1889 - 1979
Dedicated to the Life and Works of
Ion Llewellyn (Jack) Idriess
Collections of Idriess works
The National Edition (1939 and 1941)
This collection was first published in 1939 and again in 1941.
From a collector's viewpoint, there are a few points to make:
1. The covers of the 1939 collection are in 2 states – green half-morocco covers and green cloth covers. I am unable to tell you which came first - does anyone have any further information? The books in the cloth covers are smaller then those in the half-morocco covers.
2. In the 1939 collection, 2 of the volumes were actually dated 1938 - these are The Desert Column and The Yellow Joss. Why Angus & Robertson chose to mark Volumes 3 and 7 as 1938 and the others as 1939 remains a mystery.
3. The 1941 collection came in at least 3 different covers - green buckram-covers, green crocodile-grained covers, and some in multicoloured covers (green, blue, and cream). No priority has been established for the covers - but does anyone have a view about this?
4. Both the 1939 and 1941 editions have the gold kangaroo emblem on the front cover. I am told that the 1941 books are slightly smaller than the 1939 books.
The National Edition consisted of:
Volume 1 Lasseter’s Last Ride
Volume 2 Flynn of the Inland
Volume 3 The Desert Column
Volume 4 Men of the Jungle
Volume 5 Gold-Dust and Ashes
Volume 6 Drums of Mer
Volume 7 The Yellow Joss
Volume 8 Man Tracks
Volume 9 The Cattle King
Volume 10 Forty Fathoms Deep
Volume 11 Over the Range
Volume 12 Madman’s Island
Guide to Current Values
1939 Complete Set - Very Good $450 - $650
1941 Complete Set - Very Good $400 - $600
The Frontier Edition (1951-52)
This collection of Idriess’ works was published in 1951 and 1952 and was issued in a limited run of 1000 copies.
Volume 1 only (Lasseter's Last Ride) was signed and numbered.
The set originally contained 18 titles – 6 others were added later. All of the books are in red cloth with black title label on spine and author's signature in facsimile in gold on black to front.
The Frontier Edition consisted of:
Vol 1 Lasseter’s Last Ride
Vol 2 Flynn of the Inland
Vol 3 The Desert Column
Vol 4 Men of the Jungle
Vol 5 Gold-Dust and Ashes
Vol 6 Drums of Mer
Vol 7 Man Tracks
Vol 8 The Cattle King
Vol 9 Forty Fathoms Deep
Vol 10 Over the Range
Vol 11 Lightning Ridge
Vol 12 The Great Boomerang
Vol 13 In Crocodile Land
Vol 14 Isles of Despair
Vol 15 Stone of Destiny
Vol 16 One Wet Season
Vol 17 The Wild White Man of Badu
Vol 18 Outlaws of the Leopolds
Titles added later - The Red Chief, Back O’Cairns, Coral Sea Calling, The Vanished People, The Nor’Westers, The Silver City
Guide to Current Values
Complete Set (18 volumes) - Good $300 - $600.
Gems From Idriess (1949)
From the publisher's 'Junior Library of Australian Books' series, pages [xi] plus 148 with text illustrations, a collection of Idriess extracts published for schools.
Publishing - Angus & Robertson. 1st edition 1949, 2nd ed 1951
Book - Pictorial boards
Dust Wrapper - No dustwrapper was issued.
TitleVerso - "First printed 1949"
Guide to Current Values
1st Edition - Good $50 - $80.
The Best of Idriess (1973)
A collection of 8 of Idriess’ works.
Lasseter’s Last Ride
The Cattle King
Flynn of the Inland
Forty Fathoms Deep
The Desert Column
Lightning Ridge
Drums of Mer
The Red Chief
Publishing - Discovery Press, published 1973
Book - bound in leatherette, brown boards with a gilt text and gilt patterned front with red ribbon marker.
Dust Wrapper - None issued.
TitleVerso - ?
Guide to Current Values
Complete Set of 8 volumes - Good $200 - $400.
Ion Idriess's Greatest Stories (1986)
A 2-volume set in a cardboard slip cover, with a copy of Lasseter's Diary.
Volume 1 - 'Of Miners and Soldiers' contains The Silver City, Lighning Ridge and The Desert Column.
Volume 2 - 'Heroes of the Outback' contains The Cattle King, Flynn of the Inland and Lasseter's Last Ride.
Publishing - Angus & Robertson, published 1986
Book - .
Dust Wrapper - None issued.
TitleVerso - ?
Guide to Current Values
Complete Set of 2 volumes with Diary - Good $30 - $70.