Non-fiction

Duodenal Ulcer – Moynihan

A special issue from the Classics of Medicine Series. Large octavo, 379 pages bound in full deep blue leather with lavish gilt work to boards and spine. Page edges richly gilt, marbled endpapers, silk marker ribbon intact.

A faithful facsimile of Moynihan’s key book on duodenal ulcers published by Saunders in 1910.

The author, Berkeley George Andrew Moynihan, 1st Baron Moynihan KCMG, CB, FRCS (1865-1936) was some fellow. He joined the Navy then after two years studied medicine at Leeds University and after graduation soon rose to be a surgeon. In the First World War he became Major General and was Chairman of the Army Advisory Board. He went on to do great things in medicine and was rewarded becoming the President of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1926.

He is quoted as saying that to be a perfect surgeon one must have the heart of a lion and the hands of a lady … and even more poetically “Infinite gentleness, scrupulous care, light handling and purposeful, effective, quiet movements which are no more than a caress, are all necessary if an operation is to be the work of an artists and not merely of a hewer of flesh”.

You could trust Moynihan with your duodenum

$60.00

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Faeroe Islands – The Atlantic Islands – a Study of the Faeroe Life and Scene – Kenneth Williamson – First Edition 1948

First Edition published by Collins, London in 1948. Octavo, 360 pages, with the elusive dust jacket albeit foxed. Book a bit aged but excuse it for its now rarity.

The author, Williamson, was staged on the Faeroe Islands during WWII and this book is based on the seemingly ample spare time he had whilst there.

Forward by the distinguished Eric Linklater.

Illustrated with the authors pen drawings and from original photographs.

Good chapter on the whale hunting festival “Grindarakstur’ which will interest those that are interested. Excellent on the natural history, terrain, outer islands etc with a super Glossary of Faeroese Words and index of place names for those challenged by modern devices!

The Faeroes more than just a trivia quiz subject.

$70.00

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Antique Mineral Testing Kit – “Superior Blowpipe Set – With Extra Apparatus” by J.T. Letcher of Cornwall. Circa 1880-90. Retailers label overlaid, without loss of information – Tasmania: Hobart Walch & Sons; Launceston Walch Bros & Birchill.

Exceptional Museum quality example rarely found with so many remaining pieces. The only similar example we can find in this condition is displayed online at the virtual museum of the history of mineralogy referencing a “Private Collection”.

These field kits were used in Australia by explorers and geologists. They include apparatus and chemicals for grinding the sample, heating it and observing the colours in the flame to identify the constituent minerals. It has been used, which is great, but not effecting the quality of the contents.

Designed and manufactured by J.T. Letcher of Truro Cornwall and awarded the Society of Arts Silver Medal and the Colonel Croll Prize in International Competition in 1878. Each set guaranteed to equal that deposited at the Society’s House.

The use of the blowpipe was invented in Sweden in the 1700’s and further refined there at the Freiberg Mining Academy in the mid 19th C. This design by J.T. Letcher with its comprehensive accoutrements became the standard in the later Victorian period.

Original brass riveted mahogany box with escutcheon to lid. Contains a specially designed lift out tray with multiple compartments and layers containing tools, the blowpipe, a small anvil, rock hammer, spirit lamp and grease lamp, Numerous chemical reagents including the original “gold bead” in its tube. There is a agate pestle and mortar as well as a tiny crucible that we know was made by Royal Worcester.

The containers are made of box wood with names to top and with a lovely patina. Reagent bottles, miniature test tubes with labels, test tube holder and much more. Original platinum forceps.

The test papers box contains litmus, turmeric and brazil wood papers; along with Platinum wire and foil, tin foil and the tiny remnant of some magnesium. The minute bone spatula is still there … we could go on

The original under-label inside the lid describes the original contents and bar scissors we are struggling to see anything missing

The box still has it’s lock but the key is long gone. It has a worked patina and is still robust.

Something special in the mineral field. The Superior Set by the top maker of the day; along with respected Hobart retailer Walch label – try to find another one and then one like this!

$1,390.00

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The Dog’s Ear Book – Geoffrey Wilans and Ronald Searle

Published in 1958 by Max Parrish, London

Octavo, 107 pages illustrated throughout by the wittiest pen-smith Searle. Nice jacket, very good condition generally.

Probably a book for a “dog lover”, there are a few around.

Includes various snippets under the umbrella headings – Doggy Types; The History of the Dog [including something from a Tudor manuscript]; How to Make a Pal or Influence Your Dog; Do You Resemble a Dog? The Great Dog Campaign; Cruft’s and after; Doggy Problems; How to Take Your Dog Away for the Weekend; Beagling and finally the, all important, “A Dictionary of Dog terms.

Genuinely interesting and amusing.

The Dog – its not all about Cruft’s.

$35.00

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Amethyst – Wave Hill Station – Northern Territory

A nice example with good crystal definition. Deep but smoky purple, clear at the root, Some hematite inclusions along one edge.

Amethyt is a quartz group mineral with trapezohedral crystals [six sides prism ending in a six sided pyramid].

The Greeks thought that it could counter intoxication and therefore carved drinking vessels from it – they really did have style. The not getting drunk idea is the Greek translation …

Whilst silicon dioxide is the foundation, iron creates the purple hue, other metals make subtle changes.

Wave Hill Station is a bit of a trek.

Weight 250 gm 9.0 cm by 8.0 cm x 5.0 cm matrix.

Wave Hill Amethyst could keep you sober …

$30.00

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Chrysocolla [Green Botryoidal Form] – Burra Burra Mine

A nice bright lump of the green chrysocolla from the historic Burra Burra Mine in South Australia. Distinctive botryoidal form.

Chrysocolla a hydrous copper phyllosilicate mineral of still debated structure.

The name ancient Greek and first recorded used by Voyager hero Theophrastus.

Chrysocolla can arise in a more blue form – we quite like the even underlying green tone of this sample.

It is of secondary origin and forms in the oxidation zones of copper ore bodies.

Weight 340 gm 9.0 cm by 8.0 cm x 7.0 cm matrix.

Burra Burra beauty

$85.00

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Duodenal Ulcer – Moynihan

Faeroe Islands – The Atlantic Islands – a Study of the Faeroe Life and Scene – Kenneth Williamson – First Edition 1948

Antique Mineral Testing Kit – “Superior Blowpipe Set – With Extra Apparatus” by J.T. Letcher of Cornwall. Circa 1880-90. Retailers label overlaid, without loss of information – Tasmania: Hobart Walch & Sons; Launceston Walch Bros & Birchill.

The Dog’s Ear Book – Geoffrey Wilans and Ronald Searle

Amethyst – Wave Hill Station – Northern Territory

Chrysocolla [Green Botryoidal Form] – Burra Burra Mine

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