Natural History

Jardine Parrot – By Fawcett for Greene – 1884

Original wood cut hand finished engraving of the Jardine’s Parrot from “Parrots in Captivity”, published in London 1884.

This striking parrot was found and taken back to Scotland by the son of the famous naturalist, illustrator Sir William Jardine. The father categorised it hence it became named after his son … or after him as well really.

Greene’s delightful work comprising wood-engraved plates printed by Benjamin Fawcett after drawings by A.F. Lydon. The prints are hand finished with delicate highlighting in gum arabic to accentuate the bright colouring.

Benjamin Fawcett was one of the great colour printers of the 19th century. He pioneered a system of wood block engraving from multiple blocks that resulted in vivid finely coloured works. Fawcett had an association of some 50 years with Francis Orpen Morris to produce many beautiful works on birds. The engravings are the finest illustrations of parrots from the period.

Price unframed $120.00

$120.00

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Darwinism and its Discontents – Michael Ruse.

Published by Cambridge University Press in 2006.

Hardback octavo, 316 pages, illustrated, a fine copy.

Seemingly, there are still many who are upset with Darwin’s theory of Evolution. Michael Ruse is an expert on Darwinism and consequently these irritation objections. Here he “’brings Darwinism up to date” a bold claim … but on reading we find it a really useful prism through which to revisit Darwin’s work .. well done Ruse.

Darwin updated and objections laid to rest.

$20.00

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Peaks and High Places [Tasmania] – Ian Boss-Walker

Well it had to be a “Walker” to put together such an amazing book.

Published in 1950 by the “Scenery Preservation Board” in 1950. Soft cover with a striking period style front cover, internally many charts of tracks and images from period photographs of the mountain scenes along the way.

For anyone planning a nowadays hike this would make an interesting reference to support you iphone or whatever. We particularly like when the mountain huts are listed we are given information on who built, them when and why …

Hiking in among the Tasmanian Peaks

$25.00

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William Dampier in New Holland – Alex S. George

The subtitle to this book now not socially acceptable but excuse it for its emphasis.

A very nice book and the subject, William Dampier, could not be more interesting … confidante of Jonathan Swift and stimulator of Gulliver and his Travels.

Here we have Dampier in and around the coast of Australia.

Published by Bloomings Books in 1999. Tall octavo, 171 pages, rich dark end papers and beautifully illustrated with images of the wonderful drawings from Dampier’s journals juxtaposed with modern colour photographs of similar subjects. Super fine condition.

A super production and a must for any Dampierite.

$40.00

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Tasmanian Devil – Unique and Threatened Animal – Owen and Pemberton

A modern book by our standards .. we selected in for its pedigree .. published by the Natural History Museum, London … housed in a building that Voyager would like to make home .. and the subject the much misunderstood and threatened Tasmanian Devil.

Octavo, 225 pages, illustrated throughout, a fine copy.

The “Devil” a robust little marsupial now restricted to the island of Tasmania and for some time threatened by a mysterious cancer … and sadly humans in motor cars who just don’t take enough care … next time you see the sign slow down.

The only boo really on the Tasmanian Devil and a good one.

$30.00

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World Famous Books in Outline [Simply the Best] – Odhams – First Edition 1948

Some readers are worried they will not get through all the books they have to read … this understandably can be quite stressful.

Regarding the great novels, a course in speed reading may help, but this produces its own form of anxiety … am I really giving the book justice etc? Publisher Odhams, London came up with this precis of the best novels in 1948 … there are other books of this type but none as good as Odhams.

Published in 1948, octavo, 512 pages, with illustrations of some quality and uniform style which helps you along. Very good condition albeit with a solid chip in the dust jacket at spine ends.

All up 35 books covered, so you can do the maths. Classics include … Pride and Prejudice; Lorna Doone; Jane Eyre; Don Quixote; the Brothers Karamazov; Madame Bovary; Tess; Notre Dame; Vanity Fair; War and Peace; Faust etc … And, some non-fiction … On the Origin of Species for example

Get ahead of the game … A good way in and a tease for the full work

$30.00

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Jardine Parrot – By Fawcett for Greene – 1884

Darwinism and its Discontents – Michael Ruse.

Peaks and High Places [Tasmania] – Ian Boss-Walker

William Dampier in New Holland – Alex S. George

Tasmanian Devil – Unique and Threatened Animal – Owen and Pemberton

World Famous Books in Outline [Simply the Best] – Odhams – First Edition 1948

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