Prints and Photographs and Bookplates

Rare Image of Australia’s Rarest Bird – Rawnsley’s Satin Bower Bird [Ptilonorhynchus Rawnsleyi] – Silvester Diggles – c1870

Rare original hand-coloured image lithographed on stone by Queensland naturalist Silvester Diggles. Highlighted with gum Arabic. Published as part of his magnificent work “The Ornithology of Australia” between 1866 and 1870 in twenty-one parts by Pugh of Brisbane, in a very limited edition. By the time part sixteen was published there were only ninety-two subscribers. The original plates were executed by Diggles and his niece, Rowena Birkett.

The bird specimen from which this lithograph was derived was found by H.C. Rawnsley in the scrub behind his house in Witton [Indooroopilly] on the Brisbane River in Julu 1867. Diggles dedicated and named the bird after him. The narrative that accompanies the plate goes on and is of historical interest. Diggles states that the strong resemblance in the bird’s colouring to the Satin Bower bird and the Regent Bower bird may lead to the suspicion of it being a hybrid. However, he refers to the explorer A.C. Gregory, who inspected the bird and confirmed that he had seen the very same species in Northern Queensland … the narrative goes into detail regarding Gregory’s testimony. However, we now know that the bird was a hybrid after all – the only other examples of a similar occurrence are quite recent … in the last twenty year. We believe though only three such occurrences have been identified to date.

The work measures 38cm by 27cm, good strong hand colouring clean and undamaged. A very scarce item.

About Silvester Diggles

Silvester Diggles (1817-1880) artist and musician born in Liverpool, England. He came to Australia in 1853 settling in Brisbane where he taught music and drawing. Diggles was a founder of the Brisbane Choral Society in 1859 and the Philharmonic Society in 1861 known as “the father of music in Brisbane”. Diggles was also a founder of the Queensland Philosophical Society and helped establish the Museum. His greatest work was The Ornithology of Australia. It nearly sent him broke. His health deteriorated worry about finances being a factor. He died at Kangaroo Point in 1880.

Price $590.00 unframed
An opportunity to own a Silvester Diggles lithograph of an exceedingly rare bird indeed.

$590.00

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Geology and Mineralogy – William Buckland [Considered with Reference to Natural Theology] – Published 1837

Published in London by William Pickering in 1837 – 2 Volumes complete bound in half black Morocco over marbled papered boards, gilt titles, volume numbers and designs to spine. In very good condition, the condition of the plates terrific.

Large octavo, xvi, 618 pages; vii, 129 pages, 69 plates [2 folding]

The volumes as lavishly illustrated with a famous multiple fold out plate in excess of a metre long beautifully hand coloured demonstrating various geological structures [one of the best executed coloured plates of the period.

Rev William Buckland (1784-1856) was an exceptional individual – a Fellow of the Royal Society, President of the Royal Geological Society. His interest in geology and paleontology led him to write the first full account of a fossil dinosaur which he named Megalosarurus. He discovered the Kirkdale cave and concluded that it had been a prehistoric hyena den – for which he was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society. This work was written just prior to his awakening that certain geological structures and fossil remains were a result of glaciation and not the effect of floodwaters from the great deluge. Buckland was a friend of a young Charles Darwin - there must have been some very interesting conversations.

Buckland’s Great Work on Geology and Paleontology - a Voyager favourite

$440.00

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Australian Ashes Cricket Team 1934 [Bradman, Woodfull, Ponsford et al] Unusual Original Advertising Memorabilia.

Significant size would frame and display nicely – fragile so handle carefully. One of the most usual pieces of period advertising we have come across.

With the strong message “Well laundered sports wear gives confidence” we are told to “Send your cricket and tennis flannels and Ladies sports frocks” for proper laundry treatment to provide the above mentioned confidence.

Nice image of the team, not all in baggy green and a strangely suited L Darling.

The 1934 Ashes were held in England and Australia won off the back of some solid batting by Bradman and Ponsford. England started well wining the first test – Verity took 15 wickets. The next two were drawn but Bradman/ Ponsford scored a partnership of 388 at Headingley and 452 at the Oval to take the urn.

Dimensions 50cm by 25cm, the odd wrinkle as one would expected but generally in good condition – take care of it!

Bradman 1934 Ashes treasure – how has it survived?

$160.00

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Waller’s Owl [Australian Eastern Grass owl] -Silvester Diggles – Brisbane – c1870

Rare original hand-coloured lithograph by Queensland naturalist Silvester Diggles. Published as part of his magnificent work “”The Ornithology of Australia” between 1866 and 1870 in twenty-one parts by Pugh of Brisbane, in a very limited edition. By the time part sixteen was published there were only 92 subscribers. The original plates were executed on stone and coloured by Diggles and his niece, Rowena Birkett.

The Waller’s Owl in modern times referred to as the Eastern Grass Owl. A beautiful reclusive and rarely seen bird which is occasionally seen in New South Wales but mainly in Queensland where it hunts the cane fields and grasslands for rodents. A medium sized owl similar to the barn owl. Colouring tan-brown with black, white and orange mottling, long legs which it uses to snatch its prey from dense undergrowth.

The work measures 38cm by 27cm, good hand colouring pretty clean and undamaged. A scarce item.

About Silvester Diggles

Silvester Diggles (1817-1880) artist and musician born in Liverpool, England. He came to Australia in 1853 settling in Brisbane where he taught music and drawing. Diggles was a founder of the Brisbane Choral Society in 1859 and the Philharmonic Society in 1861 known as “the father of music in Brisbane”. Diggles was also a founder of the Queensland Philosophical Society and helped establish the Museum. His greatest work was The Ornithology of Australia. It nearly sent him broke. His health deteriorated worry about finances being a factor. He died at Kangaroo Point in 1880.

Price $490.00 unframed.

An opportunity to own a rare original owl by Queenslander Silvester Diggles.

$490.00

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A L’Opera – Pierre Brissaud Pochoir – Gazette du Bon Ton -1920

A beautiful “Pochoir” by Pierre Brissaud (1885-1964) for the Paris Gazette du Bon Ton published in 1920.

Manteau et robe pour le soir by designer Jeanne Lanvin. A rich opulent image that befits the fine lady in the skillful style of Brissaud.

Price is unframed …

Click on the image to see full pochoir ….

$90.00

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“Rugby” – Fine and Striking Pochoir by George Barbier – April 1914

An original hand coloured “Pochoir” by George Barbier (1882-1932) the most desirable artist of the Paris Gazette du Bon Ton published in 1914.

A very early Bon Ton April 1914.

Rugby and “Costume tailleur de Redfern” … a stylish outfit by English designer John Redfern (1853-1919), in snowy cheviot (a soft luxurious wool weave from the Cheviot sheep, with a small black vest in the finest silk Ottoman, fastened with braided black frogs.

The ultimate in fashion print from a perfect era.

Price $120.00 unframed.

Much sought after “sporty” George Barbier

$120.00

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Rare Image of Australia’s Rarest Bird – Rawnsley’s Satin Bower Bird [Ptilonorhynchus Rawnsleyi] – Silvester Diggles – c1870

Geology and Mineralogy – William Buckland [Considered with Reference to Natural Theology] – Published 1837

Australian Ashes Cricket Team 1934 [Bradman, Woodfull, Ponsford et al] Unusual Original Advertising Memorabilia.

Waller’s Owl [Australian Eastern Grass owl] -Silvester Diggles – Brisbane – c1870

A L’Opera – Pierre Brissaud Pochoir – Gazette du Bon Ton -1920

“Rugby” – Fine and Striking Pochoir by George Barbier – April 1914

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