[FAIRBURN, Edwin].

The Ships of Tarshish: a sequel to Sue's "Wandering Jew." By Mohoao. [with] The Ships of the Future being an epilogue to The Ships of Tarshish ...

(1) London, [printed by] Hall & Co 1867 but published in Auckland in 1884 with an Upton & Co, Auckland label pasted on the title. (2) Auckland, Upton &c [1889]. (1) Octavo original illustrated wrapper (rebacked, chipped and a bit creased); [4], 32pp prologue printed in Auckland in 1884, double page facsimile letter from Admiral Popoff, two plates: plan & profile, 104pp. First few leaves dog eared, still a decent enough copy. Inscribed "J Baber from the author ... 1886" at the top of the title. This must be either father or son James Baber, both surveyors from Auckland like Fairburn.(2) Octavo publisher's printed wrapper (detached and quite chipped); 32pp (last leaf blank) and folding plate. Stained at the bottom edge but pretty much invisible apart from the wrapper; quite good inside. Indistinct 1891 Auckland library stamp and a clear pencil signature, G Grey, at the top of the front wrapper which I'm told is Sir George Grey's and could well be.
¶ First edition of this bit of pioneering New Zealand science fiction, the first novel by a NZ born author. Fairburn's prologues tell us that the book was printed in London in late 1866 but, apart from about 30 copies he received and gave away and 70 copies that vanished, it sat in a warehouse for 16 years.Admiral Popoff's gracious 1880 letter is a reply to Fairburn about the marked similarities between Popoff's experimental ships and Fairburn's radical new ships of Tarshish, something like sinister polished iron citadels and redoubts, that save England in a near future invasion. Our hero is a disdained genius until he inherits the 15 million pounds left in trust for generations as told in Sue's only partly fictional tale. Four million goes on his ships and, after saving the empire and winning the forbidden young lady, he decides to put the rest into education reform and three million toward the new land registration act. Here's a genius with his head screwed on right.From 'The Ships of the Future' we learn that of the some 400 copies of 'Tarshish' maybe 30 were sold, over 300 he gave away, and there were still sheets left. Those sold fetched a shilling each while they cost him 2/9 each. This, I figure, without adding the bookseller's cut, meant a loss of £53/10/- altogether. Undismayed, Fairburn has headed back into the breach - or bottomless pit of self publishing - with details left out of his novel and further thoughts about the mercantile form of his ships. With consideration and research his ships have been scaled up to mammoth size. These multi storey monuments powered by wave motion are, in his elevations, somewhere between a colossal stupa and menacing Star Wars battle ship. As an engineer Fairburn might be dog food but as designer he was half a light year ahead of his time.

Richard Neylon, BooksellerProfessional seller

Book number: 11163

Keywords: fiction thrillers science sci-fi New Zealand England technology reform nautical maritime naval architecture

CURNOW, ALLEN; FAIRBURN, A R D; GLOVER, DENIS; MASON, R A K

Recent Poems

Christchurch, New Zealand, The Caxton Press. 1941, First Edition. (ISBN: 11111111111) Hard Cover with dust jacket, 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. A collection of poetry by four of New Zealands' at the top of their game and just before Denis Glover was seconded back into the Navy for the war effort. CONDITION Blue hardcover with navy text, 49 pages plus publishers list to rear. Bds unworn, light scattered foxing internally though crisp and bright. Original DJ is in clear acetate cover, is toned with foxing with some minor chips at spine ends, top rear edge and small chip mid spine. Over all a very nice copy for this title. Very Good/Very Good.

Ariel BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 17148

Catalogue: Poetry

Keywords: 11111111111

FAIRBURN A. R. D.

Collected Poems

Christchurch, Pegasus. 1966, First Edition. Hard Cover, 12mo - over 6? - 7? tall. name and date to fep, dust jacket under plastic sleeve, posthumously collected by Denis Glover, 220pp. Very Good/Very Good.

Fortuna BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 007263

Catalogue: New Zealand Fiction

Keywords: New Zealand Literature Poetry Verse A.R. D. Fairburn Pegasus Press Modern First Edition

FAIRBURN A. R. D. & DENIS GLOVER

Poetry Harbinger

Auckland, The Pilgrim Press. 1958, First Edition. Soft Cover, 8vo - over 7? - 9? tall. Ill.: Dennis Turner. (200 gram rate) perfect bound in stiff card boards with illustrated DW drawn over spine, some chipping to spine, handlin soiling, small name to fep, collects works by Fairburn and Glover, 52pp. Very Good/Very Good.

Fortuna BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 010254

Catalogue: New Zealand Fiction

Keywords: New Zealand Poetry Collection Fairburn Glover Dennis Turner

Lauris Dorothy Edmond and Arthur Rex Dugard Fairburn

The Letters of A.R.D. Fairburn

Oxford University Press 1981 Hardback, 272pp. List Of Tables -- List Of Figures -- Contributors -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Pt. A. Globalisation And Identity -- The Rebranding Of National Identity -- Economic Globalisation And National Sovereignty -- Rebuilding Civil Society -- Pt. B. The Political System -- Constitution -- Monarchy -- Judiciary And Courts -- Parliament -- Cabinet -- The Prime Minister: Powers And Personality -- Forming A Government -- The Public Service -- Advisers And Consultants -- Local Government -- Pt. C. People, Politics, And Movements -- Elections And The Electoral System -- Voting Behaviour -- Campaigning -- The 2002 General Election -- Labour -- National -- New Zealand First -- Act -- The Greens -- United Future -- Tabloid Democracy -- Media Institutions -- Media And Political Process -- Interest Groups -- Policy Entrepreneurs, Think Tanks, And Trusts -- The Environmental Movement -- Trade Unions -- The Women's Movement -- Citizens' Initiated Referenda -- Pt. D. Public Policy -- Theories And Conceptions -- Economic Policy -- Welfare Policy -- Health Policy And The Ever-changing Health Care System -- Tertiary Education Policy -- Environmental Policy -- Women's Policy -- Mana Maori Motuhake The State Of The Maori Nation -- Maori Affairs And Public Policy -- The Waitangi Tribunal In The Treaty Settlement Process -- Immigration Policy -- Foreign Policy -- Pt. E. Changing State -- The State -- Neo-liberalism -- Neo-liberalism: A Pluralist Critique -- Neo-liberalism: A Radical Critique -- Index. Selected And Edited By Lauris Edmond. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. (ISBN: 9780195580761). Good.

Book HavenProfessional seller

Book number: 1308274

Catalogue: General

Keywords: NZ, Biography9780195580761 9780195580761

Lauris Dorothy Edmond and Arthur Rex Dugard Fairburn

The Letters of A.R.D. Fairburn

Oxford University Press 1981 Hardback, 272pp. List Of Tables -- List Of Figures -- Contributors -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- Pt. A. Globalisation And Identity -- The Rebranding Of National Identity -- Economic Globalisation And National Sovereignty -- Rebuilding Civil Society -- Pt. B. The Political System -- Constitution -- Monarchy -- Judiciary And Courts -- Parliament -- Cabinet -- The Prime Minister: Powers And Personality -- Forming A Government -- The Public Service -- Advisers And Consultants -- Local Government -- Pt. C. People, Politics, And Movements -- Elections And The Electoral System -- Voting Behaviour -- Campaigning -- The 2002 General Election -- Labour -- National -- New Zealand First -- Act -- The Greens -- United Future -- Tabloid Democracy -- Media Institutions -- Media And Political Process -- Interest Groups -- Policy Entrepreneurs, Think Tanks, And Trusts -- The Environmental Movement -- Trade Unions -- The Women's Movement -- Citizens' Initiated Referenda -- Pt. D. Public Policy -- Theories And Conceptions -- Economic Policy -- Welfare Policy -- Health Policy And The Ever-changing Health Care System -- Tertiary Education Policy -- Environmental Policy -- Women's Policy -- Mana Maori Motuhake The State Of The Maori Nation -- Maori Affairs And Public Policy -- The Waitangi Tribunal In The Treaty Settlement Process -- Immigration Policy -- Foreign Policy -- Pt. E. Changing State -- The State -- Neo-liberalism -- Neo-liberalism: A Pluralist Critique -- Neo-liberalism: A Radical Critique -- Index. Selected And Edited By Lauris Edmond. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. DJ faded, heavy. (ISBN: 9780195580761). Very Good.

Book HavenProfessional seller

Book number: 1486232

Catalogue: General

Keywords: NZ, Biography9780195580761 9780195580761

M Jane Fairburn

Along the Shore - Rediscovering Toronto's Waterfront Heritage

ECW Press, 2013. First. Soft cover. 9781770410992. pp.429 with index clean tight copy top front cover a faint indent where perhaps a paper clip was attached going in for about 5 pages Size: 4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall Near Fine.

Judith Patton BooksProfessional seller

Book number: 026049

Catalogue: CANADA, HISTORY

Keywords: 9781770410992

Miles Fairburn and Bill Oliver

The Certainty of Doubt. Tributes To Peter Munz

Victoria University Press 1996 Paperback, 372pp. 'Essays . written by Peter Munz's friends and colleagues to celebrate his 75th birthday . themes . [include] history, the philosophy of history, the philosophy of science and the problems of knowledge . reflect[ing] . Munz's intellectual interests and achievements'--Back cover. (ISBN: 9780864733023). Good.

Book HavenProfessional seller

Book number: 1374700

Catalogue: General

Keywords: History, NZ, Non-Fiction9780864733023 9780864733023