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 Obtained for $10,332, John White's Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales was, very fittingly, the most expensive book sold on AbeBooks.com.au in in 2007. The full list presents a fascinating cross-section of history, philosophy, science and literature.
(Photo courtesy of Peter Harrington Antiquarian Bookseller)
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John White
Considered one of the most beautiful and significant of all 18th Century Australian books this was the first book of Australian natural history. Written in 1790 by John White who was a navel surgeon by trade, however was also a dedicated amateur naturalist. The book contains his day to day journal while on route from London to Sydney as well as his observations of bird life around the new colony. These accounts include two journey’s of exploration around New South Wales with Governor Arthur Philip. This copy was a First Edition. Sold for A$10,332
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Ernest Hemingway
Very good copy of one of Hemingway’s most sought after first editions (1952). This copy was inscribed “Yours Very Truly / All The Best / Ernest Hemingway”. Sold for A$5,740
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James R. Wellsted
Two volumes (with 5 maps) from 1940. In first volume Wellsted talks about his experiences in Oman and volume two details his travels around the Arabian peninsula. The set is considered the first detailed work printed about this country. Sold for A$4,936
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James Joyce
First edition from 1916 of Joyce’s semi autobiographical novel. Sold for A$4,592
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Arthur W. Upfield
First American edition, from 1928, of this Australian crime fiction author’s first novel. Sold for A$3,157
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6. The Natural History of the Tea-Tree
John Coakley Lettsom
First edition copy bound in marbled wrappers of the most important English language work on tea from the 18th century. Sold for A$2,870
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Francis Hutcheson
A second edition of the first formal treatise in English on aesthetics, originally published in 1729. Sold for A$2,870
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8. A Word Index to Plato
Leonard Brandwood
Volume 8 in the series Compendia, Computer-Generated Aids to Literary and Linguistic Research Sold for A$2,864
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William-James Gravesande
Second edition of the Desaguliers translation. Gravesande, through this book, probably was the most influential proponent of Newtonian phystics during the first half of the eighteenth century. Gravesande was at the forefront of the movement toward experimentalism in science. Sold for A$2,812
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J.K. Rowling
First edition, first state. The first printing of 2,000 copies was halted after 500 were pressed due to several errors (all of which are present in this copy) including the copyright reading Joanne Rowling instead of J.K. Rowling. Sold for A$2,772
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