Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

Special Polar References – Bonhams Polar Sale[s] Catalogue[s] of 2012

Over the years Christies and Bonhams have fought it out as to who could gather and catalogue the best of the best books, maps, objects of interest, letters, logs etc relating to the Polar exploits of the Golden Age of Exploration.

Our view, and many others, is that the Bonhams “Scott & Amundsen Centenary Sale” of March 2012 was the winner. This was followed by Polar II in December of that year.

They are superb references in their own right and should be part of any Polar Collection.

Both perfect bound and in super condition – catalogue I, 188 pages near a thousand of illustrations; catalogue II 78 pages many illustrations. Bonhams went to town with the production and photography.

Hard to pick our favourite item … an absolute smorgasbord.

Bonhams Polar Reference – Impossible to match – rare to get them together.

SO SORRY SOLD

$140.00

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Antique Brass Drum Microscope circa 1890 with three objectives

A very nice cased English drum or field microscope.

Original mahogany case with some fittings, original claw hooks to fasten, nicely polished patina. A very good example of the superior casing.

Microscope in good condition with its original lacquer.

Microscope has its original eyepiece and three separate brass screw in objectives. Draw tube focus, works well nice clean images for its age. Height about 20 cm when drawn to focus.

Tweezers original to the kit and have their special place in the case.

Example slides will be improved upon on sale.

Nice field microscope well over 130 years old and still working!

$260.00

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Marius The Epicurean: His Sensations and Ideas – Walter Pater – Special Two Volume Limited Edition – Velum Backed, Batik Covered, Hand-Made Paper, Illustrated – One of 300 Published – 1929

Really striking books any description difficult to do them justice – would make a super gift for someone that deserves them! More images to come.

A fine and unusual presentation of this unique work by Walter Pater published by McMillan, London in 1929.

Two volumes, quarto, bound quarter vellum over batik papered boards. Gilt to spine and top edge. Sixteen dry-point full page illustrations by Thomas Mackenzie. Printed on hand made paper. Only 300 copies.

Volume I – 143 pages, Vol II 144-278 pages. Eight illustrations in each. Slight toning in ends otherwise fine.

Walter Pater’s philosophical novel of 1885 here with an introductory essay by J.C. Squire.

Set in the Rome of the Antonines [AD 161-177], the Golden Age of Rome. The work is an imaginary portrait of the intellectual development of our protagonist, Marius. It was well received on publication being Pater’s only ever full-length novel. Influenced on the likes of Oscar Wilde and his … Dorian Gray.

Pater was at the centre of the Oxford circle in his day – knew Rossetti tutored Manley Hopkins etc.

The introductory essayist of this edition Sir John Collings Squire was the editor of the distinguished literary magazine The London Mercury. Seemingly, he was a bit of a drunk, foul mouthed and not at all liked by the Bloomsbury mob.

The illustrator Thomas Mackenzie [1887-1944] similar in style to the likes of Aubrey Beardsley … his better known work may have been as illustrator to the popular version of Aladdin by Arthur Ransome.

A special work with an extra special presentation.

$290.00

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The Eastern Archipelago – Adams – First Edition 1880

… A description of the Scenery, Animal and Vegetable Life, People, and Physical Wonders of the Islands in the Easter Sea.

Published by Nelson, London in 1880 a first edition. Octavo, 576 pages with 54 illustrations.. Nicely decorated cover, a little rubbed, remnant od prize giving label in ends, still a good copy.

With the success of Wallace’s Malay Archipelago there was heightened interest in the islands of the East Indies. Prolific writer William Henry Davenport Adams saw an opportunity and compiled this easily read book on the region. Takes in Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Timor, Celebes, Sarawak, the Moluccas, New Guinea, Papua and the Philippines.

Special book on the very East and its many islands.

$90.00

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Travel and Sport in Turkestan [Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and a few more Stans] – Captain J.N. Price Wood – First edition 1910

First US edition published by Appleton, New York in 1910.

An adventure indeed in 1907 through Turkestan to the Thian [Tien] Shan Mountains on the borders of Mongolia taking in modern day Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and, as we say, a few more Stans.

Royal octavo, original gilt decorated red cloth covered boards, top edge gilt. 202 pages after xx preliminaries,100 illustrations from original photographs, two to a full-page plate. Folding map of the region. Previous owners name to front end paper, a little toned at the end papers, otherwise a very good copy.

Wood was stationed at Ambala in the Punjab from 1902 after the 12^th Lancers were posted there following the Boer War. He had plan to explore and hunt in Central Asia. However, a pass was required to use the Gilgit Road – any other route making the planned journey far too long. It already was 2,500 miles. Eventually his pass came through and he set off in 1907 – departure still had to be tuned as he had to make the Burzil Pass at 13,500 feet which could only be done between May and October.

Whilst there are guns going off at game [not really our cup of tea] the travel elements of this book make it more than worthy. Great insight into the regions at that time – Huza, Mintaka, Shikari, Hadji Tombs, Kok Su, Tekkes Valley, Kulja, Gorge of the Arpalik, Aksu River etc etc.

The quality coloured map and the photographs help you along the way very nicely.

By pony, camel and yak 2,500 miles to the Thian Shan

$390.00

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Victorian Spectroscope – Adam Hilger c1890

A superb quality late Victorian brass Direct Vision Spectroscope, of the “Rainband” variety.

The device includes a “train” of five alternating crown and flint glass prisms.

Made by Adam Hilger and his brother Otto who operated from Tottenham Court Road London from 1875 until 1916 when the business was taken over with the backing of Vickers.

Nicely engraved A Hilger London and in near fine condition protected in its original custom made brass canister.

Interestingly, Adam Hilger supplied one of the most advanced spectroscopes of the day to the Sydney Astronomical Observatory in 1878 to be used in conjunction with their Merz 7 ¼ inch refractor.

Neat Victorian Spectroscope top maker clear and true spectrum

$240.00

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Special Polar References – Bonhams Polar Sale[s] Catalogue[s] of 2012

Antique Brass Drum Microscope circa 1890 with three objectives

Marius The Epicurean: His Sensations and Ideas – Walter Pater – Special Two Volume Limited Edition – Velum Backed, Batik Covered, Hand-Made Paper, Illustrated – One of 300 Published – 1929

The Eastern Archipelago – Adams – First Edition 1880

Travel and Sport in Turkestan [Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and a few more Stans] – Captain J.N. Price Wood – First edition 1910

Victorian Spectroscope – Adam Hilger c1890

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