A Picture of Van Diemen's Land 1973 David Burn Cat & Fiddle

A beautifully produced facsimile reproduction of David Burn’s landmark descriptive work, originally published across a series of installments in The Colonial Magazine between 1840 and 1841.

As one of the earliest structured social accounts of the colony, Burn provides an invaluable contemporary perspective on early settlement life, civic progress, and the landscape of Van Diemen's Land during the transportation era. Published in 1973 by Hobart's renowned Cat & Fiddle Press, this relatively modest out-of-print edition is prized by Tasmanian bibliophiles for its fine typography and historical importance.

While copies from this specific press run are notorious for surviving with severe silverfish damage to their soft-paper covers, this particular pre-owned volume has been relatively well-preserved over the decades, making it an ideal addition for regional history collectors and colonial library builders.

BOOK DETAILS & CONDITION

• Condition: USED (Very Good Condition). An exceptionally clean, tight, and crisp copy for its age.
• Title: A Picture of Van Diemen's Land.
• Author: David Burn.
• Publisher: Cat & Fiddle Press (Hobart, 1973).
• Format: Hardcover with original dust jacket.
• Specific Condition Notes: The soft paper dust jacket shows only minimal, light shelf wear, remaining uncommonly bright and free of the silverfish damage or heavy edge-loss that usually plagues this specific title. Dustjacket shows some wear and scratches. Edges of cover have some wear. Pages are clean and tightly bound. 
• Please view our uploaded detailed images of the spine and dustjacket.

DELIVERY & IN-STORE PICKUP

• Combined Shipping: Sourcing multiple titles for your Tasmanian history library? The Book Cellar offers combined flat-rate parcel delivery across Australia. Secure your books using our online checkout, or phone the bookshop directly on 03 6381 1545 to coordinate multi-volume shipping.
• Free Instore Pickup: Located in Tasmania or travelling the Midland Highway? Select "Instore Pickup" at checkout to pay no postage and collect your items directly from the counter at The Book Cellar, underneath Foxhunters Return in Campbell Town.

Note: As condition is paramount with early Cat & Fiddle Press editions, please phone the bookshop directly on 03 6381 1545 if you would like us to email you further close-up photographs of the dust jacket panels or spine before ordering. 

Building a collection of premium Tasmanian independent press editions? View our matching stock of local heritage printings, including Dan Sprod's acclaimed Alexander Pearce of Macquarie Harbour, published in the same signature hardcover style by Hobart's legendary Cat & Fiddle Press.