Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1887

Printed at “The Mercury” Office Hobart in 1888. Bound in original salmon pink paper covered boards, lxvii pages ,289 pages plus 43 lithographic plates mainly of botanical items at the rear. Other folding plates and tables some of significant interest.

Many papers demonstrating the broad range of intellect in Tasmania at that time.

Much on fish and the introduction of salmon by Saville-Kent. New botanical discoveries … a short paper on the Comets of 1880 and 1887 with a useful chart … a surprising paper on the orbit of Alpha Centauri. Topographically Colonel Legge’s paper on the Highlands of Lake St Clair is of a high standard and the lengthy review of the Tertiary Rock of Australia by the esteemed R.M. Johnston similarly with many folding tables accompanying this article.

Showing some age and wear to the covers, see images, and some minor soiling lower down on a few of the preliminary pages, still a very good example of a scarce and worthy journal.

Substantial Journal with a broad range of Tasmanian interests – many engraved plates.

$60.00

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Radio-Activity. An Elementary Treatise, from the Standpoint of the Disintegration Theory – Frederick Soddy M.A. – First Edition 1904

An important work in the history of science. Explaining all of the then known facts by the theory of radio-activity and the explosive disintegration of elementary atoms.

Voyager scientific hero Frederick Soddy (1877-1956) was to win the Nobel Prize in 1921… “for his contributions to our knowledge of the chemistry of radioactive substances, and his investigations into the origin and nature of isotopes”.

Published by “the Electrician” Printing and Publishing Co, London in 1904.

Octavo, brown cloth covered boards with gilt lettering on front and spine. Xi, 214 pages; 40 illustrations, diagrams and charts; publishers catalogue. Some age but a worthy copy of an important and scarce work.

Soddy in conjunction with Rutherford developed the disintegration theory of radioactivity from experiments conducted between 1901-1903.

Following this work Soddy lectured in physical chemistry and radioactivity at Glasgow University. By 1913 his theory of disintegration had been further developed and the concept of isotopes developed … i.e. that certain elements exist in two forms which have different atomic weights. He became Professor of Chemistry at Aberdeen in 1914 and after WWI went to Oxford where he stayed until retirement in 1937.

Important work Soddy on Radio-Activity – early days.

$180.00

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The Arbouin Copper Mines at Cardross on the Chillagoe Mineral Field, North Queensland – Lionel Ball – 1918

Queensland Department of Mines publication no 261 by Lionel Ball B.E. published in Brisbane in 1918. At that time Ball was the Government Geologist. The mines also produced some gold and silver.

Seventy pages still in the original olive green paper wrapper. Illustrated with a map, diagrams and images from photographs taken by the author. Previous ownership name etc on title otherwise clean and bright.

William Hahn, in exploring the Tate to the Walsh river traversed the outskirts of the field in 1872. After that likewise Mulligan the explorer whilst marking a road from the Etheridge to Palmer Goldfields passed within sight of the Mountain Maid cupriferous outcrop. It was not until 1897 that the true resources of the area were more properly understood when Arbouin and Harkins came upon the outcrops known as the Klondyke. Logan Jack visited the resulting field a year later and was most impressed with the possibilities. Unfortunately costs were high in this region and whilst there were some successes the outbreak of WWI put paid to that as many of the men involved enlisted and few sadly returned.

The publication starts with the usual history of the region also addressing previous publications.

A comprehensive report on the geology of the area .. pre-Silurian schistose rocks; Amphibolites; Pegmatites; Permian Elvans etc.

Ore deposits … their origin, lode channels, formations and ore shoots.

Mineralogy and the distribution of elements and the occurrence of minerals … many in form.

A Register of Holdings; Mining operations; Treatment carried out in terms of ore dressing and some smelting.

The Queensland Chillagoe Mines – A scarce and curious one ..

$60.00

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One Ceremony One Song. An Economy of Religious Knowledge Among Yolnu of North-East Arnhem Land. A PhD Thesis – Australia National University – 1978 – Ian Keen

An original copy of the monumental Thesis written by Ian Keen to obtain his PhD from ANU in 1978. Keen to go on to be a respected anthropologist holding positions at Queensland University and ANU and spending time at Oxford, visiting Professor at Osaka etc.

Perfect bound in blue cloth covered boards, gilt titles to front and spine. Typed on one side 412 pages with 19 pages of plates from the authors photographs; 72 Figures in text; 45 tables of information and 4 maps. This copy gifted to “Jimmy” clearly an associated academic with a few marginal notes etc. Over 3 kgs in weight so if Overseas a postage supplement will be necessary.

The English born author was late to the academic world having first worked as an art restorer before doing an undergraduate degree at the University of London under Mary Douglas in his mid thirties. He did well and soon won a scholarship to work on Aboriginal religion through song symbolism in Arnhem Land, Northern Australia. This thesis demonstrates the depth of his research and provides a meticulous record of his findings.

He commenced his work on the island of Milingimbi in 1974 and worked there for fourteen months before completing a further 10 months on the mainland at Nanggalala. Its is not surprising that “’writing up” took him some time.

His “Abstract” explains his examination of the relationship between the organisation, ownership and content of religious practice and knowledge, marriage and power relations in Yolnu society. He argues that older men require the authority gained through their control of secret ceremonies and religious knowledge, in order to sustain a polygamous regime. Making possible a system of marriage through which some men gain many wives. Keen’s description of the various ceremonies is highly detailed … we doubt if any broadly published material covers such content with similar vigour.

A special reference relating to the Yolnu of Northern Australia.

$280.00

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Some Mines and Mineral Deposits at the Heads of the Brisbane, Burnett and Mary Rivers – Jackson 1901

Queensland Department of Mines Report to both Houses of Parliament published in Brisbane in 1901, first year of Federation. At that time Dunstan was Assistant Government Geologist. The Report is presented by William Rands, Government Geologist.

Foolscap, 19 pages plus 5 full page plates. Chipped and repaired to leading edge of front page, otherwise in good condition.

Covers silver-lead deposits at Monsildale; the Rising Star, North Star and Great Pyramid Prospects at Biarra; Gold found near Milford Rocks Head Station; Gympie Copper Mines at Gooroomjam Creek; Nanango Gold Field; Jimma and a Cobalt Deposit at the Black Snake District.

A few diagrams within the text and a good image from an early photograph of the entrance to the Cobalt prospect [Certainly one worth following up!]. The Plates include a god Geological sketch of the Monsildale Silver Deposit; a Plan of the Rising Star Workings; Section of Workings at Gympie Copper; the Jimna Prospecting Tunnel [looks dangerous] and the Secrets of the aforementioned Cobalt.

A rare one and focusing on some quite boutique mining prospects of the period in the South-East of Queensland.

$90.00

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Australian Maritime Archaeology – A Collection of High Level Reference Material – 14 Items.

A super collection of scholarly items pertaining to Australian Shipwreck research. Mainly from the 1980’s when a number of important discoveries were made and pursued none less important than …

The cache comprises … Introductory Training Program – Handbook Institute for Maritime Archaeology [IMI] (60 pages); the Test Excavation of the William Salthouse Wreck Site (35 pages); Bulletins of IMI, , Vol 8 No 1 1984 (42 pages), Vol 8 No 2 1984 (46 pages), Vol 9 Nos 1&2 (48 pages), Vol 10 No 1 1986 (83 pages), Vol 10 No 2 1986 (53 pages), Vol 11 No 1 1987 (60 pages)Vol 11 No 2 1987 (51 pages), Vol 12 No 1 1988 (55 pages), Vol 12 No 2 (45 pages), Vol 13 No 1 1989 (26 pages), Vol 13 No 2 1989 (54 pages), Volume 14 No 1 1990 (55 pages) … so an unbroken seven year run.

As you would expect the contents of each heavily illustrated with technical diagrams of wreck site assessment and record, diagrams explaining technique and apparatus sometimes unique or improvised, diagrams explaining diving procedures for covering complex site areas, images from photographs of wrecks and the treasures they throw up.

Contents are simply super .. we have elements of the Sirius, Batavia, Aarhus, Loch Ard etc. The discovery of the Pandorra on the Queensland Reef is a major project reported on by Paul Clerk and almost namesake Bill Jeffery. Whilst mainly referencing Australian waters there is plenty from abroad and deeper and broader history … Chinese Stone Anchors, Titanic artifacts, Copper sheathing, Asiatic shipbuilding techniques takes up a whole conference (O to have been there).

Super collection of quality Australian shipwreck and archaeological references.

$240.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1887

Radio-Activity. An Elementary Treatise, from the Standpoint of the Disintegration Theory – Frederick Soddy M.A. – First Edition 1904

The Arbouin Copper Mines at Cardross on the Chillagoe Mineral Field, North Queensland – Lionel Ball – 1918

One Ceremony One Song. An Economy of Religious Knowledge Among Yolnu of North-East Arnhem Land. A PhD Thesis – Australia National University – 1978 – Ian Keen

Some Mines and Mineral Deposits at the Heads of the Brisbane, Burnett and Mary Rivers – Jackson 1901

Australian Maritime Archaeology – A Collection of High Level Reference Material – 14 Items.

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