Prestige Items

Antique French Microscope [Probably Nachet – see Billings Collection] – c1860

A nice mid 19thC microscope with original box. Likely by the French maker Nachet of Paris. Original lacquer in rather good condition. Functioning well.

Similar if not identical to the Billings Collection Fig 125, page 67. Billings states makers unknown but suggests Nachet or Hartnack both of Paris and circa 1860’s. Also, see online “History of the Microscope” which shows three examples of which this is the larger of the three – they reference English maker J.H. steward as making something similar but recognise a French maker re this specific style.

The microscope arises from a painted green and gold-toned weighted foot via a ball and socket joint to the bottom of the pillar. A small knob on the food adjusts the tension on the ball and socket joint to allow the user to lock the position of inclination. The single sided gimbaled mirror is attached to the pillar via a pin. Focusing of the main tube is by a knurled knob acting on the rack and pinion. On the tube a ring carries a two-jointed arm with a bullseye condenser. The objective “French” button type, compounding. Beneath the stage is a revolving disc of diaphragms, above the stage a casing with a lyre-shaped stage clip. Stands circa eleven inches closed. The original box retains its original sections, has some cracks and age about it but authentic and has kept the microscope in very good condition.

Postage may require a supplement dependent on location of buyer.

Camille Sebastien Nachet was a Parisian optician at the beginning of the 19th Century. He began producing lenses for the famous microscope manufacturer Chevalier but later set up his own small business at 16 Rue Serpente, Paris. He produced his first instruments based on the drum- type base models made previously by other manufacturers. He was succeeded by his son Jean Alfred 1831-1908. Nachet is included with Chevalier and Oberhauser as the three leading makers in Paris at this time.

Unusual French microscope over 150 years old

$325.00

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Rare Large Sized Microscope Size – Lantern Fly – China

No date or maker but this presentation was a specialty in the late Victorian / Edwardian era. Reference authority “Bracegirdle” shows a number of “outsized” examples but none quite like this.

In modern terms known as the spotted lantern fly. The insect is on the move and a potential threat in Australia – modelling has shown that it could survive well in western and north-western Victoria. When we say a threat, it was endemic to China and Vietnam but moved into South Korea in 2006, Japan in 2009 and the USA in 2014 … so the move is on.

Here the little blighter is beautifully preserved and presented in Canada Balsam … we know that CB was the mounters choice due its quality and the cursive narrative says so.

A microscopical rarity outsized mount of the Spotted Lantern Fly.

$190.00

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A Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway – True First Edition 1964 – Predates American Edition by one day

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast”.

A fine copy of this important work. The best we have seen. And, as this is Voyager’s favourite book we have seen a few.

Published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1964. Octavo, 192 pages. We can’t find a mark and the dust jacket is perfect, as if new, except price clipped – a gift givers prerogative.

Scarce Collectable Hemingway First Edition – As fine a condition as will be found

$240.00

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Amsler Polar Planimeter [Measuring the area of complex irregular shapes/ boundaries] c1910

Plush-lined fitted case some 12” long contains a polar planimeter invented by Swiss mathematician Jacob Amsler. All in very good condition and working order.

The instrument was a revolutionary change from the complex Cartesian system base instruments used before. This device uses polar co-ordinates.

With this device two arms are connected with a pivot both arms moving around the anchor. As the pivot moves back and forth it traces an area whose net measurement is zero. The means that the area traced by the tracer point exactly equals the area of the closed curve. The area is equivalent to 2pi X the product of the length of the tracer arm, the radius of the counting wheel and the number of revolutions of the counting wheel.

In more modern times mathematicians apply “Green’s theorem”.

Amsler’s radical and very useful new design

$190.00

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Australian Ashes Cricket Team 1934 [Bradman, Woodfull, Ponsford et al] Unusual Original Advertising Memorabilia.

Significant size would frame and display nicely – fragile so handle carefully. One of the most usual pieces of period advertising we have come across.

With the strong message “Well laundered sports wear gives confidence” we are told to “Send your cricket and tennis flannels and Ladies sports frocks” for proper laundry treatment to provide the above mentioned confidence.

Nice image of the team, not all in baggy green and a strangely suited L Darling.

The 1934 Ashes were held in England and Australia won off the back of some solid batting by Bradman and Ponsford. England started well wining the first test – Verity took 15 wickets. The next two were drawn but Bradman/ Ponsford scored a partnership of 388 at Headingley and 452 at the Oval to take the urn.

Dimensions xxcm by xxcm in good condition – take care of it!

Bradman 1934 Ashes treasure – how has it survived?

$160.00

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WWI Copper Flask in Original Bespoke Leather Carrying Case [Super Condition] – Captain McCracken

Captain Kenneth Mills McCracken was a member of the Royal Field Artillery attached to the Royal Flying Corps. His service record covered the entire of WWI 1914-1918 so likely one of the few that survived his dangerous role.

Born in 1895 and from Newcastle-Upon Tyne he was a medical student at Edinburgh University when World War One broke out.

The Royal Flying Corp was the air arm of the British Army at the start of the war and it was not until 1918 that it merged with the Royal Naval Air Service to become the Royal Air Force.

McCracken’s record shows that he was skilled in artillery observation; so, he was likely an aerial observer or photographer. At the beginning of the war their photographic efforts were very primitive almost hopeless until 1915. By 1918 they could make decent images from 15,000 feet and had a team of 3,000 people analysing the results. The Royal Flying Corp didn’t get into aerial combat until the later part of the war.

The item is in great condition. The full leather casing is 25cm by 10cm, stitching perfect – nicely embossed with McCracken’s details. The copper thermos has a ding but is a solid actually useable item. The screw on top is undamaged and goes on and off easily.

Special WWI Item in great condition with interesting provenance

$290.00

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Antique French Microscope [Probably Nachet – see Billings Collection] – c1860

Rare Large Sized Microscope Size – Lantern Fly – China

A Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway – True First Edition 1964 – Predates American Edition by one day

Amsler Polar Planimeter [Measuring the area of complex irregular shapes/ boundaries] c1910

Australian Ashes Cricket Team 1934 [Bradman, Woodfull, Ponsford et al] Unusual Original Advertising Memorabilia.

WWI Copper Flask in Original Bespoke Leather Carrying Case [Super Condition] – Captain McCracken

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