Prestige Items

John Browning – Victorian Table Spectroscope c1890

An original prismatic lacquered brass spectroscope by the leading London based Victorian maker John Browning. Special quality as would be expected from a Browning instrument. Original fitted Mahogany Case with carrying handle, which has lost its lock as often, no damage to the case.

The table is engraved and Vernier works as it should. Telescope and collimator. The adjustable slit is in perfect condition and has its cover or protector which is usually missing. The optics are in A1 condition. The telescope arm is fully articulated and can be locked into position. The flint glass prism looks original to the instrument and has its original oxidised table housing. The telescope length is 20cms fully in 30cm fully extended. The instrument stands 25cms high.

Quality Victorian Spectroscope Top Maker

$840.00

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Museum Quality Fossil Bowfin Fish from the Messel Pits, Germany

Very nice large extinct form of Bowfin Fish, Cyclurus kehreri. From the Middle Eocene (Geisealtalain) period – 47 Million Years Old.

These fossils are found within the bituminous oil shales that occur near the village of Messel, Darmstadt, Germany. The fossils are removed from the shale using a technique called reverse transfer preparation, where the fossil is mounted onto a resin plate and the destructive oils shale is then removed leaving the fossil on the resin plate. This is the only way for them to be preserved and the method is used by leading authorities.

Size of fish 26cm by 7cm, overall mount 36cm by 15cm.

The Fish has a number of living relatives such as the mudfish, mud pike, dogfish, griddle etc. and is also related to the gars.

An extremely rare and sought after fossil

$120.00

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Silver-Crowned Friar Bird (Tropidorhynchus Argenticeps) John Gould – Birds of Australia

Original hand-coloured lithograph (from stone) from Gould’s major work “Birds of Australia” of the Silver-Crowned Friar Bird (now classified Philemon Argenticeps). This work by John and Elizabeth and completed in London between 1840 -1848.

Gould remarks that this new species was provided by Benjamin Bynoe, Surgeon of HMS Beagle who provided them to Gould when Gould visited Sydney. Subsequently, other examples have been provided by Captain Grey following his expeditions.

Original John Gould lithographs are all of a uniform size approx 53.5 cm by 37.5 cm. This item is accompanied by its related description page which assists with provenance. This is sometimes separated from the original work.

Price $490.00 unframed. Enquire about framing options if you wish. Freight is not an issue either way …

Nicely executed Gould Original

$360.00

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Exquisite Fungi Model – Boletus Pinophilus

French (who else) model of the edible fungi Boletus Pinophilus. Made likely just after WWII and still in near perfect condition. Stands 17 cms tall and is made to a high standard. Commonly known as the Pine Bolete or Pinewood King Bolete this beauty is regarded as a form of porcini.

Quite common in Europe in pine forests – including Scotland and the South of France where it seems to be more prolific. The flesh is white, soft and does not change colour when bruised. The taste is pleasant and has been likened to pork and pork crackling (yummy).

Collectable Fungi for those that understand and desire them. Click on me to see my proud fungusness!

$290.00

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The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus – 1894 Richard Burton

Burton died before this came to press. Printed for private circulation and promoted by his devoted wife. Limited to 1000 copies in this form. After Arabian Nights decided to translate another erotic work in the Carmina.

Bound in vellum over paper boards printed on quality hand-made paper. The binding is marked and the vellum faded as in usual and the rough cut page edges are darkened likewise. Some foxing only to the tissue guard over the frontispiece. The internal pages really very bright and clean. A worthy copy of a scarce and distinguished work.

Captain Richard Burton translated the verse and the prose was worked on by Leonard Smithers. Burton started the translation in Africa and did his last notes in Trieste … he died before the fully edited work could be completed. One of the more erotic books produced in the 1890’s.

Special work carried out by the great man

$160.00

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Classical Medical Print [Pochoir] – Hippocrates – Kuhn Regneir – 1932

An unusual beautifully coloured risqué “Pochoir” produced in 1932 by Joseph Kuhn-Regneir (1873-1940) Hippocrates of course had died some time earlier!

Medical Consultation at its most informal.

Beautifully framed ..

Price $160.00 – Or a set of four for $490.00

$160.00

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John Browning – Victorian Table Spectroscope c1890

Museum Quality Fossil Bowfin Fish from the Messel Pits, Germany

Silver-Crowned Friar Bird (Tropidorhynchus Argenticeps) John Gould – Birds of Australia

Exquisite Fungi Model – Boletus Pinophilus

The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus – 1894 Richard Burton

Classical Medical Print [Pochoir] – Hippocrates – Kuhn Regneir – 1932

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