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Curiosities

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  • Vintage Microscope Slide – Pollen from the Antarctic

    Vintage Microscope Slide – Pollen from the Antarctic

    Nice condition, quality mount of an unusual subject – Pollen from the Coast of the Antarctic.

    Nice deep mount with well preserved coloured mount rings. We are unsure who the preparer was but would suggest they must have been a professional given the mount is in such good shape. The hand written label looks familiar to us but we still cannot pick the preparer.

    The location likely in the area immediately south of South America … as these pollen samples would have started life in warmer climes.

    Unusual Antarctic Microscope Slide

    $40.00

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  • Original Herculaneium Mezzotint  By Vanni – Late 18th Century

    Original Herculaneium Mezzotint By Vanni – Late 18th Century

    An original copper engraved hand coloured mezzotint after Vanni depicting antiquities unearthed at Ercolano (Herculaneum) a Roman municipium buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in AD79.

    Engraved area 24 cm by 12c, with very strong plate mark, excellent condition. Matted ready to frame.

    The engraving was included in set of rare books entitled “Le Antichita di Ercolano Espotse” (the Antiquites discovered at Herculaneum) published under the command of Carlo II, King of Naples. They were printed by the Royal Printing House in Naples between 1755 and 1792, This production was the first item published on the excavations and made a major contribution to the formation of the neoclassic style which spread over Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries.

    Price $220.00 matted and unframed.

    Super classical image.

    $220.00

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  • Fine Carte de Visite – Adventure Author and Secretary to the Marine Society – Samuel Whitchurch Sadler – William Trindall Pembroke Dock. 1860’s.

    Fine Carte de Visite – Adventure Author and Secretary to the Marine Society – Samuel Whitchurch Sadler – William Trindall Pembroke Dock. 1860’s.

    Samuel Whitchurch Sadler was a prolific writer of maritime adventure stories of the period. Quite a number involved slave ships … The African Cruiser; Slavers and Cruisers; The Good Ship Barbara; The Flag Lieutenant and our favourite The Ship of Ice. The Marine Society is the World’s oldest Maritime Charity. Formed in 1756 at the Kings Arms Tavern, Cornhill London. The objective of the charity … to train and improve the lot of young men, often orphans, and train then up, cloth them etc so they had more chance of survival in the Navy.

    The photographer was William Trindall, an Oxford born “photographic artist” who was operating out of premises in the Docks at Pembroke from 1868. A previous owner has written 1864 on the reverse … this might be a tad early.

    A very good image in fine condition.

    Distinguished Marine Identity and prolific story teller

    $40.00

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  • Some Songs of the South Pole  [From Operation Deep Freeze] – Edward Bacon

    Some Songs of the South Pole [From Operation Deep Freeze] – Edward Bacon

    Published privately, first and only, by the author, Washington DC in 1960. Landscape presentation, 72 pages. A trifle marked to covers … still a very good copy.

    Edward Bacon participated in the US “Operation Deep Freeze I” in 1955 when the Americans established their permanent base on the Antarctic. Here he documents his cold climate experiences, songs and poetry. A really interesting companion to the “Songs of the Morning” … see our separate listing

    Curious South Polar Item from Operation Deep Freeze.

    $70.00

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  • Fine Photograph – Dr David Livingstone.  J. G. Tunny, Photographer, Edinburgh Circa 1870’s.

    Fine Photograph – Dr David Livingstone. J. G. Tunny, Photographer, Edinburgh Circa 1870’s.

    Distinguished African Missionary and Explorer, Dr David Livingstone died in 1871. This photograph likely taken just before his final African adventure. He left for Zanzibar in 1866, part of his objective to find the source of the Nile, believing it to be further south than proposed by Burton and Speke. It was in 1870 that Stanley found him with that now famous introduction “Livingstone I presume?”.

    The photographer James Good Tunny (1820-1887) was highly regarded and in business for many years. This image was reproduced likely to commemorate news of the death of Livingstone as it references 13 Maitland Street, Edinburgh and 11 Salisbury Place … the latter being Tunny’s second studio and home from 1871 to 1886.

    A very good image in carte de visite style, a trifle marked, otherwise a fine albumen print.

    Important photograph of the esteemed African Explorer, Dr David Livingstone, possibly commemorative.

    $90.00

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  • “Society of Arts” Victorian Brass Microscope with Case – c1860-70

    “Society of Arts” Victorian Brass Microscope with Case – c1860-70

    A quality fully working English brass microscope from around 1860-70.

    With the early V shaped bar for rack and pinion focus and fine adjustment knurled knob. Two objectives both multiple compounding. There is also Live Box for observing creepy crawlies. The concave mirror is in very good condition. The original mahogany case is a quality box, original to the instrument and in very good condition, with separate drawer for slides and bits and pieces. The case still has its original lock and its key, often long lost. The microscope is mounted on a rectangular mahogany board which slides into the case.

    Very similar to the example presented by Peter Turner FRMS to the Royal Microscopical Society catalogued as number 92 in authority Turner.

    In the early 1850’s the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce offered a prize for the design of a compact compound microscope that could sell for 3 guineas. The design, which is reflected here, was won by Robert Fields & Son of Birmingham in 1854. Due to the popularity of the design it was copied by others but often at a higher price. These copies were often unsigned as is the case here. However, the brass foot is very much in the style of Ross so we suspect it came from that maker.

    Nice 19th Century Cased Brass Microscope..

    $590.00

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