Curiosities

Early 19th Century Pope Joan Card Game Staking Board

A striking example of a Pope Joan Staking Board, likely Georgian.

A red lacquered board probably made in China for the English market. The circular pot to hold counters is surrounded by eight divisions. The borders embellished to describe each of the compartments … the Nine of Diamonds (Which represents “Pope Joan”; The Ace, King, Queen and Jack of Diamonds, and the words Matrimony, Intrigue and Game with floral devices in gilt in-between. Still has the top to the pot (often missing) with more card decorations. Does not have a wooden pedestal foot which would have screwed on below. 24cm in diameter. Likely made from Birch or some other decorative light wood. A really super example.

An 18th Century round game of cards for three to eight players derived French games and related to but less elaborate than Newmarket. It did not appear in Hoyle until 1814 but had been mentioned in early dictionaries. Pope Joan refers to the suspicion that Pope John VIII was actually a woman.

Two Hundred Year Old Staking Board for Pope Joan – a lovely decorative piece

$290.00

Updating cart…

A Journey to the Interior of the Earth – Jules Verne – c1905

Jule Verne classic published by Ward Lock, London, early 20th century, likely pre-WWI. Part of the “Lilley series” – with catalogue at rear indication forty volumes available and another ten in preparation which appears circa 1905. Octavo, 256 pages.

Lovely pictorial image pasted to front board, with “framing” decoration, which is repeated on the spine. The aforesaid image is repeated as a frontispiece. Some foxing to title and page edges. Generally, given the excellent covers, still a good to better copy for its age.

Often Journey to the “Centre” here the ”Interior” but we still come out in Iceland, where else? Another slightly unusual translation which adds to the fun.

Century old Jules Verne – off into the Centre (Interior)

$50.00

Updating cart…

Pat Corrigan – Four Bookplates Commissioned from Australian Artists [Backen, Chapman, Willibrant and Elenberg] – 1970′s

Three original bookplates by three quite different artists, all produced circa 1970’s. All in excellent condition

Earle Backen (1927-2005), books in cubic arrangement. In his time one of the mots respected painters in Sydney. His foundation field was printmaking. In 1954 he won a travelling scholarship and went to London and Paris. 13.5cm x 9.2cm.

Peter Chapman (1925-2016) Blues Player. Chapman born in North Sydney. He became one of Australia’s foremost comic book illustrators including The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow and Sir Falcon. 13cm by 10cm.

James Willibrant (Born 1950) Sydney Harbour. Willibrant was born in Shanghai, returning to Australia in time to study and develop an keen artists talent. Remains very active, his painting are a true delight … look them up. At the time of producing this special bookplate for Pat Corrigan he was teaching art at Chiron College. 12.5cm x 9.0cm. Initialled and dated in the image ’76

Joel Elenberg (1948-1980). Totemic form. Born in Melbourne and died very young in Bali. Soulmate of Brett Whiteley and loved by many. Elenberg an accomplished painter drawn later in his short life to sculpture. The form of this bookplate reflects that transition with its angular biomorphic form.

Pat Corrigan having done more to re-stimulate the art of bookplate design in Australia than any other person. The Wiki article on Pat Corrigan is excellent and has an interesting section on his promotion of bookplates.

Three Corrigan Commissioned Bookplates by three very different Australian Artists.

$80.00

Updating cart…

Australian Fairywrens – Sir William Jardine – 1826

An original hand-coloured engraving of three species of Australian Fairywrens published in Edinburgh 1826 by Scotland’s greatest naturalist Sir William Jardine (1800-1874).

The engraving was published as part of Jardine’s first great work “Illustrations in Ornithology” a now scarce and valuable collection of bird engravings.

Printed on strong paper with a good plate mark, albeit a little tight on the left (32cm by 22cm). Very good condition.

Drawn by William Jardine himself and signed in the plate. This engraving and colouring have a somewhat naive nature which we think gives them a special artistic appeal.

We have the male Red Breasted Fairywren (Malarus Brownii); Variegated Fairywren (Malarus Lamberli) and the Superb Fairywren (Malarus Cyaneus). The Red Breasted is prevalent from the very North of Australia around the Kimberleys down to the Hunter Valley; the Variegated is found along the East Coast as is the Superb Fairywren although this beautiful creature is more common in the South and Tasmania

Jardine was the 7th Baronet of Applegirth, Dumfriesshire and founder of the Ray Society. He was a superb artist in his own right but utilised the great illustrators of the day to complete his works including, Edward Lear, Selby, Stewart, Thompson and William Holmes-Lizars

Price $180.00 Unframed

Australian Fairywrens – Three of Them

$120.00

Updating cart…

Australian Bristlebird (Dasyornis Australis) [Endangered] – Sir William Jardine – 1826

An original hand-coloured engraving of Bristlebird published in Edinburgh 1826 by Scotland’s greatest naturalist Sir William Jardine (1800-1874). This image is one of the earliest fine engravings of the bird. First found and described by Latham around Port Jackson in 1801.

The engraving was published as part of Jardine’s first great work “Illustrations in Ornithology” a now scarce and valuable collection of bird engravings. Printed on thick wove paper (30cm by 23cm) with a strong plate impression, good strong colouring and generally clean condition. Would frame up nicely for display.

The Bristlebirds are named after the stiff “’hair like” feathers that arise around the beak. They are thought to assist in catching insects upon which they feed and also provide protection to the eye. There are a number of sub-species of the Eastern, Rufous and Western Bristlebirds. Subclassifications of those number six of which one is extinct, one critically endangered and two endangered and the other two on the way. Bush fires and land clearing the main culprits.

Jardine was the 7th Baronet of Applegirth, Dumfriesshire and founder of the Ray Society. He was a superb artist in his own right but utilised the great illustrators of the day to complete his works including, Edward Lear, Selby, Stewart, Thompson and William Holmes-Lizars

Price $180.00 Unframed

Early engraving of the endangered Australian Bristlebird … help to save them

$120.00

Updating cart…

Ada Aurantiaca (Orchid from South America) – Nugnet Finch for Warner 1882

Original hand finished lithograph printed from stone by John Nugent Finch for the illustrious Orchid Album by Warner and Moore and published by Benjamin Williams. This was from the first collection published in 1882. The work was not completed until 1887. Still regarded as the most complete and beautiful work on the spectacular orchid family.

This beautiful orchid hails from the mountains Colombia and Ecuador. It was first described and named by Voyager hero John Lindley in the 1850’s. They grow in warm damp forests around 2,000 metres.

A good size at 30cm x 24cm completely clean. the colours bright and enhanced with gum arabic.

Price $90.00 unframed

Spectacular Orchid from South America

$90.00

Updating cart…

Early 19th Century Pope Joan Card Game Staking Board

A Journey to the Interior of the Earth – Jules Verne – c1905

Pat Corrigan – Four Bookplates Commissioned from Australian Artists [Backen, Chapman, Willibrant and Elenberg] – 1970′s

Australian Fairywrens – Sir William Jardine – 1826

Australian Bristlebird (Dasyornis Australis) [Endangered] – Sir William Jardine – 1826

Ada Aurantiaca (Orchid from South America) – Nugnet Finch for Warner 1882

Product Categories