Curiosities

Rare Historical Microscope Slide HMS Dart Survey – Australian Waters 1897

HMS Dart was actively involved in Hydrographic and Scientific Surveys in the Australian waters in the later stages of the 19th century. This unique slide of Foraminifera collected at 38 degrees South 149 degrees East (South of Tamboon) in Eastern Victoria to the East end of the Bass Strait. Comprising a numbered grid of 24 positions with forams glued down (some have come loose over the years).

Unique scientific record from Australia 1897

$130.00

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John Browning – Victorian Table Spectroscope c1890

An original prismatic lacquered brass spectroscope by the leading London based Victorian maker John Browning. Special quality as would be expected from a Browning instrument. Original fitted Mahogany Case with carrying handle, which has lost its lock as often, no damage to the case.

The table is engraved and Vernier works as it should. Telescope and collimator. The adjustable slit is in perfect condition and has its cover or protector which is usually missing. The optics are in A1 condition. The telescope arm is fully articulated and can be locked into position. The flint glass prism looks original to the instrument and has its original oxidised table housing. The telescope length is 20cms fully in 30cm fully extended. The instrument stands 25cms high.

Quality Victorian Spectroscope Top Maker

$840.00

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The Life and Work of Sir William Bragg – Sir Kerr Grant Professor of Physics, Adelaide University

The John Murtagh Macrossan Memorial Lecture for 1950 published by the University of Queensland in 1952. A First edition in decorated paper covers. Scarce 46 pages with frontispiece. Gift inscription to South Australian legal mind and bibliophile Duncan-Hughes who was finishing his Masters at Trinity College Cambridge in 1909 when William Lawrence Bragg arrived to commence his fruitful time there.

Rare Bragg item delivered by distinguished physicist

$60.00

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Museum Quality Fossil Bowfin Fish from the Messel Pits, Germany

Very nice large extinct form of Bowfin Fish, Cyclurus kehreri. From the Middle Eocene (Geisealtalain) period – 47 Million Years Old.

These fossils are found within the bituminous oil shales that occur near the village of Messel, Darmstadt, Germany. The fossils are removed from the shale using a technique called reverse transfer preparation, where the fossil is mounted onto a resin plate and the destructive oils shale is then removed leaving the fossil on the resin plate. This is the only way for them to be preserved and the method is used by leading authorities.

Size of fish 26cm by 7cm, overall mount 36cm by 15cm.

The Fish has a number of living relatives such as the mudfish, mud pike, dogfish, griddle etc. and is also related to the gars.

An extremely rare and sought after fossil

$120.00

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The Great Pyramid Witness and Near Eastern Nations in the Light of Christ’s Second Coming – Rev Lamb (Sydney) 1928

A rather special soft covered second edition of Rev lamb’s book on the second coming and the link to the Great Pyramid of Giza. Self-published in Sydney in 1928.

Lamb a rather eccentric Reverend with a keen eye for Marketing. His list of five titles could be got at the discounted price of 7/6 if the money was sent directly. His first edition was sold out and given that the second coming would have severe personal consequences it was essential that this book was purchased if you missed the first printing!

His forward is direct “This book, over which I have earnestly prayed for many days, is now finished. Its message, as in everything else I have previously written, is to convince all who read it that the coming of God’s Son to this world is now right at hand. The intention all through its pages is to make its every reader feel that their chief business now should be that they “May be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” … I shall now pray every day that its mission may in this way be fully realised”

Lamb, not too keen on this modern theory of Evolution, correctly points out how clever the early Egyptian were any Greek civilisation having been founded on Egyptian intelligent. The destruction of the great library at Alexandria still stands as the worst act of vandalism against culture. The books kept the fires in the bakeries and hot baths etc. going for many months. His references to the Pyramids and the Great pyramid of Giza are a very special account. He recounts the scale, accuracy and quality of construction which is always bewildering to read, how was it really done? And the alignment with the stars. Early views of Sir John Herschel and then, Voyager favourite Piazzi Smyth who calculated the date of construction as 2,170 BC given the backward calculation of the position of Draconis, the Pole Star, being directly aligned with the extraordinary passage at midnight that year. This vent will happen 25,817 years later when the stars will be similarly aligned.

The book contains more than this of course and his view of the likely consequences of the rise in fascism throughout the world … well we all know what happened.

$30.00

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“Somebody Loves You” – Music Score 1932 – Tobias and De Rose

Great 1930′s music score with a direct romantic message. Published by the Joe Morris Music Co, New York

Words and music by Charles Tobias and Peter de Rose. Promoted by George Hall and his Orchestra.

The highlight the stunning graphic cover designed by Cliff Miska.

“I’ve learned a wonderful secret .. And you’re the one should know it too … I’ve yearned to tell you this secret … And every word I say is true” … well of course it is …..

Bonus songs (short ones) “Carolina Moon” and “When Your Hair Has Turned to Silver”.

Everything presented also for the popular Ukulele as well as piano and guitar ….

$20.00

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Rare Historical Microscope Slide HMS Dart Survey – Australian Waters 1897

John Browning – Victorian Table Spectroscope c1890

The Life and Work of Sir William Bragg – Sir Kerr Grant Professor of Physics, Adelaide University

Museum Quality Fossil Bowfin Fish from the Messel Pits, Germany

The Great Pyramid Witness and Near Eastern Nations in the Light of Christ’s Second Coming – Rev Lamb (Sydney) 1928

“Somebody Loves You” – Music Score 1932 – Tobias and De Rose

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