Prestige Items

The Shipwreck and captivity of Dr Archibald Thompson Surgeon on Ship Sympathy 1777 – First Edition 1809 – Extremely Rare

Published by Thomas Tegg of Cheapside, London in 1809. A very rare account. Running only to 28 pages, nevertheless with solid content and a magnificent albeit gruesome fold out frontispiece.

Bound in good fashion to preserve the item in quarter calf over marbled paper covered boards.

The extensive title continues and explains … including His pure and ardent Affection for a Young Lady, His only Companion, in a solitary Island; Their Unfortunate Separation; His state of Slavery in Algiers; The dreadful punishment of Impalement, indicted upon an unfortunate Negro, who ran from his Master, and the Doctor’s Happy Release and Return after an Absence of More than Seven Years.

Archibald Thompson, an Edinburgh based surgeon decided to join the Navy and he was given a position on Board the Sympathy, under Captain Sidney Russell. Their first voyage together was to Africa then planned for Barbados and on to South Carolina. The Sympathy was a ship of 300 tons and 30 men, and they were to procure a cargo of slaves.

The content concerning the slaves and their treatment is pretty thorough. Thompson is sympathetic with their plight but goes along with his “duties”. Instructive for those interested in this shabby element of history. After the shipwreck Thompson finds himself bonded to Angelina and they pledge their trust and more. After numerous twists and turns, and seven years, they find themselves together and returned to England.

Early Elaborate Shipwreck and Captivity – Near Impossible to Find

$490.00

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Jottings during the Cruise of H.M.S. Curacoa Among the South Sea Islands in 1865 – Julius Brenchley – First edition 1873

First edition of this magnificently illustrated voyage account in the Pacific.

Published by Longmans, Green & Co, London in 1873. Large octavo, 487 pages. Decorated with two fold-out chromolithographs, including, 44 wood engravings and 50 hand coloured engravings mainly of natural history interest. Large folding map at rear with original colouring. An early rebind in half leather over plum cloth covered boards; raised spine divisions with gilt titling. Some evidence of age and staining otherwise a nice and honest copy of a scarce and desirable item. Carries the bookplate of voyage collector and author Geoffrey Ingleton.

The author Julius Brenchley (1816-1873) was a noted traveller of the period. Born in Maidstone in Kent, England he carried out numerous adventures. His travels encompassed, North, Central and South America and Africa before he embarked on this voyage with the Curacoa in the South Seas. The ship was under the command of Captain William Wiseman and visited Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Niue or Savage Island, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Santa Cruz, New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands.

Brenchley gathered an enormous collection of artifacts and natural history specimens which ultimately ended up being split between the British Museum and the Maidstone Museum.

Special Beautifully Illustrated Pacific Voyage Account

$890.00

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Three 19thC Prepared Microscope Slides of Australian Diatomaceae by J.D. Moller

Three fascinating early microscope slides by preparer Johann Diedrich Moller (1844-1907). The most talented and famous preparer of diatom slides of all time.

Three slides carrying a relatively early version of his distinctive slide labels.

His makers label announcing – Gold Medal St Petersburg & Altona 1869 J.D. Moller Wedel in Holstein [Germany].

The slide subjects being Diatomaceae and further labelled.

Fossils – South Australia
Fossils – South Yarra
Aqua Marina – Carpentaria Gulf Australia.

Fine examples of historical significance, likely harvested during one of the scientific and surveying voyages of the second half of the 19thC.

Price $190.00 the group – if you would like an individual one they will be $80.00 each. Send us a message through our enquiry page.

Postage costs likely to be reduced on final billing.

A trifecta of rather unique 19thC slides top maker and Australian subjects.

$190.00

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The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald – Collected Grey Walls Edition – 1949

One of the most desirable books in the history of the American novel.

A second impression of the Grey Walls First UK Edition published 1949. Highly collectable. The period dust jacket designed by George Woodman is just super and really very hard to find. Octavo, 164 pages, a little ageing, ownership signature on front free end paper, overall a pretty good copy.

Originally published in 1925, at the height of the “Jazz Age” based in Long Island … mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby becomes obsessed with reuniting with former lover Daisy Buchanan. A story line based on Fitzgerald’s own experiences and his former fling with socialite Ginevra King and the wild parties they attended at Long Island. On its initial publication is was a bit of a flop and it was only later when issued to American troops in WWII and introduced to the US schooling program that it was reassessed … leading to this special Grey Walls UK edition.

Rare desirable Fitzgerald’s Gatsby by Grey Walls.

$190.00

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Nugae Canorae Medicae – Sir Andrew Douglas Maclagan – First edition 1850 – With Additional Contemporary Manuscript Content

Translates literally “Silly Medical Songs” and they are. Andrew Douglas Maclagan (1812-1900) was an eminent Scottish surgeon and toxicologist. In his lifetime he was President of five of the mots distinguished Societies in Scotland. As a toxicologist he was called to Court to give evidence … as a young man he supported the prosecution in the Burke and Hare affair.

Printed by Thomas Constable, Edinburgh in 1850 – a first edition (it was reprinted in 1873). Effectively self published. Maclagan vaguely covered his identity as the author is names as “The Poet Laureate of the New Town Dispensary”. Octavo, bark brown embossed cloth covered boards with gilt titling to front, 82 pages with manuscript additions to rear end paper. Remnant seal to back paste down.

Given the period any reader will be pleasantly surprised how amusing the said poem/songs are … and much fun must have been had with them. Footnotes have been provided which explain the circumstances and sometimes individuals at fault or lampooned. No punches held.

What makes this copy more charming is the manuscript addition. Internally they sometimes correct the events suggested. At the rear we have in neat manuscript further ditties by Maclagan that are not in the published work. Clearly someone who knew the great man very well. 19thC press clipping re Maclagan affixed front free end.

Silly Songs by a most distinguished physician.

$180.00

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Gum-Nut Babies – May Gibbs c1920

Published Sydney: Angus Robertson no date but an early printing circa 1920 or earlier, printer Penfold noted at the rear.

Original wrappers, unpaginated but 28 pages in total. Bound with original golden cord and wood grain pattern wrapper. Colour pictorial overlay to front of a multitude of peeking gum-nut babies. Illustrated with coloured frontispiece and 11 full page sepia illustrations. Very nice condition, no children’s marks! Reference authority Muir 2736.

The author drew her inspiration from trips trips to the “Bush” near Blackheath in New South Wales.

Very good condition, discretely embossed stamp of Walch Booksellers Hobart atop of front page – hard but nice to see.

May Gibbs – legendary Gum-Nut Babies

$90.00

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The Shipwreck and captivity of Dr Archibald Thompson Surgeon on Ship Sympathy 1777 – First Edition 1809 – Extremely Rare

Jottings during the Cruise of H.M.S. Curacoa Among the South Sea Islands in 1865 – Julius Brenchley – First edition 1873

Three 19thC Prepared Microscope Slides of Australian Diatomaceae by J.D. Moller

The Great Gatsby – F. Scott Fitzgerald – Collected Grey Walls Edition – 1949

Nugae Canorae Medicae – Sir Andrew Douglas Maclagan – First edition 1850 – With Additional Contemporary Manuscript Content

Gum-Nut Babies – May Gibbs c1920

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