LOG BOOK--AUSTRALIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC, 1887-91

chiefly recording service on the Australia Station, on HMS Tyne, 15 February to 1 May 1887, sailing from Portsmouth via the Suez Canal and Ceylon and arriving in Sydney on 28 April, following a collision with HMS Myrmidon on 25 April; transferring to HMS Nelson, 1 May 1887 to 10 September 1888, patrolling the coasts of New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, also to Kangaroo Island, Norfolk Island, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Fijian Islands, New Zealand (Auckland); transferring at Cooktown in Northern Queensland to HMS Opal, 11 September 1888 to 27 April 1889, cruising the eastern seaboard of Australia, New Caledonia, and the New Hebrides, where the ship engaged in a series of punitive attacks on Pentecost Island ("fired shell & machine guns into native villages round Pocky Pt. to punish natives for murdering Mr Walker & boat's crew", 24 November 1888), Ambrym Island and nearby Paama island, in response to the recent murders of four Europeans, then patrolling the coast of New Zealand (including a watercolour sketch of Milford Sound) before returning to Sydney; transferring to HMS Orlando, 27 April to 12 September 1889, cruising from Sydney to Adelaide, Norfolk Island, Auckland, Tonga and back to Sydney; transferring to HMS Calliope, 12 September 1889 to 11 April 1890, homeward bound through the Torres Strait and to Singapore, across the Indian Ocean, cruising down the coast of Africa to Zanzibar, then back through the Suez Canal, reaching Portsmouth 8 April 1890; transferring to HMS Duke of Wellington 13 April to 23 May 1890; then to HMS Volage 23 May 1890 to 14 May 1891, cruising in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and Mediterranean; logbook for each ship with pictorial title page, with 2 photographs of HMS Nelson, c.52 track charts of ships' routes, c.22 detailed charts of harbours with soundings, c.11 watercolour and pen and ink views, and c.16 ship-board technical drawings and plans; 241 leaves, folio, 1887-91, bound in brown morocco lettered in gilt, weak at hinges

Christie's, 15 March 1995, lot 380; Christian Heuer, bookplates

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

A fine record of the Royal Navy in the South Pacific in the late 19th century, including a brutal example of "gunboat diplomacy" in present-day Vanuatu. the armoured cruisers HMS Nelson and HMS Orlando were successive flagships of the Australia station.