Maslen, T.J., the friend of Australia, or, a plan for Exploring… - Australian & Historical, Day 2 - Leski Auctions Pty. Ltd.

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Description:

Maslen, T.J., the friend of Australia, or, a plan for Exploring the interior, and for carrying on a survey of the Whole Continent of Australia. By a Retired Officer of the Hon. East India Company's service. Illustrated with a map of Australia, and five plates. Pp. Xxiv+428+[2] (Supplemental note, verso blank), 5 double page plates (4 being hand-coloured aquatints), large folding map at end, appendix, [Hurst, Chance & Co., London, 1830], rebound preserving the upper and lower boards and the paper label to the spine. Ferguson 1379. Wantrup 117a., the supreme monument to the speculative geography of the 1820s and 1830s. His eccentric plan for the survey of the interior is a monument to the fascination exerted by the vast unknown interior on contemporary Europeans. He offers detailed and elaborate advice on the preparation and conduct of his proposed expedition, suggesting the importation of elephants and camels, the construction of special craft to navigate the inland sea and so on. As well, he devotes attention to other matters relating to the future of society in Australia. Everything from the planning of towns to the establishment of a bunyip aristocracy has a place on his broad canvas' [Wantrup, pp. 192-3]., the plates are titled 'The Expedition crossing a river in Australia', 'Carrying large Canoes with the Expedition in Australia', 'The Expedition in a Desert in Australia', 'Plan of a town for Australia' and a proposal for an 'Australian Flag'. Map is an imaginative depiction of the Australian continent, including a large inland sea and 'The supposed entrance of 'The great River'. While reasonably accurate as to the coastline, the map is rather fanciful as to the interior of the continent, the north of which is titled 'Australindia' and the south 'Anglicania'.

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Printed & Written Material: Maps