Non-fiction

Van Diemen’s Land Revealed Editor [Bass and Flinders] – Dan Sprod

All about – Flinders and Bass and their circumnavigation of the island in the colonial sloop Norfolk in 1798-1799.

Superior work from Dan Sprod and a limited edition of 750. Published by Blubber Press in 2009. Here in fine condition.

Large octavo, 256 pages, nicely illustrated. Three charts in pocket at end as required.

Although modern this strangely is the first work dedicated to this important circumnavigation which in a sense defines Tasmanians. Other Flinders and Bass events provide support including Bass in the Tom Thumb from Sydney Cove to Western Point; Flinders to the wreck of the Sydney Cove and a facsimile of the rare Flinders pamphlet “Observations on the Coast of Van Diemen’s Land” to which the folding charts relate. Nice work.

Essential Tasmanian reference

$50.00

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Queensland Geographical Journal – Diamond Jubilee Issue 1885-1945. Also has important Papua New Guinea content.

The journal as published by the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia (Queensland). Octavo, soft wrappers, 113 pages after preliminaries. A very good copy bar the obvious marks to the covers … pretty clean and bright inside.

After various historic introductions articles re “Queensland Pastures – Their Development and Improvement; Across Papua’s Mighty Delta by A.L. Ethell; Irrigation (Queensland); The Interior of Eastern Papua by Captain Vernon.

Nicely illustrated and with a fold out sketch map from Bootless Bay (near Port Moresby) to Buna showing a vertical cross section of the Kokoda track … the article stimulated by the incredible conflict that had just come to an end in the region.

A special issue of the RGSA (Qld) Journal with particular interest to New Guinea collectors and readers.

$50.00

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Atlantic Adventure – John Groser – First Edition

This is the book about the highly controversial third London Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Rec in 1968.

A first edition published by Ward & Lock, London. Octavo, 160 pages, nicely illustrated and with two good appendices at rear – Scale Drawings of Yachts in the 1968 Race and … List of entries with helmsman, designer, builder, type, rig, size and “result”. A fine copy.

Running down the “results” column maybe you get an understanding of the drama in the book with … Steering trouble, disqualifies, taken ill, rudder trouble, unable to navigate, sank!, leak in hull, mast came loose, mast broke, sank, sank … sank.

The North Atlantic not to be underestimated.

$25.00

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The Billings Microscope Collection of the Medical Museum Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. James Hansen et al [Second and Preferred Edition]

This is the preferred second edition 1974 of this standard reference for antique microscope collectors and those interested in antique scientific instruments generally. It contains 32 additional pages of microscopes to the first published in 1967.

The existence of this collection which maybe rivals that of the London Microscopical Society is down to Lieutenant John S Billings a medical officer in the US Amy who was put in charge of the Army Medical Museum. He did a magnificent job and must have been well financed and supported. He built the heart of the collection between 1883 and 1993 [couldn’t be a better period}. The result has been augmented over the year from donations and acquisitions.

Softcover quarto, 244 pages, 4 colour plates and 473 black and white photographs of examples. Very good condition … the covers might look marked but it is just the trendy arty finish.

A brief history of the microscope is followed by a three part catalogue. Part I … contains the collection acquired by Billings and later donations etc up until 1966. Part II represents a significant collected added from Europe in 1966 – the Kaas Collection. Part II are the important additions since the first printing.

Billings and essential scientific reference – the best edition .

$90.00

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“Society of Arts” Victorian Brass Microscope with Case – c1860-70

A quality fully working English brass microscope from around 1860-70.

With the early V shaped bar for rack and pinion focus and fine adjustment knurled knob. Two objectives both multiple compounding. There is also Live Box for observing creepy crawlies. The concave mirror is in very good condition. The original mahogany case is a quality box, original to the instrument and in very good condition, with separate drawer for slides and bits and pieces. The case still has its original lock and its key, often long lost. The microscope is mounted on a rectangular mahogany board which slides into the case.

Very similar to the example presented by Peter Turner FRMS to the Royal Microscopical Society catalogued as number 92 in authority Turner.

In the early 1850’s the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce offered a prize for the design of a compact compound microscope that could sell for 3 guineas. The design, which is reflected here, was won by Robert Fields & Son of Birmingham in 1854. Due to the popularity of the design it was copied by others but often at a higher price. These copies were often unsigned as is the case here. However, the brass foot is very much in the style of Ross so we suspect it came from that maker.

Nice 19th Century Cased Brass Microscope..

$590.00

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Australian Mammals – Trade Cards over 100 Years Old

A group of six brightly coloured trade cards by Liebig advertising their delightful food products. Printed and issued from 1904-1910.

Six delightful card chromolithographs of 1 the dingo and spotted quoll 2. the echidna and the Tasmanian devil 3. The wombat and the Tasmanian tiger (Buidelwolf) 4. The sea elephant and sea lion 5. Fruit bats looking for fruit 6 the kangaroo rat and the wallaby. 0cms x 7.3cms.

Price $80.00 the group

A nice early set of mammals with the desired no longer living Tasmanian Tiger

$60.00

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Van Diemen’s Land Revealed Editor [Bass and Flinders] – Dan Sprod

Queensland Geographical Journal – Diamond Jubilee Issue 1885-1945. Also has important Papua New Guinea content.

Atlantic Adventure – John Groser – First Edition

The Billings Microscope Collection of the Medical Museum Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. James Hansen et al [Second and Preferred Edition]

“Society of Arts” Victorian Brass Microscope with Case – c1860-70

Australian Mammals – Trade Cards over 100 Years Old

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