Item #4503938 Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-west and Western Australia, during the years 1837, 38, and 39…. Captain George GREY.

Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-west and Western Australia, during the years 1837, 38, and 39…

London: T. & W. Boone, 1841.

Two volumes, octavo, with 22 plates (six handcoloured), the two large folding maps housed in pocket of binding, text illustrations; well bound without the advertisements in later half green morocco gilt.

Grey in the North west and his discovery of rock paintings in the Kimberley

First edition: one of the most striking of all works of Australian inland exploration, with the suite of stunning images of Wandjina paintings from the north-western Kimberley region. Sir George Grey's first expedition described here began in December 1837 when he and his party of eight were landed from the Beagle at Hanover Bay on the north-west coast. The expedition was supposed to proceed south following the coast to the Swan River settlement. However problems beset them from the outset, and for five months the party meandered inland at a slow pace. Meetings with local Aborigines proved hostile, and Grey was badly wounded by a spear. Eventually, due to diminished provisions and exhaustion, the party returned to Hanover Bay and were rescued by the Beagle. Despite falling well short of their goal, the expedition yielded significant results: Grey discovered the Glenelg River, the Macdonald Range, the Stephen Range, the Gairdner River and Mount Lyell. Grey also achieved the distinction of becoming the first white man to see a Wandjina painting when he discovered the ones reproduced here in a rock shelter on the Glenelg River in the rugged Kimberley.

First edition: one of the most striking of all works of Australian inland exploration, with the suite of stunning images of Wandjina paintings from the north-western Kimberley region. Sir George Grey's first expedition described here began in December 1837 when he and his party of eight were landed from the Beagle at Hanover Bay on the north-west coast. The expedition was supposed to proceed south following the coast to the Swan River settlement. However problems beset them from the outset, and for five months the party meandered inland at a slow pace. Meetings with local Aborigines proved hostile, and Grey was badly wounded by a spear. Eventually, due to diminished provisions and exhaustion, the party returned to Hanover Bay and were rescued by the Beagle. Despite falling well short of their goal, the expedition yielded significant results: Grey discovered the Glenelg River, the Macdonald Range, the Stephen Range, the Gairdner River and Mount Lyell. Grey also achieved the distinction of becoming the first white man to see a Wandjina painting when he discovered the ones reproduced here in a rock shelter on the Glenelg River in the rugged Kimberley.

Grey's second expedition left Perth in 1839 with the intention of exploring the North-West Cape. Again his goals were not realised: he was thwarted, first by the loss of one of his three whale-boats and most of his provisions, then by the wrecking of the remaining boats and supplies. A 300-mile trek back to Perth ensued, during which Grey and all but one of his men survived on whatever food they could scavenge from the land.

Although Grey suffered appalling hardships and neither venture went according to plan, the results were valuable. "His expeditions were the first to examine the previously ignored north-west interior of the continent and he discovered much useful territory. The inland explorations of Grey and Lushington (his deputy), complemented by the associated coastal explorations of Wickham and Stokes in the 'Beagle', were a major advance in the discovery of the Australian continent" (Wantrup, 206).

The book includes scientific appendices on birds by John Gould; mammals, reptiles, amphibians by John Edward Gray; and insects by Adam White.

Grey's description of his first sighting of a Wandjina painting is memorable: 'looking over some bushes, at the sandstone rocks which were above us, I suddenly saw from one of them a most extraordinary large figure peering down upon me. Upon examination, this proved to be a drawing at the entrance to cave, which, on entering, I found to contain, besides, many remarkable paintings'. Realising the significance of the discovery, he went to considerable lengths to sketch, measure and describe the figures, which are reproduced here.

Bagnall, 2336; Australian Rare Books, 131.

Condition Report: Fine copy in a modern binding; the maps backed on fine linen.

Price (AUD): $4,850.00

US$3,185.56   Other currencies

Ref: #4503938

Condition Report