This collection features vintage Australian historical fiction novels published by Angus & Robertson, featuring titles by author E.V. Timms.The set includes notable titles such as The Valleys Beyond (1951) – They Came From the Sea (1955) – Shining Harvest (1956) – Forever to Remain (1948) – (Shows heavier tearing and rubbing on the left edge of the dust jacket) two of these books are 1st editions.
Condition AssessmentThe Good: All four books retain their original, illustrated dust jackets. For Australian mid-century fiction collectors, the dust jacket represents up to 80% of the book's total collectible value.
The Flaws: There is visible chipping, shelf rubbing, and minor tearing along the edges and corners of the spines. Because these are heavily handled vintage copies rather than pristine mint editions, there is sticky tape residue on the inside cover of every book. Foxing is apparent on the pages also. Please refer to photos.
These books are early editions and 2 of them are first editions. and are part of the "Great South Land Saga". All hardcover books with dust jackets.
The other 8 books by this author are found in another listing on this site. 8 books from E. V. Timms' Great South Land Saga (sometimes called the South Land Saga):
The Pathway of the Sun
The Challenge
The Beckoning Shore
The Fury
Robina
The Scarlet Frontier
The Big Country
Conflict (this is not part of the Great South Land Saga)
The complete Great South Land Saga consists of 12 books:
Forever to Remain x
The Pathway of the Sun ✅
The Beckoning Shore ✅
The Valleys Beyond ❌
The Challenge ✅
The Scarlet Frontier ✅
The Fury ✅
They Came from the Sea ❌ first edition 1955
Shining Harvest ❌ is a first edition 1956.
Robina ✅
The Big Country ✅
Time and Chance (completed by Alma Timms after E. V. Timms' death) ❌ I do not have this book.
These four books in this sale are:
Forever to Remain
The Valleys Beyond
They Came from the Sea
Shining Harvest
Please refer to photos.
These are in another listing of mine.
Conflict isn't part of the saga, 7 of the 12 saga books, are included. Buy these then you’re only missing 5 saga titles to hunt for and you can’t get 4 of them in another listing I have.
About the first editions
the jackets show noticeable wear, rubbing, and some edge damage. There is sticky tape residue where they were originally covered in plastic on the inside front and back of each book. There is also hand written writing eg to mummy etc on a number of the books also. Assuming the books are complete and the
Robina: "First published in 1958 by Angus & Robertson Ltd" with the 1958 copyright and no indication of a later impression. That is what you expect for a first edition.
The Big Country: "First published in 1962 by Angus & Robertson Ltd" with no later printing statement. This also matches a first edition.
The dust jackets are original but have noticeable edge wear and some chipping.
The bindings appear sound.
A realistic value in today's Australian market would be approximately:
Robina (1958 first edition, with jacket):
The Big Country (1962 first edition, with jacket):