Curiosities

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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The Charm of Hobart – Jack and Turnbull

And charming it is. A delightful little book on the architecture of Hobart by Clive Turnbull with excellent drawings by Kenneth Jack.

First published in 1949, this is the second printing the year after. Published by Ure Smith, Sydney as part of a broader series.

Small octavo, 56 pages with paper covered boards. A very good copy with previous owners bookplate on front past down. Postage will be reduced on this item on billing.

The narrative is most helpful to those wishing a good and speedy knowledge. This images include some building sadly gone. See if you can spot them.

One of the Hobart Essentials

$20.00

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Australian Fairywrens – Sir William Jardine – 1826

An original hand-coloured engraving of three species of Australian Fairywrens published in Edinburgh 1826 by Scotland’s greatest naturalist Sir William Jardine (1800-1874).

The engraving was published as part of Jardine’s first great work “Illustrations in Ornithology” a now scarce and valuable collection of bird engravings.

Printed on strong paper with a good plate mark, albeit a little tight on the left (32cm by 22cm). Very good condition.

Drawn by William Jardine himself and signed in the plate. This engraving and colouring have a somewhat naive nature which we think gives them a special artistic appeal.

We have the male Red Breasted Fairywren (Malarus Brownii); Variegated Fairywren (Malarus Lamberli) and the Superb Fairywren (Malarus Cyaneus). The Red Breasted is prevalent from the very North of Australia around the Kimberleys down to the Hunter Valley; the Variegated is found along the East Coast as is the Superb Fairywren although this beautiful creature is more common in the South and Tasmania

Jardine was the 7th Baronet of Applegirth, Dumfriesshire and founder of the Ray Society. He was a superb artist in his own right but utilised the great illustrators of the day to complete his works including, Edward Lear, Selby, Stewart, Thompson and William Holmes-Lizars

Price $180.00 Unframed

Australian Fairywrens – Three of Them

$180.00

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Australian Bristlebird (Dasyornis Australis) [Endangered] – Sir William Jardine – 1826

An original hand-coloured engraving of Bristlebird published in Edinburgh 1826 by Scotland’s greatest naturalist Sir William Jardine (1800-1874). This image is one of the earliest fine engravings of the bird. First found and described by Latham around Port Jackson in 1801.

The engraving was published as part of Jardine’s first great work “Illustrations in Ornithology” a now scarce and valuable collection of bird engravings. Printed on thick wove paper (30cm by 23cm) with a strong plate impression, good strong colouring and generally clean condition. Would frame up nicely for display.

The Bristlebirds are named after the stiff “’hair like” feathers that arise around the beak. They are thought to assist in catching insects upon which they feed and also provide protection to the eye. There are a number of sub-species of the Eastern, Rufous and Western Bristlebirds. Subclassifications of those number six of which one is extinct, one critically endangered and two endangered and the other two on the way. Bush fires and land clearing the main culprits.

Jardine was the 7th Baronet of Applegirth, Dumfriesshire and founder of the Ray Society. He was a superb artist in his own right but utilised the great illustrators of the day to complete his works including, Edward Lear, Selby, Stewart, Thompson and William Holmes-Lizars

Price $180.00 Unframed

Early engraving of the endangered Australian Bristlebird … help to save them

$180.00

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Ada Aurantiaca (Orchid from South America) – Nugnet Finch for Warner 1882

Original hand finished lithograph printed from stone by John Nugent Finch for the illustrious Orchid Album by Warner and Moore and published by Benjamin Williams. This was from the first collection published in 1882. The work was not completed until 1887. Still regarded as the most complete and beautiful work on the spectacular orchid family.

This beautiful orchid hails from the mountains Colombia and Ecuador. It was first described and named by Voyager hero John Lindley in the 1850’s. They grow in warm damp forests around 2,000 metres.

A good size at 30cm x 24cm completely clean. the colours bright and enhanced with gum arabic.

Price $120.00 unframed

Spectacular Orchid from South America

$120.00

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Report on Australian Languages and Traditions (Parts I and II Complete) – Rev William Ridley MA – 1872/3

An original extract from the Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 1872/73 pages 257-291. Octavo, soft modern wraps for protection, very good copies.

William Ridley (1919-1878) a supporter of the aboriginal community and compiler of languages .. a talented linguist. He arrived in Sydney in 1850 at the request of Rev J.D. Lang. Ordained and went to the New England are which he expanded into Moreton Bay and the Darling Downs. For financial reasons he later took on the roles of pastoralist and Journalist. He continued his interest in the aboriginal people and was the author of a landmark book on the Kumilaroi, Dippil and Turrubul people published in 1866.

These significant papers start with the detail of a thousand plus mile tour around outback NSW. This report is notes to be supplementary to the aforementioned book. Lists “new words” of Paces, with their meaning; Additional Words and Phrases in Kamilaroi, Wailwun etc; Pikumbul – spoken on the Macintyre. He goes on to deal with Social Classification, and Laws of Marriage and Descent; Religious and Mythical Traditions; The Bora; Funeral rites; the Krodjis and their Enchantments; the Recollections of Billy Murri Bundar; Traditions Concerning the Stars [especially interesting to Voyager].

In Part II, Ridley presents his own work on the Kamilaroi, Turrubul and Dippil alongside Gunther and Watson’s on the Wirradhurri, Daniel Bunce in Victoria and Hume on the West Coast. Presenting key words in tabular form.

Rare publication of supplementary work on aboriginal languages and customs by authority William Ridley

$60.00

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Diamond and Precious Metals Scales.

The Charm of Hobart – Jack and Turnbull

Australian Fairywrens – Sir William Jardine – 1826

Australian Bristlebird (Dasyornis Australis) [Endangered] – Sir William Jardine – 1826

Ada Aurantiaca (Orchid from South America) – Nugnet Finch for Warner 1882

Report on Australian Languages and Traditions (Parts I and II Complete) – Rev William Ridley MA – 1872/3

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