Aborigines
Australian Legendary Tales: PARKER, K[atherine]. Langloh
Parker was born and spent a significant portion of her life in South Australia, but these are Yularoi tales from near her property in northern NSW.
These are some of the best accounts of the legends and beliefs of NSW aborigines and were meticulously recorded using translators and her own language learnings. Our copy is SIGNED BY PARKER and, as such, provides another degree of connection with the past. $500
Djanggawul. An Aboriginal Religious Cult of North-Eastern Arnhem Land: BERNDT, Ronald M.
Ronald and Catherine Berndt enjoyed a personal and working relationship that lasted decades and yielded some of the earliest investigations into the practices of Aborigines in Arnhem Land.
This book is a wonderfully detailed examination of the Djanggawul cycle of beliefs and contains many excellent photographs of the people and their devout methods. $275
Ethnological Studies Among The North-West-Central Queensland Aborigines: ROTH, Walter Edmund
Considered to be the first such ethnological study recorded in Australia (1897), this book is the major work of one of Australia’s foremost administrators. Roth was the first Protector of Aboriginals in North Queensland, the first Director of the South Australian School of Mines and Industries and President of Anthropology at the Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science among other posts.
This copy contains all 24 plates, including ‘the ethno-pornographic plate’ in better-than-usual condition (only minimal foxing). $650
Kamilaroi & Kurnai: FISON, Lorimer; HOWITT, A.W.
George Robertson, Melbourne, 1880. A man of God and a man of Science, Fison and Howitt collaborated to produce this groundbreaking study of aboriginal social structure.
This first edition copy is in excellent condition and comes with a beautiful inscription alluding to a previous owner’s time spent with “the talented authors” in Fiji and Gippsland in July & August, 1882. $900
The Native Tribes of South-East Australia: HOWITT, A[lfred].W[illiam].
Howitt is perhaps best-known for leading two expeditions to Cooper Creek – the first to discover the fate of the Burke & Wills expedition (saving King) and the second to return the bodies of Burke & Wills to Melbourne for burial. But he was to achieve many exemplary feats throughout his productive life, including this book (published in 1904) - a wonderfully detailed anthropological achievement.
This copy comes with a purchase receipt and ‘with compliments’ note from Maggs Bros (London booksellers) to Wing Commander Alan Rawlinson, dated 1959. $950
Across Australia: SPENCER, Baldwin; GILLEN, F.J.
Macmillan & Co, London, 1912 first edition. Taking in the Lake Eyre region (Urabunna), Oodnadatta, Charlotte Waters, MacDonnell Ranges and the Arunta people, this work contains material from earlier works Native Tribes of Central Australia and Northern Tribes of Central Australia, including images.
However, it is regarded as a more readable account, containing anecdotes and other less scientific observations that might be considered out of place in a strictly anthropological publication. $700
The Native Tribes of Central Australia: SPENCER, Baldwin; GILLEN, F.J.
Macmillan & Co, London, 1899 first edition. Observations of the Arunta people (near Alice Springs).
Our copy includes the bookplate of Viscount Tredegar. $1200
We also have a very good copy of the second edition (1938 Macmillan & Co edition) with the pencilled ownership signature of Wing Commander Alan Rawlinson. $550
Native Tribes Of The Northern Territory Of Australia: SPENCER, Baldwin
Macmillan & Co, London, 1914. $900
The Northern Tribes of Central Australia: SPENCER, Baldwin; GILLEN, F.J.
Macmillan & Co, London, 1904. $550