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The [Sir] Rex Nan Kivell Collection – Paradise Possessed

Some of us will have bought collectable Australiana with Rex Nan Kivell’s bookplate and wondered who was the man with the rather odd name.

And he was odd. Born in New Zealand in the late 1800’s as Reginald Nankivell he went off to Europe to WWI. After that he reinvented himself as Rex de Charembac Nan Kivell and developed a career as an upmarket London art dealer. He began collecting almost everything he could find concerning post settlement Australia and New Zealand. Paintings, photographs, manuscripts, key published accounts, objects of interest, government reports etc … Very oddly he never ever came to the Antipodes. His collection came to the attention of the Australian Government at the highest levels. Senior curators labelled it the most important collection yet formed in private hands and, more so, never to be surpassed in terms of its decorative and scholarly qualities. It was bought – it cost a knighthood.

Softcover, square form, perfect bound published by the National Library of Australia. Profusely illustrated in colour over 78 pages. Scholarly narrative shared among a number of relevant experts. Both super and surprising.

Rex Nan Kivell – Cannot be repeated.

$25.00

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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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A Manual of the Birds of Australia – Gregory Mathews and Tom Iredale.

Described as Volume I but there only ever was one volume. Scarce work led by the guru of Australian bird life Gregory Mathews. Tom Iredale ex British Museum was effectively employed by Matthews on this and Mathews massive illustrated work. Some believe that much attributed to Mathews was in fact done by Iredale.

Published by Witherby, London in 1921. Quarto, 279 pages, top edge gilt, ten coloured plates and 36 monochrome plates. Some light spotting on page edges, very good complete dust jacket which is a rarity.

Private library stamp of Harold W Tarr a distinguished Australian ornithologist with a number of published works and papers.

This volume covers the orders Casuarii to Columbae. The illustrations nicely done by Lilian Medland, the wife of Tom Iredale. A comprehensive work of some distinction as those in the know would expect.

Important Australian Orinthological Work – Mathews and Iredale 1921

$240.00

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Relic from the Otago – Skuttled in the Derwent, Tasmania – Past Captain being the Distinguished Author Joseph Conrad.

A solid piece of wood with some remnant attached claimed to be from the vessel “Otago” which was sunk in the Derwent before bits were reclaimed – in particular scrap metal which went to Japan much to the chagrin of the locals.

18cm by 13cm by 3cm.

The inscription reads “Otago 367 ton Barque – 1869 Built Glasgow – 1900 Used as a coal hulk, Hobart – 1931 Stranded, Otago Bay Derwent River, Tasmania. – She was the only command of the Author Joseph Conrad”.

See also our scarce publication by Crowther relating to the Otago hatch in the Hobart Maritime Museum … perhaps the best Museum in Australia! .

Conrad’s Otago – A remnant – and an unusual artifact with a literary connection.

$60.00

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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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Black Swan – George Shaw – 1808

An original copper engraving of the Australian Black Swan.

Engraved in copper by Eastgate and published by G Kearlsey of Fleet street, London on October 1st 1808 – dated in the plate. It was published as part of the great George Shaw’s Zoological Lectures which were performed at the Royal Institution the following year.

A good strong engraving, 210mm by 125 mm. paper showing a little age but really a very good example of this very early Black Swan image.

Proud Black Swan done well.

$120.00

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The [Sir] Rex Nan Kivell Collection – Paradise Possessed

Folding Georgian Guinea Scales c1805

A Manual of the Birds of Australia – Gregory Mathews and Tom Iredale.

Relic from the Otago – Skuttled in the Derwent, Tasmania – Past Captain being the Distinguished Author Joseph Conrad.

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

Black Swan – George Shaw – 1808

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