Non-fiction

The Unknown Guest [and Other Essays] – Maurice Maeterlinck

The Unknown Guest by Nobel Prize winning author, playwright and poet Maurice Polydore Marie Bernard Maeterlinck. Published by Methuen, London in 1925 a fourth printing. Bound in original green cloth, 340 pages some flecking to soft paper page edges but generally a pretty good copy of a hard to get book.

An unusual group of essays including the title offering we have … Phantasms of the Living and the Dead; Psychometry; the Knowledge of the Future and The Elberfield Horses.

An intellectual potpourri if there ever was one.

$40.00

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The Constitution of Man – George Combe – 1871

An 1871 edition of this important book published by MacLachlan and Stewart, Edinburgh. Over 350 page in very good condition still tight in its original cloth binding with rich dark green endpapers.

George Combe (1788-1858) was an ardent phrenologist and writer. Born in Edinburgh he founded the Edinburgh Phrenological Society in 1820. He led the field there for over twenty years and this was his great work.

Originally a lawyer with a successful practice. In 1816 Johann Spurzheim came to Edinburgh and Combe was invited to a private dissection of the human brain which greatly impressed him. This spurred him on to make his own investigations and he was satisfied that the fundamental principles of phrenology were sound, namely “that the brain is the organ of the mind; that the brain is an aggregate of several parts, each subserving a distinct mental faculty; and that the size of the cerebral organ is, caeteris paribus, and index of power or energy of function”.

Many of the principles set out in The Constitution of Man would challenge modern morality.

Combe – Distinguished in his field

$50.00

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Tasmaniana – Clifford Craig’s Auction Catalogues – 1975 A useful and hard to come by reference for the collector and historian.

The Important Collection of Books, Manuscripts, Prints, Drawings and Paintings relating to the Discovery and History of Van Diemen’s Land and Tasmania and with a few items relating to Australasia, the property of Dr Clifford Craig of Launceston, Christie, Manson & Woods auction catalogues – October 1975.

Two catalogues, printed wrappers, Catalogue I – 89 pages, 16 plates (some colour); Catalogue II – 129 pages, 4 plates. Over 1600 items described. Catalogues for the sale of the collection formed by Doctor Clifford Craig, who based two of his works – ‘The Engravers of Van Diemen’s Land’ and ‘Old Tasmanian Prints’, largely on prints from his collection. A significant collection by any standards.

$70.00

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The Microscope by Hogg – 1867

Another great mid-Victorian book on the microscope by Jabez Hogg who was President of the medical Microscopical Society and a leading Ophthalmic Surgeon of hid day. Published by Routledge, London.

This is the sixth edition 1867 still in its rather grand red cover. Intact and firm binding, unusual for such a thick book from that period. Over 750 pages and over 500 illustrations some in colour.

Superb history of the development of the instrument and in terms of application excellent chapters on various natural history subjects and mineralogy as well as superior content on histology as might be expected given the authors background

A sizeable body of work well executed and collectable

$120.00

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Evenings at the Microscope – Philip Gosse -1874

Title continues … or Researches among the Minuter Organs and Forms of Animal Life

A new edition revised and annotated published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London 1874.

A classic on the subject and fairly comprehensive in detail focused on the student of microscopy. 422 pages nicely illustrated with the odd spot, missing the front free endpaper and with some marks to the original green boards although the gilt titling and designs are still vivid … the tadpole at the bottom of the spine is a delight.

Good work on Victorian microscopy – a standard

$50.00

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How to Work with the Microscope – Beale – 1868

Dr Lionel Beale was a Fellow of the Royal Society and for a number of years operated the Pathological Laboratory in Carey Street, London.

Published by Harrison in the Pall Mall, London in 1868 a fourth enhanced edition. A substantial book of nearly 400 pages. Complete and expertly re-cased in red cloth binding so very solid. A very good work on the subject. Over 400 illustrations

Original owner being John Owen Evans of Belfast (Port Fairy), Victoria. He has helpfully pasted into the endpapers a note on “How to Clean Diatoms” which is also included in another volume from his library … he like Diatoms (and so do we – see our prepared slide collection)

This is a very comprehensive book … if you would like a note on its considerable contents or you would like more images … send us a request … we will be happy to oblige.

Beale with lots of details and images on all things microscopical

$130.00

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The Unknown Guest [and Other Essays] – Maurice Maeterlinck

The Constitution of Man – George Combe – 1871

Tasmaniana – Clifford Craig’s Auction Catalogues – 1975 A useful and hard to come by reference for the collector and historian.

The Microscope by Hogg – 1867

Evenings at the Microscope – Philip Gosse -1874

How to Work with the Microscope – Beale – 1868

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