Notes of My Fourth Voyage to the Australian Colonies, Including Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand, 1886.
Birmingham: White and Pike, 1886. For Private Circulation. Signed presentation copy, with the inscription at the half title, "To John Forster Esq. C. E. with very kind regards from Rich.d Tangye. Gilbertstone, 2nd Nov. 1886". Forster wrote on Oliver Cromwell, a topic of great interest to the author, a wealthy British manufacturer.
An amusing account of the Tangye's travels, including Australian topics such as: the land of toothache, the noble unemployed, the Tangyian railway, snake bites, colonial servants, kangaroos, and MPs and their speeches.
Tangye was intrigued by Captain Cook and the discovery of Australia; he writes here of his presentation of his Captain Cook items in Sydney: "you will remember I brought out two exquisite Wedgwood Medallions, with the intention of presenting them to the Cook Museum. One of these was a portrait of Captain Cook, and the other a beautiful example ... made of clay brought from Sydney in 1789 by Sir Joseph Banks when voyaging with Captain Cook. ... Considering that I have thought so much of the Medallion, and its connection with Captain Cook, Sir Joseph Banks, and Sydney, I was, to say the least of it disappointed, and almost wish I had bestowed it elsewhere, where it would be more appreciated. ..." (p53).
Sir Richard Tangye (1833–1906), British engineer and manufacturer of engines and heavy equipment made 8 long voyages between 1876 and 1904 to Australia, America, South Africa, and Egypt. Tangye then wrote of these voyages in 'Reminiscences of Travel in Australia, America, and Egypt' (1883), and 'Notes on my Fourth Voyage to the Australian Colonies, 1886'.
8vo, xii, 157pp. Original dark green paper wrappers and light blue paper spine, very chipped. Internally, small obituary and clipped printed photo portrait laid down inside cover; color map from another source showing route of voyage to Australia and NZ laid down at rear, otherwise good condition. OCLC: 8537232. Trove records 9 copies. Ferguson 16696. Very good overall. Item #21974
Price: $175.00