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  • The Atlantic Ocean (A Bridge Between Two Worlds) – George Kay

    The Atlantic Ocean (A Bridge Between Two Worlds) – George Kay

    Published by the London Museum Press, first edition 1954. Octavo, 208 pages nicely illustrated throughout. Very good condition.

    A not at all dated history of the Atlantic .From early Viking days … then Columbus, Cabot, Drake, Raleigh etc. The great islands and Voyager’s favourite St Helena. And in the air … the Alcock and Brown non-stop 1919 from Newfoundland. Slavery. Whaling. The fierce battles of WWII. Quite a subject in one book.

    The Atlantic – a very good reference

    $25.00

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  • British Mineralogy; or Coloured Figures intended to Elucidate the Mineralogy of Great Britain – James Sowerby Volume I and Volume II – Baron Stanley of Alderley’s Copy

    British Mineralogy; or Coloured Figures intended to Elucidate the Mineralogy of Great Britain – James Sowerby Volume I and Volume II – Baron Stanley of Alderley’s Copy

    One of the Greatest Illustrated Coloured Plate Books of all Time

    Printed by R. Taylor and Co, London 1804 – 1806. The first two volumes of what would eventually become a five volume set.

    Containing 200 stunning hand coloured engraved copper plates representing the first comprehensively illustrated reference on Mineralogy. Many of the plates have applied gum arabic which gives them a more intense image. Each plate has a strong plate impression and is engraved with the date of publication and the engravers name, Jas Sowerby, London.

    Octavo xii, 223 and 199 pages plus corrigenda to each volume. Plates not included in the pagination, but all present. Plates bright and clean … a very good set. Binding half leather with original marbled paper covered boards. Re-backed well at some time with separate black leather title labels, volume number in gilt applied direct. Original end papers retained.

    Volume I commences with a dedication to Sir Joseph Banks, as the “Grand Promoter of every Science connected with Natural History”. A three page Preface explaining the volumes to come. A “Sketch of a System for British Mineralogy” introducing the classifications of Combustibles (Homogeneous, Compound and Aggregate), Earth and Metals. Followed by certain “Observations on the System”. Each plate is followed by a two page description of the mineral depicted.

    The work was originally issued in parts commencing with Volume I Number I in November 1802 which contained only the first four plates. Subsequent issues came out monthly with a similar number of plates, so Volume II was not complete until December 1806. Full sets of five volumes are very rare and respected reference … Mineralogical Record Volume 26 Number 4 (Mineral Books) suggests there are less than 100 and is aware of only 50 as at 1995.

    Carries the bookplate of John Thomas Stanley (1766-1860) who was technically the first Baron Stanley of Alderley in the County of Chester, England. We say technically as his family had been Baron Stanley since 1485 … but titled Earl of Derby. The Stanley’s were bestowed the Baronetcy of Alderley Hall from 1660 and later collected Baron Sheffield, Baron Stanley of Alderley and Baron Eddisbury … presumably only one “Sir” applies. At the time of the bookplate John Thomas was a simple Esquire as his father, also John Thomas was the then Baron. He died in 1807 … so we can be very sure that our John Thomas was the first owner of these special volumes.

    SO SORRY SOLD

    $5,900.00

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  • The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society London – April 1925 – The Great Barrier Reef

    The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society London – April 1925 – The Great Barrier Reef

    Complete edition April 1925 in original blue wrappers. Pages 281-376 after adverts, preliminaries etc with folding map at rear.

    The Great Barrier Reef by Colonel Sir Gerald Lenox-Conyngham and F.A. Potts the latter talking about “Life of the Reef”. Irish born Conyngham (1866-1956) was a surveyor and geodesist of some note. He was trained at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich and at Chatham. His study partly emphasises how little was known about the Great Barrier Reef at the time and his remarks and the report of Potts resulted in some lengthy discussion afterwards with interesting references back to Bramble, Stokes, Owen Stanley etc again emphasising the importance of the knowledge gained during those early 19thC voyages.

    Further of interest is a lengthy report on Nepal by Brig-General C.G. Bruce and Major Northey with a nice map and excellent photographs.

    And, a good study of the North-West extensions of the Jubaland Plain and the drainage of the Upper Nile by John Parkinson

    Great Barrier Reef – 1925 Perspective

    $90.00

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  • Precious Stones and Minerals – Hermann Bank – First English Edition 1970.

    Precious Stones and Minerals – Hermann Bank – First English Edition 1970.

    First published in Germany in 1966. This is the first English edition published by Frederick Warne, London in 1970.

    Large quarto, 125 pages with 32 magnificent full page tipped in coloured plates from quality photographic images. Regarded independently as the best images yet prodcued … they really make this book special. The accompanying text by Dr Hermann Bank of Idar-Oberstein Centre of the German Diamond and Gem Industry.

    Minerals and Precious stones Displayed Perfectly

    $60.00

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  • Australian Rare Books 1788-1900 – Jonathan Wantrup.

    Australian Rare Books 1788-1900 – Jonathan Wantrup.

    Published by Hordern House a first edition in 1987. Five years work by Wantrup.

    Thick royal octavo, 468 pages with occasional illustrations and tipped in coloured frontispiece of Sturt leaving Adelaide. Occasional foxing and priced accordingly.

    A first edition of Jonathan Wantrup’s book which was predicted to become and has become an essential reference for those collecting Australian Rare books. More than that it is a great potted … to read this book from cover to cover is an education in itself … it should be on the curriculum.

    Unlike the rather unwieldy and at time questionable Ferguson bibliography this book provides an excellent reference to the nuances and issues of edition and the like which makes book collecting that much more rewarding. Who would not seek out the Burke & Wills with the “garish” endpapers … “No such copy should be passed by” says the author.

    “Wantrup” matured to be an essential reference and a solid read in its own right.

    $90.00

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  • Australian Sea Mysteries – Jack Loney

    Australian Sea Mysteries – Jack Loney

    Self published to a good standard in 1983.

    Limited hard bound edition of 500 this numbered 206 and signed nicely by Loney.

    Small quarto, 111 pages with dust jacket. Some ageing to page edges and ownership signature on free end paper. Still a very good copy.

    Another thoroughly well researched book by Jack Loney. Excellent narrative and illustrations about what happened to the Madagascar, the Loch Maree (what a beautiful ship), the Kobenhavn, the extraordinary mystery of the Mahogany Ship (can it be found?), the twin screw steamer Rosedale and the little Christina Fraser … Loney’s usual unusual presentation … which we like

    Sought after signed hard cover … Aussie Sea Mysteries

    $40.00

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