Curiosities

Three 19thC Prepared Microscope Slides of Australian Diatomaceae by J.D. Moller

Three fascinating early microscope slides by preparer Johann Diedrich Moller (1844-1907). The most talented and famous preparer of diatom slides of all time.

Three slides carrying a relatively early version of his distinctive slide labels.

His makers label announcing – Gold Medal St Petersburg & Altona 1869 J.D. Moller Wedel in Holstein [Germany].

The slide subjects being Diatomaceae and further labelled.

Fossils – South Australia
Fossils – South Yarra
Aqua Marina – Carpentaria Gulf Australia.

Fine examples of historical significance, likely harvested during one of the scientific and surveying voyages of the second half of the 19thC.

Price $190.00 the group – if you would like an individual one they will be $80.00 each. Send us a message through our enquiry page.

Postage costs likely to be reduced on final billing.

A trifecta of rather unique 19thC slides top maker and Australian subjects.

$180.00

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Manuscript Pharmacy Dispensing Journal – Hobart 1929-1931

Large cloth backed ledger recording the precise details of prescriptions diligently recorded against each patients name and cross referenced to a list of individuals at the front. 502 pages of prescriptions and the many receivers listed in an alphabetical construction as the front. Nice condition- entries in a strong legible hand.

42cm tall by 18cm and 5cm thick a fair weight so not suitable for Overseas. Red leather title label.. some scribbled names which do not seem to correlate with the J.R.R. and M.B and A.E.G. of the dispensing chemists.

The date range 1929 etc is right on the bell for the discovering of penicillin … antibiotics in the broader structure coming much later. So here we still have a host of syrups and powders and the Elixir Simplex … and chloroform (for personal use?) and a grand mixture of lead and opioid products.

Interesting Pharmaceutical Record approaching 100 years.

$170.00

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Smoky Dawson’s Cowboy and Mountain Songs (with instructions for Rope Spinning Tricks)

A super music sheet from Australia’s first and greatest Country and western singer songwriter. Smoky Dawson was Herbert Henry Brown (1913-2008). Hall of fame and all that he kept going until the end. Had a terrible childhood nut grew up to lead a talented positive life. A mate of Glen Campbell .. another super talent.

Published by Allan & Co, Melbourne in the late 1940’s (Trove suggest their copy is 1941 but we know for sure that Smoky was off to the War that year so we doubt it). Could be earlier than the war … some references say its his first published songbook.

Music arranged for voice, piano, guitar, ukulele and piano accordion. 24 Cowboy, Hill-Bily, Railroad, Mexican, Hobo Songs.

And we simply love the instructions for rope spinning… so much Voyager has purchased his first spinning rope … albeit still an step number 1.

Starts with notes and images from photographs of Smoky and his mates and what they have been up to.

Very good condition, 46 pages, aside from an innocent splosh (weak tea?) top near the spine … evident on a couple of early pages.

The second verse of Texas Lil goes like this …

“Oh she rustles cattle and she cheats at cards
An’ rattlesnakes an’ coyotes are her pards.
She’s as tough as prairie cactus and just for rifle practice
She’s amputate your ears at sixty yards”

Smoky Dawson – Australia’s First Country and Western Cowboy and a first class Legend

PS – You will see the retailers stamp of Suttons of Ballarat on the front. The Suttons Music Emporium was started in 1891 and a Suttons Music shop still exists today. Must be one of Australia’s oldest retailers and undoubtedly by World standards one of the oldest music retailers. the original magnificent building housed grand piano’s and had stained glass windows of the great European composers.

$30.00

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The Elements of Dowsing – Henry de France

Anyone interested in the extraordinary skill of dowsing, to discover water of valuable minerals, should read this efficient go to book by Le Vicomte Henry de France. This English edition translated by A.H. Bell and published by G Bell, London in 1967.

We learn that the author was a leading expert in the field who unfortunately packed his clogs before it was published.

Octavo, 84 pages with the occasional appropriate sketch or diagram. Ownership name marked out on free end paper … otherwise a fine copy in a very good dust jacket.

Set out in nine chapters we start with the “History of the Art of Dowsing” and then the instruments – the Pendulum and the Rod. This leads to the Technique and Dowsing for Water and Minerals and Metals – enough to get any budding geologist interested. More advanced applications and an introduction to Radiesthesia … in cooking, medical applications and agriculture (some serious money saving ideas for the farmer with time to study and experiment).

Ever since we saw Jimmy on Opal Hunters get his dowsing rod out we have been hooked.

Understand and learn the science of dowsing – better than any University degree.

$40.00

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The Chairman’s Guide and Secretary’s Companion – New edition Revised by Frank Shackleton.

Published by Ward, Lock & Co, London and Melbourne – a popular help book this edition 1957.

Octavo, 132 pages, a fine copy, unmarked except for a large tick on the page “Duties of the Chairman” obviously reflecting the agreement of some pinstriped owner.

Modern reporting, views and means of communication may make some of this obsolete you may think. NO SO. Such elements as tenure; impartiality; dilatory motions; defamatory statements; toasts; relationship with Press; status; disorderly conduct etc all seems, in Voyager’s mind, stuff needing some consideration of late.

A final Chapter on “Typical Speeches” could improve things especially at a Social Dinner, A Bazaar or indeed a Popular Lecture.

Enlighten and educate your Boardly Friends – what better gift.

$25.00

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Nugae Canorae Medicae – Sir Andrew Douglas Maclagan – First edition 1850 – With Additional Contemporary Manuscript Content

Translates literally “Silly Medical Songs” and they are. Andrew Douglas Maclagan (1812-1900) was an eminent Scottish surgeon and toxicologist. In his lifetime he was President of five of the mots distinguished Societies in Scotland. As a toxicologist he was called to Court to give evidence … as a young man he supported the prosecution in the Burke and Hare affair.

Printed by Thomas Constable, Edinburgh in 1850 – a first edition (it was reprinted in 1873). Effectively self published. Maclagan vaguely covered his identity as the author is names as “The Poet Laureate of the New Town Dispensary”. Octavo, bark brown embossed cloth covered boards with gilt titling to front, 82 pages with manuscript additions to rear end paper. Remnant seal to back paste down.

Given the period any reader will be pleasantly surprised how amusing the said poem/songs are … and much fun must have been had with them. Footnotes have been provided which explain the circumstances and sometimes individuals at fault or lampooned. No punches held.

What makes this copy more charming is the manuscript addition. Internally they sometimes correct the events suggested. At the rear we have in neat manuscript further ditties by Maclagan that are not in the published work. Clearly someone who knew the great man very well. 19thC press clipping re Maclagan affixed front free end.

Silly Songs by a most distinguished physician.

$180.00

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Three 19thC Prepared Microscope Slides of Australian Diatomaceae by J.D. Moller

Manuscript Pharmacy Dispensing Journal – Hobart 1929-1931

Smoky Dawson’s Cowboy and Mountain Songs (with instructions for Rope Spinning Tricks)

The Elements of Dowsing – Henry de France

The Chairman’s Guide and Secretary’s Companion – New edition Revised by Frank Shackleton.

Nugae Canorae Medicae – Sir Andrew Douglas Maclagan – First edition 1850 – With Additional Contemporary Manuscript Content

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