Curiosities

Surveying Instruments and Allied Apparatus made by Cooke, Troughton & Simms – 1923

In 1922 the substantial and highly respected instrument maker Cooke merged with the even more esteemed company of Troughton & Simms. The result was a business which dominated the high end of the manufacture of surveying and related instruments.

This catalogue released a year later in 1923 is much more than that as it set the historic record and provided a super narrative and photographic record of the combined companies capabilities. We do gush a bit, but this is such a magnificent item if you have a thing about theodolites!

Softcover cloth protected, 278 pages, numerous photographs, local maps of facilities and how to get there from the nearest railway station. Simple, bold introduction and their market; historical narrative from their inception by Thomas Wright in the early 18thC – his trade card of 1718 provided as an image. Followed by “General Remarks” re manufacturing capability great photographs of each department. Then 23 pages of technical information.

Product pages include a multitude of complex theodolites [including a special design for the Australian environment] and levels, compasses, alidades, clinometers, Galton sun signals, dipping needles, magnetometers, telescopes, etc. And, a section on “Underground Surveying Instruments”. The odd, interesting, image – Shackleton expedition using their gear farthest south in 1921; a chap in a nice suit taking readings down a mine and the miniature theodolite [our favourite] half-way up a rock face in the Rocky Mountains.

Cooke, Troughton & Simms – Never Surpassed and now never will be.

$160.00

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The First Documented Medical Discovery Relating to Australia – An Account of the medicinal Effects of the Resin of Acaroides Resinifera, or Yellow Resin from Botany Bay. By Charles Kite, Surgeon Gravesend, and C.M.S – contained in the Memoirs of the Medical Society of London – Published 1795 [but written in 1790]

A complete volume being Volume IV of the Society printed by Darton and Harvey for Charles Dilly, in the Poultry [London]. Very rare in any form. Published 1795. Incidentally the Medical Society was formed in 1773.

Octavo, 447 pages after preliminaries and before index. Neat library binding with paper title label. Cancelled stamp of the Bath Medical Library [Heaven knows why]. One loose gathering and a little age but a very worthy copy of this most interesting FIRST.

Many of the papers have merit but we must focus here on the paper relating to the Botany Bay resin. {Note resin and gum interchangeable below per Kite’s use]

Charles Kite who died in 1811 [no record of dob] is known for this work and another on “raising the apparently dead” he was the first to publish an example of using an electric shock [static electricity] to resuscitate a cardiac arrest.

We understand Charles Kite came up with the name Acaroides Resinifera for the plant, whilst it is now known as Xanthorrhoea or Grass Tree. Cook noted it in his journals in the year 1770 and it is now widely accepted that the gum was used for a variety of purposes by the aborigines including for its medical properties.

After an introduction relating to its use in stomach complaints Kite gives some historical background – refers to Philip’s journal {p. 59,60] but goes on to say the best information came from Mr Bowes Surgeon on the Lady Penrhyn. Bowes after describing the tree precisely goes on to where the “gum” is found, its quantity and how it is easily got especially in a hot sun. Kite goes on to record thirty experiments concerning the “gum” – various solutions and extractions. Kite proceeds to describe various cases where the “gum” has been used and the outcomes … also cases noted by other medics including Thompson of Rochester; Andrews of Brompton and Harris of Gravesend.

Comprehensive trial of the Botany Bay Resin by Charles Kite 1790/95 – Surely a FIRST

$490.00

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Folding Georgian Guinea Scales c1805

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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Fossil Fern Fragments – Lune River Tasmania – Early Jurassic Forest circa 182 million years old.

Three nice small examples of fossil fern from the Lune River area deep in the southern reaches of Tasmania. Nicely cut and polished.

The dating of the examples in this location to the middle of the early Jurassic Period (182 Ma) was by isotopic measurements on zircons found in the volcanic sandstone hosting the fossils (Bromfield et al 2007). Also refer the excellent guide by P. Manchester.

A nice cabinet group weighing circa 60gms.

Fossil ferns from Jurassic Tasmania .

SO SORRY SOLD

$30.00

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The Damon Runyon Omnibus [Including Guys and Dolls] – 1944

A first of kind published by Sun Dial Press, garden City, New York in 1994. High quality production despite the war years. Note this is the novel not the musical narrative …

Largish octavo, 505 pages, a few chips to what otherwise is a super dust jacket – very good copy overall.

Damon Runyon was the man behind “Guys and Dolls” and much more on Broadway here are three of his stories, first published in this form – “Money From home”, “Blue Plate Special” and the aforementioned all-time hit.

Much compared with P.G. Wodehouse … which is three stars to start ….

“When you see a sport and his cash has run short – Make a bet that he’s banking it with some doll
When a guy wears tails with front gleaming white – Who the hell do you think he’s tickling pink
… on Saturday night?”

A rarity that takes you back

$50.00

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Queensland Fossil Plants – Dicotyledon and Others – Redbank Plains Formation – 45 Million Years

A nice slab of carbonaceous shale showing numerous preserved plants from the middle Eocene era – circa 45 million years ago – a period regraded as the “dawn of modern life”.

Fossils were found in the Redbank Plains area as early as 1900 by settlers. Most of the sites have been built out which makes the having of specimens all that more cherishable.

A good example 19.0cm by 16.0cm, 3.0cm deep, weighing 1,180gms

Earliest examples of Australian modern plants – if that makes sense.

$65.00

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Surveying Instruments and Allied Apparatus made by Cooke, Troughton & Simms – 1923

Folding Georgian Guinea Scales c1805

Fossil Fern Fragments – Lune River Tasmania – Early Jurassic Forest circa 182 million years old.

The Damon Runyon Omnibus [Including Guys and Dolls] – 1944

Queensland Fossil Plants – Dicotyledon and Others – Redbank Plains Formation – 45 Million Years

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