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OSWALD G. GEACH : 1897 HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPT TRAVEL DIARY - ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA TRAVEL DIARY BY THE SOON TO BE SENIOR ART MASTER OF BOXHILL COLLEGE

4to - over 9¾" - 12" tall. On offer is a fascinating, very readable account of a sea voyage from England to Australia in beginning in September 1897. The very charming author is Oswald G. Geach who was born in Lostwithiel, Cornwall in 1875. Following in his father's footsteps [an 1881 census lists him as Headmaster] Oswald became an art teacher/master and traveled to Australia to take up a teaching position, in time becoming Senior Master at Boxhill College, Melbourne. Mr. Geach writes in a most pleasant and insightful manner and includes his observations on Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, crossing the Equator, Cape Town in South Africa and many of the author's fellow passengers. This diary offers a many faceted look of the world at the turn of the 19th century as Mr. Geach confides in his diary all the many foibles and traits of his many ship board companions and never fails to provide anecdotes of interest and sometimes fitful signs of the times: many references especially after docking in Cape Town refer to those with dark skins in many impolite ways. Our writer always reveals his youthful and artistic personality but with an uncommon maturity for a such a young man by way of his writings. Sadly, found in the diary and included with the diary is a printed sheet entitled 'Oswald G. Geach, An Appreciation' which appears to be the eulogy for the short lived Mr. Geach whose funeral was in 1910 or 1911. A life cut short and from the note filled with some unspecified long term illness Mr. Geach was as early as 1909 becoming known back in England for his paintings some of which became part of the Walker Gallery during the Liverpool Winter Exhibition. A graduate of the Westminster Training College for Wesleyan Teachers but later emigrated to Australia hoping the weather would help improve his health. Quarter leather binding over marbled boards. The spine cap is almost completely worn away with only a few sections of leather remaining. Boards are worn to edges, cup ring to front cover. Binding is loose but covers and all pages are still attached. Internally the 8.25 x 10.25 inch book's 96 handwritten pages are in excellent condition. Hand decorated page preceding title page, hand decorated title and contents pages. Clean text with no markings or foxing. Overall condition is G.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good

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