Curiosities

Matthew Flinders Medal – Australian Academy of Science

The Australian Academy of Science was formed in 1954 along the lines of the Royal Society, London.

The twenty four founding members included Sir Douglas Mawson, the inaugural President was Sir Mark Oliphant. It is based out of the spectacular Shire Dome, Canberra.

The Matthew Flinders Medal is presented every other year in recognition of scientific research of the highest standard in the physical sciences. To date there have been 31 recipients, the first being J.L. Powsey.

A very interesting medal, 70 mm in diameter weighing 124 gm, copper bronze finish. High relief bust of Flinders with “Australian Academy of Science” and “Matthew Flinders” inside rim. On the reverse a complex high relief image of observers using a telescope and a microscope with a background of planets (including Saturn) and other natural objects with suitable Latin expressions scattered. A little wear to the finish but a very scarce item.

Unusual Flinders Item – Distinguished Awarding Body

$425.00

Updating cart…

Au Pole de Sud a Bicyclette – Emillio Salgari

The French translation of an Emilio Salagari classic translated by J. Fargeau. Salagari being the Italian equivalent of Henty and in some respects Jules Verne. Written in the Italian in the 1890’s this French version was published in 1931 a fifth edition.

Collected because of the genre, the crazy story involving the South Pole and the superb decorative covers by Fontanez. Although, like quite a few, Fontanez should have brushed up his knowledge of natural history.

Extra large octavo, 240 pages with illustrations in the text. Paper with an even browning as usual. The green percaline covered boards with title back and apine decorated boldly in polychrome with penguins, seals and polar bear (mmhh), with three intrepid explorer on an eight wheeled steam assisted velocipede. Top edge gilt. Good condition, bright covers.

A classic Polar Adventure – on a tandem!

$180.00

Updating cart…

The Border and Beyond – Camooweal 1884 – Queensland History – Lillian Miller.

Much more than a local history or if it is the best we have seen and read.

Lillian Miller was the wife of Rocklands Station Manger Robey Miller. The forward is by the great Sir James Balderstone, Chairman of Stanbroke Pastoral and BHP .. he knew them well.

Self published 1984. Folio, softcover 161 pages illustrated throughout many from period photographs. Very clean inside, a very good copy signed by the author.

Camooweal is situated in north west Queensland, 105 kms from Mount Isa and close to the Northern Territory border. The local area covered by this work is known as the Barkly Tablelands and, was named by William Landsbourough on his great inland explorations aligned to finding Burke and Wills. A tree on the Rocklands Station was cut and marked by Landsborough. William Hodgkinson also explored the area.

Great work on many topics including the massive local cave networks.

Detailed history about a remote part of Australia.

$50.00

Updating cart…

Original Watercolour – Lt Janvarin Grassie R.N. – New South Wales – 1876

A delightful Australian School watercolour … a Woman Bathing by a Lake 32cm by 21cm. External frame dimensions. 50cm by 39cm. Lovely palette and a charming naivety.

Matted and framed by upmarket London Picture Framers, Restorers and Guilder with their label on the back. Slight hints of age but still in very good condition.

The artist date and location nicely noted lower left and right on the mat. Decorative lines drawn to mat with lovely choice of fill colouring.

After reasonable research we have not come up with anything on the artist nor any obvious record in the Royal Navy.

Nice Australian watercolour from the 1870’s – Artist named but little known about him.

$590.00

Updating cart…

IMAGO MVUNDI (MUNDI) – Vol II – A Periodical Review of Early Cartography – 1937 Review Copy

The first volume of Imago Mundi had been published in Berlin in 1935. The founders were Leo Bagrow and Hans Wertheim. That year Wertheim left Germany escaping the horrible practices introduced against the Jews.

Bagrow continued, finding a publisher in England, Henry Stevens and an English editor Edward Lynam. So was the beginning of the greatest journal on cartography.

A scarce issue, more so a review copy with the charm of having many of the intended plates tipped into the document.

Folio, softcover, 115 pages plus adverts. Eleven full page plates, three large and folding and many other plates images throughout the text. Covers browned somewhat, internally clean … a very good copy.

Contents includes … From the Cosmos Picture to the World Map; Time Charts of Historical Cartography; The Evolution of Cartography in Japan; The “De Ventis” of Matthew Paris; Atlas by Vesconte Maggiolo 1518; The Booke of the Sea Carte; Kirlov the first Russian Atlas 1689-1737 etc. Numerous shorter articles including The Peking Map Collection; A Treasure Map etc

Imago Mundi at the beginning – already the highest quality and curiosity

$60.00

Updating cart…

Mr Tambourine Man (EP 1965) Spanish Pressing with Special Cover – Les Byrds

Or “El Hombre de la Pandereta” … first Spanish pressing of the Byrds no 1 hit interpretation of Bob Dylan’s classic song … same year as his 1965. Les Byrds first all up.

45 rpm EP, including All I Really Want to Do. I Knew I’d Want You and Feel a Whole Lot Better. Very good condition.

Bob Dylan gave his blessing to the recoding before it was released. Dylan’s version ran for over 5 minutes, but the Byrds decided on a version half that length for air play. It was effectively the first “Folk Rock” hit and in a sense created the genre. Using only the second verse and the chorus twice and an additional construction, starting off with a Bach inspired intro the twelve sting guitar effect is a winner. “You can dance to that” … quote Bob Dylan. The Byrds got Hall of Fame recognition … unusual for a cover … but a special one.

Get out La Panderata tonight …

$30.00

Updating cart…

Matthew Flinders Medal – Australian Academy of Science

Au Pole de Sud a Bicyclette – Emillio Salgari

The Border and Beyond – Camooweal 1884 – Queensland History – Lillian Miller.

Original Watercolour – Lt Janvarin Grassie R.N. – New South Wales – 1876

IMAGO MVUNDI (MUNDI) – Vol II – A Periodical Review of Early Cartography – 1937 Review Copy

Mr Tambourine Man (EP 1965) Spanish Pressing with Special Cover – Les Byrds

Product Categories