OLD PIONEERING DAYS IN THE SUNNY SOUTH
Goulburn (Australia): Chas. MacAlister Book Publication Committee, 1907. First Edition. Hardcover. Fair. Item #SHEL2123
1st and only printing until facsimile reprint in 1977. Gilt-stamped red cloth. 396pp plus 9pp advertising in rear, plus ad on the rear paste down. Index. Ink signature of author's friend, Charles Cowper, on front paste down and four other pages. Cowper is listed in the index, which cites three pages to which he, alongside the entry, adds in ink three more page citations. More on Cowper below. This is a book filled with vivid, highly detailed accounts of colonial New South Wales. Online information says it is "a vital first-hand record of early colonial life, transport, and lawlessness in southeastern New South Wales..." "The book is exceptionally famous among folklorists and historians for preserving the oldest surviving written version of the legendary ballad, 'Jim Jones at Botany Bay." MacAlister arrived in New South Wales in 1833 as a three-year old where his father initially managed the estate of a relative. MacAlister was a "carrier" (freighter) by his teen years, hauling wool and other goods to market between his rural home near Goulburn and Sydney. He soon became a cattle and horse trader and drover, and eventually a hotel owner and gold miner. This firsthand, original source history is packed with information, "including The Penal Period, Bushrangers, Gold Rushes, and Colonial Development." MacAlister reports much on the prisoners that occupied and labored in this penal colony. He provides details on the growth of Goulburn and Argyle, the importance of the growing city of Sydney, He report extensively on fairs and horse races, floods and droughts, mail service, railroads, "diggers" (gold seekers), outlaws, ticket-of-leave men, judges, sheriffs, pioneers, the old drovers of bullock-pulled freight wagons, politicians and politics, clerics, sports heroes, and many others. MacAlister personally knew hundreds of people and in this book he names literally thousands of individuals along with associated places, dates, and events. MacAlister died before he could review the proofs of his book. His Son, George, edited the volume and brought it to final print. As to Charles Cowper (1834-1911), the original owner of this copy, his father was Premier of NSW five times between 1856 - 1879. Charles, the son whose signatures appear in this copy, was also active politically and was a member of parliament as well as at one time Sheriff of NSW. This copy in fair to good condition with a flaw described here, namely the cloth of the spine split down the middle and thus a candidate for professional restoration. The red cloth is reasonably bright except for some fading to the spine. There is light blotching on the front cover that does not remove or blot out the red color of the cloth, but reduces its brightness. See photo. Quite mild foxing in places. The gilt-stamping of the titles is very good. There is a tiny bit of fraying at the head and toe of the spine. There is short cut to the cloth on the lower spine near the rear board. In two locations signatures separating with webbing exposed. A fascinating book and hard to put down. We have located fourteen copies, all but one shelved in Australian national and university libraries and museums. While this book is not superlatively rare in terms of library access, as offered on the market in the last 100 plus years it is rare. Even the 1977 facsimile reprint is hard to find.
Price: $2,500.00