Non-fiction

Researches in The Phenomena of Spiritualism – William Crookes FRS. [Additions Sir Arthur Conan Doyle] – 1926

Title continues – Together with a portion of his Presidential address given before the British Association, 1898; and An Appendix by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Published both Manchester – the Two Worlds Publishing Co and London – The Psychic Bookshop, Victoria Street in 1926.

Octavo, 144 pages plus index and publishers catalogue. Frontispiece image of Crookes, numerous illustrations throughout explaining the scientific goings on. Some foxing [spongy paper] and age marks to plain covers – but a scarce extremely interesting work by one of the greatest scientific minds of all time.

Impossible to summarise Crookes’ achievements as an experimental chemist and physicist. Pioneered modern spectroscopy through his invention of the Crookes tube, discovered the element Thallium, contributed to the filling out [reorganisation] of the Periodic Table re the inert gases. A wealthy man who had a great business brain and combined these talents to fund his own research. In later years a whole, very large, floor of his Kensington Residence was a series of private laboratories and scientific library. Received the Nobel Prize in 1907 and many others achieved theirs through his work.

So, Crookes was interested in forces and formed the concept of plasma being the fourth state of nature. His interest in spiritualism and spiritual forces was a serious matter – he was President of the relevant Society at one time. This book summarises earlier publications of his views and experiments – and includes a chapter from his friend and fellow spiritualist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle on an “Independent Testimony as to the mediumship of Florence Cook”.

Crookes’ chapter headings are a useful guide … Spiritualism Viewed by the Light of Modern Science; Experimental Investigation of a New Force; Some Further Experiments on Psychic Force; Miss Florence Cooks Mediumship; Spirit-Forms; the Last of Katie King etc.

Sir William Crookes one of the worlds great experimental scientists and the Spirit Forces.

$70.00

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The Amazing Mr Doolittle [Biography of American Air Ace and Daredevil] – Quentin Reynolds – 1954

A very good copy of the second impression of the first UK edition published in June 1954 one month after the first.

Published by Cassell, London. Octavo, 313 pages, frontispiece of our Hero.

Biography of the great American Air Ace. The front cover boldly list his achievements .. some would be less bold nowadays .. that’s history.

His early flights is our bag though, and this ace started early in the 1920’s .. winner of the Schneider Trophy and a true daredevil .. where are they now? He was the first to fly on instruments alone, cross America etc.

Doolittle, Not talking to the Animals, flying the Aeroplanes.

$40.00

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A World of My Own – Robin Knox-Johnston – First edition 1969.

A fine copy of the first edition 1969 of a then young Robin Knox-Johnston’s single-handed non-stop voyage around the world.

Published by Cassell, London. Octavo, 240 pages, end paper charts and illustrated very nicely.

Humble thorough account although he does point out his vessel Suhaili at 32 feet was smaller than Alec Rose’s Lively Lady at 36 feet and the relative monster Gipsy Moth II of Francis Chichester at 53 feet. Great technical information and tips for overcoming a number of practical difficulties.

We like the extensive lists of stores and instruments at the rear and especially his extensive onboard library which included … Boswell, Bronte(Wuthering Heights), Carlyle, Cherry-Garrard (Worst Journey), Darwin (Voyage of Beagle), Dostoevsky (Crime and Punishment), Laurence Sterne (Tristram and Sentimental), Thackery, Gilbert White (Selbourne) and from modern time interesting to see David Lewis (Daughter of the Wind) and [Voyager Hero] Hiscock (Wanderer III) …. Must have shopped at Voyager!

Knox-Johnston made his name on Suhaili deservedly so!

$30.00

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The Passenger Pigeon – by Joseph Quinn.

No date comb bound copied item published circa 1990, see below. This was its original form – self published by the author.

Subtitled “A Boys Story” but not a story for Boys, in fact a compilation of the writings of the author, many of them, published in Bird World … and all about the demise of the Passenger Pigeon.

We learn that the last pigeon a female was given the name of Martha, after George Washington’s wife … the second last Passenger Pigeon, her brother, named George … naturally. We like this unusual work not just for its obvious rarity but the love of the writer for his subject. The Boys story is a reference to him finding his childhood scribbles about the subject matter.

96 pages in all, some images from the magazine that have not copied too well. Cream card covers.

A total of 20 separate articles, all of some length, published variously between 1982 and 1987.

Inserted on posh faux vellum paper is a poem written by the author in honour of the sadly retired bird; rather well penned and definitely moving.

Joseph Quinn – his life’s work on the Passenger Pigeon all in one place.

$40.00

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The Martian – George du Maurier – First edition 1898.

First edition published by Harper & Brothers in 1898.

A substantial book, large squarish octavo, 471 pages, dark black end papers which show signs of paper label removal, so possibly ex library probably not public as no other library marks. Striking deep blue cloth covered boards with gilt titles, design, and faux signature to front, gilt title to spine, extraordinarily clean. Someone has assembled poetry to the early preliminaries, which we find quite charming.

Considered the be quasi autobiographical with a strange surreal Martian twist. The life of Barty Josselin as told by a friend Robert Maurice from early days at the Institution Brossard in Paris. Josselin a good looker and thoroughly talented and extrovert. Later back in England Barty has a spell in the army.

Later his eyesight starts to fail which makes him think of taking his own life. In a dream a spirit guardian in the form of Martia from Mars comes to him. From then Martia inspires him and provides advice which secures his career as an author. Martia has other influences and wishes him to marry Julia … and all gets a little complicated from there ..

George du Maurier Channelling a Martian Spirit Guide

$90.00

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The Living Sea – John Crompton

A first edition of this interesting easy to read book about the natural history of the oceans. Quite broad in content … starts with prehistory and then moves into Whales (nice content), Manatee, Sharks, Rays back to Caelacanth .. all the good stuff.

Published by Collins, London in 1957. Octavo, 256 pages, some sketch like illustrations. And the dust jacket … we had to have it just for

Good period all rounder dressed to impress.

$25.00

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Researches in The Phenomena of Spiritualism – William Crookes FRS. [Additions Sir Arthur Conan Doyle] – 1926

The Amazing Mr Doolittle [Biography of American Air Ace and Daredevil] – Quentin Reynolds – 1954

A World of My Own – Robin Knox-Johnston – First edition 1969.

The Passenger Pigeon – by Joseph Quinn.

The Martian – George du Maurier – First edition 1898.

The Living Sea – John Crompton

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