The complete set of the published Scientific Reports of the 1939 Simpson Desert Expedition

The expedition was the culmination of several varying investigations over the previous decade: Madigan's first aerial reconnaissance in 1929, Colson's crossing (practically along the 26th parallel) in 1936, and a journey by truck around the northern end of the desert in 1937. This pioneering scientific expedition, of nine men and seventeen camels, left Andado in early June and reached Marree on 8 August, after a journey of 800 miles in a little over ten weeks. The Reports are contained in the following volumes of the Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of South Australia: Volume 68, Part 1; Volume 69, Part 1; Volume 70, Parts 1 and 2; and Volume 72, Part 1 (1944 to 1948). The series is preceded by MADIGAN, C.T.: Introduction, Narrative, Physiography and Meteorology (22 pages plus 10 plates and a large detailed folding map, 535 × 395 mm). [1st Report] HICKMAN, V.V.: Biology - Scorpions and Spiders (31 pages with 3 illustrations). [2nd] CARROLL, D.: Geology - Desert Sands (11 pages plus a plate). [3rd] KINGHORN, J.R.: Biology - Reptiles and Batrachians (7 pages). [4th] MUSGRAVE, A.: Biology - Hemiptera (2 pages). [5th] WHITLEY, G.P.: Biology - Fishes (4 pages). [6th] MADIGAN, C.T.: Geology - the Sand Formations (19 pages with illustrations plus 8 plates). [7th] EARDLEY, C.M.: Botany. Part I: Catalogue of Plants (30 pages plus 11 plates). Part II: The Phytogeography of some important Sandridge Deserts compared with that of the Simpson Desert (29 pages with a map). [8th] CROCKER, R.L.: The Soils and Vegetation of the Simpson Desert and its borders (24 pages plus 15 plates and a folding map, 300 × 325 mm). Each volume is quarto, in original wrappers (edges a little discoloured); overall a fine set. [5 items].…