Non-fiction

Antique Surgical Tracheotomy Set – Down Brothers – c1910

A nice complete cased set of tracheotomy instruments by Down Brothers, London. Case identifies the maker and their premises opposite Guy’s Hospital.

The set comprises two ebony handled retractors, an ebony handled scalpel and a set of tracheotomy forceps, all with makers mark. The 1910 catalogue for Downs [See Welcome Foundation Collection ] indicated that the design for the dilating forceps was after a design by Dr St Clair Thomson, Professor of Laryngology at King’s College Hospital. In addition, a three silvered tracheotomy cannulae of differing sizes. All housed in the original covered box which is showing some wear but truly authentic.

Down Brothers was founded in 1874 and had premises opposite Guy’s Hospital at 21 & 23 St Thomas’s Street, London from 1879. They were incorporated as a Limited Company in 1902 although this detail may be unreliable as dating evidence [there is no mention of the Limited on the box]. Later, circa 1946 they amalgamated with Mayer & Phelps and moved to Mitcham Surrey.

Quality Instrument from a leading Surgical Instrument Supplier

$290.00

Updating cart…

Fine Apothecary/ Medical Cabinet – c1850- Godfrey & Cooke London [Established 1680]

Really special fine polished solid mahogany medical cabinet retailed by Godfrey & Cooke, London in the Victorian era. Campaign style brass handle and recess, working lock with original key [not to be lost]. Lovely red velvet padded interior, with two finely crafted lift out stacking trays. Individual compartments around the inside of the cabinet contain eleven glass medical bottles all with ground glass stoppers. The top tray contains period apothecary scales and a good set of weights [2,1 and ½ Drams; 2,1 Scruples and 6,5,4,3,2,1 and ½ Grains]. The lower larger tray contains a glass pestle and mortar, two lidded jars and three small ground glass stoppered bottles. Below this tray is a void containing a minute measuring cylinder [measure in “drops”] in a shagreen case and an old dropper.

The cabinet is unmarked, 26.5cm by 15cm by 14cm high; weighs approx. 3.5 kgs. The internal items are in as good a condition as you will get, one stopper with a chip the rest undamaged. Three stoppers fused in place – we are not going to force them.

The back story of this cabinet is worth a movie.

Ambrose Godfrey-Hanckwutz (1660-1741) was born in Kothen, Germany. At the age of nineteen, already married, he moved to London where he worked as an assistant to Robert Boyle founding member of The Royal Society, often described as the first chemist. He reduced his name to Ambrose Godfrey to assimilate. His primary task with Boyle was to discover the method of making phosphorous – which involves an intriguing story [too long for here]. He was eventually successful, and much money was made which allowed him to set up his own chemist’s business at the Sign of the Phoenix, Covent Garden. On his death in 1741 his sons took over the business and then in turn a nephew of the same name. On his death in 1797 the business was bought by Charles Gorman Cooke and became Godfrey & Cooke with activities on Conduit Street and then later The Royal Arcade, Bond Street. The name continued until 1910.

Fine 19thC London apothecary/ medical cabinet

$1,590.00

Updating cart…

Antique Direct Vision Spectroscope by Nachet of Paris c1900

A fully functioning direct vision spectroscope by Camille Nachet of Paris in its original shagreen tube style case. The scientific method is after a design by Browning of London with alternating 3 flint glass prisms with 2 crown glass prisms. This pocket-sized spectroscope was often used to detect the Rainband a spectral effect that can be seen before impending rain. Handy if you are off in the country without a brolly.

Camille Sebastien Nachet was a Parisian optician at the beginning of the 19th Century. He began producing lenses for the famous microscope manufacturer Chevalier but later set up his own small business at 16 Rue Serpente, Paris. He was succeeded by his son Jean Alfred 1831-1908. Nachet is included with Chevalier and Oberhauser as the three leading optical instrument makers in Paris at this time.

Special French Direct Vision Spectroscope

$240.00

Updating cart…

Over The Range Sunshine and Shadows in the Kimberley’s – Ion Idriess

Idriess on patrol for twelve hundred miles with the North West Mounted Police. First published interpretations of aboriginal message sticks.

Eight printing of the first edition published in 1945. Octavo, 316 pages, illustrated from original photographs – some super images of aboriginal groups.Usual evenly toned paper from the war clean though and with some insect nibbles to the dust jacket edges – otherwise still a good copy.

Idriess in the Kimberleys

$40.00

Updating cart…

Men of the Jungle – Ion Idriess

Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney, a 1949. Octavo, 259 pages end paper maps, illustrated from period photographs. A bit of age with a dust jacket, quite a respectable copy

One reviewer stated ‘This must be one of the most delightful books on Australia that has ever been written” … high praise indeed … and worthy.

Idriess and his mates, for three years, in the back of Cooktown and the Daintree River … the characters … special and more interesting than fiction.

Idriess Far North among his mates

$50.00

Updating cart…

Fortunes in Minerals including Uranium [Simple Tests and How to Make Them] – Ion Idriess – Very Good Copy

An Ion Idriess classic which followed “Prospecting for Gold”. Experts regarded this book as a serious compendium. Includes chemical tests and sections on the use of the blowpipe.

Published by Angus and Robertson, a 1959 issue of the revised edition. Large octavo, 310 pages with some instructive illustrations. A very good copy in a super dust jacket.

Ion Idriess classic – makes your fortune in minerals – plenty have.

$60.00

Updating cart…

Antique Surgical Tracheotomy Set – Down Brothers – c1910

Fine Apothecary/ Medical Cabinet – c1850- Godfrey & Cooke London [Established 1680]

Antique Direct Vision Spectroscope by Nachet of Paris c1900

Over The Range Sunshine and Shadows in the Kimberley’s – Ion Idriess

Men of the Jungle – Ion Idriess

Fortunes in Minerals including Uranium [Simple Tests and How to Make Them] – Ion Idriess – Very Good Copy

Product Categories