Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

The Malay Archipelago -The Land of the Orang-Utan and the Bird of Paradise, with Studies of Man and Nature – Alfred Russel Wallace

Wallace’s great book dedicated to Charles Darwin. Beautifully written. An early fourth edition published by Macmillan in 1872. Nevertheless scarce and sought after.

Octavo, 653 pages. Re-cased at some time with the spine and front laid down; with the desired Orang-utan gilt device retained on front and similarly bird of paradise retained on front. Some marks near front but generally in good condition. Priced to condition for a scarce desirable item.

Wallace collected over 125,000 specimens identifying thousands of new species during this expedition. This book represents the backbone of his discoveries (The Wallace line) that supports the “Origin of Species”. Well illustrated with maps and engravings

Wallace – Monumental work – vies with “Origin”

$270.00

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Folding Georgian Guinea Scales c1805

A good set of early Guinea Scales with contemporary instructions label. Likely by Stephen Houghton who took over from Anthony Wilkinson at Ormskirk, Lancashire. Wilkinson had died in 1804.

The end pin is bit tight which means the set need to be pulled gently to open.

Self-erecting and known generally as the Lancashire Gold Balance. The brass beam is rectangular in section and has a hinged “turn and swing” overweight which counter poises the beam for the guinea or half-guinea. This set has an uncommon variation with the weight having two components, clearly designed for additional weighing standards.

A small rectangular sliding weight on the load arm registers in graduations to show discrepancies in of under-weight coins.

The collapsing mechanism makes the whole entirely portal in the gentleman’s trouser.

Functioning Georgian Gold Sovereign Scale

$220.00

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The Forces of Nature – A Popular Introduction to the Study of Physical Phenomena – Amedee Guillemin – Translated by Mrs Norman Lockyer – Edited and with Additions from J Norman Lockyer – 1873

Despite being a “Popular” edition, this substantial book is very scarce indeed, possibly because it would have been very expensive in the day. No expense was spared in producing the illustrations.

This copy housed in a rather flash full leather binding, albeit showing some sign of wear with leather scuffs etc. The binding reflects the provenance which was as a prize at the Hereford Cathedral College in England. At the front is the most elegant manuscript prize inscription in Latin, of course.

Large royal octavo, 679 pages, with over 150 illustrations, some in colour from chromolithographs.

A most enterprising book on physics which not only still holds some educational interest today but for anyone interested in the history of the development of the physical sciences then its hard to pass by. Starts with Gravity, Weight, and Universal Attraction … Falling Bodies … the Laws … Newton etc. then Hydrostatics, weights in liquids … Archimedes, Boyle etc Barometers, Pumps Mariotte’s Law. Sound, reflection, velocity, refraction, vibrations, strings, waves etc. Sources of light, photometry, reflection, refraction, colours, spectrum. Radiation, phosphorescence, nature of light, polarization. Heat, calorimetry, a species of motion. Magnets, electrical attraction and repulsion, electrical machines. Leyden Jars, induction, electrical lighting (remember 1873) and finally Atmospheric Meteors.

We have already indicated that there is so much to like about this book. At Voyager we have always had a fascination regarding electro induction devices such as the Wimshurst machine. Here we have several woodcuts of some of the more superior “electrical machines” of the day … just superb.

A super gift for anyone interested in early fundamental physics and or the history of the science.

$280.00

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The Theory of Atomic Collisions – Mott and Massey (Professor Westfold’s Copy) – First edition 1933

A first UK edition, published at Oxford by the Clarendon Press in 1933. The standard full text of the period.

Large octavo, 282 pages. Original black cloth covered boards with gilt titles to spine. Dust jacket rather drab and aged but unusually present. The signature of K. C. Westfold and dated October 44 on the front free end paper.

Comprehensive high level text starting with The Wave Equation then Scattering – by a Centre Force, by a Coulomb Field. The Spin of the Electron. Collisions. Inhomogenous Differential Equations. General Theory of Atomic Collisions. Born’s Approximation. Scattering of Slow Electrons. Inelastic Collisions. Electrons and Molecules. Massive Particles. Transition Probability. Relativistic Treatment of the Two Body Problem …. Nuclear Problems.

The excellent index is a read itself of the who was who in higher mathematics including a notable relative of Voyager!

K.C. Westfold (1921-2001) a brilliant Australian mathematical brain was Professor of Applied Mathematic at Monash and at various time Dean of Science, Professor of astronomy and Vice Chancellor of the University. He was an Archibald Prize sitter.

Cornerstone book of the period in this supreme area of mathematical physics – nice relevant previous ownership.

$60.00

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Argonauts of the Western Pacific – Bronislaw Malinowski – First edition 1922

An account of Native Enterprise and Adventures in the Archipelagos of Melanesian New Guinea.

Malinowski’s other landmark book published by Routledge, London in 1922. Octavo, 527 pages with 5 maps and 65 illustrations from l photographs. We have another copy, layer published but with provenance.

Rebound nicely at some time in black cloth covered boards with gilt titles to spine. A very good copy accepting this.

A richly illustrated account of the ceremonial exchange of manufactured shell valuables linking the Trobriand Islands with other island groups in Eastern New Guinea. Malinowski follows a canoe voyage around the Kula ring of islands.

Following an introduction about subject, method and scope which is regarded as some of the most influential pages in the field of social anthropology .. Malinowski explores the country and inhabitants of Kula; the Natives of the Trobriand Islands; Canoes and sailing; Ceremonial Buildings at Waga; Ceremonial Visiting; an Overseas Expedition; the Fleet at Muwa; Sailing to Pilolu; a Shipwreck; in the Amphlets – the Sociology of the Kula; Tewara and Sanaroa- mythology; the beach at Sarubwoyna; the journey Home; the return visit of the Dobuans to Sinaketa; Magic and Kula; the Power of Words in Magic; Expeditions to Kiriwinan d Kitava …. meaning of Kula.

Malinowski a pioneer in the field of social anthropology and perhaps not yet eclipsed and, the most interesting of subjects – First Edition 1922.

$80.00

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Australian Born Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry – [Sir] John Warcup Cornforth – Signed manuscript letter

A very special letter (dated 1980) not only because of its truly distinguished author but here we have real content. Letters by Nobel Prize winners are not terribly rare but so often are perfunctory, relating to meetings, events or simply lunch. Here we have real, in depth, chemistry. The receiver, Dr Buckel, a distinguished scientist in his own right, may have been rather embarrassed on receipt. Cornforth believes that Buckel had tackled his work from completely the wrong route … indeed Cornforth is puzzled and goes on to set out in great detail his preferred option(s). In our view the content reveals the manner in which Cornforth visualises the solution to the problem from first principles then more complex mechanisms and solutions and alternative options as his thinking develops. The fact of his genius is plain in the writing. We love it.

The only Australian to date to have won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

Dear Dr Buckel

Thank you for your letter of 7 October. I was interested by your account of the work with glutaconate, but rather puzzled that you did not try the degradation to malate in the way you say I suggested. I have forgotten the details of our conversation during your very welcome visit, but certainly I would expect direct oxidation of glutaconate to malate by permanganate to be most unfavourable. This is because in glutaconate one has the combination of a double bond deactivated by conjunction with a carboxyl and a strongly activated methylene group. In these circumstances one would expect permanganate to attack the methylene group to a considerable and perhaps predominant extent, before the double bond was attacked. This is why it would be preferable to use a specific agent first to hydroxylate the double bond. Indeed, it should be possible to proceed in high yield to malic acid by making use of the fact that one of the hydroxyl groups will form a lactone. Thus: … chemical formulae.

He goes on …

The opening of the lactone ring is generally faster than the hydrolysis of an ester group (especially a benzoate) so that if you put the acetyl or benzoyl-lactone in hot water and neutralized the acidity as it appeared you should be able to get a clean ring-opening without other chemical changes. I really think you should try this – it seems so much simpler than the routes you have explored.

I will ask at Sittingbourne if they have any chiral acetate left – I brought none of it here. It will be ten years old now and will have lost nearly half its original radioactivity but a specimen tested for chirality about five years ago seemed not to have been racemized by radiolysis or by preservation in the form of aqueous potassium acetate. However, I wonder if this is the best way to make chiral 4-substituted glutamates and I wonder if you could do this from chirally tritiated malate using R-citrate synthetase and malate dehydrogenase, following this by treatment of the citrate with aconitase, isocitrate dehydrogenase etc. This should give you a totally chiral product whereas by starting from acetate you are at the mercy of isotope effects.

Cornforth goes on to offer his help in finding candidates for research, a task he may achieve on Thursday at The Royal Society where he is attending a discussion on glycolytic enzymes. There it is again proof The Royal Society …is the best Club in the World!

Sydney born Cornforth was totally deaf by the age of twenty but already recognised as and exceptional academic. He went to England, Oxford, along with a similarly gifted chemist Rita Harradence, who he later married. His relationship with Rita started over a broken Claisen flask .. Cornforth was a expert glassblower … something that was essential in the aspiring chemist in the 1930’s. Interestingly, there was no place in Australia where one could do a decent PhD in chemistry at that time. Naturally at Oxford Cornforth was in his element. He went on to be the first to synthesise cholesterol and had a hand in stabilising penicillin building on the work of fellow Australian Howard Florey. Cornforth was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1975 and coincidental with being made “Australian of the Year”. Cornforth also won the Davy Medal, Copley Medal, was Knighted and made Fellow of the Royal Society

Scientific gold – Manuscript letter with considerable scientific content by Australian Nobel Prize winner John Warcup Cornforth

$490.00

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The Malay Archipelago -The Land of the Orang-Utan and the Bird of Paradise, with Studies of Man and Nature – Alfred Russel Wallace

Folding Georgian Guinea Scales c1805

The Forces of Nature – A Popular Introduction to the Study of Physical Phenomena – Amedee Guillemin – Translated by Mrs Norman Lockyer – Edited and with Additions from J Norman Lockyer – 1873

The Theory of Atomic Collisions – Mott and Massey (Professor Westfold’s Copy) – First edition 1933

Argonauts of the Western Pacific – Bronislaw Malinowski – First edition 1922

Australian Born Nobel Prize Winner in Chemistry – [Sir] John Warcup Cornforth – Signed manuscript letter

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