Prestige Items

Violinist Bookends by Armor Bronze – 1930’s

Special ornamental bookends of a violinist in full flow by Armor Bronze who operated from Taunton, Massachusetts, USA in the 1930’s. Nice condition with strong enamelled colour showing some rubbing but not bad given their age. The books stand 20cm high and weight 1.4kgs together.

One of the bookends still carries the maker’s label. Not included in the authority “Collector’s Encyclopaedia of Bookends” by Kuritzky and de Costa which we believe means they are rather rare. We have never seen another example for sale.

Super scarce 1930’s bookends for the musically inclined – the Richard Tognetti of bookends

$390.00

Updating cart…

One Wet Season – Ion Idriess – First Edition 1949 – Signed by the Author.

Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1949. Octavo, 272 pages, end paper maps, illustrated with images from period photographs. Minor wear and chips to jacket … otherwise a very good copy.

Signed boldly by Idriess as a gift to his friend Frances Van Cleef, wife of a Chicago industrialist with whom he remained in contact for many years.

Idriess at his best. Growing peanuts at Fred Merry’s place was a tough way to start a new life. In and around Derby and the King Leopold Range often isolated during the long three month wet season.

Signed Idriess First Edition out in the West Kimberley.

$90.00

Updating cart…

Fine Photograph – Dr David Livingstone. J. G. Tunny, Photographer, Edinburgh Circa 1870’s.

Distinguished African Missionary and Explorer, Dr David Livingstone died in 1871. This photograph likely taken just before his final African adventure. He left for Zanzibar in 1866, part of his objective to find the source of the Nile, believing it to be further south than proposed by Burton and Speke. It was in 1870 that Stanley found him with that now famous introduction “Livingstone I presume?”.

The photographer James Good Tunny (1820-1887) was highly regarded and in business for many years. This image was reproduced likely to commemorate news of the death of Livingstone as it references 13 Maitland Street, Edinburgh and 11 Salisbury Place … the latter being Tunny’s second studio and home from 1871 to 1886.

A very good image in carte de visite style, a trifle marked, otherwise a fine albumen print.

Important photograph of the esteemed African Explorer, Dr David Livingstone, possibly commemorative.

$120.00

Updating cart…

Must We Fight? – Ion L. Idriess – First Edition, Signed, Rare, Very Good Condition

A very good copy of a scarce Ion Idriess book. Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1939. Signed boldly by Idriess on the Title Page … “To Mrs Van Cleef with cheery memories from Australia – Ion L Idriess Sydney 1939”. Van Cleef was the wife of a wealthy Chicago industrialist that had connections with Idriess.

Octavo, 223 pages, complete dust jacket albeit a bit browned at spine and around edges otherwise clean. Very clean internally bar a mark bottom inside title. Endpaper maps – “Australia in the Pacific” to front and strange one at rear “An Arresting Comparison: Australia and the European Countries Drawn to Scale”.

In some ways a prophetic book. The Authors Note starts … “This book is written simply because our country may be in danger …”. WWI veteran Idriess saw danger in the Pacific. Chapter headings help understand the flow of the book … a selection… How will the Enemy Come?; Action in Defence; Defending our Cities; Dodging Bomb and Shell Fire; Fighting at Darwin or New Zealand; Should the Dutch east Indies Fall; Protecting the Isolated States; Fighting from Cover; Trained Man versus Untrained; Deadly Shooting; The Sniper; Australia Needs Submarines; Australia’s Land Bridget to Asia; Defence Could Develop New Industries etc.

We wonder how this book was received at the time … maybe the fact that Idriess was called to produce succinct accounts about fighting techniques after war broke out, tells us that top brass thought highly of this work.

Signed sought after Idriess first edition.

$390.00

Updating cart…

Death in the Afternoon – Ernest Hemingway

Hemingway’s classic book on the ceremony and traditions of Spanish bullfighting. Contemplates the nature of fear and courage. Jonathan Cape favourite.

Large octavo, 358 pages, plus bibliographical note. Eight one reproductions from photographs. This issue published by Cape, London in 1966. A couple of minor closed tear to jacket edge, not price clipped, top edge stained red as should be. A very good copy.

Impressed private library stamp of Edward F Cass on the front end paper. Cass a noted English bibliophile was Chairman of the esteemed Portico Library in Manchester among many other related roles.

Bullfighters Delight

$80.00

Updating cart…

“Society of Arts” Victorian Brass Microscope with Case – c1860-70

A quality fully working English brass microscope from around 1860-70.

With the early V shaped bar for rack and pinion focus and fine adjustment knurled knob. Two objectives both multiple compounding. There is also Live Box for observing creepy crawlies. The concave mirror is in very good condition. The original mahogany case is a quality box, original to the instrument and in very good condition, with separate drawer for slides and bits and pieces. The case still has its original lock and its key, often long lost. The microscope is mounted on a rectangular mahogany board which slides into the case.

Very similar to the example presented by Peter Turner FRMS to the Royal Microscopical Society catalogued as number 92 in authority Turner.

In the early 1850’s the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce offered a prize for the design of a compact compound microscope that could sell for 3 guineas. The design, which is reflected here, was won by Robert Fields & Son of Birmingham in 1854. Due to the popularity of the design it was copied by others but often at a higher price. These copies were often unsigned as is the case here. However, the brass foot is very much in the style of Ross so we suspect it came from that maker.

Nice 19th Century Cased Brass Microscope..

$640.00

Updating cart…

Violinist Bookends by Armor Bronze – 1930’s

One Wet Season – Ion Idriess – First Edition 1949 – Signed by the Author.

Fine Photograph – Dr David Livingstone. J. G. Tunny, Photographer, Edinburgh Circa 1870’s.

Must We Fight? – Ion L. Idriess – First Edition, Signed, Rare, Very Good Condition

Death in the Afternoon – Ernest Hemingway

“Society of Arts” Victorian Brass Microscope with Case – c1860-70

Product Categories