Curiosities

Antarctic Treasure – The Songs of the “Morning”

Published by the Bread and Cheese Club Melbourne in 1943 – quarto, original grey ribbed wrappers, frontispiece of the Morning in McMurdo Sound. Previous ownership inscription on title otherwise a very good copy.

The Songs of the “Morning” were composed in the Antarctic on the SY Morning the relief ship to Captain Scott’s expedition of 1901-1904. The music was written by Gerald Doorly – Third Officer and the lyrics by John Morrison – Chief Engineer.

The vessel was originally a Norwegian whaling ship and was refitted for the Antarctic and sailed to Lyttelton, New Zealand before making two trips to the South in support of Scott.

The Bread and Cheese Club was a Melbourne based art and literary society founded in 1938 with the purpose of fostering “Mateship, Art and Letters”. This all male establishment published only 40 books. Following the death of its founder J.K. Moir it fell into decline and was disbanded in 1988.

No music has been composed further South – And Bring Back the “Bread and Cheese”

$120.00

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King Arthur – The Cycle of the Round Table – Trade Cards 100 Years Old

A group of six decorative trade cards by Liebig advertising their tasty Bouillon Oxo. Printed and issued around 1910. In the French with a good description the rear of the card … a good language lesson.

Delightful chromolithographs depicting (1) Arthur defending Wales; (2) His wedding procession with his bride Guinevere; (3) A Feast at The Round Table; (4) Arthur in Ireland receiving tributes; (5) Perceval sets off on his Adventures (6) The Death of Arthur. Each 10cms x 7.3cms.

King Arthur done proud by Liebig

$80.00

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Stories of King Arthur & His Knights – U Waldo Cutler (After Malory) – 1911

Published by George Harrap, London in 1914 a first edition of this type.

Retold from Malory’s “Morte DArthur” by Uriel Waldo Cutler (1854-1936). Cutler’s efforts well recognised and first in print in 1904

Octavo, 236 pages with a lovely pictorial cover and spine in pretty good condition. Prize label on front end paper to some bright spark dated 1921.

Nicely illustrated with a striking colour frontispiece of “Sir Lancelot before the Cross” by Stella Langdale. Fourteen other full page plates from work by Rosseti, Burne-Jones and others.

The legendary tales were first put down in one place by George of Monmouth in the early thirteen century. In the fifteenth century Sir Thomas Malory produced the definitive work “Le Morte Darthur” completed in 1470, This was at the time Caxton really got going with his printing press so Malory’s work was destined to be promoted and preserved.

Naturally, the language and expression of Malory’s writing reflects the period and “modern” writers have edited the text to be readable nowadays. Waldo Cutler did a magnificent job and presents Arthur here in 42 progressive tales.

A scarce nicely presented Arthur

$90.00

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Was Jane Austen Happy in Bath? – Nigel Nicolson

Jane Austen lived at No 4 Sydney Place, Bath with her parents between 1801 and 1806. Many authorities suggest Austen was much more at home in the country .. and in fact did not like urban living.

Nigel Nicolson explores the evidence that suggest the contrary regarding her time at Bath. This work relates to a lecture given by Nicolson at the Holburne Museum of Art on 27th June 2002. And published by the Museum.

Octavo, card cover with separate wrapping jacket, 23 pages plus (oddly named) a page of “footnotes at the end. A nice little production I fine condition.

Nigel Nicolson (1917-2004) was the son of Sir Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville West. He was a prolific writer and publisher … including works on Austen, Virginia Woolf and his mother of whom he wrote openly about her bisexuality which in the day caused a bit of a surprise.

A special one for the Jane Austen fans by a distinguished authority.

$40.00

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Sir John Franklin and Lady Jane Franklin Commemorative Medal

A large bronze medal produced by Emil Hafner for the Tasmanian Numismatic Society in 1987 to celebrate the 150-year anniversary of the arrival of Sir John Franklin in Tasmania.

One of 150 examples (there were 40 in silver) finely engraved by Hafner Mint founded by Czechoslovakian born Emil Hafner.

65mm in diameter, and 94gm weight.

On one side a strong image of Franklin in his regalia his ship HMS Erebus trapped in the ice. Engraved around the edge … Sir John Franklin 1786-1847 Arctic Explorer – Governor of Van Diemen’s Land 1837-1843.

On the reverse, a well known yet striking image of the beautiful Jane Lady Franklin 1791-1875 Patron of the Arts in Van Diemen’s Land 1837-1845

Franklin Connecting Tasmania with Polar Exploration and the North West Passage.

ON HOLD FOR VALUED CUSTOMER

$140.00

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The Life of Marco Polo – Liebig Advertising Cards

A complete group of six attractive trade cards by Liebig issued mid-20th Century. In Dutch – Het Leven Van Marco Polo – “The Life of Marco Polo”

Delightful images depicting various stages in the adventures of Marco Polo. Significant narrative, in Dutch, at the rear of each card … more than usual which makes for that special foreign language lesson.

Each 10cms x 7.3cms in very good condition.

Card 1 – First Departure for the East; 2 – The Roof of the World; 3 – Governor of Jaugia in Service of the Great Khan Koubilai; 4 – At the Head of the Victorious Army; 5 – The Battle of Cuzole; The recounting of his Travels – Il Milione.

Marco Polo – his Life in Beautiful Images

$60.00

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Antarctic Treasure – The Songs of the “Morning”

King Arthur – The Cycle of the Round Table – Trade Cards 100 Years Old

Stories of King Arthur & His Knights – U Waldo Cutler (After Malory) – 1911

Was Jane Austen Happy in Bath? – Nigel Nicolson

Sir John Franklin and Lady Jane Franklin Commemorative Medal

The Life of Marco Polo – Liebig Advertising Cards

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