Item #5000708 Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, commanded by the late Owen Stanley, R.N., F.R.S. &c. during the years 1846-1850…. John MACGILLIVRAY.
Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, commanded by the late Owen Stanley, R.N., F.R.S. &c. during the years 1846-1850…
Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, commanded by the late Owen Stanley, R.N., F.R.S. &c. during the years 1846-1850…
Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, commanded by the late Owen Stanley, R.N., F.R.S. &c. during the years 1846-1850…

Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake…
Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, commanded by the late Owen Stanley, R.N., F.R.S. &c. during the years 1846-1850…

London: T. & W. Boone, 1852.

Two volumes, octavo, with engraved folding map and 13 lithographed plates after T. Huxley and others as well as many text illustrations; a fine copy in an early binding of half polished calf, spines gilt in compartments, double labels.

Charting the Barrier Reef and the southern coast of New Guinea

First edition: "a very important voyage of exploration and scientific research" (Ferguson). This was the last, and today is the most difficult to find, of the great exploration journals published by Boone during the heroic age of Australian exploration.

First edition: "a very important voyage of exploration and scientific research" (Ferguson). This was the last, and today is the most difficult to find, of the great exploration journals published by Boone during the heroic age of Australian exploration.

John MacGillivray served as the chief naturalist on the Rattlesnake, part of the important series of hydrographical voyages undertaken by the Admiralty in the late 1840s to chart the Great Barrier Reef and north coast, and the southern coast of New Guinea. The Rattlesnake continued the work that began with Lort Stokes on the Beagle and was continued by Blackwood on the Fly and Bramble. The ship's complement was distinguished by the presence of the naturalist, T.H. Huxley, and the marine artist, Sir Oswald Brierly. A number of the plates here are after drawings by Huxley.

MacGillivray's books is also of value for its reprinting of William Carron's extremely rare narrative of the tragic Kennedy expedition. It was the Rattlesnake that transported Kennedy and his large party to their point of departure on the Queensland coast. The statement made by Jackey Jackey, the remarkable figure who was Kennedy's Aboriginal servant, is also included.

Provenance: R. David Parsons (American collector, with book-label); Eric Stock (Melbourne collector, with bookplates).

Ferguson, 11972; Hill, 1060; Wantrup, 145.

Price (AUD): $14,000.00

US$9,121.93   Other currencies

Ref: #5000708