Natural History

Falco Pygargus the Hen-Harrier – Fine Copperplate engraving by Susemihl – Published c1800

Original and striking hand-coloured copper engraving of a young female Hen Harrier by Johann Conrad Susemihl (1767-1847).
Published in Darmmstadt as part of a progressive work “Teutsche Ornithologie oder Naturgeschichte … between 1797 and 1810.

The execution of this massive work was a family affair with Johann being assisted by his children Eduard and Emilie and his brother Johann Theodor. The superior quality and scale of these engravings makes them highly sought after.

Paper size 50cm by 34cm … the engraved impression is 34cm by 25cm …

Price $180.00 unframed … enquire about framing options if you wish … click on me to see me all!

The beautiful dignified Harrier by Susemihl

$180.00

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Red Kangaroo – Rene Primevere Lesson – Published Paris in 1838

Original hand coloured copper engraving of the Red Kangaroo produced for Rene Primevere Lesson (1794-1849) for his extension of the great natural history work originally produced by Count Buffon. They were published in Paris in 1838. Lesson participated as doctor and naturalist in the Duperry voyage round the world on board La Coquille (1822-1825).

This is engraved using the painstaking stipple technique with each hair etched one after the other … look around the outside of the kangaroo image.

The Red Kangaroo is Australia’s largest kangaroo, largest mammal and the world’s largest living marsupial. It inhabits the whole of the central area of Australia avoiding only the fertile regions around the coast.

Price $160.00 unframed – if you would like it framed – enquire

The big Red Kangaroo in a fairly contemplative pose.

$160.00

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Buffon’s Natural History – 180 Hand Coloured Plates in 31 Volumes – Paris 1827

Oeuvres Completes de Buffon – Mises en order er Precedees d’une Notice Historique Par M.A. Richard Professor Agrege a la Faculte de Medecine de Paris; Suives de Deux Volumes sur les Progress des Sciences Physiques er Naturelles Depuis la mort de Buffon par M. le Baron Cuvier Secretaire Perpetuel de l’Academie Royale des Sciences.

Published by Chez Baudouin Freres and Chez N Delangle Paris in 1827. A full set less volume 8 which is purely narrative – all of the 180 magnificent hand coloured plates are present.

Lavishly bound in full polished tree calf with wide gilt floral design around front and back boards, gilt rolled on board edging, gilt design to spine, with each volume carrying separate black leather title and volume labels themselves gilt styles, marbled endpapers.

Some scuffing and wear to the leather boards and internally occasional foxing and browning and offsetting. On the whole, a handsome set with superior shelf presence – see images – more can be supplied in request – no issue.

Buffon with every hand coloured plate present

$1,590.00

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The Origin of Species – Charles Darwin – Murray of London Edition 1894

Published by John Murray, London, 1894. Sixth edition. Charles Darwin amended each edition – the sixth represents the final text..

In the preferred original Murray green cloth binding and in very good condition. Octavo, xxii,432 pages a tiny bit rubbed and marked, light age – still a very good copy.

Described by Bern Dibner as “the most important single work in science”.

Darwin’s theory of the origin of species by means of natural selection arose out of his studies in the 1830′s during the voyage of the Beagle. In 1856 geologist Charles Lyell, urged him to write a book on the subject. In 1858 Wallace sent Darwin a summary of the views Darwin had formed twenty years earlier. Darwin set about writing “The Origin of Species” which was published in Nov 1859.

Darwin concluded, “There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that whilst this plan has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.”

Darwin – The Origin of Species - The greatest scientific book ever written

$790.00

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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 of the Royal Society of Tasmania – November 2008 – Vol 142

Large scale softcover, perfect bound 98 pages. Quality production. Nice photographic images etc. Published by the Society.

Two Antarctic vignettes by H.J.G Dartnall, only two pages each but intriguing. First, about John Forbes, known as Mawson’s sailmaker. The second, more intriguing is about Tasman Spalding from Dunalley,. Tasmania, a 23 year old who served on the Terra Nova relief voyage. He was entitled to the Polar Medal but did not receive it possibly because his name got transposed and hence proved difficult to find at the time of handing out.

Other interesting articles include aspects geology at Heard Island; a new freshwater sponge discovered at Lake Peder; the diet of the Tasmanian Devil.

Terrific illustrations from scientific work – sections, micro photographs etc.

Royal Society Tasmania – superb work

$25.00

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Falco Pygargus the Hen-Harrier – Fine Copperplate engraving by Susemihl – Published c1800

Red Kangaroo – Rene Primevere Lesson – Published Paris in 1838

Buffon’s Natural History – 180 Hand Coloured Plates in 31 Volumes – Paris 1827

The Origin of Species – Charles Darwin – Murray of London Edition 1894

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

Papers of the Royal Society of Tasmania – November 2008 – Vol 142

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