Gold & Ghosts

Hi all,
Just wondering what the value of Gold & Ghosts Volumes 1 & 2 (Western Australia) and Volume 4 (Nth & N.W Queensland) would be worth in "Brand New" never used condition ?
Cheers Archeoduo

Morning Arch,
You may get some idea if you research eBay.
At the end of the day it is what people are prepared to pay. There was a bit of a frenzy 12 months or so ago and they were bringing 1000% more than the original cost price.


http://completed.shop.ebay.com.au/i.html?LH_Complete=1&_nkw=gold%20and%20ghosts&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m283&_rdc=1

Peter

Thanks Nightjar,
I am thinking about selling them.
Bought the entire collection a few years ago for an impending trip around Oz that didn't eventuate
They've been sitting on my bookshelf ever since........

Cheers Archeoduo

I think these books are outdated and there is newer and better info books on the Market.
With the new land access rules and newer detor exuipment out its time to move on.
I hope you find a buyer for your Books
Neale from Mont Queensland

Care to share your list of newer and better books Neil?

G&G are still some of the best reference books ever printed. While I think some of the prices asked on Ebay are outlandish, there's no disputing the info contained is priceless. You'll have no problems unloading them Arch...goodluck

madtuna wrote:Care to share your list of newer and better books Neil?

G&G are still some of the best reference books ever printed.

100% agree. The only other books are those that list places that have been trampled to death and totally worthless to anybody but the naive.

But.... I have heard of something better coming out sometime soon with only the better places for detecting. Most are not listed in G&G, even has some locations that don't have a track to get to. We will see I guess.

madtuna wrote:G&G are still some of the best reference books ever printed. While I think some of the prices asked on Ebay are outlandish, there's no disputing the info contained is priceless. You'll have no problems unloading them Arch...goodluck

Agreed! I thought the prices were ridiculous and could not comprehend how they could be worth so much - until I found a copy and read them. Not only are they full of excellent and detailed information but they are infinitely interesting, well researched and well written. They both give you an idea of where the gold is (was? ) and a beautifully written narrative of our golden history.

It is a shame they are so hard to find because they really are a fantastic book. I certainly can't afford the $500+ people are asking for them, but if you can find a reference copy I highly reccomend anyone with an interest in prospecting to read them. They are indeed a treasure in themselves, even if the places listed were picked clean (they're not).

I hope one day Mr. De Haveland allows Hesperian to make reprints as I would love to own a set of these at a sensible price.

Gday

There is no doubt that the Gold and Ghosts books are responsible for the finding of many many ozs of gold over the years and have been a must have training manual for the new prospector, this point cant be denied, and we have all used them as reference material at some point.

The reason that the price of the books has gone up so much is plainly obvious, if you are planning a trip to say WA from the eastern states, and want a full on reference book that contains both maps and directions then what else could you buy that has as much information in it ?, there isnt really anything else about that has the content of even one of the WA series books, if you are going to spend thousands of dollars on a trip over here then whats even $500 on one of these books, at least having it increase the odds of you getting on to some gold, at least putting you in to the zone anyway.

I can tell you something for sure, if I was a prospector and had areas that I could go to and detect that no body else knew about I as sure as hell wouldnt put it into a book and sell it to the general public, as far as something coming out that has this sort of content I very much doubt that, maybe areas that are little known, but in all the years I have spent in the field there are very few spots that have not been worked to some degree.

One thing for sure it will have the same effect as the introduction of the gold and ghosts books, these spots will get flogged to death, no offence, but some of the types that are getting around the goldfields these days are not welcome by me thats for sure, some people have become so selfish that they will leave each area in a mess, open holes, discarded rubbish, even foil and bottle caps, what kind of fool detectorist would leave behind that sort of stuff, the obvious answer is some fool that does not plan to go back there, or someone who is so dumb they havent twigged that they might have to dig it up themselves at a later date, idiots.

The gold and ghost books are a bit outdated, and some of the directions are a bit out, as a lot of the tracks and roads have changed since they were released, but none the less they are still a good research tool, you used to be able to borrow them from the library but I think that have all been stolen now, typical.

cheers

stayyerAU

Thanks for your thoughts Stayyer.
You are so right on all fronts. It amazes me how many people dig up trash and throw it over their shoulder, only to have to dig it up again next time they visit
Anyway, I am keeping my QLD versions. Simply too much priceless info.
I am selling my W.A volumes because I simply can't see myself getting there.
Was planning a round Oz trip a few years ago but it never eventuated
Business commitments ATM won't even give me time at the moment in the eastern states.
I have them listed in the for sale section. They have NEVER been used.
May as well give someone else a chance to use them.

Cheers
Arch

stayyerAU wrote:
I can tell you something for sure, if I was a prospector and had areas that I could go to and detect that no body else knew about I as sure as hell wouldnt put it into a book and sell it to the general public, as far as something coming out that has this sort of content I very much doubt that, maybe areas that are little known, but in all the years I have spent in the field there are very few spots that have not been worked to some degree.

cheers

stayyerAU

I can tell you something for sure. I never said that nobody else knew the places. I said many weren't in G&G. The kind of places which are known to have produced many nuggets, at least at some point in the past but most certainly worked. Perhaps not as much as some other places, thats all. Just how would one go about including unknown or unworked patches anyhow.

I have seen parts of the book and its quite detailed, certainly more than G&G. They are smaller than G&G and cover specific parts of WA but I'm guessing there will be several volumes, I'm not 100% sure. The one I saw was kinda really for beginners, and there were locations that required going cross country to get there but I believe this has since been edited out for inclusion in a later volume.

As for why, perhaps someone looking to buy one of those new overpriced detectors from ML, maybe they can't detect any longer or maybe they just feel they need to give something back after having taken so much for so long. I don't know but thankfully we are not all selfish aye stayer?

Gday Arch

Well i am hurt I never saw myself as being the selfish kind?, and by the way there are many people who could attest to the fact that due to my guidance they have done extremely well, but I wont go in to that because I dont want to be known as a liar too.

What I have learned from the 25+ years or so that I have been involved in this game, is that people are not always what they seem to be, and gold seems to always bring out the very worst in some, there are people who I would have said at one time that I would put my life in their hands, but now I am glad that I didnt because they would have let me down, does this make me selfish well maybe?, does this make me cynical absolutely.

I absolutely have no doubt in my mind that if I advertised the coordinates to the easy to get to bit of quartz reef (that I recently broke 20 odd grams off on the surface) for all to see it will be flogged by the time I next went there.

Sorry if I touched a nerve but given enough time you will become as jaded as I am, and you may not see it as being selfish but maybe just that you would rather not see some of these spots plundered and turned to trash like some of the other places.

cheers

stayyerAU

Selfish WTF
Stayyer your FREE advice has been gold for me.
I suggest to anyone that thinks StayyerAU is selfish just have a look back through some of his posts especially under general prospecting answers .
He does'nt have to help anyone out but he does and others including myself have benefited greatly. Selfish i think not.

Brett

G'day stayyerAU,

I think the info you give is priceless !!!
Keep it up. It's people like you that unselfishly give your time and knowledge that keep forums like this going.

I think you'll find that the post you are alluding to was written by "Nebuchadnezzar"

Cheers
Arch

Gday

My appologies Arch I stand corrected, it was indeed Nebuchadnezzar's comments that I was referring to.

Glad that you and Brett have been able to get something out of my posts, thats what these forums are all about, everybody putting in their bit, and as I benefit too from others members advice I feel inclined to contribute where I can.

I am a thick skinned old bugger and it will take a lot more than a few pointed remarks to bother me, and I will continue to put in my two cents worth anyway.

cheers

stayyerAU

I'm pleased that you have been able to help others on this forum, clearly they are to, and I hope you continue to do so but I am not bringing into question the help you have given on this forum. Perhaps then I'm not understanding you correctly, so correct me if I am. You don't wan't to share your knowledge and experience with others outside of this forum because you are concerned there may not be any gold left for you when you return. In other words you don't want others to know because you want it for yourself. That about right?

Plundering. Now there's an interesting word thats been used here. Can I ask then, when visiting these places do you call in to the homestead and let them know your intentions? If they happen to be mustering or on a feral shoot, do you get out of their hair? Do they know you're camping on their pastoral leases? Do you keep your vehicle to existing tracks or do you drive cross country tearing up the countryside or making new tracks with your SUV's and quads. If it rains heavy and the tracks turn it into a quagmire do you continue to drive and rip deep ruts into those tracks so that the pastoralist then needs to make good the damage? If you happen to find some gold do you go about clearing the area of shrubs that get in your way? Vegetation that actually took decades to establish itself in the semi-arid climate and then removed without any consideration or consent. And each time you're out prospecting do you actually have written consent to be on a lease, and if it happens to be exploratory do you have a section 20A permit, everytime? Ever strip mined a place or know someone who has? You know, when they bulldoze or use a towed grader blade to retrieve a few miserable ounces of gold at huge environmental cost.

Alum foil down the bottom of a detector hole seems all that irrelevent in comparison to all the other plundering taking place. But I'm sorry your hurt. Gold not only brings out the worst it makes us blind. Don't get me wrong, I'm not against detecting, just have a different perspective on things.

I agree, the advice given on this forum by stayyerAU is spot on and I have found many tips he has given to be very helpful and has put me onto gold I'm sure I would have otherwise missed out on.
Selfish is one word I would never use with this operator and it would be wise and a very good tip for new members to take the time to read through his posts .
Mark

Gday

Nubuchadnezzar, I would just like to say that I am not about to be drawn in to a debate with you in relation to my integrity or my intentions, please read what I have said and see if you can work it out for yourself, it is plainly obvious that you have an issue with me and you are trying to goad me in to reacting.

You dont know me and yet you make comments about me that are unfounded?? go figure, but I truly feel sorry for you if this is the highlight of your day, I however have better things to do with my time..

Oh and by the way when I said I was hurt by your comments I was merely being sarcastic, oh sorry you seem to have missed that one

cheers

stayyerAU

I have no issue with you stayerAU.

I thought detecting locations should be public domain. A new chum should have information made available to them regarding reasonable detecting locations without having to fork out 100's dollars for an outdated book or an overpriced drop kick tour. You didn't agree, and I thought that selfish. You claimed having the higher moral ground for the basis of your argument and I didn't accept that at face value. Personal attacks were totally unnecessary.

Good luck with your prospecting.

Nebuchadnezzar wrote:I have no issue with you stayerAU.

I thought detecting locations should be public domain. A new chum should have information made available to them regarding reasonable detecting locations without having to fork out 100's dollars for an outdated book or an overpriced drop kick tour. You didn't agree, and I thought that selfish. You claimed having the higher moral ground for the basis of your argument and I didn't accept that at face value. Personal attacks were totally unnecessary.

Good luck with your prospecting.

HI all
So Neb you want the info on where & how to find gold handed to you on a platter, have you ever done the hard work to acheive a set outcome ie the hours & hours that go into the research to give one's self the best chance of finding that ellusive nugget & the buzz you get when it all pays off. Without putting in the work required I feel that new comers would not fully appreciate what it takes to become profficient at this hobbie.
I feel that your suggestion to hand these locations out on a silver platter is rediculess as the info to find these area's is all out there to be found.
I am a newbie just over 12 months.
To all you newbie's out there put in the time & it will pay off as it has for me.
cheers
Lee

A new chum should have information made available to them regarding
reasonable detecting locations without having to fork out 100's dollars
for an outdated book or an overpriced drop kick tour.






You've got to be kidding mateee, you just have to be kidding.............. where the hell have you been all ya life?

Well said Big Ozzie. Now, please give me the Powerball numbers for tomorrow night.

Robert

Gday

New chums these days have so many resources available to them that were not about when I started, there was no internet, no groups like this one, no google etc etc, I learnt by doing the hard yards and by many many hours in the field, not to mention the cost involved in hunting out new places, I couldnt even begin to tally up the costs for that part of the learning process.

My original point was that I would not put the information in to a book and sell it, and the reason for that is I have seen first hand what this has done to so many of the areas in gold and ghosts, they have been visited by many people over the years, most of them being good and responsible people, but there have been quite a few dropkicks that have been there too, the type of people that are irresponsible and dont appreciate how lucky we are to be able to be there in the first place, leaving some of these spots like a rubbish tip and not giving a hoot as to the rights of others that want to be there as well.

Ok it may seem that it is a bit selfish to some that I feel this way, but in my own defense I have found in the past that there are also people who will feed off you and lie through their back teeth, I have in the past taken people under my wing and virtually fast tracked them into prospecting, putting them on the gold bearing ground, and giving them all the help they need to find gold, in return I have had areas that I have taken them to in confidence ransacked, not only having patches that I have not finished working with flogged while I was not there, but they have also taken other mates there with them, before you know it there are many groups of people attacking the place.

Does anyone suppose that someone else gave the locations of some of these places to me , no they didnt I am a prospector and thats what I do I prospect, in other words I go out and look!!, I walk for many klms and cover the ground, I dont sit back and bitch because someone wont tell me where their spots are I have more pride than that, and anyway I am more than capable of finding these places myself as I have done the time and the hard yards to learn how to.

There are so many places you can go to that are readily accessible, go to any gold town and you can find out but just asking about, most of these towns need tourists so they will give out local information for free, you dont have to spend a lot of money to do this, a tour is a great way to learn fast so I dont see why a person wouldnt do one, if you are going to spend many thousands of dollars on gear whats say $500 bucks to get the first hand experience that a seasoned operator can give you, and why wouldnt you pay for written material that will put you on to known gold bearing areas??, nothing worthwhile is free and anyone who thinks that others should do all the hard work for their benefit and they should just be able to suck it up for nothing is living in a dream land.

So just get of your clacker and do it the same way all the rest of us have.

cheers

stayyerAU

I totally agree with stayyerAU's comments & what pisses me off is these mavericks not abiding by the propecting rules
by not getting a Miner's Right, not supporting the prospecting community bodies such as APLA in W.A. which is our
representative with the mining companies & government. If we didn't have these reps very soon there would be no
places to /prospect/detect on anyway.
Also the courtesy of informing the Pastorist & getting permission to detect on El's & active tenements. You wonder why
Mining Companies Are starting to get their back up when these practices occurr.
I have been in a similar situation as stayyerAU where someone without permission cleaned out a patch, left detector holes unfilled & rubbish everywhere. From now on I'm going to be very cautious in telling people where I prospect!!!!!!

Cheers

Ted

Hi All
There is now and alternative to Gold and Ghosts.Doug Stones Metal Detecting in Australia $125.As for Stayyer the Information he gives this forum has been gained by tens of thousands of hours prospecting.The quality of his posts reflect this.
Cheers Dig

Hi All, I bought a copy of Doug Stones latest release, worth every cent too.
I have noticed that G&G can be bought on disc from ebay.
Thanks to Stayyer and all of the other members who do post informative and pricless information on the forum. For those who want all the knowledge, here is a wake up call. No-one knows everything and never will, it is frustrating I KNOW FIRST HAND, I have spent countless hours on the internet researching, bought books etc. But the best knowledge that can be gained (I have found) is to talk to the old blokes and LISTEN to what they have to say.

If one goes to college for years on end and then at the end of thier learning, does not apply what they have been taught, Have they really learned anything at all?
Stay Safe

I have noticed that G&G can be bought on disc from ebay

please if you see that report it to Patches and to Ebay

rc62burke wrote:
HI all
So Neb you want the info on where & how to find gold handed to you on a platter, have you ever done the hard work to acheive a set outcome ie the hours & hours that go into the research to give one's self the best chance of finding that ellusive nugget & the buzz you get when it all pays off. Without putting in the work required I feel that new comers would not fully appreciate what it takes to become profficient at this hobbie.
I feel that your suggestion to hand these locations out on a silver platter is rediculess as the info to find these area's is all out there to be found.
I am a newbie just over 12 months.
To all you newbie's out there put in the time & it will pay off as it has for me.
cheers
Lee

I'll respond to your post as it more or less says the same thing as some others.

I'm not suggesting that newbies be drip fed but more to the effect of being pointed in the RIGHT direction. Some newbies from outside of WA would think to start at Grants Patch in Kalgoorlie or maybe even Murrin Murrin in Leonora and would then head out to these areas only to chased out of town. In both places the mining companies have a zero tolerance for prospectors. On the other hand if they ended elsewhere their experience could be different. They would still need to go through the entire learning process without a doubt but without the unpleasantries. Despite what some say Newbies don't have access to this kind of info. Tengraph is more or less meaningless to a newbie and most experienced people are very reluctant to disclose any information as to locations even if those locations are of low calibre. Just have a look at some earlier posts where newbies ask about WA locations and you get a real mixed bag with some of the best posts being confusing legal jargon and at worst bad info to discourage them or worse send them on a wild goose chase.

Goldnomad wrote:Well said Big Ozzie. Now, please give me the Powerball numbers for tomorrow night.

Robert

That analogy is incorrect. More like asking directions to a newsagent but instead given directions to the fuel station.

Hi Neb
I agree that WA can be a minefield compared to say Victoria.The problem for prospectors that live on the other side of the island is this.Too many people from the Eastern states go unprepared.The situation there changes all the time.What can be legal one year can be illegal the next.To be ignorant of this does cut it with me.Its no good just driving there and relying on others to get you out of the Van park.I empathise with many of the locals there.Its not there job to point people onto areas.Many of the locals are jaded.Often "How are you going" doesnt mean that It means "where are you going and can I come to".I have seen to many times where a local has helped someone out only to find a vanpark of outertowners then directed to it.

To go to WA and not understand where its is illegal to detect is irresponsible especially with this modern age there are ways of achieving it.For those not willing to learn and put in the effort,there is the option of tagalong tours.

I will be over there next season.I am doing my research NOW.To truly prospect is to put in the effort and never have to ask the question "Can you tell me where the gold is".
Cheers Dig24crt

Well, a drawing pin really. I'm about one third of the way through putting together my latest CD that will have lots of waypoints as well as Google Earth links and markers to enable anyone to find gold around Sandstone. There are detailed directions to each spot and also advice on what coils to use on most places as well as the usual array of photos, ideal for anyone going to Sandstone for the first time or even for those who have been but failed to find much.

I will post on the For Sale section when the CD is ready for sale. It will be about the usual price, less than a gram of gold.

Cheers, Jim