Map of the Eastern Part of Australia. Showing the Route of Mess.rs Burke and Wills, from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria [and] Map of Mr. McKinlay's Route, in search of Mess.rs Burke and Wills, in Sept.r and Oct.r, 1861 (Reduced from the Original).

Published by Ordered by the House of Commons, to be printed,. Henry Hansard, printer. 28 March, 1862., London,, 1862

Item image 1 of 3.

Seller: Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd, London, United KingdomDaniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd

4-star seller

AbeBooks seller since November 7, 2011

Association member: ABAPBFAILAB

View this seller's items

Condition: Used

£ 1,500.00

£ 20.00 shipping 
Ships from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Quantity: 1 available

Add to basket
Free 30-day returns

Item description from seller

"the glorious race across the continent" (Sir Henry Barkly) One large folding and one full-page lithographed map, with contemporary hand-colour in outline (502 by 320; 280 by 170mm); bound into "Hansard" paper 'Australian Exploring Expedition. (Burke and Wills). Copy of all Despatches from Sir Henry Barkly and the other Colonial Governors on the subject of the Australian Exploring Expedition', folio; stabbed and sewn as issued, preserved in archival buckram-backed portfolio. The censorious official report, issued as part of the royal commission, into the disappearance of legendary Australian explorers Burke and Wills: a tragic tale of hubris and mischance of epic proportions emblazoned into the heart of every Australian. The signal intent of the expedition, commissioned by the state of Victoria's worthies on a whim, in the spirit of sporting endeavor rather than scientific exploration, was to compete with the ambitions of South Australian explorer John McDouall Stuart, to be the first to traverse the Australian continent from South to North. The choice of local policeman, Robert O'Hara Burke (1821-1861), as totally inexperienced leader, was: "inexplicable if exploration were the real object, but excellent if it were exploit. Burke was a death or glory man and he achieved both" (Fitzpatrick). Burke and Wills did, technically, achieve their goal, but at a terrible cost: with an expenditure of more than £60,000, the lives of seven explorers, and an unknown number of indigenous people. Outfitted with "over two dozen [camels], both riding and pack animals, imported complete with cameleers. There were horses and wagons, abundant food for two years and lavish equipment, including 6 tons of firewood, 57 buckets and 45 yards of green gossamer for veils. The party consisted of three officers: Burke, Landells the camel-master, and William John Wills surveyor and meteorologist; two German scientific officers, Ludwig Becker naturalist and Herman Beckler medical officer and botanist; a foreman and nine assistants and the camel-drivers. The expedition left Melbourne on 20 August 1860 and made a stately progress through the settled districts to Swan Hill and Balranald and reached Menindee on the Darling at the beginning of October. The march to the gulf was made in extraordinarily favourable conditions, after a season of heavy rain. Charles Sturt's Stony Desert was like a garden, full of lily ponds, and Burke's expedition, in this also unique, was never short of water and was able to travel in an almost straight line to its objective, without losing time searching for water. Even so it took four months to do the 1500 miles. They walked from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. with only a single day of rest in the whole period, and were half-starving in the fourth month" (Kathleen Fitzpatrick). The real hero of the hour was John McKinlay, who led the relief mission. Unlike Burke and Wills, he mapped his route and made useful discoveries. His party was the second to cross the continent from south to north and, like Stuart, he never lost any of his men. Provenance: British Foreign Office Library Fitzpatrick, 'Australian Dictionary of Biography', online; Maria, 36; McLaren, 5558.

Seller Inventory # 16679

Bibliographic details

Title
Map of the Eastern Part of Australia. Showing the Route of Mess.rs Burke and Wills, from Melbourne to the Gulf of Carpentaria [and] Map of Mr. McKinlay's Route, in search of Mess.rs Burke and Wills, in Sept.r and Oct.r, 1861 (Reduced from the Original).
Author
MCKINLAY, John; BURKE, Robert O'Hara; and William John WILLS
Publisher
Ordered by the House of Commons, to be printed,. Henry Hansard, printer. 28 March, 1862., London,
Publication year
1862
Dimensions
335 by 210mm (13.25 by 8.25 inches).

Daniel Crouch Rare Books Ltd

London, United Kingdom

4-star seller

AbeBooks seller since November 7, 2011

Association member:

Shipping rates from United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Item14 to 45 business days5 to 10 business days
First item£ 20.00£ 45.00
Delivery times are set by sellers and vary by carrier and location. Orders passing through Customs may face delays and buyers are responsible for any associated duties or fees. Sellers may contact you regarding additional charges to cover any increased costs to ship your items.

Payment methods

  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • American Express
  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Bank Draft
  • Bank Wire Transfer
  • Cash
  • Check
  • Direct Debit
  • Paypal

Store description

Daniel Crouch Rare Books is a specialist dealer in antique atlases, maps, plans, sea charts and voyages dating from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries. Our carefully selected stock also includes a number of fine prints and globes, and a selection of cartographic reference books. Our particular passions include rare atlases, wall maps, and separately published maps and charts. We strive to acquire unusual and quirky maps that are in fine condition.

Specialty

Antiquarian Prints, Cartographic Reference Books, Rare Books, Globes, Sea Charts, Plans, Prints and drawings, Cartography, Atlases and Maps

Association member

  • Antiquarian Booksellers' Association
  • Provincial Booksellers Fairs Association
  • International League of Antiquarian Booksellers
Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.

Seller's business information

Daniel Crouch Rare Books LLP

4 Bury Street, St James's
London, United Kingdom SW1Y 6AB