Prestige Items

The Use of the Globes [Astronomy] – W. Newton – 1854

The Use of the Globes with a Familiar Introduction to the Science of Astronomy illustrated with Numerous Diagrams.

Published by W.E. and F. Newton, Fleet Street 1854.

Scarce despite fourth edition, small octavo, 145 pages plus index. Original green cloth covered binding with decorative blind stamping and delightful gilt design to front, gilt title to spine. Very good condition, albeit gift inscription, ownership and date to top of Chapter 1 and a faded ink blemish on the front board.

Based on a series of lectures given by the author before several scientific Institutions in London. After some introductory matters the book deals with … the Configuration of the Stars and the Constellations; the Solar System (to Uranus or Georgium Sidus as Neptune and Pluto were still to be found and in the case of Pluto lost again); Planetary Motion; Eclipse of the Sun and Moon; the Tides; the Fixed Stars; the Lines and Projections of the Sphere; the Use of Artificial Globes. This is followed by 34 Problems with their solutions often by reference to the artificial globes.

The author William Edward Newton (1718-1879) was the son of John Newton (1759-1844) who initially through the father then son ran London’s most distinguished globe making business … appointed to Queen Victoria.

Astronomical Curiosity by William Newton London’s distinguished Globe Maker

$140.00

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Hooded Racket-Tailed Magpie (Crypsirhina Cucullata) From Burma – John Gould – The Birds of Asia – 1860′s

Original hand-coloured lithograph produced on limestone from John Gould’s most impressive series “Birds of Asia” completed and published in London in the1860’s.

A striking bird found the in the lower jungles of Northern Burma. Threatened by clearing but currently still strong in numbers. Also known as the Hooded Crypsirhina and Hooded Treepie

First formally described by Thomas Jerden a British ornithologist in 1862. You can see form John Gould’s narrative that he was working from sketches provided by Jerden and unlikely to have an example of the bird.

The birds appear to be figured in natural size being roughly 30 cm long and two thirds of that being the remarkable tail… the accompanying narrative describes their colouring is some detail. The execution of the lithograph is excellent, it is very clean and the colouring still very bright and full and enhanced by the use of gum arabic which creates a sense of richness and depth

We all know about John Gould but maybe not so much about Jensen.

Thomas Caverhill Jenson (1811-1872) was a Scottish born surgeon in the East India Company and then the Military and spent most of his working life in India. He was a keen naturalist in a number of fields. Early on he sent birds back to Sir William Jardine in Scotland to be classified. They arrived moth eaten so from then on Jerden decided to complete that work himself. He became the leading authority in the broader region and sponsored by Lords Canning and Elgin produced The Birds of India in three volumes in the 1860’s. He was also an instigator of the broader work The Fauna of British India including Ceylon and Burma.

Price $590.00 unframed … enquire if you wish

Unusual well executed Magpie from Burma

$390.00

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In Unknown New Guinea – W.J.V. Saville (Intro Malinowski) – First Edition 1926

Longer title explains … In Unknown New Guinea – A Record of Twenty-Five Years of Personal Observation & Experience Amongst the Interesting People of an Almost Unknown Part of the Vast Island & a Description of Their Manners & Customs, Occupations in Peace & Method of Warfare, Their Secret Rites & Public Ceremonies.

Published by Seeley, London in 1926 a first edition.

Thick octavo, 316 pages and sixty very good illustrations mainly from period photographs, folding map near rear. Original red cloth covered binding with the striking gilt design to the front. Very good if not better condition.

A superb work based the authors lengthy experiences on and around Mailu Island. To have the introduction written by the great anthropologist of the era Bronislaw Malinowski is testament to its quality and importance.

Rare early New Guinea Anthropology

$140.00

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Les Voila! – Gazette du Bon Ton Pochoir – Andre Marty -1920

Beautiful and one of our favourite hand coloured pochoir by Andre Marty (1882-1974) for the Paris Gazette du Bon Ton published in June 1920.

“Les Voila” with summer dresses by Doeuillet.

The ultimate in fashion print from a perfect era.

Price unframed $160.00

Stylish summer and I can see it too!

$160.00

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Wallace’s Tree Swift (Dendrochelidon Wallacei ) John Gould – The Birds of Asia – 1860

Original hand-coloured lithograph produced on limestone from John Gould’s most impressive series “Birds of Asia” completed and published in London circa 1860.

Gould writes in the accompanying narrative “After carefully comparing Indian specimens .. and Javanese specimens … with examples of a bird of the same form sent from Macassar by Mr Wallace, I could come to no other conclusion than that the latter is a very distinct and undescribed species, and I therefore took the opportunity of naming the bird D. Wallacei, in honour of its discoverer; not that there is any necessity for me to attempt to perpetuate the name of this gentleman as a promoter of natural science, since his writings sufficiently attest his devotion to more than one of its departments”. Gould very humble and obviously likes long sentences.

Gould goes on to say that the birds are figured a natural size. Little was then known about them … the accompanying narrative describes their colouring is some detail. The execution of the lithograph is excellent, it is very clean and the colouring still very bright and full and enhanced by the use of gum arabic which creates a sense of richness and depth

Tree swift named by John Gould in honour of Alfred Russell Wallace

$390.00

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Les Travestis Dans Le Parc – Gazette du Bon Ton Pochoir – Brissaud 1913

A most striking hand coloured double Pochoir (Multiple Stencil) by Pierre Brissaud (1885-1964) for the Paris Gazette du Bon Ton published in September 1913.

Costumes and disguises in the park from different epochs and fantasies.

One of the rare double page pochoir images … frames flat and with little impression of the fold…. highly collectable

Price $240.00 unframed.

A rich unusual pochoir – beautiful deep colours

$240.00

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The Use of the Globes [Astronomy] – W. Newton – 1854

Hooded Racket-Tailed Magpie (Crypsirhina Cucullata) From Burma – John Gould – The Birds of Asia – 1860′s

In Unknown New Guinea – W.J.V. Saville (Intro Malinowski) – First Edition 1926

Les Voila! – Gazette du Bon Ton Pochoir – Andre Marty -1920

Wallace’s Tree Swift (Dendrochelidon Wallacei ) John Gould – The Birds of Asia – 1860

Les Travestis Dans Le Parc – Gazette du Bon Ton Pochoir – Brissaud 1913

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