Our publishing interests
The Friends concentrate their publishing program on Australian exploration, as detailed in explorers’ journals, Parliamentary Papers and, occasionally, newspaper accounts. Published works include facsimiles and redesigned modern editions with maps, illustrations, scholarly introductions, notes and indexes.
Most publications have focused on land exploration of South and Central Australia, along with several 19th century accounts of interaction between Aboriginal peoples and colonists.
In 2003, the Friends published the first of what is now a series of six works emanating from the French exploration of ‘the southern lands’, made by Post Captain Nicolas Baudin and his crew. These translations are complemented by the journal of the English captain and cartographer Matthew Flinders, Baudin’s contemporary, started during his long detention on Mauritius at the end of his voyage of exploration.
Most publications have focused on land exploration of South and Central Australia, along with several 19th century accounts of interaction between Aboriginal peoples and colonists.
In 2003, the Friends published the first of what is now a series of six works emanating from the French exploration of ‘the southern lands’, made by Post Captain Nicolas Baudin and his crew. These translations are complemented by the journal of the English captain and cartographer Matthew Flinders, Baudin’s contemporary, started during his long detention on Mauritius at the end of his voyage of exploration.
Our books
To date almost every book has been published in at least two versions:
· Deluxe – limited editions, hand-numbered, printed on archival paper and hand-bound in quarter or half leather. These deluxe editions are much sought after by book collectors and generally retain their value when resold.
· Standard – hardback cloth-bound, printed on archival paper, printed in limited but slightly larger numbers than the deluxe editions.
The labour-intensive nature of this form of book production means that our books are somewhat more expensive than many modern books, but not more expensive than high quality art and ‘coffee table’ books. Our books are prepared through a mix of volunteer and paid labour, with all who work on them, whether volunteers or contractors, being professionals in publishing.
More recently, the Friends have produced a number of paperback editions, usually digital reprints of earlier published works of which the limited editions have sold out. These are substantially cheaper than the hardback works and are more affordable for the general reader.
· Deluxe – limited editions, hand-numbered, printed on archival paper and hand-bound in quarter or half leather. These deluxe editions are much sought after by book collectors and generally retain their value when resold.
· Standard – hardback cloth-bound, printed on archival paper, printed in limited but slightly larger numbers than the deluxe editions.
The labour-intensive nature of this form of book production means that our books are somewhat more expensive than many modern books, but not more expensive than high quality art and ‘coffee table’ books. Our books are prepared through a mix of volunteer and paid labour, with all who work on them, whether volunteers or contractors, being professionals in publishing.
More recently, the Friends have produced a number of paperback editions, usually digital reprints of earlier published works of which the limited editions have sold out. These are substantially cheaper than the hardback works and are more affordable for the general reader.
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Example of original hand written diary. After transcribing and type setting. Almost ready to print.