Curiosities

Tales From the Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio [Beautifully Illustrated] – Private Printing 1937

Private Printed in, London 1937. A rare edition. Text based on an anonymous translation of 1741 revised by S.W. Orson in 1898. The striking illustrations are printed from linocuts by Edmondo Lucchesi, and we are told the typeface is 16-point Poliphilus.

Demo-folio, quarter red cloth backed decorated red/pink paper covered boards with paper title to front. 89 pages numerous woodcuts. Some ageing near the ends, still a better than good copy of a favourite illustrated book.

Boccaccio’s tales amusing, moral suggestions, and the odd amoral act. The long introductory title to each gives a flavour e.g.

“Masse da Lamorecchio, pretending to be dumb, is appointed gardener at a nunnery, and is favourably received by the inmates”, and

“Pernella puts her gallant into a tub on her husband’s coming home, which tub the husband had sold; she consequently tells him that she had also sold it to a person who was then in it to see if it were sound; upon this the man jumps out and makes the husband and makes the husband clean it for him”.

Boccaccio with the titillating woodcuts of Edmondo Lucchesi

$120.00

Updating cart…

The Theory of Atomic Collisions – Mott and Massey (Professor Westfold’s Copy) – First edition 1933

A first UK edition, published at Oxford by the Clarendon Press in 1933. The standard full text of the period.

Large octavo, 282 pages. Original black cloth covered boards with gilt titles to spine. Dust jacket rather drab and aged but unusually present. The signature of K. C. Westfold and dated October 44 on the front free end paper.

Comprehensive high level text starting with The Wave Equation then Scattering – by a Centre Force, by a Coulomb Field. The Spin of the Electron. Collisions. Inhomogenous Differential Equations. General Theory of Atomic Collisions. Born’s Approximation. Scattering of Slow Electrons. Inelastic Collisions. Electrons and Molecules. Massive Particles. Transition Probability. Relativistic Treatment of the Two Body Problem …. Nuclear Problems.

The excellent index is a read itself of the who was who in higher mathematics including a notable relative of Voyager!

K.C. Westfold (1921-2001) a brilliant Australian mathematical brain was Professor of Applied Mathematic at Monash and at various time Dean of Science, Professor of astronomy and Vice Chancellor of the University. He was an Archibald Prize sitter.

Cornerstone book of the period in this supreme area of mathematical physics – nice relevant previous ownership.

$60.00

Updating cart…

Medal in Celebration of the Discovery of the Johnstone River, Queensland in 1873.

Produced in 1973 the celebrate the 100 year anniversary of George Elphinstone Dalrymple’s Discovery.

Cast in coppered bronze by K G Luke. 50 mm in diameter, weighing 48 gm, very good condition.

Nice design of the North and South Johnson combining and meandering down to the Pacific Ocean through heavily wooded hilly terrain. A very clear horizon, and in the sky above the explorers full name and commemorative dates the full commemorative details in a border around the edge. On the reverse a Floral and scroll design, presumably to take the engraved name of any recipient – here still blank.

The designer is associated with Sir Kenneth George Lake (1896-1971) who had a very successful business making all things requiring metal design … he was also an important identity in sports administration in Australian particularly the AFL.

George Elphinstone Dalrymple was a legendary explorer, pioneer and pastoralist in northern Queensland. See Robert Logan Jack’s Northmost Australia for a good account of his efforts. He named the Johnstone River in 1873 in honour of Robert Johnstone of the Native Police who had carried out his handy work in the region. Unusually, the river had already been named by Captain Moresby a year or two earlier … his name the Gladys did not stick, thankfully. The Johnstone is a spectacular part of Australia .. the rivers are subject to exceedingly high rainfall and make for the very best of white water rafting. The confluence of the North and South is about five kms west of the town of Innisafail. If you go there … watch out for salty crocodiles.

Very good uncirculated condition, strong relief.

Celebrating Northern Queensland Exploration

$80.00

Updating cart…

A Monograph of Nototherium Tasmanicum – H. H. Scott – 1915

Published in 1915 in Tasmania researched and written by H.H. Scott Curator of the Museum at Launceston.

Published by the Department of Mines as part of the Geological Survey Record No 4. A fine copy, 47 pages plus 22 full page plates in super condition. Cloth backed boards as published.

The Author acknowledges the early assistance of the great Professor T.W. Edgeworth David of Antarctic fame.

The discovery of a large extinct marsupial

Superb copy and rare and unusual

$70.00

Updating cart…

A Farewell to Arms – Original Soundtrack -1957

The original soundtrack to the movie base on the Ernest Hemingway classic “A Farewell to Arms”. Long playing record, 33 RPM, from Capitol Records, super condition.

Released the same year as the famous movie starring Rock Hudson, Jennifer Jones and Vittorio de Sica, directed by Charles Condor. The semi-autobiographical story had been mad into a stage play shortly after the books release in 1929. An earlier film starred Gary Cooper.

Music composed by the legendary Mario Mascimbene … conducted by Franco Ferrara and recorded in Rome. Opening with a cannonade of percussion portraying the war theme. The introduction of harmonica and guitar expressing the lighthearted camaraderie between the three soldiers. Introduction of horns and strings depicting the Alpine setting. the beautiful “love theme” with strings and harp … up to the symbolic sound of raindrops as Henry waits helplessly for Catherine …

Collectable Hemingway Artifact

$40.00

Updating cart…

Martin Cash – Life After Bushranging – Maree Ring

A unusual item, an extended pamphlet really all about Tasmania’s favourite bushranger Martin Cash. Not so much his goings on in his early days of bushranging (although there is a good snippet of that) but more about his time in New Zealand and then later on return to Hobart.

Written from a sympathetic viewpoint, as often the case with Cash. We are not sure quite why that is the case. For sure he is supposed to have had a soft spot for women and we guess in return women had and still have a soft spot for him.

However, and it’s a big however … when in NZ he seemed to spend most of his time forming and running brothels (yes plural). In fact in the end he was given the big tip off to leave the country … forcing his return to Tasmania. His illicit activities paid him well and he was able to purchase a smallholding up the back of New Town … he spent most of his leisure time in the pubs of Salamanca … well don’t we all.

Self published Hobart in 1993. Softcover, stitched, 41 pages with some useful and relevant illustrations. We like the unpretentious writing of the researcher author. A fine copy.

Martin Cash – the final story – and an interesting one too.

Postage will be reduced on this item on final billing.

$20.00

Updating cart…

Tales From the Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio [Beautifully Illustrated] – Private Printing 1937

The Theory of Atomic Collisions – Mott and Massey (Professor Westfold’s Copy) – First edition 1933

Medal in Celebration of the Discovery of the Johnstone River, Queensland in 1873.

A Monograph of Nototherium Tasmanicum – H. H. Scott – 1915

A Farewell to Arms – Original Soundtrack -1957

Martin Cash – Life After Bushranging – Maree Ring

Product Categories