Non-fiction

Antarctic Lantern Slide – Scott’s Southern Party about to Depart – 2nd November 1902 – Newton & Co

An original magic lantern slide of an important moment during Scott’s “Discovery” Expedition, by Newton & Co, London

The British National Antarctic Expedition also known as the “Discovery” Expedition, after their boat was carried out 1901-1904.

Scott chose the popular Shackleton and his trusted buddy Wilson to form, with him, the three-man party to push as far south as possible. It was not an attempt at the South Pole. They mostly achieved their goal reaching 82 degrees south, further than the previous Borchgrevink achievement.

The adventure did not run smoothly. They took many dogs with them and lost 22 from tainted food and other difficulties. Shackleton broke down and became a burden [something Shackleton later watered down – the recording of his difficulties in both Scott and Wilson’s diaries was the start probably of ill-founded views that Scott took a dislike to Shackleton, partly because of the latter’s popularity among the men]. On return to camp Scott had Shackleton sent away on the support ship “Morning” to recover.

Newton & Co can be traced back to 1704 – started by a J. Newton who was related to the big man himself Isaac Newton who was not knighted until the following year 1705.

Standard size circa 3.5 inches or 8 cm by 8 cm.

A period memento of a key moment in Polar exploration.

$140.00

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In the Great White Land [Polar Regions] – Gordan Stables

Published by Blackie, London in the early 1930’s.

Octavo, 288 pages thick spongy paper and despite the spongy quite clean with minor marks to the extreme page edge. Coloured frontispiece and three full page illustrations. Prize label on front end papers. Rare in the striking illustrated dust jacket.

Three stories and despite the subtitle starts with … “Far Away in the Frozen North” an Arctic adventure on the good barque Walrus and the oft frozen Captain Mayne Brace (great pun). Story two “Under the Southern Cross” requires no clue as to the general location with many icy encounters. Finally “On the Great Antarctic Continent” and the beauty and marvel of the Ice-Cave. The sledging journey across the tableland and the dash for the pole takes its lead from the great Heroic Era accounts.

Adventure in the frozen South – very South.

$60.00

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Antique Brass Table Spectroscope by John Browning of London circa 1880

An original prismatic lacquered brass spectroscope by the leading London based Victorian maker John Browning. Special quality as would be expected from a Browning instrument. Original fitted Mahogany Case with carrying handle, which has lost its lock as often, no damage to the case.

The table is engraved and Vernier works as it should. Telescope and collimator. The adjustable slit is in perfect condition and has its cover or protector which is usually missing. The optics are in A1 condition. The telescope arm is fully articulated and can be locked into position. The flint glass prism looks original to the instrument and has its original oxidised table housing. The telescope length is 20cms fully in 30cm fully extended. The instrument stands 25cms high.

Quality Victorian Spectroscope Top Maker

$790.00

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Folding Georgian Guinea Scales circa 1805

A very good set of early Guinea Scales with contemporary instructions label. Manufactured Stephen Houghton who took over from Anthony Wilkinson at Ormskirk, Lancashire. Wilkinson had died in 1804. We have two very good examples this probably the best.

Self-erecting and known generally as the Lancashire Gold Balance. The brass beam is rectangular in section and has a hinged “turn and swing” overweight which counter poises the beam for the guinea or half-guinea. Once folded the end-button release mechanism sets and releases nicely.

A small rectangular sliding weight on the load arm registers in graduations to show discrepancies in of under-weight coins.

The collapsing mechanism makes the whole entirely portal in the gentleman’s trouser.

Functioning Georgian Gold Sovereign Scale

$190.00

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Buffon’s Natural History – 180 Hand Coloured Plates in 31 Volumes – Paris 1827

Oeuvres Completes de Buffon – Mises en order er Precedees d’une Notice Historique Par M.A. Richard Professor Agrege a la Faculte de Medecine de Paris; Suives de Deux Volumes sur les Progress des Sciences Physiques er Naturelles Depuis la mort de Buffon par M. le Baron Cuvier Secretaire Perpetuel de l’Academie Royale des Sciences.

Published by Chez Baudouin Freres and Chez N Delangle Paris in 1827. A full set less volume 8 which is purely narrative – all of the 180 magnificent hand coloured plates are present.

Lavishly bound in full polished tree calf with wide gilt floral design around front and back boards, gilt rolled on board edging, gilt design to spine, with each volume carrying separate black leather title and volume labels themselves gilt styles, marbled endpapers.

Some scuffing and wear to the leather boards and internally occasional foxing and browning and offsetting. On the whole, a handsome set with superior shelf presence – see images – more can be supplied in request – no issue.

Buffon with every hand coloured plate present

$1,590.00

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Diamond River [Venezuela] – Sadio Garavini Di Turno

First published in Italy – this the super English translation published by the Travel Book Club, part of Hamish Hamilton, London in 1963.

Octavo, 208 pages, dusty edges otherwise a very good copy.

An exploration, adventure book with a touch of the “Wild West” but set in the jungles and rivers of Venezuela.

The author one very tough cookie smelled diamonds in and about the remote river known as Liparu by the natives. Encounters with the Taurepan Tribe, Mundo and the beautiful Lolomai. Potent aphrodisiacs are offered and Turno describes the effect and provides the recipe.

Diamonds found and Turno devises his ambitious plan and sets up a mining camp with all the necessaries attracting wayward prospectors under his terms.

May and may not be the way to go about it!

Venezuela adventure with a bag of diamonds to prove it.

$40.00

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Antarctic Lantern Slide – Scott’s Southern Party about to Depart – 2nd November 1902 – Newton & Co

In the Great White Land [Polar Regions] – Gordan Stables

Antique Brass Table Spectroscope by John Browning of London circa 1880

Folding Georgian Guinea Scales circa 1805

Buffon’s Natural History – 180 Hand Coloured Plates in 31 Volumes – Paris 1827

Diamond River [Venezuela] – Sadio Garavini Di Turno

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