Journal of the Calvert Scientific Exploring Expedition, 1896-7. Equipped at the Request and Expense of Albert F. Calvert . for the Purpose of exploring the remaining Blanks of Australia

Perth, Wm. Alfred Watson, Government Printer, 1902. Foolscap folio, 62 pages with 4 illustrations plus a very large folding map (625 × 865 mm). Stapled as issued (without wrappers); minimal reinforcement to the map near the (rusty) staples; trifling signs of handling; an excellent copy. Western Australian Parliamentary Paper Number 46 of 1902; only 1200 copies were printed. The 'expedition was fitted out to explore the remaining unknown regions of Australia on similar lines to the Elder expedition'. Lawrence Allen Wells, third in command on the ill-fated Elder expedition of 1891-92, was leader. The party set out from Mullewa, east of Geraldton, on 13 June 1896; lack of water and the gruelling conditions brought the official expedition to an end on 6 November at Noonkanbah Station on the Fitzroy River, with two men unaccounted for. It was not until late May of the following year that Wells located the bodies of the missing men (his cousin Charles Wells and George Lindsay Jones, nephew of the explorer David Lindsay). The detailed accounts of the three search expeditions undertaken by Wells (accompanied by Nat Buchanan, George Keartland and Sub-Inspector Ord respectively) are included. Not least, strong on contemporary race relations. McLaren 16633.…