Non-fiction

Horne and Thornthwaite Field Microscope – Triple compound objective – 1874

A Victorian field or students drum microscope by one of the most important London based makers and retailers of optical instruments in the 19th Century Horne and Thornthwaite. Carries their stamp inside the lid when they were at Holborn Viaduct which can be pinned down to 1874, having moved from Newgate the year before moving to upmarket premises in the Strand the year after.

The business sold microscope, telescopes, cameras, chemicals and laboratory equipment from 1844 until 1911. The history of the business is fascinating but unfortunately too much to go into here. There is an excellent summary online .. we can direct any interested parties.

The microscope on offer is in very good if not better condition. The condition of the lacquer is possibly the best we have seen. The optics are pretty good and the compounding objectives combine nicely, swivel mirror unblemished. The original mahogany box has its original clips and eyelets and shows little ageing or patina on the lid. Internally undamaged. Comes with what look like original specimen tweezers.

Super condition field microscope – known relevant maker retailer.

$260.00

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Arbitration Act , 1892 – Forms and Notes of Cases – James Moriarty – First 1893

James Moriarty, Barrister of Middle Temple had Chambers at 12 Wentworth Court, Sydney.

This is a first printing 1893 of his work on the position of arbitration law in New South Wales. It follows the relevant Act of 1892. Over 150 cases are cited.

Octavo, xi, 76 pages, Australian Law Book catalogue as end paper, original deep olive green cloth covered binding, blind embossed to boards, gilt title to spine, pages very bright except the title which has the ghost of a piece of paper once left in there, otherwise a very good copy.

Historical Law – the Rules on Solving Arguments 1892

$60.00

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Growing Pains – The Shaping of a Writer – Daphne du Maurier – First Edition 1977

First Australian edition published by Hutchinson in conjunction with Victor Gollancz in 1977.

A special autobiography of the writer who would become a legend with Rebecca. Ownership signature back of half title otherwise a very good copy.

Octavo, 173 pages with images from photographs from the family album.

She writes of her early life from the time she was a small child up to the age of 25 when by then she was married and had completed her first novels. Her grandfather was the recognised artist and writer George du Maurier and her father Gerald a notes actor …. They were well to o so Daphne ha a pretty fancy early life … London, Paris etc but it was not until the family moved to Cornwall that she found what she was searching for in life … and the rest is well in the words in more ways than one.

Daphne du Maurier admired autobiography

$40.00

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The Memoirs of the Marq de Langallerie: containing an Account Of the most Secret Intrigues of the French, Spanish and Bavarian Courts: and the Most Remarkable Battles, Sieges and Encampments in Germany Spain and Flanders. – Courtilz de Sandras – First Edition 1708

First English edition published by R Burrough et al, London. Octavo, 12, 324 pages, bound in contemporary full panelled calf, no title label, joint cracking but holding well. Browning and marks to text with a flower press image on one leaf. Scarce in any condition and especially in original binding.

An entertaining and revelatory history of the European wars of the period, based on the dramatized account published by Pierre Marteau of Cologne and attributed to Courtilz de Sandras … possibly a nom de plume for Gabriel Alphonse de Sassenger.

The continental version did not mention Langallerie by name … who was an obscure military figure in the French Army, who had fallen out of Royal favour and was subsequently imprisoned for encouraging a revolt of French Protestants.

Secret Memoirs of Langerallerie by de Sandras Perhaps.

$180.00

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Shipwrecks – Being the Historical Account of Shipwrecks along the Victorian Coast from Cape Otway to Port Fairy 1836-1914 – Margaret Mackenzie.

This is the third enlarged self published edition 1964 printed by National Press, Melbourne. Small octavo, 135 pages illustrated. A very good copy, bookplate of previous owner on front free end paper.

The author of this book had a lifetime interest in the subject. What makes the book all the more astonishing is that she was twelve years blind before she started to put it together with the help of her daughter Jean.

Covers eighteen important shipwrecks starting with the elusive “Mahogany Ship” … then the Thistle; Children; Joanna; Enterprise; Schomberg; Champion; Marie Gabrielle; Young Australia; Loch Ard; Eric the Red; Olivia Davis; Edinburgh Castle; Fiji; Newfield; La Bella; Falls of Halladale and the Antares.

Some nice detail and a super sketch map of the wreck locations. To read this is to have a pretty thorough knowledge of the events … the author sure did.

Victorian Shipwrecks – a Key Reference

$25.00

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“Cowslips” – Original Multi Coloured Woodcut – by Australian born Hall Thorpe – 1922

One for the collector. A striking example of a desirable woodcut by Australian born Hall Thorpe.

A very good bright impression, signed in pencil below the image. Thick wove paper 27cm by 23cm, printed area 16.5cm by 15.2cm. A lovely example. Authority on Hall Thorpe, Richard King (see Voyager listing) reference no 10. This work was completed in 1922.

Hall Thorpe (1874-1947) was born in Victoria, Australia. In the 1890’s he was apprenticed to John Fairfax as an engraver for the Sydney Mail. He was pretty good. In 1902 he moved to England and commenced further study at the Heatherly School of Art, Chelsea. He honed his skill in woodblocks holding his first one-man show in London in 1918. It was a great success and by the early 1920’s he had gained an enviable reputation for woodblock floral still life. He printed each example himself ensuring consistency and standard. Operating first from a studio in Redcliffe Square, he then moved into gallery space in South Kensington. As well as the UK they were popular in the USA and France

Original signed Hall Thorpe Woodcut – Cowslips.

$360.00

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Horne and Thornthwaite Field Microscope – Triple compound objective – 1874

Arbitration Act , 1892 – Forms and Notes of Cases – James Moriarty – First 1893

Growing Pains – The Shaping of a Writer – Daphne du Maurier – First Edition 1977

The Memoirs of the Marq de Langallerie: containing an Account Of the most Secret Intrigues of the French, Spanish and Bavarian Courts: and the Most Remarkable Battles, Sieges and Encampments in Germany Spain and Flanders. – Courtilz de Sandras – First Edition 1708

Shipwrecks – Being the Historical Account of Shipwrecks along the Victorian Coast from Cape Otway to Port Fairy 1836-1914 – Margaret Mackenzie.

“Cowslips” – Original Multi Coloured Woodcut – by Australian born Hall Thorpe – 1922

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