Bellubera caught fire at Kurraba Point in November 1936. This is just one of many remarkable events in the history of the Port Jackson and Manly Steamship Company and is recorded here along with some seldom-seen photos. Despite her upperworks being completely destroyed, she was repaired and put back in service. The damaged engine was never quite the same again it seems,

Every detail of the long-running service starting in 1848, is addressed here, with many impressive action photos of ferries almost invisible behind massive swells. A whole chapter is devoted to "The Greatest of Them All" : South Steyne, although for my money the finest were the sisters Dee Why and Curl Curl.  There are some quite dramatic shots of these two breasting huge swells across the Heads. 

190 pp. soft cover over 100 photos and paintings, some in colour.

Very good condition: in clear wrapper

A triumph of historical narrative, brilliantly woven tale of the fearful privations endured by all involved. Villainy and heroism vie for the readers attention.

The depth of research and Fitzsimons' absorbing insights into the minds of those involved make it an awe-inspiring read. One comes away feeling everything that happened has been fully explained. The villains turn out to be not quite those expected.

Prologue Epilogue Bibliography Index and Dramatis Personae add to the impressive tale

613 pp. published 2018 two sections of illustrations in colour. Maps.

Very Good condition with some scuffing of spine. Dust cover Fine.

"It can't be easy to turn a documentary about navigation and clock mechanics into  a gripping narrative but Sobel has done a great job. The ghosts of mariners come alive and she's passionate about Harrison and his clocks".

An important book telling the story of the man who created the chronometer so essential to accurate navigation.

Joseph Harrison faced prejudice and trickery but persevered for 40 years to perfect his  instrument.

A good read and a book to pass around to other maritime fans.

Soft cover 182 pp. GOOD condition. index (illustration shows one of two editions)

Each service during both World Wars produced fascinating volumes of contributions by service personnel. The Anzac Book of 1916 was a first.

The Australian Navy's first two such books were well-received: leading to this, Vol 3

First edition 1944 over 200 contributions including accounts of battles, verse, cartoons, memoirs by men and officers, photos, drawings,  and some fine paintings by war artists. Much history and much good humour.

Unique and valuable. 

200 pp. over 120 illustrations ; photos paintings drawings etchings and cartoons . some very funny

Very good firm condition. Dust cover in tatters. pages toned by sunlight.

The stirring tale of the history then abandonment then recovery and the massive task of complete restoration to full seaworthiness. The full story one of SHF's finest possessions by one of the workers

Drawings, old documents 

Soft cover 90 pp. approx 100 photos mostly colour many "people" photos taken during restoration

Three copies.

Two in very fine condition 

One in very good condition apart from some creasing of corners

Make your choice here    >

A serious, very well-illustrated history of the several major building companies producing remarkable vessels in fairly primitive conditions. Each builder and his ships are dealt with individually in pleasing detail. 

Many chapters are given over to the enormous production of the Davis Family, of Davistown

336 pp.  over 100 photos, illustrations and maps

The book is in new condition

see image for precis.

Names like Warwick Hood and Ben Lexcen and Hugh Treharne come up, and the careers of many other successful designers and builders are treated one by one. A well-written well organised book to enjoy over a period.

250 pp. approx 25 photos. soft cover Very Fine condition

Foolscap size soft cover. 

122 pp. over 150 historic photos giving a wonderful insight into the development of one of  the largest municipalities in Sydney, from 1792 to the 1960s.

The full story of the recovery from the Falkland Islands, return to England and restoration of Brunel's ship, the first screw steamer to cross the Atlantic, written by the project's chairman.

A marvellous tale and one followed by millions of Britons.

226 pp. over 20 photos, very fully detailed account, not dissimilar to the James Craig odyssey. 

Very good condition, one dent in front cover, dust jacket rough

A compilation of the work of this famous pioneer photographer showing life in and around the fishing port of Whitby, Yorkshire. Atmospheric and a beautiful artistic view of the hard life of the fishermen, fishwives, seamen and the people of Whitby in the late 19th century, just as sail was beginning to give way to steam.

A treasure. 

quarto format 60 pp. very good condition

A beautifully illustrated , comprehensive history of the world's greatest ports; their growth and importance in our economic and cultural life today.

Hard cover, dust cover in fine condition. 310 pp. over 300 photos, many in colour. many maps of each port, and of their home cities. Full text.

Very fine condition, preserved in clear plastic wrapper.

Powerful, wonderfully artistic photographic record, from the placing of abutments to the Opening Procession.

The effect is entirely visual with enough text to place each photo in context, plus a very detailed text description of design, planning and engineering processes.

A4 landscape, 100 photos full page fine B&W soft cover,

Very good condition some foxing and scuffing of covers

The history from beginning to end of the lifeblood of the NSW North Coast, the coastal cargo and passenger steamers.

Sometimes there were catastrophic misadventures along the treacherous rugged coastline of bars rocks and tricky river entrances.

20 photos and paintings all B&W. Index of all known vessels on the run. 

appendices

List of vessels and their page number in text

Extracts from NCSN Co regulations

Clarence River cargo summary 1940

Shipping advertisements 1917. vintage .Maps

Soft covers published 1977 174 pp. Fair condition only. Detached front cover and loose rear cover. needs repair. Text unaffected.

A nice little picture book showing many of the fascinating types of river boats, both modern and vintage. 

120 pp. over 90 photos, B&W and colour. Historic texts, specifications, and fleet lists. 

soft cover Very good condition

It reads like an imaginative novel of the sea, but it's real adventure, of the ship Anna Lombard. Adding to the whimsy, that's not even its real name! See image for chapter names which give an idea of the far-reaching adventure.

A really fun read with many exciting moments 

Hard cover cloth in the old style with gold-embossed spine. some sunning and mild spotting of pages

Good condition

All in Good condition (or as new) . All have been chosen for their general good readability and interest to maritime enthusiasts.

Click on a thumbnail to view each title, and hover with the mouse to enlarge the image.

 All are well written and good reading.

note abbreviations HC = hard cover SC=soft cover

pp. =pages.

IP. = illustrated with photos

Select yours below >

The story of Anson's famous voyages around the world in the 18th century, 1730 onward.

Anson became a Commodore in the Royal Navy and was sent on many long voyages of adventure and asserting of the might of the RN

A very readable concise yet amusing history derived from official records and contemporary reports, 

Easily readable large type, 218 pp. some illustrations. hard back, solidly bound, art paper.

Good condition, dust jacket poor.

Wide ranging taking a peek at some aspects of US ships from 17th century up to USS United States 

Entertaining and informative 

282 pp. Index photo sections ad drawings

A study of the ships and methods world-wide as at 1947

224 pp. maps drawings and .many photos. D pics of species

hard cover fair cond.

"A collection of outstanding writing about people at sea."  Includes true stories by Dickens, Hickey, RL Stevenson, Conrad, Verne, Coward , Melville, Brassey, Kipling, Masefield, Belloc, Baden Powell,  A pantheon of great writers and a joyful read.

The words "avast" or "rigging creaking in the wind"  are not used.

396 pp. Some illustrations . 

in Fine condition

see image for precis

Soft cover 268 pp.

the story is told ship by ship with a description of the scene, the events leading up to the disaster, the outcome 

Impressively full coverage of over 200 events. Long indices by ship, location and personnel

A detailed work of history in very readable form, taken chapter by chapter.

Very Good condition slight scuffing of corners and edges

A detailed year by year account of the sad ends suffered by so many ships. All is here; the dates the circumstances the aftermath. 

C5 size 198 pp.  approx 50 photos all B&W some drawings some maps

A valuable history and absorbing read.

A detailed year by year account of the sad ends suffered by so many ships. All is here; the dates the circumstances the aftermath. 

C5 size 148 pp.  approx 40 photos all B&W some drawings some maps, several detailed indexes

A valuable history and absorbing read.

Very Fine condition

Click on the photos at left to read a synopsis.

A very readable study of the  magnificent Great Barrier rRef, and the threats facing it, by a skin diver, and passionate advocate of its conservation. Factual not a diatribe.

388 pp. some photos B&W and 16 page colour photo section.  Beautifully presented book would make a useful gift to an interested sea goer.

Large clear type making it a pleasure to read.

Very fine condition, as new

The title says it all but rest assured this is a deeply researched story of the family and their magnificent lighthouses around the coast of Britain. Including the heroic Bell Rock, in the Firth of Forth.  How each was built amid sometimes horrendous sea conditions. 

Photo and drawing section, map. Index and Bibliography for further research

Two copies:

284 pp. soft cover . GOOD condition with some sunning of pages. very slight dent at lower RHS cover

282 pp hard cover Very good condition. dust cover unmarked.

make your choice here: >

The Northern voyages.

A brilliantly readable account of all known voyages across the North Atlantic prior to 1660. Written with great good humour, debunking a few myths along the way.

A thorough history in a professional narrative style. many photos paintings and drawings, maps. full index.

710 pp. hard cover fair condition, dust jacket poor.

A big read for little outlay

From a very prolific maritime author incl.   "Fatal Storm"

A sought after publication, deeply researched. 16 page colour section. very large index

pub. 12013 ABC Books

464 pp. 24x16  size  very fine condition

A collection of all 4 volumes of this very readable series.         Each book approx 300 pages in length

Each includes approx 100 illustrations photos (vol IV) paintings and drawings all B&W,  with colour frontispiece   A marine historian's  delight.

Hard cover beautifully patterned and gold=embossed. All are in Fair to Good condition with some scuffing and occasional loosening of binding. No damage.            Weighty tomes each about 1.5 kg.

Offered as a full set at this special price

vol.. 1 to 1697

vol 2 1698 to 1783

vol. 3  1784 to 1814

vol. 4  1815 to 1875