Catalogues & Lists

The Baudin Expedition

We are delighted to bring to your attention an exceptional catalogue of highly important works of art by Nicolas-Martin Petit (1777-1804) and Charles-Alexandre Lesueur (1778-1846). They are to be offered for sale at auction by Deutscher and Hackett in association with Hordern House: 28 November, 2018 in Melbourne.

The richness of these outstanding works is fully described and illustrated in the accompanying catalogue...

Alexander Shaw

To coincide with the opening of a major exhibition on Cook and the Pacific at the National Library of Australia we have featured the wonderful artefact and rarity Alexander Shaw’s Catalogue of the Different Specimens of Cloth collected in the three voyages of Captain Cook…

Natural History

This themed list spans three hundred years of natural history: from John Gerard’s handsome 17th Century English herbal; to a great feat of 20th Century publishing, Banks' Florilegium (from the original 18th Century copper-plates). In the wake of the great 18th & 19th Century voyages of exploration and scientific discovery are landmark works by the great naturalist Baron Cuvier, his rival...

Pacioli

Summa de Arithmetica by Luca Pacioli, is ‘The earliest printed book to treat algebra comprehensively, and the first to contain double-entry book-keeping’. Pacioli is revered as the “Father of Accounting” because of this foundation treatise. 

Spring 2018

Our second major catalogue of the year marks the 200th anniversary of Louis de Freycinet’s arrival in Western Australia. See item 21 for the wonderful Hydrographical Atlas from this voyage. This was Louis’ second visit, his first was as the cartographer-surveyor for the Baudin expedition, a fine account of which is included (see item 2), as well as the only...

Flora Australasica

First edition; one of the most attractive of all Australian botanical books and the first with illustrations taken from live specimens rather than dried plants or field sketches -- the species depicted having been grown from seeds in London nurseries.

Lycett

This month we have featured a landmark in the development of Australian illustrated books: the album of early Colonial views by Joseph Lycett, Governor Macquarie’s convict-artist. 

Melbourne 2018

The highlight of our July exhibit at the at the Melbourne Rare Book Fair 6-8th July will be Mr Cust's "Sandridge Railway Jetty and Pier" . A small masterpiece: "Mr." Cust, an elusive artist whose first name is so far unknown, demonstrates with meticulous strokes an ability to conjure a sensation of intimacy and tranquility on the smallest scale. His...

Simeon Album

A interesting 1860s keepsake album with historic watercolours including views of Glenelg and the Darling River. Belonging to Helene Simeon, the album has contributions by her husband-to-be John Chadwick Woore, then Commissioner of Lands in New South Wales. The pioneering names of Gooch and Finniss are included in a list of visitors and the contributions by Helene, her friends and...

NSW Album

Our featured item is a unique and magnificent (and at 18.5 kgs remarkably substantial) specially prepared photographic album in a superb and complex binding by the Government Bindery. The album showcases the virtues of New South Wales, and was presented by George Houston Reid as Premier of New South Wales to the Canadian Prime Minister Sir Wilfrid Laurier during the...