Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

19th Century Microscope Slide – Soundings 240 Fathoms Storm Bay Tasmania – Norman London

A terrific slide of historical importance to Tasmania.

Prepared by Norma of London carrying the Norma monogrammed label and the familiar Norma cursive writing.

John Norman (1814-1893) was maybe the most prolific preparer of specimen microscope slides for the London scientific gentry. He operated most of the time out of various places in City Road, London. He won prize medals for mounts at the 1862 Expedition. Super quality and variety. He was joined by his sons Alfred and Edwin who continued his business after his death. There are many entries in the authority Bracegirdle showing numerous images of Norman examples.

This fine condition slide is from soundings taken [as stated at 240 fathoms] in Storm Bay on the way into the Derwent, Hobart, Tasmania. The soundings could well have been made by HMS Dart which was at one time conduction a survey of Australasia. The ship has an unusual history – well worth some research.

The soundings show remains of foraminifera [forams for short] set into a deep beautifully preserved mount – a quality typical of Norman.

Scientific dredgings from a deep part of Storm Bay, Tasmania. Top maker well over 130 year old and still in perfect condition.

$120.00

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Thirty Diatom Species – Mounted Microscope Slide and Catalogued by Bernard Hartley

Bernard Hartley was diatom royalty. He was born in 1917 and lived most of his life at Yoevil in Somerset. He was a civil engineer and began to make prepared microscope mounts of diatoms in 1957. He worked with fellow diatom expert R I Firth and together they identified and systemised the cataloguing of British diatom species. His other close colleague was the undisputed King of diatoms Klaus Kemp who must have had the steadiest hand known to man.

If you know little about diatoms how about this for a start. These tiny marine organisms [phytoplankton] contribute around 50 % of the marine oxygen production. In the right conditions they reproduce rapidly dividing every twenty four hours – but they only live six days. There are 12,000 known species and an estimated possibility of 200,000. The Amazon basin is fertilised by diatoms remains whipped up into the wind currents from the Sahara – an estimated 27 million tonnes per annum. They take two forms one radially symmetric and the other bilaterally symmetric. Lots more look them up – oh and they are very small and it takes great talent to handle them.

Here we have a slide by Hartley with a carefully placed row of thirty varying diatom types and, almost impossible to find, his original list of species types.

50% of the marine generated oxygen – better save them then! Special scientific collectable – with the list!

$190.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1885 [Including Johnston’s Coloured Geological Map of Tasmania]

Printed at the “Mercury” in 1886 a first published. An important journal containing a number of geological papers including Ore at Mt Bischoff by Baron Von Grodeck and some on coal measures. At the end we have Johnston’s Geological Table showing the proposed classification of stratified rock in Tasmania and his rather superb large, folding coloured sketch map of the General Geological Features of Tasmania.

Other papers that may be of interest include … an Eclipse on March 30^th 1885 by Biggs; Mosses by Bastow; Tasmanian Earth Tremors also by Biggs; Fossil Plants by the aforementioned Johnstone.

Original soft wrappers, clxi pages followed by 407 pages including a good index. A very solid edition to support the substantial content.

Scarce 1885 Journal with map often missing.

$120.00

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Physics – Original Oxford Doctorate Thesis – Unified Field Theory – F.H.J. Cornish 1954

For the mathematically inclined and admirers of Einstein and those that followed his footsteps – this is gold – read on.

This is an original first typed and manuscript thesis by Cornish, then an Oxford – went on to the University of British Columbia. Categorically original – you can feel the type face from the other side of the paper – an originality that always makes us shiver – a connection with the author.

Full title “The Mathematical Form and Physical Content of Unified Field Theories derived from a Variational Principle’

The work starts from a historical perspective and Einstein in 1915 and moves on to Schrodinger .. the unresolved issues and aspects of static spherically symmetric solutions to Einstein’s theory. Then the new work. A loose sheet inserted, when at British Columbia, summarises, presumably for a presentation by Cornish …

“This is a new extension of Einstein’s General Relativity Theory designed to unify the fields of gravitation and electromagnetism. The field equations of the new theory have been solved approximately for a static spherically symmetric field. The solution may be interpreted as a charged mass particle with an electro-magnetic contribution to the mass. The solution valid near the centre of symmetry contains a form factor or radius parameter which is related to the magnitude of the charge of the particle. Using the Einstein-Infeld-Hoffman method the interaction of an “n” charged particle system is found to be in accord with the Newtonian-Lorentz force terms. A finite rest mass for the photon is predicted”

Quarto, nicely bound is stout boards, half morrocco, two parts after preliminaries including preface, abstract and index, Part I – 56 pages; part II 87 pages, reference list to die for.

Seems a bit trivial, and we are gushing, but we cannot help admire the penmanship re the mass of mathematical formulae – the only correction we can see is one of placement.

Cornish – In the footsteps of Einstein – Original Work 1954 – so how heavy are your photon’s?

$280.00

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The Great Pyramid – [Astronomical] Observatory, Temple and Tomb – Richard Proctor – First Edition 1883

One of the great books on the Great Pyramid. A first edition published by Chatto and Windus, London 1883.

Octavo, 323 pages, plus lengthy publishers catalogue. Illustrated throughout with explanatory diagrams and with frontispiece. Bound as original in red/brown cloth with embossed Egyptian inspired design to front, gilt titling to spine and super gilt Great Pyramid to front. Slightly cocked with a little ageing mainly from the front tissue guard otherwise a very good copy of this important work.

Proctor was a distinguished author on many things astronomical during the era and held a fascination [along with others] about the astronomical purposes of the Pyramid. Here he explores this and other propositions with his usual diligence and we learn about the extraordinary uses of this massive structure.

Proctor explains the Great Pyramid.

$220.00

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Brecciated Mookaite – Mooka Springs Western Australia

A small but attractive piece of Mookaite with the distinctive mosaic pattern of cream and brown separated by ever so thin layers of opal. Special texture.

The brecciation is formed by tectonic stress applied to the Mookaite Jasper structure. Over time silica rich waters flow through the fractured structure providing the binding layer.

The jasper structure is formed from the fossilised remains of tiny Radiolaria a creature we know well at Voyager through our interest in microscopy.

7cm by 5cm by 2.5cm weighing 15gm.

Small piece of Mooka and millions of radiolaria.

$20.00

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19th Century Microscope Slide – Soundings 240 Fathoms Storm Bay Tasmania – Norman London

Thirty Diatom Species – Mounted Microscope Slide and Catalogued by Bernard Hartley

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1885 [Including Johnston’s Coloured Geological Map of Tasmania]

Physics – Original Oxford Doctorate Thesis – Unified Field Theory – F.H.J. Cornish 1954

The Great Pyramid – [Astronomical] Observatory, Temple and Tomb – Richard Proctor – First Edition 1883

Brecciated Mookaite – Mooka Springs Western Australia

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