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The Badge of the Artists Rifles (Special Air Service)

The Artists Rifles was formed in 1860. The idea of the Artists occurred to Edward Sterling, an art student and ward of Thomas Carlyle, who convened a meeting of fellow students in the life class of Carey’s School of Art, Charlotte Street, Bloomsbury – from this the Corps of Artists was formed consisting of painters, sculptors, engravers, musicians, architects and actors. The badge was designed by Wyon, the Queen’s medallist –consisting of two heads: Mars – God of War and Minerva – Goddess of Wisdom. The badge carries the motto “Cum Marte Minerva” also the title of the regimental march. A regimental rhyme of note is “Mars, he was the God of war, and didn’t stop at trifles, Minerva was a bloody whore. So hence The Artists’ Rifles”.

Light weight pressed metal 9cm by 6cm. strong deep relief.

The Artists have an outstanding war record; the Victoria Cross being awarded on eight occasions. Whilst disbanded in 1945 they were reformed in 1947 as the 21st Special Air service Regiment (Artists Rifles).

Notable members of The Artists included Ford Madox Brown, Edward Burne-Jones, Noel Coward, Frank Dobson, Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes OBE, Frederic Leighton, William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Barnes Wallis

$80.00

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Tasmanian Period Photograph – Alum Cliffs, Mole Creek. – J.C. Breaden

A nice image of the Alum Cliffs, River Mersey, Mole Creek District, near Deloraine in the north of Tasmania c1930, by J.C. Breaden carrying his studio stamp at rear. Size 22 x 16.5 cm a couple of corner creases overall in good condition.

J.C. Breaden is recorded as having been a gifted Hobart amateur photographer who was active from 1920. He died in 1947. The rear of the photograph carries his stamp of Agent General of Tasmania and various notes.

The Striking Alum Cliffs at Mole Creek

$30.00

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Tasmanian Period Photograph – Lake Webster Mount Field National Park.

A nice image of Lake Webster, National Park, Tasmania c1930, comes from a group mainly by J.C. Breaden although carries no attribution. Size 21 x 17 cm and overall in good condition. J.C. Breaden is recorded as having been a gifted Hobart amateur photographer who was active from 1920. He died in 1947. The rear of the photograph carries his stamp of Agent General of Tasmania, in London and a reference to the Intelligence Branch, Australia House and various notes.

Lake Webster on of the many beautiful places around Mount Field

$40.00

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The Ascent on Everest – John Hunt

Leader, John Hunt’s classic account of the conquest with of Everest Alfred Gregory’s photographs.

This is the delightful Readers Book Club edition of 1955. Octavo, 320 pages nicely illustrated.

A very nice copy, very clean inside. Super dust jacket showing Tenzing on the summit, a little creased but still very nice.

All the way to the very top

$30.00

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Queen Emma – R.W. Robson – Scarce New Guinea

Few New Guinea expatriates have not heard of Queen Emma (Emma Coe) a Samoan-American who built a trading Empire and lived with great style a Ralum near Rabaul in New Britain. An extraordinary account.

A really rather scarce book.

A first edition published by Pacific Publications, Sydney in 1965. Octavo, 239 pages including an Appendix summarising the de Rays Swindle of 1877-1884 of which there is an Emma connection [A story in itself]. Another Appendix summarising Attacks by Natives on European 1876-1904 … they were busy! … and a useful index. End paper maps and illustrated from period photographs. The dust jacket has quite a large piece missing from the back but holds up rather well in Brodart. Internally very clean.

A Queen Emma amongst Cannibals

$60.00

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A Complete Treatise of Mines Etc – Henry Manningham – First Edition 1756

An extremely rare work from a period when mining expertise was as much a military endeavour as for the extraction of resources.

Lengthy title continues … extracted from the Memoires d’Artilliere. To which is prefixed, by way of Introduction, Professor Belidor’s Dissertation on the Force and Physical Effects of Gunpowder. Illustrated by a Variety of Copper Plates.

A first English language edition of this work translated and compiled by mining engineer Henry Manningham. The original French by P Surirey de Saint Remy (1660-1716). Benard Forest de Belidor (1698-1761) was a hydraulics and ballistics expert. Born into a military family he later became Professor of Artillery at Aisne. He became an early expert on the calculus and its use in solving technical problems.

Published by Millar, the Strand, London 1756. Octavo, xxix,168 pages with 21 folding copper engraved plates, elaborate engraved vignette on Dedication. Ex John Crerar Library with the odd stamp, later half leather binding somewhat worn, top edge gilt. Toned and pages a bit brittle still a useful copy of an extremely scarce item.

Early Mining and the Use of Gunpowder Carefully Explained.

$390.00

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The Badge of the Artists Rifles (Special Air Service)

Tasmanian Period Photograph – Alum Cliffs, Mole Creek. – J.C. Breaden

Tasmanian Period Photograph – Lake Webster Mount Field National Park.

The Ascent on Everest – John Hunt

Queen Emma – R.W. Robson – Scarce New Guinea

A Complete Treatise of Mines Etc – Henry Manningham – First Edition 1756

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