South Australia

Snakes and Lizards of Australia – Observer Book Series – David McPhee

Published by Methuen, Sydney in 1979, an exceptionally clean copy of this respected book about Australian snakes and lizards.

Pocket sized hardback, every snake and lizard accompanied by a good coloured image clear enough to actually identify the species [this clarity issue is a problem with mots other books on the subject].

The book commences with some general information on snakes and lizards but be warned that the treatment for snake bite is no longer the preferred method – keep up to date with that!

Our not so favourite – the red-bellied black snake that we used to see in our garden in Pullenvale west Brisbane

Snakes and Lizards a perfect combo.

$30.00

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Flinders Chase [Kangaroo Island, South Australia] – Mervinia Masterman.

The first edition and much preferred edition published by Georgian House, Melbourne in 1950.

Written and truly beautifully illustrated by Mervinia Masterman.

Flinders Chase is a protected area of natural beauty on Kangaroo Island.

Octavo, 62 pages, end paper maps, and numerous illustrations of flora and fauna. Dust jacket a bit roughed at its fold – forgive it – overall still and excellent copy.

Kangaroo Island – now a classic reference.

$30.00

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Geological Observations in South Australia – Tenison Woods – First Edition 1862

A first edition of Father Julian Edmund Tenison Woods (1832-1889) important work on the geology and palaeontology of South Australia – he would become one of the most significant contributors of the period.

Published by Longman Green, London in 1862. Octavo, 404 pages after preliminaries, 32 illustrations, 5 pages of plates and a map. Bound in half leather over cloth with marbled end papers and page edges. The embossed stamp of the New South Wales Library on the lower title approving their release of the book – some strange selections were and still are being made. A very good copy of a scarce and worthy book.

Tenison Woods and his first significant published work of Australian geology

$290.00

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Moonta Copper Mine, South Australian – Magic Lantern Slide – Issued by Newton & Co 1913

An original magic lantern slide showing a working scene at the Moonta Copper Mine, South Australia, by Newton & Co, London. This formed part of a set on Australasia sold in 1913.

Copper was discovered at Moonta on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, near a Wombat burrow in 1860. A mine was soon built based on Cornish principles and bringing in mining experience from Cornwall, By the mid 1860’s it was thriving and by 1870 Moonta rivalled Adelaide – a million pound dividend was soon paid. The depression of the 1920’s put paid to all of that and the mine closed in 1923.

Some buildings or remnants still exist, and the site was put on the National Heritage Listing in 2017. It is well worth a visit look it up online. When you look it up you will see the remains of two engine houses – Hughes Engine House which was used to de-water the mine [active layers were below the natural water table] that engine ran for over 58 years. And, Richman’s Engine House which was used for crushing and processing ore [32 inch Cornish Beam Engine]. We recon our image is of the Richman Engine House … what do you think? The Engineer for both Houses was Frederick May.

Newton & Co were formed in 1858. In the period 1912-1925 they had premises in Covent Garden.

Standard size circa 3.5 inches or 8cm by 8cm.

Early active image of work at the Moonta Copper Mine

$90.00

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Copper to Gold – History of Wallaroo [South Australia] – Rex Whiltshire.

Published in 1968 by the township of Wallaroo. Octavo, perfect bound soft cover, 162 pages, illustrated throughout, images on end paper. A few marks on the back otherwise a very good copy.

Thorough presentation of the history of Wallaroo and the region. Flinders visit, aborigines, notable identities, the discovery of copper and then gold, good images from the period.

Another super local history associated with the discovery of copper and gold.

$25.00

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Across The Nullarbor – Idriess

Another great volume from Idriess a journey East to West and back again – a Modern Argosy with irreplaceable photographic images of Australia.

Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney 1953. Tall octavo, 248 pages, evenly toned [war paper continued] illustrated as mentioned, end paper maps, great dust jacket.

All the Way Across with Idriess

$35.00

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Snakes and Lizards of Australia – Observer Book Series – David McPhee

Flinders Chase [Kangaroo Island, South Australia] – Mervinia Masterman.

Geological Observations in South Australia – Tenison Woods – First Edition 1862

Moonta Copper Mine, South Australian – Magic Lantern Slide – Issued by Newton & Co 1913

Copper to Gold – History of Wallaroo [South Australia] – Rex Whiltshire.

Across The Nullarbor – Idriess

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