by Brion de la Tour, D'Anville and Sir Thomas Mitchell. 

The New World, East Indies & Asia: Voyages of Exploration, 1558-1889

The New World, East Indies & Asia: Voyages of Exploration, 1558-1889

From William Beckford's copy of Alvares in French to Linschoten's Discours of Voyages, one of the great early illustrated travel books,from Moraleda Y Montrero's remarkable illustrated manuscript journal of Pacific coastal exploration, to rare Lima printings (the second and third printed at the first press in South America), this catalogue spans over three hundred years of exploration. It also includes Choris' most beautiful Pacific colour plate books and the limited edition of Garnier and Doudart de Lagree's work on the discovery of the Mekong.  

European Discovery 1538-1843

European Discovery 1538-1843

Fine books, paintings and manuscripts relating to "European Discovery". Highlights include: an exceptional copy of Parkinson's Journal of a Voyage to the South Seaswith the very rare "Gomeldon" pages and original hand-colouring; copies of Governor Phillip's Extracts of Letters (1791) and Copies and Extracts (1792); the extremely rare "Officer" account, the first book to tell the story of the First Fleet; a beautiful view in Macau by Cook's voyage artist John Webber; and a striking portrait of the infamous Major Nunn, attributed to Joseph Fowles. 

Read review on Americana Exchange here

The West Coast, 1616-1829

The West Coast, 1616-1829

Hordern House is pleased to announce the release of "The West Coast, European Discovery 1616-1829", a collection of 31 significant books, pictures and manuscripts relating to the west coast of Australia before settlement, chiefly drawn from two private Australian collections. It is most unusual to be able to present such a substantial group of treasures from this important period of Australian discovery, especially as regards the early Dutch voyages. 
 
Including exceptional rarities such as the rare first edition of Pelsaert's account of the wreck of the Batavia (1647); the first printed map to show any part of the mainland published in the account of the VOC voyage of Jacques l'Hermite; as well as beautiful sets of the important voyages of Dampier, Vancouver, Flinders, Baudin, Freycinet & King, among others.
Three Centuries of Voyages 1558 - 1861

Three Centuries of Voyages 1558 - 1861

A selection of 45 items from the 16th to the 19th centuries. The early material includes excellent copies of such classics as the collections of Hakluyt (1600), Purchas (1626), Valentijn (1726) and Churchill (1732), as well as the desirable English edition of Linschoten (1598). Two highly important Southern Continent pieces are the extremely rare La Popelinière Les Trois Mondes (1582) and the Quiros Memorial La parte incógnita Austral (1612); some significant books on China include the first book in English on China (Gonzalez de Mendoza, 1588); the major French (1735) and English (1741) editions of Du Halde’s Description of the Empire of China, the first definitive work on the Chinese Empire; a superb presentation copy of Anson’s voyage (1748) that belonged to two English prime ministers; a strong section of 18th-century voyages includes major accounts of Cook’s voyages (including the published narratives by Parkinson, Forster, Zimmermann and Ellis, as well as the official accounts); in the 19th century we offer an exceptional complete set of the Baudin voyage account together with a fine set of the Freycinet voyage. Other highlights include a handsome pair of Cary globes, and a remarkable watercolour depicting a meeting three of the greatest polar explorers.

The Great South Land

The Great South Land

Searching for the antipodes, from classical scholars to Quiros & Dampier. This catalogue of books and maps tells the story of a New World. Unlike the American discoveries to which that phrase is often taken to refer, this New World is the result of a push to the east and the south. The story of its development from theory to actuality is also the story of the exploration, exploitation, and occupation of the East Indies, South East Asia, and the Pacific as the competing national interests played out their grand battle.

Captain Louis De Freycinet and his Voyages to the Terres Australes

Captain Louis De Freycinet and his Voyages to the Terres Australes

An important collection of printed and original manuscript and pictorial material relating to the two great French expeditions to Australia, the 1800 voyage under Captain Nicolas Baudin and the 1817 voyage of Captain Louis-Claude de Saulces de Freycinet. Louis de Freycinet is the figure who unites these two important voyages: he sailed with Baudin as a junior officer, quickly establishing himself as one of the great hydrographers, but also learning the demands of scientific exploration on the remote coastlines of Australia.

The collection of Robert Edwards AO

The collection of Robert Edwards AO

This catalogue includes many of the major items from the library of Robert Edwards, some so rare they are known in only a handful of copies, as well as several interesting manuscripts and pictures. Overall the condition is excellent and it is a pleasure to see so much beautifully preserved nineteenth-century material. He took great pains to acquire books in original cloth and pamphlets in publisher's wrappers. Furthermore, he spared no expense in binding and restoring his beloved treasures and this work was done at the highest level, often by English binders including Sangorski and Sutcliffe, Bayntun and Aquarius.