Curiosities

A Journey to the Interior of the Earth – Jules Verne – c1905

Jule Verne classic published by Ward Lock, London, early 20th century, likely pre-WWI. Part of the “Lilley series” – with catalogue at rear indication forty volumes available and another ten in preparation which appears circa 1905. Octavo, 256 pages.

Lovely pictorial image pasted to front board, with “framing” decoration, which is repeated on the spine. The aforesaid image is repeated as a frontispiece. Some foxing to title and page edges. Generally, given the excellent covers, still a good to better copy for its age.

Often Journey to the “Centre” here the ”Interior” but we still come out in Iceland, where else? Another slightly unusual translation which adds to the fun.

Century old Jules Verne – off into the Centre (Interior)

$80.00

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Pat Corrigan – Three Bookplates Commissioned from Australian Artists – 1970′s

Three original bookplates by three quite different artists, all produced circa 1970’s. All in excellent condition

Earle Backen (1927-2005), books in cubic arrangement. In his time one of the mots respected painters in Sydney. His foundation field was printmaking. In 1954 he won a travelling scholarship and went to London and Paris. 13.5cm x 9.2cm.

Peter Chapman (1925-2016) Blues Player. Chapman born in North Sydney. He became one of Australia’s foremost comic book illustrators including The Phantom Ranger, The Shadow and Sir Falcon. 13cm by 10cm.

James Willibrant (Born 1950) Sydney Harbour. Willibrant was born in Shanghai, returning to Australia in time to study and develop an keen artists talent. Remains very active, his painting are a true delight … look them up. At the time of producing this special bookplate for Pat Corrigan he was teaching art at Chiron College. 12.5cm x 9.0cm. Initialled and dated in the image ’76

Pat Corrigan having done more to re-stimulate the art of bookplate design in Australia than any other person. The Wiki article on Pat Corrigan is excellent and has an interesting section on his promotion of bookplates.

Three Corrigan Commissioned Bookplates by three very different Australian Artists.

$120.00

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Sir Lionel Lindsay – Three Bookplates c1923-1933

Three bookplates by Sir Lionel Lindsay (1874-1961) of particular interest. All based on woodcuts. Very clean condition.

First his own bookplate produced in c1930-33. 9.0 cm x 8.0 cm. Included in authority Mendelssohn 1982. A working proof of this bookplate is held by the NGV, accession 990D-4.

The other two produced by Lionel for his son Peter Lindsay (1907-1990). They were produced earlier circa 1923. The Cockatoo slightly larger at 7.5cm x 6.0cm in the block, the other 6.7cm x 5.7cm in the block.

Three Lionel Lindsay bookplate for himself and his son Peter

$120.00

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Important Microscope Slide – HMS Challenger Expedition – Globigerina Ooze – Station 21 South Atlantic in 1876. Preparer John Browning, the Strand, London.

Contemporary prepared microscope slides of samples taken on the Challenger Expedition are highly sought after. This one is of particular interest as few can be found prepared by John Browning.

The Challenger Expedition 1873-1876 was the perhaps the world’s greatest marine focused scientific expedition. Organised by the world’s greatest club. The Royal Society, a total of 126 thousand kms were travelled. She carried 190km of Indian hemp for making soundings and taking samples, had beautiful fitted laboratories and the finest instruments of the day; and no doubt microscopes made by John Browning a leading maker of microscopes and spectroscopes of the highest standard.

The slide is very clearly labelled with the preparers name and address at 63 The Strand. The date the sample was taken on the Challenger, 21st March 1876. The depth of sample taken, 1,990 fathoms and the location Latitude 21.15 South Longitude 14.2 West.

On the 21st March 1876 the Challenger had been at sea three years and was on her way home to England. The location is almost the same longitude as Voyager’s favourite island Tristan d’Acunha and a few degrees north.

Campbell’s “Log Letters from the Challenger” recorded the passage of the vessel. In literally the final paragraph we have our location.

“On the 6th February 1876 the Challenger left the Falklands for Monte Video; thence she proceeded towards Tristan d’Acunha. [Here they found the water very cold at depth, finding a stratum of water 400 fathoms in thickness below freezing.] From the neighbourhood of Tristan d’Acunha the ship sailed to Ascension, finding shallow soundings, and the bottom temperature 35.9F having left Ascension she touched at Porto Praya, St Vincent, and Vigo, and arrived at Spithead on the 24th May 1878. And so ended the cruise of the Challenger”

In our images we show a chart showing the track of the vessel (taken from Campbell’s Log-Letters – see our copy) and the nature of various sample taken [Yellow] is Globigerina Ooze. The location of this sample is almost equidistant between Tristan and Ascension [just south west of St Helena}. You will see that it is marked Station 21 and the depth of 1,990 noted.

Globigerina refers to planktonic foraminifera with calcareous shells.

See our Research Section for a note on the achievements of John Browning. We have his spectroscopes for sale elsewhere on this site.

Original Challenger Expedition prepared slide, of good Globigerina sample, from known location and date of sample – rare distinguished preparer.

$290.00

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Devil Girl – Limited Edition – Robert Crumb

Collectable Crumb fantasy item of one of his key characters Devil Girl. Number 353 of 550 numbered and signed by Crumb on the base. Approximately 20cm in diameter and 15cms to the tip of her delectable toes. Very good condition – excellent provenance.

From the erotica collection of Fiona Patten, Member of the Victorian Parliament. Fiona Patten ran the sex industry lobby group, the Eros Association in the 1990’s and early part of this century. Along with Robbie Swan she collected erotic art which became the foundation for her National Museum of Erotica, Canberra. Fiona unhappy with the developing nanny state formed a new political party … The Sex Party and won her first Senate seat in 2010. Distracted by politics the erotic collection was sold off

Diamond and Precious Metals Scales.

Circa 1920’s a pocket sized set of scales. In beach wood box with nice curved lid, catch and press button open working nicely.

Complete with two pans, approximately 3.5cm in diameter, scales operate nicely. Original tweezers with diamond “shovel” head. Weights are covered with a pop up lid and smaller weights with a round stopper within that. External dimensions of the case are 12cm by 7cm by 2.5 cm. A handy size for the trousers

Nice example of portable “jewellers” scales from early 20thC.

$140.00

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A Journey to the Interior of the Earth – Jules Verne – c1905

Pat Corrigan – Three Bookplates Commissioned from Australian Artists – 1970′s

Sir Lionel Lindsay – Three Bookplates c1923-1933

Important Microscope Slide – HMS Challenger Expedition – Globigerina Ooze – Station 21 South Atlantic in 1876. Preparer John Browning, the Strand, London.

Devil Girl – Limited Edition – Robert Crumb

Diamond and Precious Metals Scales.

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