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Tasmanian Invention – 1909 Patent – Fred Dando (of Beaconsfield) Game of Skill

British Patent no 19,390 by Fred Dando of Beaconsfield, Tasmania. Lodged 1908 and accepted ‘as patented” in 1909 – four pages of text and one double page with excleent drawings showing how the invention is constructed.

The invention relates to an improved game of skill and apparatus for playing same the game being played preferably by two persons one against the other, from each end of a race or box whereat is located a compound lever designed when quickly depressed to project a marble or ball to the desired distance and height to strike and, if possible, displace one of a series of marbles or balls of similar size arranged centrally one each on a tier located transversely at about midway of the said race or box [Long sentences patented also!]

The compound lever near each end of the box is designed to be struck by the players finger and thus cause its inner part upon which the marble is placed to project it forward with the object of striking on the before mentioned shelves and which latter are numbered 1 to 5 representing the players count when a marble is struck or displaced

The apparatus is made in the form of a two part box hinged together under the tier of shelves and capable of being folded together while also pockets or recesses are provided at each end for the players marbles and further the edges of the box are perforated and numbered to receive count pins etc etc…

Voyager considering making this device although probably not meet modern safety standard (hum) or have many digital application (ho hum) … but good marble chucking fun!

Games ingenuity in Beaconsfield in 1909

$70.00

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Tasmanian Tiger – Extinct or Merely Elusive – Andy Park – Australian Geographic 1986

Dick Smith’s Journal the “Australian Geographic” was something special in the early editions. Here in Vol 1 No 3 of 1986 we have one of the great sources of Thylacine information in an special 18 page segment written by Andy Park and illustrated (so well) by Rod Scott.

Great images of “Benjamin” the last tiger in captivity, sad images of early reward posters, turn of the century “Tiger Hunters” and an assessment of the Nullarbor mummy ( surely mis-dated). The then “Tiger Searchers” including Dr Eric Guiler and of course Peter Wright with his expedition headquarters near Lake Adelaide. And the sightings, and not just in Tassie. A nice chronology ends the piece to bring historical perspective to the article. Dr Bob Brown given credit for his contribution and well deserved.

Just a Journal but no better Tassie Tiger

$40.00

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Tropical Diseases – Patrick Manson

A pristine copy of Manson’s “Manual of the Diseases of Warm Climates”.

A superb facsimile of the 1898 original but in a deluxe binding from the Classics of Medicine Series. Published 1984, 608 pages after preliminaries. Superb full leather with elaborate gilt work to front, back and spine. All edges richly gilt. Illustrated as per the original. Gift condition.

Sir Patrick Manson (1844-1922) was a Scottish physician who made important discoveries in parasitology and was the founder of the filed of tropical medicine. He discovered that filariasis in humans in transmitted by mosquitoes – his discovery directly invoked the mosquito-malaria theory

Tropical Diseases in Luxury Binding … postage included

$70.00

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The Doctrine of Gold and Silver Computations – Snelling – 1766

The Doctrine of Gold and silver Computations
Thomas Snelling – 1766

A First Edition of Snelling’s book title continues … in which is included, that of the par of money; the proportion in value between gold and silver; and the valuation of gold, silver, and parting assays; with useful tables and copper plates.

Full calf with six compartments to spine each with elaborate giltwork and a separate black leather title label. Complete with 144 pages after preliminaries including assay tables followed by 10 pages of copper engravings of coins all quite beautifully executed showing the printers plate mark for each coin pair.

Technically a book of high standard with comprehensive workings and tables allowing for a proper understanding of the difficulties of assay in the 18th century.

Thomas Snelling (1712-1773) was a leading English numismatist of the period. He carried on business as a coin dealer at 183 Fleet Street next door to the Horn Tavern. His collection was sold off after his death and the catalogue is held in the Medal Room at the British Museum. There are three portrait medals of Snelling in the British Museum, one by Pingo who also did the Cook Medal commissioned by the Royal Society.

First Edition of Snelling’s Book on Gold, Silver and Coins

$340.00

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Tasmanian Thylacine – Lydekker – 1896

Original wood cut print of the Tasmanian Thylacine from Richard Lydekker’s superb work on Marsupials.

Lydekker identified the need for a reassessment of Australian Marsupials given that Gould’s magnificent work was even by then extremely rare and costly and that a number of “new” marsupials had since been dicovered.

One of a few collectable 19th Century Thylacine images. The poor creature was already very scarce by the time this work was published.

Framed in gilt within cream mat with black inner core.

Voyager also have a good copy of the entire Lydekker work … search Lydekker ….

$180.00

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Polynemus Paradiseus – Shaw and Nodder – 1800

An original and rather unusual hand coloured copper engraving of the Polynemus Paradiseus. Described by Shaw as a having several loose filaments (or radii) on each side of the throat. A fish that inhabits “American Seas” and is sometimes referred to as the Mango Fish

Price $160.00 framed in gilt with cream black cored mat board. It works its lovely ….

Striking early image a Fish with Mango or the Mango Fish?

$140.00

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Tasmanian Invention – 1909 Patent – Fred Dando (of Beaconsfield) Game of Skill

Tasmanian Tiger – Extinct or Merely Elusive – Andy Park – Australian Geographic 1986

Tropical Diseases – Patrick Manson

The Doctrine of Gold and Silver Computations – Snelling – 1766

Tasmanian Thylacine – Lydekker – 1896

Polynemus Paradiseus – Shaw and Nodder – 1800

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