Curiosities

Nugae Canorae Medicae – Sir Andrew Douglas Maclagan – First edition 1850 – With Additional Contemporary Manuscript Content

Translates literally “Silly Medical Songs” and they are. Andrew Douglas Maclagan (1812-1900) was an eminent Scottish surgeon and toxicologist. In his lifetime he was President of five of the mots distinguished Societies in Scotland. As a toxicologist he was called to Court to give evidence … as a young man he supported the prosecution in the Burke and Hare affair.

Printed by Thomas Constable, Edinburgh in 1850 – a first edition (it was reprinted in 1873). Effectively self published. Maclagan vaguely covered his identity as the author is names as “The Poet Laureate of the New Town Dispensary”. Octavo, bark brown embossed cloth covered boards with gilt titling to front, 82 pages with manuscript additions to rear end paper. Remnant seal to back paste down.

Given the period any reader will be pleasantly surprised how amusing the said poem/songs are … and much fun must have been had with them. Footnotes have been provided which explain the circumstances and sometimes individuals at fault or lampooned. No punches held.

What makes this copy more charming is the manuscript addition. Internally they sometimes correct the events suggested. At the rear we have in neat manuscript further ditties by Maclagan that are not in the published work. Clearly someone who knew the great man very well. 19thC press clipping re Maclagan affixed front free end.

Silly Songs by a most distinguished physician.

$180.00

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Flannel Flowers – May Gibbs c1920

Published Sydney: Angus Robertson no date but an early printing circa 1920, printer Penfold noted at the rear.

Original wrappers, unpaginated but 28 pages in total. Bound with original green cord. Colour pictorial overlay to front of several pretty flannel babies. Illustrated with coloured frontispiece and 11 full page sepia illustrations. Nice condition, apart from a couple of marks to the front and a a name papered over inside front. Otherwise pretty clean inside, free of children’s often found markings. A scarce one in early form for some reason; although later reproduced. Reference authority Muir 2742.

As well as the Flannel Babies we have the Christmas Bell Babies; Bracken Babies; Pea-flower Babies; Mushroom Babies; Fuschia Babies and Tea-tree Babies.

May Gibbs – harder to find early Flannel Babies.

$50.00

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French Wine – Booklet on Instruments for the Examination of Red Wine Colour – J. Dujardin -1902

An interesting 24-page booklet by J. Dujardin published in Paris in 1902.

The French title “L’Examen de intensite colorante des Vin Rouges par le Vino-Colorimetre Salleron” it goes on to say the methods can be applied to Spanish wines, liqueurs etc.

The booklet describes the scientific approach to assessing wine quality and colour on a scale designed by J Salleron. At the completion is effectively a price list and description of the various accoutrements necessary to satisfy this important science

Rare red wine science – Paris 1902

$90.00

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Cased Anemometer By Baird & Tatlock

A pretty good example of a low speed air meter by top maker Baird & Tatlock. Likely designed for and used in the coal mining industry.

In its original felt lined leather case with attachment screwed to case lid as required. The only blemish is a pressure crack on the face and some paint loss on the blade casing.

The instrument still works well which is somewhat unusual as discard was one way these instruments left their place of work.

The instrument comes with a sliding braking system which protects the delicate gearing. Overall a good example now hard to find

Measure air flow for accuracy and pleasure

$180.00

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Bowie – Fashion – 1980

Super original copy of this iconic single …. Scream like a Baby on the B side. From the album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps).

Ooh bop, do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do..

Robert Fripp from King Crimson played the lead guitar. Bowie coined a new meaning for the word “Fascists” which likely amused him.

David Bowie will never be forgotten ..

$40.00

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The Awakening of the Soul – Ibn Tufail – from the translation of Paul Bronnle -1907

A scarce translation of Hayy ibn Yaqzan a 12th Century work by Moorish philosopher Ibn Tufail. The first philosophical novel ever written.

Small octavo, 87 pages, missing blank free end paper, clean inside, good green cloth covered boards with title and design to front, titles similarly on spine. Very scarce.

Published by the Orient Press, London as part of the Wisdom of the East Series. We believe this publisher was part of the John Murray enterprise.

The work not only had an influence or later Arabic work but also, over time, a significant influence in Europe, especially during the period of European Enlightenment.

An allegorical novel which recounts the story of a feral child who is brought up by a gazelle alone in the desert. Without any human contact the child discovers ultimate truth through a process of reasoned enquiry. The child, Hayy, meets a castaway Absal through whom he understands the human desires for material goods … Hayy concludes that such things are distractions and should be abandoned to maintain ultimate truth.

As an aside the author had a varied career including physician to the Almohad King and was a supporter of dissection and autopsy .. expressed in the novel.

Small but powerful first philosophical novel – scarce in this form.

$45.00

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Nugae Canorae Medicae – Sir Andrew Douglas Maclagan – First edition 1850 – With Additional Contemporary Manuscript Content

Flannel Flowers – May Gibbs c1920

French Wine – Booklet on Instruments for the Examination of Red Wine Colour – J. Dujardin -1902

Cased Anemometer By Baird & Tatlock

Bowie – Fashion – 1980

The Awakening of the Soul – Ibn Tufail – from the translation of Paul Bronnle -1907

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