Non-fiction

Australian Opal in Coal Matrix – Antique Microscope Slide – W Hemingway – Derby England – c1910

W Hemingway was among a group of thin section microscope slide preparers who specialised in Coal measure inclusions in the North of England at the turn of the 19thC.

This slide is an unusual one for W Hemingway given the Australian subject. And an unusual slide as one could expect the occurrence of opal within coal measures is quite rare and only likely to arise where coal formations are close to if not adjacent to opal fields. There is a hint of coal at Arckaringa north of Coober Pedy … we are not sure where else … so would be interested to hear from anyone with a clue.

Slide is nicely prepared as would be expected of Hemingway [Preparer included in primary reference Bracegirdle – example Plate 21].

Rare slide of a rare occurrence opal in coal – circa 100+years.

$80.00

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Medal – Royal Hobart Regatta [Striking Design] – 2013

Albeit quite modern appears very hard to find.

Superbly struck with high relief – the yachts full sail in “combat” particularly well done. Nice patina, gilt style finish. Xx diameter weighing xxgm

Regatta Medal with a very pleasing design.

$70.00

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Kennedy – The Barcoo and Beyond 1847 – Beale – Signed by Publisher Dan Sprod

Published by the tremendous Blubber Head Press of Hobart and signed by the publisher Dan Sprod at the front

The quality of the book is best bar none and the condition near fine. Octavo, 292 pages, nicely illustrate, some in colour, end paper maps an, a most unusual printed thick glassine dust cover, often chipped but here completely undamaged.

The author was taken aback by the contents of fresh papers that surfaced from the descendants of Kennedy – and along with records held in Northern Ireland and the journals and papers at the Royal Geographical Society London the rich content of this book has been crafted.

Edmund Besley Court Kennedy (1818-1848) was chosen by Mitchell as his second for the 1846 expedition into southern and central Queensland. He was given command of a further expedition the nest year to trace Mitchell’s “Victoria River” to an expected mouth in the Gulf of Carpentaria. This turned out not to be true, Kennedy proving that that the Victoria was in fact the Barcoo, the upper waters of Cooper Creek … and in doing so discovered the valuable Channel Country. He then went on to track the Werrego River and in a further expedition from Rockingham Bay in 1848, setting its sights on the very tip of the Cape York Peninsula, he was killed by aboriginals.

Three folding maps near rear.

Essential and Fine Kennedy

$60.00

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Owen Stanley R.N. – Captain of the Rattlesnake – Adelaide Lubbock

Published by Heinemann, Melbourne etc in 1968 a first edition. Octavo, 298 pages, illustrated throughout very nicely. A super copy

Whilst this book deals well with the voyage of HMS Rattlesnake” up the east Coast of Australia and over the southern coastline of New Guinea – his earlier years are also carefully researched.

Key Rattlesnake / Papua account – good all round adventure biography

$30.00

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New Market, Hobart Town – Original Lithograph – Drawn by William Kay [Hobart] and Lithographed Arrowsmith [London] 1851

A scarce original lithograph of the plans for the New Market at Hobart Town. Produced by John Arrowsmith (1790-1873) from drawings by William Porden Kay (1809-1897) Director of Public Works, Hobart Town. Limited but original colouring.

Shows the monumentally classic front elevation on Macquarie Street with transverse and longitudinal sections and a ground plan detailing the allocation of space to individual shops, the fish market, hay and straw shed, corn exchange and offices. The market was constructed as described in 1851-1853 but unfortunately burned down early in the 20th century and was replaced by the now City Hall.

There do not appear to be any original examples in Australian Libraries. The State library of NSW has a facsimile produced by the Irish Academic Press in 1977

About William Porden Kay

William Porden Kay was born into a family of architects his father was the vice-president of the institute of British Architects. He was the nephew of Sir John Franklin through his first wife and Kay was invited to Van Diemen’s Land because the Franklins objected that the two most highly qualified architects in Hobart Town, James Backburn and James Thomson were emancipated convicts. He arrived in 1842 and was soon appointed Director of Public works. There were claims of nepotism and his appointment was disallowed by the Secretary of State. A spat arose and Kay was in and out of the position several times before matters settled down. He was very active in Hobart until his health started failing around the time of the construction of the New Market. He was pensioned off and returned to England.

Scarce original 1854 architectural lithograph

$390.00

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Polar Exploration Cards – Players Series 2 – Issued 1916

A complete set of 25 cards in very good condition of the 2nd series of Polar Exploration cigarette cards by John Player. Elusive complete.

The Terra Nova Expedition – Scott, Evans, Oates, Wilson (Uncle Bill) and the victorious Norwegian Expedition including “Amundsen at the South Pole”

$90.00

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Australian Opal in Coal Matrix – Antique Microscope Slide – W Hemingway – Derby England – c1910

Medal – Royal Hobart Regatta [Striking Design] – 2013

Kennedy – The Barcoo and Beyond 1847 – Beale – Signed by Publisher Dan Sprod

Owen Stanley R.N. – Captain of the Rattlesnake – Adelaide Lubbock

New Market, Hobart Town – Original Lithograph – Drawn by William Kay [Hobart] and Lithographed Arrowsmith [London] 1851

Polar Exploration Cards – Players Series 2 – Issued 1916

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