1889 - 1979
Dedicated to the Life and Works of
Ion Llewellyn (Jack) Idriess
Headhunters of the Coral Sea (1940)
A boys adventure book, among the bloodthirsty fighters who terrorized the islands and waters around the Coral Sea in quest of their coveted trophies of human heads.
Publishing - Angus & Robertson, 1st edition published 1940, 2nd ed 1941, 3rd ed 1944.
Book - Large format - Pictorial boards, 196 pages, with coloured frontspiece and black/white illustrations. The second edition (small format) has red boards with black lettering.
Most of the original large format editions have no spine or the spine has been repaired – it is rare to have the original spine intact and this affects the valuation positively.
Dust Wrapper - No Dustwrapper was issued for the first edition.
TitleVerso - Blank except for “Set up, printed and bound” etc
Guide to Current Values
1st Edition - Very Good (with original spine intact) $300 - $600.
The Great Trek (1940)
A boys adventure book. An account of the expedition through Cape York of Frank and Alexander Jardine, based on the journal kept by Frank Jardine and edited by F J Byerley, Engineer of Roads for North Queensland.
Publishing - Angus & Robertson, 1st edition published 1940, 2nd ed 1941, 3rd ed 1944.
Book - Large format - Pictorial boards, 199 pages, with coloured frontspiece and black/white illustrations. The second edition (small format) has red boards with black lettering.
Most of the original large format editions have no spine or the spine has been repaired – it is rare to have the original spine intact and this affects the valuation positively.
Dust Wrapper - No Dustwrapper was issued for the first edition.
Guide to Current Values
1st Edition - Very Good (with original spine intact) $300 - $600.
Fortunes in Minerals (1941)
Simple tests and How to Make Them
Publishing - 1st edition published 1941, 2nd ed 1947.
Book - Grey cloth boards with black lettering to spine. The second edition has black boards with gilt lettering to front and spine.
Dust Wrapper - Priced at 10/- . The 2nd edition is priced at 12s 6d.
TitleVerso - Blank except for “Set up, printed and bound” etc
Guide to Current Values
1st Edition - Very Good (no DW) $200 - $400. VG in a VG DW $400 - $800.
2nd Edition - Very Good (no DW) $75-$150. VG in a VG DW $150 - $300.
Nemarluk (1941)
The life story of Nemarluk, chief of the Cahn-mah, King of the Wilds. One of the last of the Stone Age men and a living Tarzan of the Wilds - he deserved a better fate.
Publishing - 1st edition published 1941, 2nd ed 1946, 3rd ed 1947
Book - Red cloth with black lettering to front and spine. Due to war-time paper, the pages tend to brown.
Dust Wrapper - Great care should be taken with the DW's. The original 1st edition 1941 dustwrappers are not priced and on the rear it says "Uniform with this volume" with a mention of 4 other books. Later edition dustwrappers have a price of 6s and either "The Great Boomerang" on the rear (2nd edition) - or "Other Idriess Books" on the rear (3rd edition).
TitleVerso - Blank except for “Set up, printed and bound” etc
Guide to Current Values
1st Edition - Very Good (no DW) $150 - $300. VG in a VG DW $400 - $650.
2nd Edition - Very Good (no DW) $50-$100. VG in a VG DW $80 - $150.
The Great Boomerang (1941)
The author's heroic plan to solve the water problem and reclaim Australia's great 'dust-bowl'
Publishing - Angus & Robertson, 1st edition published 1941, 2nd ed 1942, 3rd ed 1943
Book - Orange cloth with black lettering to spine only. 253 pages plus a frontispiece and many black and white photographs.
Dust Wrapper - Priced at 8s. 6d.
TitleVerso - Blank except for “Set up, printed and bound” etc
Guide to Current Values
1st Edition - Very Good (no DW) $30 - $80. VG in a VG DW $70 - $120.