Strzelecki

Rare first edition of Strzelecki’s map issued in ‘House of Commons Paper and sold with his published account of his explorations in the Australian Alps, Victoria and Tasmania. First edition, 8vo. xix, 462pp and 19 lithographic plates, col geological folding map, in original embossed cloth, new endpapers, rebacked and retaining original spine, corners bumped, one or two minor internal imperfections otherwise a good copy. With Rollo Hammet label. Paul Edmond de Strzelecki, is best remembered as the man who first discovered gold in Australia and named Mount Kosciusko and Gippsland. Strzelecki firstly did geological field work in America and then arrived in Australia in 1839 aboard HMS Fly. In January 1840 he set out from Yass Plains on a southerly route into the Australian Alps. In February he reached the highest ridge of the Snowy Mountains, naming it Mount Kosciusko, and then struck south across eastern Victoria until he reached the sea at Lake King, which he named for his friend Phillip Parker King. From here Strzelecki and his party headed towards Western Port across fine grazing lands which he named Gipps Land after the governor. After further geological work in Van Diemen’s Land, Strzelecki left for England in 1840. The results of Strzelecki’s travels were contained in a report to Governor Gipps which was despatched to England, where it was first printed on 9th March 1841 as part of House of Commons Paper entitled ‘New South Wales…Copy of a Despatch from Sir G.Gipps..’. A later edition was published on 26th April 1841 by the House of Lords. First edition, 8vo. xix, 462pp and 19 lithographic plates, col geological folding map, in original embossed cloth, new endpapers, rebacked and retaining original spine, corners bumped, one or two minor internal imperfections otherwise a good copy. With Rollo Hammet label. 1845