Natural History

117 Days Adrift (In the Pacific) – Maurice & Maralyn Bailey – First Australian Edition 1974

Published by The Australasian Publishing Co, Hornsby a first edition 1974. Large octavo, 192 pages with endpaper maps, further charts and numerous excellent illustrations

This story is up there with Apollo 13.

Maurice and Maralyn Bailey give up their lives as a clerk and a tax officer in the South of England sell their house to live life at sea. They had the Auralyn built to meet their own needs and finally sailed for New Zealand in June 1972.

The made the Atlantic and through the Panama without notable incident. However North East of the Galapagos it all went wrong when they were hit by a whale and the boat began to sink. All attempts to save her were in vain and they had to abandon the Auralyn for their inflatable raft and dinghy. Meagre supplies were recovered.

Along the way we have storms, capsizing, numerous sightings of ship that did not see them … the first on day 8! They captured fresh water but not without difficulty and caught fish and turtles for food. Eventually rescued by a Korean fishing vessel “Weolmi 306” drifting further north having already crossed the main shipping route.

Their remarkable story and their survival among the marine life of Pacific area known as the “Tropical convergence” warranted foreword by Sir peter Scott

Incredible story of survival in the Pacific

$30.00

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Hindu-Koh – Wanderings and Wild Sport on and Beyond the Himalayas – Major General Donald Macintyre.– 1891

Published by Blackwood, Edinburgh and London in 1891. Updated enhanced edition of 1891.

Large octavo, 362 pages with numerous illustrations. Striking blue cloth cover with the large gilt illustration of the mountain goat to the front. Very good condition. The frontispiece is a piece of work displaying the “bag” in all its magnificence. The tissue guard to the frontispiece is a masterpiece describing each element of the “bag” … we have put a piece of white paper behind to for the scan so that you can see the detail more clearly.

Macintyre travelled from Srinagar to Leh and on to Chang Chenmo and Lingzi=tang in 1871. This journey covers parts of Cashmere, Sind, Ladakh, Tibet and parts of China. Extensively in the Himalaya foothills. The account represents many years of travel and hunting in the region.

The account contains vivid descriptions of the people and their customs. And the wildlife … including elephant, tiger, bear, leopard, musk-deer, ibex, mansheer, yak and many more. A primary and early source.

Donald Macintyre (1831-1903) was a Major in the British Indian Army … 2nd Gurkha Rifles. He was awarded the Victoria Cross in the Lushai Campaign for successfully storming enemy battlements while under intense fire. His medal resides in the Gurkha Museum.

Rare and valuable account of the broader Himalayas.

$270.00

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The Platypus – Unusual Cigarette Cards by W.D. & H.O. Wills – c1910

Three cigarette cards from the “Animalloys”” series from the early 20th Century. An “un-natural” history series this being one of 16 animals all in three sections … the Platypus.

It is suggested that by mixing the sections you can produce a large number of strange creatures with amusing names.

I our case we only need the three to have our strange curiously named beauty!

Unusual, rather unique and rare Platypus image.

$20.00

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Camps and Cruises of an Ornithologist – Frank Chapman – First edition 1908

A first edition, large octavo, 432 pages heavily illustrated as from black and white photographs. Published by Appleton, New York in 1908 a first edition. Good condition with the striking flamingo cover albeit with some pock marks to the fore and bottom edge. Internally nice, clean and tight.

Ornithology and travel have gone hand in hand since bird watching was invented and in this book travel around the greater North America has equal status with some rare feathery friends.

Frank Chapman was curator of ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History and a Fellow of everything relevant. After checking out Jays, Meadowlarks and Nighthawks near to home the party visit Gardiner’s and Cobb’s Islands on the Atlantic Coast. Then to Florida and Pelican Island … the Great Blue Heron, Water Turkey, Egret and the Cuthbert Rookery. A nice trip to the Bahama and the striking Flamingo, Egg Birds and the Booby and Man-o-War bird. Off to the west and the prairie birdlife, California and the Sierras before reaching north to Western Canada and the White Pelican’s. An unusual finale in England and stroking the Eider Duck.

Birds and getting around them done in style early 20thC.

$120.00

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Zebra – George Edwards – 1744

An original hand coloured copper engraving of a Zebra by the great George Edwards (1694-1773). Described as … “Drawn from a stuff’d skin in the Royal College of Physicians, London”

A rare and collectable engraving.

George Edwards (1694-1773) was born in Essex, and after schooling went to London where he had access to a large scientific library. At the age of 20 he decided to travel studying natural history and he did this for quite a few years and developed a great a talent for illustration. In 1733 he settled down and was chosen as the Librarian to the Royal College of Physicians. He knew Linnaeus and Catesby (who produced a great work on American birds). Edwards work is dominated by birds which he became particularly famous for.

This Zebra was published as part of a broader work on Natural History in 1744 and as we can surmise arose specifically from his role at the Royal College of Physicians.

Framed in Voyager Natural History style in cream mat with black core and soft (reddish) gilt frame … beautiful ready to hang.

Very early image from distinguished engraver.

$290.00

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Javan or Sunda Rhinoceros (Sadly, now critically endangered) – Lesson – 1838

Original hand coloured engraving by Antoine Charles Vauthier. Good strong example. Produced for Rene Primevere Lesson (1794-1849) for his extension of the great natural history work originally produced by Count Buffon.

Published in Paris in 1838.

Lesson participated as doctor and naturalist in the Duperry voyage round the world on board La Coquille (1822-1825).

Price $190.00 framed in Voyager Natural History style in cream mat with black core in gilt frame … lovely … ready to hang

Endangered species beautifully engraved in 1838

$190.00

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117 Days Adrift (In the Pacific) – Maurice & Maralyn Bailey – First Australian Edition 1974

Hindu-Koh – Wanderings and Wild Sport on and Beyond the Himalayas – Major General Donald Macintyre.– 1891

The Platypus – Unusual Cigarette Cards by W.D. & H.O. Wills – c1910

Camps and Cruises of an Ornithologist – Frank Chapman – First edition 1908

Zebra – George Edwards – 1744

Javan or Sunda Rhinoceros (Sadly, now critically endangered) – Lesson – 1838

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