Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

Rare Image of Australia’s Rarest Bird – Rawnsley’s Satin Bower Bird [Ptilonorhynchus Rawnsleyi] – Silvester Diggles – c1870

Rare original hand-coloured image lithographed on stone by Queensland naturalist Silvester Diggles. Highlighted with gum Arabic. Published as part of his magnificent work “The Ornithology of Australia” between 1866 and 1870 in twenty-one parts by Pugh of Brisbane, in a very limited edition. By the time part sixteen was published there were only ninety-two subscribers. The original plates were executed by Diggles and his niece, Rowena Birkett.

The bird specimen from which this lithograph was derived was found by H.C. Rawnsley in the scrub behind his house in Witton [Indooroopilly] on the Brisbane River in Julu 1867. Diggles dedicated and named the bird after him. The narrative that accompanies the plate goes on and is of historical interest. Diggles states that the strong resemblance in the bird’s colouring to the Satin Bower bird and the Regent Bower bird may lead to the suspicion of it being a hybrid. However, he refers to the explorer A.C. Gregory, who inspected the bird and confirmed that he had seen the very same species in Northern Queensland … the narrative goes into detail regarding Gregory’s testimony. However, we now know that the bird was a hybrid after all – the only other examples of a similar occurrence are quite recent … in the last twenty year. We believe though only three such occurrences have been identified to date.

The work measures 38cm by 27cm, good strong hand colouring clean and undamaged. A very scarce item.

About Silvester Diggles

Silvester Diggles (1817-1880) artist and musician born in Liverpool, England. He came to Australia in 1853 settling in Brisbane where he taught music and drawing. Diggles was a founder of the Brisbane Choral Society in 1859 and the Philharmonic Society in 1861 known as “the father of music in Brisbane”. Diggles was also a founder of the Queensland Philosophical Society and helped establish the Museum. His greatest work was The Ornithology of Australia. It nearly sent him broke. His health deteriorated worry about finances being a factor. He died at Kangaroo Point in 1880.

Price $590.00 unframed
An opportunity to own a Silvester Diggles lithograph of an exceedingly rare bird indeed.

$590.00

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The Sextant Simplified [A Practical Explanation of the Use of the Sextant at Sea] – Oswald Watts

A later edition of this “go to” book on the sextant published by Thomas Reed, Sunderland etc in 1969.

Octavo, 100 pages, many diagrams and images to explain the use of the instrument as one would expect. A near fine copy.

First glance the sextant is a pretty simple and straightforward device. This book take one from the simple “take and angle” understanding to the more complex use and correction required have a solid and sure position – quite useful the sure bit when facing reefs and rock in previously new territory.

Sextant explained – enough to make you a master mariner – fill up the bathtub and go for it!

$35.00

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The Foraminifera: An Introduction to the Study of Protozoa- Frederick Chapmen – First edition 1902.

A first edition by Longman, Green et al, London in 1902.

Octavo, 354 pages after preliminaries, illustrated with the little foram beauties. A super work for those fascinated by this many varied and ubiquitous life form. Scarce and in good condition bar a bit of wear to the cloth at edges.

Frederick Chapman (1864-1943) studied and worked as Assistant in the Geological Laboratory at the Royal School of Chemistry, London before emigrating to Australia. He was given a position as palaeontologist at the National Museum Melbourne

Chapman shared his extensive knowledge in this important text on forams.

$120.00

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Geological Observations in South Australia – Tenison Woods – First Edition 1862

A first edition of Father Julian Edmund Tenison Woods (1832-1889) important work on the geology and palaeontology of South Australia – he would become one of the most significant contributors of the period.

Published by Longman Green, London in 1862. Octavo, 404 pages after preliminaries, 32 illustrations, 5 pages of plates and a map. Bound in half leather over cloth with marbled end papers and page edges. The embossed stamp of the New South Wales Library on the lower title approving their release of the book – some strange selections were and still are being made. A very good copy of a scarce and worthy book.

Tenison Woods and his first significant published work of Australian geology

$290.00

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The Minerals of New South Wales – Archibald Liversidge – 1888

Extremely scarce and important work on the minerals of New South Wales. Published in London by Trubner. Octavo, 326 pages after preliminaries, original binding, large coloured folding map frontispiece. Some foxing to ends and edges affecting the map, splitting a little at the front hinge. Accept this for its scarcity and relevance to the history of geology in Australia and specifically NSW.

Archibald Liversidge (1846-1927) studied at the Royal College od Chemistry then Cambridge where he founded the Natural Sciences Club. He moved to Australia and at 27 years old was appointed as a Reader in Geology at Sydney University> here he revolutionised the study of minerals and their potential applications.

This work was first issued in 1886 in a much smaller form, this 1988 edition adds significantly. Divided into two sections metallic and non-metallic. All editions scarce.

Liversidge set the standard – 1888

$340.00

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Geology and Mineralogy – William Buckland [Considered with Reference to Natural Theology] – Published 1837

Published in London by William Pickering in 1837 – 2 Volumes complete bound in half black Morocco over marbled papered boards, gilt titles, volume numbers and designs to spine. In very good condition, the condition of the plates terrific.

Large octavo, xvi, 618 pages; vii, 129 pages, 69 plates [2 folding]

The volumes as lavishly illustrated with a famous multiple fold out plate in excess of a metre long beautifully hand coloured demonstrating various geological structures [one of the best executed coloured plates of the period.

Rev William Buckland (1784-1856) was an exceptional individual – a Fellow of the Royal Society, President of the Royal Geological Society. His interest in geology and paleontology led him to write the first full account of a fossil dinosaur which he named Megalosarurus. He discovered the Kirkdale cave and concluded that it had been a prehistoric hyena den – for which he was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society. This work was written just prior to his awakening that certain geological structures and fossil remains were a result of glaciation and not the effect of floodwaters from the great deluge. Buckland was a friend of a young Charles Darwin – there must have been some very interesting conversations.

Buckland’s Great Work on Geology and Paleontology – a Voyager favourite

$440.00

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Rare Image of Australia’s Rarest Bird – Rawnsley’s Satin Bower Bird [Ptilonorhynchus Rawnsleyi] – Silvester Diggles – c1870

The Sextant Simplified [A Practical Explanation of the Use of the Sextant at Sea] – Oswald Watts

The Foraminifera: An Introduction to the Study of Protozoa- Frederick Chapmen – First edition 1902.

Geological Observations in South Australia – Tenison Woods – First Edition 1862

The Minerals of New South Wales – Archibald Liversidge – 1888

Geology and Mineralogy – William Buckland [Considered with Reference to Natural Theology] – Published 1837

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