Natural History

The Fossil Fishes of the Hawkesbury Series at Gosford – Robert Etheridge Jnr – 1890

A very good copy of this rare report issued by the New South Wales Department of Mines – Memoirs of the Geological Survey of New South Wales – Palaeontology No 4.

Thick hard cover, cloth crimped spine, as issued. Large format 30 cm x 25 cm.

Begins proper with a letter from Wilkinson Geological Surveyor in Charge to the Minister setting out the background and content. A railway was being built in the Hawkesbury region, and a superb group of fish fossil remains were found … they were examined by non-other than T. W. Edgeworth David who provides a “Stratigraphical Note” as an introduction along with a geological section of the “find”.

55 pages of scientific narrative are followed by ten full page plates on very thick paper / card with interwoven explanatory notes. An impressive set of engravings lithographed by Berjeau & Highley printed by Mintern Bros.

Philibert Charles Berjeau [1845-1927] was a leading London based natural history lithographer who worked hand in hand with Percy Highley [1856-1929]; the printers Mintern Bros were also London based and produced work of a high technical standard including John Gould’s Birds of New Guinea.

Rare work edited by Etheridge introduced by Edgeworth David and lithographed by a top London outfit.

$140.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1936 – Meston on the Origin of the Tasmanians

Printed by Shimmins, Hobart – the Government Printer. Published, as always, a year later – 1937.

Contains a number of papers of natural history interest – crustaceans, leaf-hoppers, and fossil plane [at Warrentinna, North East Tasmania.

A good paper by much hated Crowther on an early sealing voyage in the Bass Staits – the schooner “Brothers” Captain Kelly. Historical content is from a manuscript log by Kelly in Crowthers hands – we would love to know where it is now. This is an early voyage indeed before Kelly’s circumnavigation of the island. They had a total cull of over 7,000 seals [poor things]. Salt to preserve the skins was got from Kangaroo Island.

Distinguished anthropologist A.L. Meston offers a thoroughly considered paper on the origins of the Tasmanian aboriginal. Written without prejudice we think – he debunks the then theory that they arrived via Pacific Islands [via New Caledonia] and believes that they arrived in Northern Australia and after moving south, island hopping over the Bass Strait having the skill to build the bark canoes that feature in our modern view of their history. Interesting report.

Original soft wrappers, larger size, 104 pages, illustrated with scientific drawings, images form photographs etc. A nice copy.

The origin of the Tasmanian aboriginals, voyage of the Brothers etc

$80.00

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Wai-Wai [Through the Forests North of the Amazon] – Nicholas Guppy.

Important book about the little known Wai-Wai from the border of Gayana and Brazil. Nicholas Guppy was an incredible individual – he died in Bali in his 80’s having gone there to alleviate the effects of hookworm which found their way into his system during these adventures. We strongly recommend reading his obituary in the London Telegraph … too much and too interesting to paraphrase here.

Thick octavo, 374 pages, first edition published by none other than John Murray, London in 1958. Chips to dust jacket as seen in the image but still a very good copy of a must have book.

A useful map near the front provides an overview of the travels first by light aircraft, then foot and canoe over very difficult terrain and waters. Guppy a botanist was sent to secure rare specimens but foremost in his mind was finding the elusive Wai-Wai. The travels were arduous; finding sufficient food along the way was problematic – particularly as the gang of native helpers he used appeared to regard him [his body] as back-up should provisions be depleted! Eventually he meets his Wai-Wai … a most unusual group, completely unaffected by western life. He came to love and admire them – reflected in this book and from what we read his conversation throughout his life.

We wish we could say more and maybe be more precise about this work – it is more than worthy.

Adventurous Guppy meets his Wai-Wai and they get along well.

$50.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1893 – [Includes catalogue of Tasmanian Minerals - Pettard]

Printed at “The Mercury”, Hobart and issued in June 1894. Usual original presentation, octavo, perfect bound, xxvi pages of “Proceedings” followed by 219 pages of “Papers”. Appropriately illustrated, good condition albeit creases and chip to top corner of front wrapper. Very clean and crisp internally.

W.F. Pettard’s 73-page catalogue of Tasmanian mineral and notes on their distribution commences the Papers. Pettard was a boot and shoe importer in Hobart and then Launceston. Other than that, he was a distinguished naturalist and scientist – he had a home laboratory to envy. He was an accomplished taxidermist and before coming to Tasmania too part in scientific explorations in the Solomons and New Guinea. This was his first mineral catalogue – he was to publish an update just before his death nearly twenty years later.

Other papers of interest include Geology around Lake St Clair; Glacial action in Tasmania; Notes on the Mt Lyell Mine; Rare fish; Fossil Flora etc

Special papers on the minerals, geology and mines of Tasmania.

$80.00

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Francois Peron’s Natural History of Maria Island Tasmania. – Brian Plomley and Others

Another Plomley rarity we don’t expect to see again for a long time.

Published as part of the Records of the Queen Victoria Museum in 1990.

Soft cover, 50 pages, with charts etc all in fine condition.

Baudin spent three days circumnavigation Maria Island in February 1802. Francois Peron was zoologist but also made meteorological, geomorphic, botanical observation – a multi faceted scientist was Peron.

Peron knew his stuff when it came to Maria.

$30.00

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The General (Bruny d’Entrecasteaux) – The Visits of the Expedition led by Bruny d’Entrecasteaux to Tasmanian Waters in 1792 and 1793 – Brian Plomley and Piard- Bernier.

Another special book by Brian Plomley with the help of Josiane Pirad- Bernier. Now very scarce.

Large wide octavo, 378 pages, illustrated. Published by the Launceston Museum in 1993. A solid quality production in near fine condition.

Very well researched and written book on the Bruny d’Entrecasteaux and his visits to Tasmania.

Covers the preparations for the voyage and the officers of the Recherche and Esperance, and among other things their scientific work [Natural History, Geological, Botanical and Zoological].

Also includes as appendices the journals of Louis Ventenat and the botanist Louis Dechamps.

Rare collectable D’Entrecasteaux – more than a channel.

$140.00

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The Fossil Fishes of the Hawkesbury Series at Gosford – Robert Etheridge Jnr – 1890

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1936 – Meston on the Origin of the Tasmanians

Wai-Wai [Through the Forests North of the Amazon] – Nicholas Guppy.

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1893 – [Includes catalogue of Tasmanian Minerals - Pettard]

Francois Peron’s Natural History of Maria Island Tasmania. – Brian Plomley and Others

The General (Bruny d’Entrecasteaux) – The Visits of the Expedition led by Bruny d’Entrecasteaux to Tasmanian Waters in 1792 and 1793 – Brian Plomley and Piard- Bernier.

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