This is a new book compiled by Tom Thompson (the TT of ETT!) from Ion Idriess Walkabout Magazine articles (hence the title, I presume - but also pointing to the peripatetic life of Idriess himself) of the 1930's - as well as three Sydney Morning Herald articles and one previously unpublished story - of the same era. This book is a valuable source of out of publication material (and even a previously unpublished story) from Ion Idriess. I have in my collection a couple of the original Walkabout Magazine articles reproduced here, but by no means all of them, and not the SMH articles. Mr Thompson is making available useful and important material for Idriess buffs - and others - and is to be commended for this. Note should be made that ETT Imprints has, according to the list in the back of Walkabout, some 35 Idriess books in print as of 2024: publications appreciated by many, I'm sure. So this book is worth adding to any Idriess collection, not only for articles contained therein, but also for the many black-and-white photos, maps, etc). However, there a a number of things that detract from this volume - it could have been so much better (and in correspondence with Mr Thompson - hopefully will be in future editions). 1. The book is littered with typos - spelling errors, punctuation errors, duplicated words, missing words, etc. Hopefully such things can be corrected (and some may reflect the original articles/ Idriess' writing: for example, p.7, Peek Point, should be Peak Point, and Peninsular should be Peninsula and surely Idriess knew it as Lightning, not Lightening Ridge; Timar, p.66, should be Timor; cocoanuts, p93, is an archaic spelling, even by the 1930's, for coconut). Perhaps the most glaring of these is a part sentence at the top of p.77 - Luckily the terrible urge that drives these rats ever on caused the plague to [and here the sentence finishes]. These words belong to a later article - probably to 11. Rats or 12. A Series of Plagues (but how is uncertain - there seems to be no concluding words for this sentence in 11. or 12.) and not to the one (9. Romance of the Coral Seas) that they appear in. 2. The photos (31), maps (2) and newspaper article (1) generally lack citation as to their provenance, which is unfortunate, as such information would be valuable (the exception is the photo, p.9 attributed to Ralph Piddington; and the newspaper clipping, p.94 - but attribution to the Idriess Archive, as if this was an existing and accessible collection of Idriess material, rather than to the estate of Idriess, is a little misleading). Thus you could be forgiven for thinking that the photos illustrating the Walkabout articles were the actual photos accompanying the original articles, but alas this seems to be mainly not the case: only one of the photos from the original Pearls article is reproduced and none from Romance of the Coral Sea. The photo of Maino, for instance (p.75, from 9. Romance) is from Drums of Mer. The cover photo (colour) also lacks a citation. The maps, pp. 16, 22, likewise lack attribution and the wording on the Arnhem land map (p.22) is rather indistinct. It would have been good, as well, to include an index or list of the illustrations and photos. 3. Some explanatory notes would not have gone astray, or at least an index or glossary. So, for example, the "Wandering Missionary" p.7, is the Rev MacFarlane; Howich Island, p.7, should be Howick, and is the island on which Madman's Island is based; Baobab tree, p.12, is more commonly known as a boab tree in Australia; Larry Wells, p.23, is Australian explorer Lawrence Allen Wells (1860 - 1938); talkies, p.29, are talking picture shows; Peak of Naghir, p.74, refers to heights of Naghir Island (aka, Nagi, Nagir, and Mount Ernest Island); Devil-Bats, p.74, aka Devil fish or (p.75), Sea-bats, seem to be a reference to Manta rays (was Devil-Bats coined by Idriess?); Warrior Island, p.76, is Tudu (or Tutu) Island; and tarn pun, p.92 - is it a sampan or type of sampan? Despite these errors and detractions, this is still a book worth having - and the more so if at least some of these errors, etc, are rectified. And, hot off the press, it looks like ETT have produced a little book on Horrie (of Wog-dog fame) - Horrie's Miscellany. Stay tuned!

This upcoming auction of materials from the estate of Ion Idriess includes a wide range of materials, ranging from original manuscript books to letters and ephemera. It represents a unique opportunity for collectors of Ion Idriess – and Australian literature more generally – to acquire original manuscript and archival materials by (and related to) this iconic Australian author. Some highlights include letters relating to gold mining leases at Ophir, with discussion of ancient megafauna bones (lot number 58). Letters to and from miners across Australia feature prominently in this outstanding auction. Also upcoming in this auction is an uncorrected proof copy of Idriess’ book on fighting in New Guinea titled Trapping the Jap, from the Second World War Guerilla series. See lot number 67. Of special interest is correspondence to Idriess from other veterans of Gallipoli and the Middle Eastern campaigns during the First World War. Following the success of The Desert Column, veterans from across Australia and the British Empire wrote to Idriess to relate their personal experiences. See, for example, lot numbers 78, 84 and 91. Collectors of First World War material will also be intrigued by a small manuscript note by Idriess, recounting his experience aboard a transport vessel in the Dardanelles during the First World War. Idriess writes that he was badly wounded in one leg and suffering greatly. This scrap almost certainly dates from late May 1915 when Idriess was wounded at Gallipoli. Lot number 116. Much of the appeal of the Idriess archive is the preservation of unusual and idiosyncratic correspondence. One good instance of this is a letter from an American serviceman in New Guinea during the Second World War. This soldier writes to know the opinion of Idriess on the existence of mental telepathy amongst the Torres Strait Islanders (lot number 114). Curiously enough, Idriess was a believer in telepathic communication amongst the indigenous peoples of Torres Strait and northern Australia. We invite you to peruse this remarkable selection offered by Sydney Rare Book Auctions. The range and breadth of material offered is remarkable indeed. When: 12 noon Sunday 17th November Where: Online only (Timed auction) Catalogue: https://www.invaluable.com/catalog/5hhl7nr8tp?page=1&size=48 Viewing: 10am - 4pm weekdays - You can view the items in person at Sydney Rare Book Auctions Dalgety Square at C11/372-428 Wattle Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Bidding absentee, on Invaluable and on our website. Absentee bids are due by email at 3pm, Friday 15th November (Sydney Time). Questions welcomed. Please get them in before 3pm, Friday 15th November (Sydney Time).

12 noon Sunday 17th November This upcoming auction of materials from the estate of Ion Idriess includes a wide range of materials, ranging from original manuscript books to letters and ephemera. It represents a unique opportunity for collectors of Ion Idriess – and Australian literature more generally – to acquire original manuscript and archival materials by (and related to) this iconic Australian author. Some highlights include letters relating to gold mining leases at Ophir, with discussion of ancient megafauna bones (Lot 58). Letters to and from miners across Australia feature prominently in this outstanding auction. Also upcoming in this auction is an uncorrected proof copy of Idriess’ book on fighting in New Guinea titled Trapping the Jap, from the Second World War Guerilla series (Lot 67). Of special interest is correspondence to Idriess from other veterans of Gallipoli and the Middle Eastern campaigns during the First World War. Following the success of The Desert Column, veterans from across Australia and the British Empire wrote to Idriess to relate their personal experiences. See, for example, lot numbers 78, 84 and 91. Collectors of First World War material will also be intrigued by a small manuscript note by Idriess, recounting his experience aboard a transport vessel in the Dardanelles during the First World War. Idriess writes that he was badly wounded in one leg and suffering greatly. This scrap almost certainly dates from late May 1915 when Idriess was wounded at Gallipoli (Lot 116). Much of the appeal of the Idriess archive is the preservation of unusual and idiosyncratic correspondence. One good instance of this is a letter from an American serviceman in New Guinea during the Second World War. This soldier writes to know the opinion of Idriess on the existence of mental telepathy amongst the Torres Strait Islanders (Lot 114). Curiously enough, Idriess was a believer in telepathic communication amongst the indigenous peoples of Torres Strait and Northern Australia. We invite you to peruse this remarkable selection offered by Sydney Rare Book Auctions. The range and breadth of material offered is remarkable indeed. Catalogue https://www.invaluable.com/auction-house/sydney-rare-book-auctions-0i5go4cimb  When Sunday 17th November, 12:00 PM Where Timed auction (Online only) Viewing 10am – 4pm weekdays - come and see them in person at Sydney Rare Book Auctions Dalgety Square at C11/372-428 Wattle Street, Ultimo, NSW 2007 Bidding absentee, on Invaluable and on our website. Absentee bids are due by email at 3pm, Friday 15th November (Sydney Time). Questions welcomed. Please get them in before 3pm, Friday 15th November (Sydney Time) Contact info@sydneyrarebookauctions.com.au 0476 765 906 ( Office )