Taming the North
Sydney: Angus and Robertson, 1961. Octavo, green hardback, burgundy label with gilt lettering on spine, xvi, 266 pp., frontispiece, eight double-sided black-and-white plates, one map included at end. Spine ends and corners a little bumped, very light foxing on leaf edges throughout, small black and white Berkeleow Bookdealers sticker on lower right inside of front cover, dust-jacket a little worn and torn at top edge and corners with no loss of text, otherwise a very good copy. 1961 reprint. A biography of Alexander Kennedy, one of the original directors of Qantas, written by Hudson Fysh (later Sir Hudson Fysh), one of the founders of Qantas and The Flying Doctor Service of Australia. This biography details the harsh conditions in which the company was established and recounts many interactions Kennedy had with local Indigenous communities during his travels across Australia. While modern readers may take issue with these interactions and the way they are described (showing a glimpse into the attitudes current in Queensland at the time Fysh was writing), this book is nevertheless an historic record of the founding of Australia's national airline. Item #4493
Signed and inscribed by the author: "To A. G. Dean M.H.R. In commemoration of our one day jaunt to Perth. with best wishes from the Author, Hudson Fysh, Sydney 11/10/62"
Price (AUD): $300.00