Curiosities

Special Polar References – Bonhams Polar Sale[s] Catalogue[s] of 2012

Over the years Christies and Bonhams have fought it out as to who could gather and catalogue the best of the best books, maps, objects of interest, letters, logs etc relating to the Polar exploits of the Golden Age of Exploration.

Our view, and many others, is that the Bonhams “Scott & Amundsen Centenary Sale” of March 2012 was the winner. This was followed by Polar II in December of that year.

They are superb references in their own right and should be part of any Polar Collection.

Both perfect bound and in super condition – catalogue I, 188 pages near a thousand of illustrations; catalogue II 78 pages many illustrations. Bonhams went to town with the production and photography.

Hard to pick our favourite item … an absolute smorgasbord.

Bonhams Polar Reference – Impossible to match – rare to get them tog

$140.00

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Antique Brass Drum Microscope circa 1890 with three objectives

A very nice cased English drum or field microscope.

Original mahogany case with some fittings, original claw hooks to fasten, nicely polished patina. A very good example of the superior casing.

Microscope in good condition with its original lacquer.

Microscope has its original eyepiece and three separate brass screw in objectives. Draw tube focus, works well nice clean images for its age. Height about 20 cm when drawn to focus.

Tweezers original to the kit and have their special place in the case.

Example slides will be improved upon on sale.

Nice field microscope well over 130 years old and still working!

$260.00

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Victorian Spectroscope – Adam Hilger c1890

A superb quality late Victorian brass Direct Vision Spectroscope, of the “Rainband” variety.

The device includes a “train” of five alternating crown and flint glass prisms.

Made by Adam Hilger and his brother Otto who operated from Tottenham Court Road London from 1875 until 1916 when the business was taken over with the backing of Vickers.

Nicely engraved A Hilger London and in near fine condition protected in its original custom made brass canister.

Interestingly, Adam Hilger supplied one of the most advanced spectroscopes of the day to the Sydney Astronomical Observatory in 1878 to be used in conjunction with their Merz 7 ¼ inch refractor.

Neat Victorian Spectroscope top maker clear and true spectrum

$240.00

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Kim Philby and other Russian Spy Celebrities – Russian Stamp Set 1990

A complete set of five mint stamps issued in Russia in 1990.

Each with a portrait of a member of the espionage elite. Rodolf Abel (1903-1971); Konon Molody (1922-1970); Vaupshascov (1899-1976); Kudrya (1912-1942) and …

“was he, or wasn’t he?” Harold “Kim” Philby.

Nicknamed “Kim” after the Rudyard Kipling boy hero spy – should have been a clue!

If you don’t know who Kim Philby is we are guessing you won’t want to buy this set …

Postage likely to be reduced on final billing.

Unusual item for those undercover agents out there …

$25.00

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Prepared Microscope Slide – Whole Worker Bee – 100 Year Old

I fine example by H.W.H. Darlaston.

Herbert William Hutton Darlaston (1867-1949) operated as a commercial microscope slide mounter from his house in Birchfield, Birmingham, England from 1895 until the 1925.

Regarded as a specialist in insect slides of high quality. He is known to have prepared whole insect slides for the distinguished entomologist Miriam Rothschild.

Postage likely to be reduced on final billing dependent on buyer location.

Worker Bee – fine example by insect expert Darlaston

$80.00

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Stilbite – Western India – ex Werner Hoch Collection

A sizeable and attractive lump of stilbite from Vaijapur, Aurangabad District, Maharashtra, India.

We are told from whence it came that it was originally part of the Verner Hoch collection, the main part of which is now in the Natural History Museum, Vienna.

Stilbite [after Greek – stilbein “to shine”] is a tectosilicate part of the zeolite group of minerals. Formed often in a basaltic volcanic environment.

This example is characteristic of it’s found location [it takes various forms in different parts of the World – Iceland, Scotland etc]. Here we have a peach/ pink hue and a translucent characteristic. The large form is often described as a “bow tie” and you can see why. This is a particularly good example with larger forms sitting on a bed of crystals on the host structure.

13cm by 8cm by 6cm weighing 330gm.

Super example of Stilbite with dominant bow-tie structure – nice hue

$95.00

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Special Polar References – Bonhams Polar Sale[s] Catalogue[s] of 2012

Antique Brass Drum Microscope circa 1890 with three objectives

Victorian Spectroscope – Adam Hilger c1890

Kim Philby and other Russian Spy Celebrities – Russian Stamp Set 1990

Prepared Microscope Slide – Whole Worker Bee – 100 Year Old

Stilbite – Western India – ex Werner Hoch Collection

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