Maps

Surveyor’s Prismatic Compass – Retailed by Winsor & Newton, London – Likely Manufactured by Stanley – c1900

A large working surveyor’s prismatic compass.

Blackened brass design 11.0 cm in diameter, weighs 500gm. Engraved on the case lid “Winsor & Newton Ltd, London”. This is the famous supplier or art materials and likely relates to a foray by them into materials for surveying / cartography etc. We cannot find another example of a Winsor labelled instrument, so the initiative was likely short lived. We put the manufacturer as Stanley as there are examples of similar instruments by them in the suggested period.

It really is a super instrument with the added element of fixtures allowing solar measurement or very high vertical objects – see more below.

The sighting arm still contains its “horsehair” and lifts and extends stays in the vertical position. It has the added feature of the variable angled mirror on a rail that runs up and down the sighting arm for high items or solar observations. There is a “fixing” button at the bottom of the sighting ram to lock the compass for solid reading.

The hinged prism housing can be moved to its operating position over the base plate. With the compass held steady and flat a notch on the refractor body is aligned with the horsehair on the arm. A compass reading can be taken through the magnified refractor lens. Attached to the arm are two moveable coloured glass filters in red and amber for solar work and contrast

The silvered compass dial rotates freely, and the glass is free of scratches.

Below the compass is a short, threaded arm for fitting to a surveyor’s pole or equivalent.

Bar a short scratch and a little wear to the blackened cover everything is in fine condition.

Large early prismatic compass with solar reading additions

$190.00

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The Island of Elba – Petrus Bertius – Over Four Hundred Years Old – Printed 1603

An original copper engraved miniature map. One of the most striking and coveted island maps from the early 17th Century.

Engraved by Pieter van den Keere for the great geographer Petrus Bertius and published by Cornelis Claesz in Amsterdam in 1603 for the “Tabularum Geographicarum Contractarum Libri”

Elba the island on which Napoleon was first incarcerated and later escaped to fight again.

Lovely details of the main centres and fortifications; mountains and rivers carefully placed. Sea monsters can be seen .. all finished with an elaborate face embellished cartouche

Framed in gilt within gilt fillet as shown.

Charming sought after 400 years old

$280.00

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The Gold Deposits of the Granites-Tanami Districts, Central Australia by P.S. Hossfeld – 1940 [Edric Chaffer’s Copy]

Sought after report of this area that contains the now 600,000 oz per annum Newmont operated mine. To date 12 million ounces have been extracted and mining activities are continuing at a depth of 1.5 km.

The author Paul Samuel Hossfeld (1896-1967) was born in South Australia worked various geological roles in Australia and Papua New Guinea. During WWII he conducted experimental work for the Government in Melbourne returning to his chosen field afterwards retiring as a senior lecturer at the School of Geology, Adelaide University.

Complete report being no 43 of the Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia. Foolscap in size 28 pages of narrative followed by a full set of eight large folding, mainly coloured, folding maps and plans, all in superb condition.

One of the most remote areas of Australia approximately 500kms north-west of Alice Springs. Arthur Davidson was the first European to discover signs of gold in the Tanami desert around 1900. He gave the area the name Tanami from a local word meaning water hole. It was not until this report based on work conducted throughout the 1930’s that the true potential was recognised – another eighty years would pass until the bonanza became real. What other prospects exist within these reports?

The maps, charts etc include

1. Geological Map – the Granites- Tanami District, Central Australia – Colour [65cm x 35cm]

2. Plan of Quorn-Golden Sho-Vee Portion of the Granites Gold-Field etc showing Geology, Lodes, Workings and Assays – Colour [75cn x 45cm]

3. Assay Plan & Sections of Portion of Golden Shoe & Vee Workings etc [70cm x 56cm]

4. Plan of Long Bottom -Bullagitchie Portion – The Granites etc showing Geology, Lodes, Workings, Assays – Colour [65cm x 45cm]

5. Plan of Bunker’s Hill – Chapman’s hill Portion etc – Colour – [65cm x 95cm!]

6. Plan Tanami Goldfield etc – Reefs & Assays – Some colour – [50cm x 75cm]

7. Plan of Northern Portion – Tanami Gold Field etc [70cm x 70cm]

8. Map – Western Portion of Central Australia Showing Topographical Features – [95cm x 75cm]

The final map above ranges from Alice Springs in the south east to Tennant Creek in the north east; Lake MacDonald in the south west and the sandy areas above Tanami in the north-west. A really super maps produced from numerous sources including aerial surveys in 1934, 1937 and 1938.

Ownership signature of past President of the Royal Society of New South Wales, geologist, Edric Keith Chaffer.

The Granites and Tanami Regions Gold Prospects Expertly reported by Hossfeld

$390.00

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(Sancta Helena) Saint Helena Island – Petrus Bertius – Engraved in Copper 1603

One of the most striking and coveted island maps from the early 17th Century – Saint Helena in the South Atlantic home for Napoleon after his second capture.

Engraved by Benjamin Wright for the great geographer Petrus Bertius and published by Cornelis Claesz in Amsterdam in 1603 for the “Tabularum Geographicarum Contractarum Libri”

Distinctively signed by the elusive Wright in his abbreviated fashion near the bottom center of the plate.

Map 12cm by 9cm to the printed borders. A Voyager favourite.

Price framed in Voyager Miniature map style in beaded gilt frame with gilt fillet. Unframed will be $180.00.

$280.00

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First Discovery of Australia and New Guinea George Collingridge – First Edition1906 [Important Work]

Cornerstone book on the early exploration of Australia / New Guinea … a Voyager favourite/

A narrative on the Portuguese and Spanish Discoveries in the Australasian Regions, between the Years 1492-1606, with descriptions of their old charts.

Octavo, 132 pages the appendices with maps striking maps and images throughout. Published by Brooks, Sydney in 1906. Original green cloth covered binding with gilt title at front, bumped and rubbed, previous ownership signatures, very good internally.

Includes the 16th century voyages to the spice islands and the discovery of New Guinea, the Villalobos Expedition and further discoveries in Papua, Jave-le-Grande and the early map of Australia, the maps of Pierre Descelier, and Deslien. The discovery of the Solomons by Mendana and Sarmiento with an early map and of course Queiroz voyage to Espiritu- Santo and Torres and his important discoveries.

Frontispiece map and many others mostly coloured plus black and white illustrations and a useful chronology.

Collingridge on the early discoveries.

$120.00

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Map Collectors’ Circle – The American Colonies – Bickham – by D Schrire

This is No 27 of the Map Collectors Circle published in 1966. Its proper title is Bickham’s Birds Eye County Views and the British Monarchy, including the North American Supplement, in full reproduction.

It is Bickham’s beautifully executed work … “A Short Description of the American Colonies belonging to the Crown of Great Britain Engraved by George Bickham Snr, London published according to an Act of Parliament 19 Dec 1747” that dominates and makes this issue – hence our corrupted Voyager title.

Usual Original light peach coloured card covers, 42 pages, numerous illustrations and the aforesaid reproduction.

A reminder of the past for those that care or cope.

American Interest – Bickham in 1747

$25.00

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Surveyor’s Prismatic Compass – Retailed by Winsor & Newton, London – Likely Manufactured by Stanley – c1900

The Island of Elba – Petrus Bertius – Over Four Hundred Years Old – Printed 1603

The Gold Deposits of the Granites-Tanami Districts, Central Australia by P.S. Hossfeld – 1940 [Edric Chaffer’s Copy]

(Sancta Helena) Saint Helena Island – Petrus Bertius – Engraved in Copper 1603

First Discovery of Australia and New Guinea George Collingridge – First Edition1906 [Important Work]

Map Collectors’ Circle – The American Colonies – Bickham – by D Schrire

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