THE SEAHORSE AND THE WANDERER. Ben Boyd in Australia by DIAMOND, Marion

Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, 1988.. xiv+254pp. Original cloth in dustwrapper. Illustrations, maps and photographs throughout text. A near fine copy.

Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1988. First Edition. Hardcover. Very Good/Dust Jacket Included. Melbourne, Melbourne University Press, 1988. Octavo, xiv, 254 pages with 2 cartoons and a map plus 10 plates. Papered boards very slightly bumped; top edge a little foxed; a very good copy with the dustwrapper lightly sunned on the spine.

Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, 1988. xiv, 254pp, index, bibliography, notes, bw ills. Blue cloth in jacket. Small bookseller label on front pastedown, light foxing. Biography of colonial New South Wales businessman.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good. 8vo.

Melbourne University Press, 1988. Very good/Good. 8vo. 225 x 145mm, 254 pages. B/w photos, engravings, sketches. Book condition: Very good, clean blue boards, tight binding, no inscriptions. Jacket condition: Good, clean, bright, bit of fade to spine, not creased, not clipped. Comments: The strange story of Ben Boyd, a banker who founded the Royal Bank of Australia in the mid 19th C Australia. He bought grazing properties, became a spokesman for squatters, using the process himself in New South Wales and became one of the largest employers. He upset local labour markets by importing South Sea islanders to work on his properties. As a banker he helped to destroy a governor, became creditor of another and threatened the New Zealand government with bankruptcy. After a period of only seven years his financial empire collapsed and he effectively disappeared; so what became of this adventurer? This is what the book tries to solve. . First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.