Battle Fronts Of Outback

FRANCIS BIRTLES

Publication: Angus & Robertson Limited, 1935, Sydney, Australia

First edition. Orange cloth, titles stamped in brown on the front cover and spine, 287 pp. This very scarce series of reminiscences by the noted Australian adventurer who crossed Australia by automobile, airplane, and bicycle, lived with the aborigines in Cape York Peninsula, drove a 1-cylinder Brass-Era auto through Arnhem Land -- possibly a "Liberty" Brush, and was the first person to drive from England to Australia in a 1924 Bean 14 Sundowner Car covering over 26,000 kilometers in 9 months. This famous drive was later recreated in 2025 by Australian cartoonist Warren Brown and Journalist Matthew Benns in a 1925 vintage car to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Exceedingly scarce in original dust jacket, and the photographs originally used in the 1915 "Across Australia in a Ford Car" account. London to Melbourne in a Century-Old Car, Australian Automobile Association (Jan. 1, 2025).

Penciled gift inscription on the front pastedown sheet, lightly foxed at a few preliminary front and rear sheets, small stamp to the margin of a few pages else a very good tight copy in the original dust jacket sunned on the spine, small chips to the spine ends, and a small crease and tiny chip to the bottom edge of the rear panel.