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Science including Natural Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy, Medical Sciences etc

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  • De Re Metallica – Georgius Agricola – the Hoover Translation.

    De Re Metallica – Georgius Agricola – the Hoover Translation.

    This is the second printing of the famous Hoover translation of the equally famous 16th Century monumental publication by Georgius Agricola on all things then known in mining, metallurgy, geology etc. Published by Dover, New York in 1950.

    Longer title … De re Metallica translated from the first Latin edition of 1556 with biographical introduction, annotations and appendices upon the development of mining methods, metallurgical processes, geology, mineralogy & mining law from the earliest times to the 16th century by Herbert Clark Hoover and Lou Henry Hoover.

    This edition, large royal octavo blue cloth covered boards, 638 pages after xxxi preliminaries, illustrated throughout from the images of the original wood engravings, simply superb. Dust jacket closed tear at top front otherwise pretty good, a very good copy overall. Quite a heavy book which will require and Overseas postage supplement.

    The series of books within the book (an early style) I Arguments against the art of mining II The miner and the mining of veins III Veins and stringers and seams in rocks IV The method of delimiting veins and the functions of the mining officials V The digging of ore and the Surveyor’s art VI The miner’s tools and machines VII The assaying of ore VIII Rules for the work of roasting, crushing, and washing the ore IX Methods of smelting ores X the work of separating silver from gold, and lead from gold and silver XI Separating silver from copper XII rules for manufacturing salt, soda, alum, vitriol, sulphur, bitumen, and glass … Agricola’s works – Ancient authors on mineralogy, mining, metallurgy- Nomenclature to be adopted for weights and measures etc.

    There is so much to admire about this book … the date of the foundation work, its breadth and quality, the learning from the engravings. Strangely maybe we particularly like the section on pumps in mines – essential equipment for water bound mines and the ingenuity pre powered machines is very interesting. Regarding the translation – what a job done by Hoover(s). The difficulty must have been very challenging – for example Agricola struggled to find Latin equivalents for many mining terms so had to contrive them from everyday Latin words – Hoover then had to decipher these once and only Latin words – unsurprising that his hair was depleted.

    De Re Metallica – The Foundation Work for all Mining and related – the readable version

    $140.00

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  • United States Antarctic Program –  Personnel Manual – 1994 edition

    United States Antarctic Program – Personnel Manual – 1994 edition

    Published by the Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, Arlington VA.

    Largish softcover, 70 pages. A manual on how to do things in the colder climates. Interspersed with historical information which provides perspective and readability.

    Starts with a section on the first US expedition sealers and then the industrious Nathaniel Palmer in the 47 foot sloop Hero.

    Usual chapters on preparations, safety, health, travel to and from etc. More interesting chapters on Conservation, the Stations and Vessels, Handling Cores etc Sanctuaries …

    Very interesting section detailing the Historic Monuments – 60 in all and a summary of the Treaty which we should all understand before the day of reckoning – not too far away.

    Is there a Polar Explorer /Historian in you – be prepared and informed!

    $40.00

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  • Chemical Essays Complete in Five Volumes – Richard Watson – 1793-1796

    Chemical Essays Complete in Five Volumes – Richard Watson – 1793-1796

    As beautiful a set of late 18thC bindings as you are likely to come across. Five small octavo volumes bound in full polished contemporary tree calf, spines gilt rules and each volume with red lettering pieces and ornate numbering pieces, marbled endpaper. A little age as you can expect from circa 225 years but really a delight in the hand and to the eye.

    Published by T Evans, London. Various dates 1793-96.

    All up 349, 368, 376, 354 and 375 pages after preliminaries and some afterward. Based on a series of lectures delivered by the author in the 1770’s.

    Richard Watson (1737-1816) was a Professor of Chemistry at Trinity, Cambridge (his alma mater) in 1764 and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society in 1769. In his writings he displays a keen interest in applying science to manufacturing processes. He worked on the efficiency of gunpowder and discovered the principle of “black bodies” but without a full understanding. He references the used of lime in lead smelting with a clear interest in metallurgy.

    Remember these are early days for the science of chemistry well before the Periodic Table and its precursors. The science presented is written in a “popular fashion” which was the author’s intention.

    He later became a Bishop …

    Five late 18thC uniquely bound volumes of “Chemical Essays”

    SO SORRY ON HOLD – ENQUIRE IF YOU WISH

    $480.00

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  • Australian Antarctic Science – The First Fifty Years of ANARE – Marchant, Lugg  and Quilty

    Australian Antarctic Science – The First Fifty Years of ANARE – Marchant, Lugg and Quilty

    Published in 2002 by the Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Tasmania. Large octavo, 622 pages after preliminaries. Illustrated boards (never had a dust jacket). A substantial quality production. A fine copy – heavy book probably not suitable for Overseas postage alone.

    Edited by Harvey Marchant (leader of the Biology program), Desmond Lugg (Chief, Medicine of Extreme Environments at NASA) and Patrick Quilty (Retired Chief Scientist).

    A wealth of knowledge brought together and condensed into a fine work on the Antarctic.

    Born out of the 1997 Jubilee Science Symposium the work begins with an address from the Governor of Tasmania.

    The scope and process of developing research programs is reviewed and the then stimulus of new technologies. An exciting lengthy chapter on Cosmic-ray physics and astronomy. Antarctic operational metrology by Neil Streten and the automatic weather stations.

    Our favourite, the History of the Southern Ocean and Antarctic Continental Shelf followed by its companion the Geological Evolution of the East Antarctic Shield. Terrestrial biology, aquatic microbiology …. Krill, fish, birds and mammals. And the physics of the atmosphere, climate and other environmental issues.

    The whole well illustrated with charts, diagrams and images and as expected cross referenced to wealth of published research.

    ANARE a lasting scientific record.

    $80.00

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  • Orokaiva Society Papua New Guinea – F.A. Williams – First Edition 1930

    Williams was the then Government appointed Anthropologist. Published by the Oxford University Press, with an introduction by Sir Hubert Murray.

    Octavo, 355 pages, illustrated with images from period photographs.

    The Orokaiva are the rather fierce proud people of Oro Province in New Guinea, the Owen Stanley Range bordering the southern reaches of their territory. They are divided into three groups … River, Salt Water and Inland. There tribal practices are complex and rather strange, partly resulting from their belief that they are descendants of Giants. As with most New Guinea tribes the initiation customs are rather complex and scary.

    Francis Edgar Williams (1893-1943) was an Australian Rhodes Scholar who studied anthropology at Balliol, Oxford. He met the great Hubert Murray back in Australia who persuaded him to come to New Guinea. He spent over twenty years there much of it in the field strongly supported by Hubert Murray. He died in a light plane crash near Kokoda.

    Tough growing up in Oro.

    $120.00

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

    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.

    $180.00

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