Tasmania specific bushwalking discussion.

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Book collections?

Mon 10 Oct, 2011 6:25 pm

I have recently started collecting all the older tasmanian walking books, anyone else do this? They offer very interesting information and are nice to have around. So far I have gotten a couple of older tramps and the south west book. Does anyone know where the best place to get a copy of The World of Olegas Truchanas is? Where have others picked up these kind of books? Peaks and high places of cradle/ st. clair by Ian Boss walker sounds interesting but also very rare. Would those with a copy say its worth hunting one out? My next project is to find a copy of Above Me Only Sky, having heard ravings about how good it is.

What are others collections like? Do any of you make a goal of trying to establish some kind of 'full collection'?

Re: Book collections?

Mon 10 Oct, 2011 6:45 pm

www.abebooks.com.au

It's grouse!

I recently got a new (as in never opened that I could tell) copy of The World of Olegas Truchanas from a book store in Rutherglen, Victoria. $30 :-)

Re: Book collections?

Mon 10 Oct, 2011 6:50 pm

mjdalessa wrote: Does anyone know where the best place to get a copy of The World of Olegas Truchanas is?

I picked up mine + another great book about SW Tas from ILUVSWTAS. Very generous :P Oh, you want them back do you :cry:

seriously, I've seen it on ebay last week or so but not sure how much they went for. There are 2 up now but for $100? I'll wait.

An absolute gold mine for books is Gowans auction in Hobart (every Fri @ 10am in Moonah). We have bought hundreds of books (and almost everything else we own :lol: ) from there over the years. Often you get a box or five for a couple of dollars. I have seen bushwalking and lots of various Tasmanian books but for some unknown reason I never bid for them or they were too expensive (= more than $25 for a box :roll: ). Things have change lately and it is getting harder to get the really great bargains so we have not been there for a while. Too many collectors and professional traders have pushed up the prices + Gowans have raised the buyers and sellers premiums. I'm sure you can still get a bargain if you're patient.

Re: Book collections?

Mon 10 Oct, 2011 7:01 pm

Drifting do you think you could PM me the bookstore's name? Hope they have some copies left :) That site is great! Has anyone else seen that some of the Bob Brown books now sell for around $500? Those Chris bell ones are also appealing but at over $100 a copy and being made in the 90's I think I'll wait. With that Truchanas one, when I get it it must be a first edition, I'm kind of sentimental like that.

Re: Book collections?

Mon 10 Oct, 2011 9:03 pm

I have a copy of the first edition WoOT in VGC. PM me an offer.

Re: Book collections?

Mon 10 Oct, 2011 9:16 pm

http://www.tapsellsbooks.com.au/home/index.htm

I've seen the Bob Brown one,. but the one I REALLY want is an extremely rare collection of Dombrovski's work- it's black bound, with a very limited release. When I first came across it about 4 years ago it was around $350, but now it's like a grand plus.

Ohhhh I wish I had the money....

I've picked up some incredible deals on abebooks.

Re: Book collections?

Tue 11 Oct, 2011 7:42 am

Over the last few years I have been gathering a collection of books all to do with the Tasmania wilderness (e.g. exploration, photographic etc) there are a couple more bookshops I have been to not already mentioned.


This is the best one around Hobart I've been to I think - he pretty much stocks only books relating to Tasmania I think.

http://justtassiebooks.com/

These two usually have small collections of Dombrovskis/Truchanas type books as well:

Rapid Eye Books
36-38 Sandy Bay Road, Battery Point TAS 7000
(03) 6223 2400 ‎

Kookaburra Books
113 Hampden Road, Battery Point TAS 7004
(03) 6223 3251

Try typing "secondhand book stores hobart tasmania" into Google and it will give you a map with locations of the various book stores around Hobart.

Drifting wrote:http://www.tapsellsbooks.com.au/home/index.htm

I've seen the Bob Brown one,. but the one I REALLY want is an extremely rare collection of Dombrovski's work- it's black bound, with a very limited release. When I first came across it about 4 years ago it was around $350, but now it's like a grand plus.

Ohhhh I wish I had the money....

I've picked up some incredible deals on abebooks.


I picked up a copy for $400 recently, was very lucky to spot it I think!! (although someone has written a message on the first page :( which may have dropped the price a little, still a wonderful book though!)

Re: Book collections?

Tue 11 Oct, 2011 6:43 pm

Thanks for the store recommendations, just put in an order.
The world of Olegas Truchanas
Southwest book
Above me only sky
Peaks and high places: cradle mountain lake st clair

Not sure what the last one will be like, but it was unexpensive and sounded interesting, 1950 first edition too. All the others are first editions too, I think its worth spending that little bit extra.

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 7:05 am

Stibb wrote:
mjdalessa wrote: Does anyone know where the best place to get a copy of The World of Olegas Truchanas is?

I picked up mine + another great book about SW Tas from ILUVSWTAS. Very generous :P Oh, you want them back do you :cry:


Hahaha yes please Mrs Stibb, I would like it back.... My copy is signed by Max Agnus (author)
I also have

Southwest Tasmania, A land of the wild by David Neilson
The Southwest book by the conservation group
Southwest Tasmania by Ken Collins
The Beautiful Wilderness Australia
Simply Dombrovskis
The Forest by Dombrovskis
Endangered, Tasmanias wild places
National parks of Tasmania by Norton Harvey
Tasmania, the wild island by Richard Bennett
Shooting the Franklin by Johnson Dean, all about the first kayak trips down the Franklin
The River runs free by Geoff Law
Southwest Tasmania by John Chapman
Cradle Mtn/Lake St Clair by Chapman
Abels vol 1+2. Plus the paper checklist book.
Step into history in Tasmanias reserves by David leaman
Trampled Wilderness Vol 1+2
Alpine Tasmania by Jamie Kirkpatrick

and many many Tasmanian Tramps by the HWC.

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 9:08 am

You should also check out Tasmania's Wilderness Battles : A History by Greg Buckman, it is a very good read.

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 3:57 pm

I would add -

A Time to Care - Chris Bell/NormSanders
Beyond the Reach - Chris Bell
The Quiet Land - Peter Dombrovskis
Wild Rivers - Peter Dombrovskis/Bob Brown
The Mountains of Paradise - Les Southwell
Tasmania's Highest Peaks (or something like that) - Bob Brown
Lake Pedder - Bob Brown
Power in Tasmania - Peter Thompson
The Future of Lake Pedder (Report)

and a good bookstore to get some of these - is the second hand one near the backpackers in Collins St, Hobart. Its a small store crammed at the back of a big building, behind a cafe I think. Last visit I picked up a couple of copies of "Rope and Rucksack" - a classic book on bushwalking/climbing/canyoning/ski touring etc from the 1960's.

Also - Astrolabe Books in Salamanca is good for old Tasmanian books and Tassie Tramps/Skylines etc

Dave

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 5:05 pm

Mickeymoo- you have a 5D and the Dombrovskis book. You stink.

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 5:15 pm

Drifting wrote:Mickeymoo- you have a 5D...


It's not a MkIII so I'm not that jealous :wink:

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 5:30 pm

To those already mentioned above there are also the below:

Wild Tasmania – Wolfgang Glowacki
Artscapes – Wolfgang Glowacki
Tasmanian Summits to Sleep On – Kevin Doran
Battle for the Franklin – Roger Green
Jack Thwaites – Simon Kleinig
Behind the Scenery – Graham Fish and Murray Yaxley
Lake Pedder – Why a National Park Must be Saved – Dick Johnson
Cradle – Rob Blakers
The Wild Ride – Nic Haygarth
Franklin Blockade – The Wilderness Society
Tarkine Tasmania – Archer & Evans
On the Mountain – Peter Dombrovskis
Tasmanian Landscapes – Dennis Harding
Primal Places – Chris Bell
Wild Forest – The Wilderness Society
Freycinet – Rob Blakers
Tarkine – World Wildlife Fund for Nature Australia?
The Franklin River - Not Just a River - James McQueen
Closing Hell's Gates - Hamish Maxwell-Stuart (novel)
For the Term of His Natural Life - Marcus Clarke (novel)

Haha just lucky I guess :) I'm wanting the mkII though!! Still the 5D is pretty impressive in it's own right anyway :)
Last edited by Mickeymoo on Wed 12 Oct, 2011 9:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 5:36 pm

Mickeymoo wrote:To those already mentioned above there are also the below:

Wild Tasmania – Wolfgang Glowacki
Artscapes – Wolfgang Glowacki
Tasmanian Summits to Sleep On – Kevin Doran
Battle for the Franklin – Roger Green
Jack Thwaites – Simon Kleinig
Behind the Scenery – Graham Fish and Murray Yaxley
Lake Pedder – Why a National Park Must be Saved – Dick Johnson
Cradle – Rob Blakers
The Wild Ride – Nic Haygarth
Franklin Blockade – The Wilderness Society
Tarkine Tasmania – Archer & Evans
On the Mountain – Peter Dombrovskis
Tasmanian Landscapes – Dennis Harding
Primal Places – Chris Bell
Wild Forest – The Wilderness Society
Freycinet – Rob Blakers
Tarkine – World Wildlife Fund for Nature Australia?
South-West Tasmania - Ken Collins
The Franklin River - Not Just a River - James McQueen
Closing Hell's Gates - Hamish Maxwell-Stuart (novel)
For the Term of His Natural Life - Marcus Clarke (novel)

Haha just lucky I guess :) I'm wanting the mkII though!! Still the 5D is pretty impressive in it's own right anyway :)



I mentioned Ken Collins already smarty aresy!!

AND there's another by Kevin Doran about a tiny little peak in the southwest called Federation.....

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 7:22 pm

Only book I can add is this one given to me. Written by a Dr. G.F.J Bergman published in 1959.
IMAG0313-2.jpg

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 7:37 pm

I have an original copy of this...circa 1923

74263.jpg


other than that I have a few of the previously mentioned plus a copy of Chapmans SW Tas first edition with the name B. Brown handwritten in the cover....

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 8:54 pm

Whats that charles whitman book like sbs? I wish chris bells books werent so expensive! I think I better get summits to sleep on and pedder dreaming before they stop printing and it punches the prices through the roof.

Re: Book collections?

Wed 12 Oct, 2011 9:27 pm

"I mentioned Ken Collins already smarty aresy!!

AND there's another by Kevin Doran about a tiny little peak in the southwest called Federation....."

I wondered why it hadn't been mentioned!! That's what I get for not reading properly :( A very good little book if you want to know all about glaciation features/events in the south west though :)

Ooh another one to add to the growing list!

Re: Book collections?

Thu 13 Oct, 2011 7:11 am

mjdalessa wrote:Whats that charles whitman book like sbs? I wish chris bells books werent so expensive! I think I better get summits to sleep on and pedder dreaming before they stop printing and it punches the prices through the roof.


Pretty dry stuff, but a lot of good west coast history and a considerable amount on the early explorers. I read it just before I did the Calder's Lookout/Mt Arrowsmith walk which added considerable interest to that walk, we found old mine workings and it was nice to see the area featured so heavily in the book.

Re: Book collections?

Thu 13 Oct, 2011 2:14 pm

Just went for a wander to the Just Tassie Book store at lunch and he has a copy of Dombrovskis - A Photographic Collection (the black book) for $550 - just thought I'd mention it as I'm sure a few on here would be interested!!

also found (goes and checks above mentioned books first :D )

The Fight for the Franklin - The Story of Australia's Last Wild River - Bob Connolly and
A Tasmanian Wilderness Experience - Dannis Harding

Re: Book collections?

Fri 14 Oct, 2011 10:21 am

The Quiet Land by Dombrovskis (VGC) just sold for $60 at Gowans auction. Only one other bidder but we couldn't go higher :(

Re: Book collections?

Mon 24 Oct, 2011 8:31 pm

Drifting wrote:Mickeymoo- you have a 5D and the Dombrovskis book. You stink.


+1

Re: Book collections?

Wed 26 Oct, 2011 6:55 pm

Got my copy of above me only sky a week ago; best $12.50 I've ever spent. It has some great photography side by side with a book long story of Martin Hawes exploits in the Tassie wilderness. My favourites are these creative macros of a freshwater lobster and a sundew, if youve seen them you will know what I'm talking about! Seems like avery rare book these days, I was lucky to get a copy.

Re: Book collections?

Wed 26 Oct, 2011 9:42 pm

I have acquired a large number of those books over the years, but for those who enjoy good photography you can also add to everyone' else's list:

Tasmania The Wild Island (Richard Bennett)
Endangered: Tasmanias Wild Places

If you like NZ then New Zealand Journey by Verena and Georg Popp is very good (I think you can get it in Tassie from The Wilderness Gallery at Cradle Mountain).

Re: Book collections?

Wed 02 Nov, 2011 4:25 pm

What's Beyond the reach; Cradle Mountain/ Lake St. Clair by Chris Bell like? Is it mainly a photo/ coffee table book or does it contain interesting stories and/ or track notes as well?

Re: Book collections?

Tue 08 Nov, 2011 6:06 pm

For those with an interest in Tassie's SW wilderness area, there's "King of the Wilderness: the life of Deny King" by Christobel Mattingley, and the recently released "Wyn and Clyde Clayton" by Janet Fenton. Must reads for anyone walking around the south west. An oldie that took me some years to get hold of is the 1952 "Tasmania by Road and Track" by the E. T. Emmett, founder of the Hobart Walking Club and for many years Director of the Tasmanian Tourism Department.

PS: The Hobart Walking Club's history 1929-2010 is available for free download as a PDF file here - lots of interesting reading here! http://www.hobartwalkingclub.org.au/html/HWChistory.pdf

Re: Book collections?

Tue 08 Nov, 2011 7:27 pm

Whats the Emmett book like??
Found a few copies online, should I snap it up? I love the Ian Boss Walker Peaks and High places book, would this be similiarly interesting?

EDIT: I was just buying a $9 VG second edition when some lucky *&%$#! snapped it up :x

Re: Book collections?

Wed 09 Nov, 2011 4:44 pm

mjdalessa wrote:Whats the Emmett book like??
Found a few copies online, should I snap it up? I love the Ian Boss Walker Peaks and High places book, would this be similiarly interesting?

EDIT: I was just buying a $9 VG second edition when some lucky *&%$#! snapped it up :x

I have not read it cover to cover yet, but what I have dipped into so far I have found fascinating, as the book covers an imagined tour around Tasmania by road plus going bushwalking as well to many well known and lesser known places, with history and local people's stories adding extra interest. Here are a couple of pages to give you the feel for the style and content.

Tas by Road & Track_0002.jpg

Tas by Road & Track_0000.jpg

Tas by Road & Track_0001.jpg

Re: Book collections?

Thu 10 Nov, 2011 4:38 pm

Sounds like this epic might be worth the $30+ it goes for... very well written! I just wish someone didnt beat me to that $9 copy :evil:
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