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Sydney Centennial Park – Unusual Period Ephemera – Design for the Main Gates – Self Measuring Pocket Book – J Moore 1886

This little self measuring pocket book could be found at W.E. Smith, bookbinder printer etc of bridge Street Sydney in the 1880’s.

Original owners name J Moore and dated Feb 16th 1886. Contains a number of architectural sketches and notes and financial doodles.

Most interestingly are the notes re ”3 Gateways for Centennial Park”. We have Moore’s rough notes re dimensions – 122 ft in total with various access for Carriage and Horse, below that a lightly scribbled concept. To the right some finer work on the suggested pillar work and wrought iron embellishments.

Overleaf a much fuller concept. All of which would have made for a fine set of gates.

The actual gates were in fact built between the date of these sketches and the official opening of Centennial Park in January 1888 – three trees were planted in a rather [then barren plot. Sadly for Moore the gates were not to his design – but not completely dissimilar – we prefer our man.

Some interesting little sketches and the odd house and kitchen design elsewhere but also, as with many similar items, rather a lot of blank pages.

An interesting architectural conversation piece.

Sydney Centennial Park Gates the Preferred Design

$120.00

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Australian Antarctic Expedition 1911-14. Scientific Reports Series C – Zoology and Botany – Vol VIII Part III – Echinodermata Echinoidea [Urchins].

By Professor Rene Koehler, Lyon France – edited by professor Launcelot Harrison, University of Sydney.

We have mentioned previously about how long it took to get the scientific reports from Mawson’s expedition published. This one 1926 so twelve years after the event.

It is alos interesting how widely the field samples were dispersed in this process. This one from Lyon printed in Sydney in French without an English translation. So one for those that have the linguistic capability or the knowledge to interpret, and admire, the thirty three magnificent plates full page plates.

Large format, soft cover, staple bound as issued, 134 pages of narrative followed the plates, very good condition.

Cold water urchins given the French treatment with super plates

$60.00

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The ANARE 1963 Expedition to Heard Island – G.M. Budd

This is the “Narrative” issue – Volume 1 of Series A – from by the Antarctic Division, Melbourne in 1964.

This is the one to have … and we say that as it contains one of the most gripping stories of cold weather experience – the report of the Mountain Party in its attempt to climb Voyager’s favourite mountain the volcanic beauty that is Big Ben – at the very centre of this chilly remote outpost of Australia.

Card covers, usual style, 53 pages, numerous images from expedition photographs and the simply beautiful, enormous (80+cm both ways) colour map of the island with its known features and unknown areas. The first impression we had was that whilst it appears that the island can be approached and landed from a number of points around the coast the first thing that meets you on every occasion is a glacier. Super condition – map pristine.

The contents include … the Personnel – there are only six split into two parties of three , the Mountain party and the Atlas Cove Party. Equipment for the Mountain Party and the “Route on Big Ben”. The voyage and landings; the attempt on Big Ben; the bivouac at Long Beach and Coastal Journeys. Separately the narrative of the Atlas Cove Party by Nils Lied.

The events described regarding the mountain attempt are indeed harrowing but thankfully and perhaps luckily they all survived – a few frost bitten digits and other parts aside. The Atlas Cove party had an easier ride but not before they have emptied and fumigated the shelters left from a prior visit that had been taken over by elephant seals and the like – who do not make comfortable bedfellows.

Heard Island heroics and the best map of this remote island.

SO SORRY SOLD

$190.00

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New South Wales Military Uniforms – A collection of images

A collection of images of early and unusual New South Wales military uniforms – from the Boer War and earlier up to the Great War.

Housed in a typical 1980’s photograph album with the convenient static assisted flip of sleeve allowing easy access to the items. Some have interesting notes to rear. All up 19 images, many large. Some Army promotional photographs, others photographic reproductions of early images, the odd postcard style.

Some specifically identified … Sgt J Barracluff, Sydney Troop, NSW Cavalry Regt who we learn was a member of the tournament team sent to Great Britain, 1893- awarded 2nd Prize (equal) for Tilting at R.I.M. Tournament, Dublin 1893. A nice early image of the NSW Army Medical Corps at the Boer war. Sqn Sgt Maj W.H. Davies c1905-1912 in full dress review order. And, drummer Bert Taylor with second set of Drum Banners c1900 on his Drum Horse. Possibly our favourite – the “Cycle Section” many with turned down handle bars … and gaiters …

A nice diverse collection of NSW historical military uniform images.

$140.00

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Biggles in Borneo – Capt W.E. Johns – First Australian Edition 1946

A first Australian edition of a scarce early Biggles with its original dust jacket – we emphasise original as some are sold with colour photocopies these days – we find that all a bit naff.

Published in 1946 by Geoffrey Cumberledge for Oxford University Press, Melbourne. The UK edition came out during WWII in 1943. Octavo, 183 pages, toned a bit still on the war paper, aged to top etc, but not a bad dust jacket at all, which makes the book. A good and collectable copy.

Subtitled …A “Biggles Squadron” Story of the Second Great War. Having just proved invaluable in the “Battle of Britain” the squadron find themselves in the heart Borneo where they set up an aerodrome unknown to the Japanese – they downs ships and rescue prisoners … the aerodrome is eventually taken over by the Royal Australian Airforce.

One of the scarce Biggles in its jacket and with a handover to the Aussies.

$70.00

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The Randall Art Gallery and School of Painting – South Brisbane – Catalogue of Works in Oils, Water Colours, Pastels, Black and White etc by the Late R.J. Randall

A very scarce dedication to Richard John Randall (1869-1906), Queensland Artist. As you can see he died early – of a suggested brain tumour. In such a short time he had produced an incredibly broad body of work – he was a poet also.

No date of publication, we can only find the National Library copy and they suggest with a ? 1919 – we think maybe 1907 because of a memoriam dated such, at the very back, from his father.

His father George was involved in immigration and spent quite some time in England. Richard accompanied him on an extended stay in early adulthood and studied under known English landscape masters .. Randall himself was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Art for his “Hay Mill”.

His death was a tragic jolt for his father George who spent many years afterwards promoting his sons works – he commissioned this Catalogue of Works.

Softcover, 90 pages, illustrated throughout with images of the paintings and super images of his studios and the official collection of his works which were donated to a named gallery at the City Hall. Very good 12 page narrative appreciation to front.

There is a further story if you have the patience for it. Randall’s Studio was preserved in South Brisbane but came under pressure from developers in the 1990’s – the type that knocked things down in the night – then and still now. The top floor was preserved and it was moved by the Council – it then suffered from neglect and vandalism and was moved again to the Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens – you can see it there near the car park.

John Randall perhaps up there for Queensland’s greatest artist taken early but left a lot.

$140.00

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All products

Sydney Centennial Park – Unusual Period Ephemera – Design for the Main Gates – Self Measuring Pocket Book – J Moore 1886

Australian Antarctic Expedition 1911-14. Scientific Reports Series C – Zoology and Botany – Vol VIII Part III – Echinodermata Echinoidea [Urchins].

The ANARE 1963 Expedition to Heard Island – G.M. Budd

New South Wales Military Uniforms – A collection of images

Biggles in Borneo – Capt W.E. Johns – First Australian Edition 1946

The Randall Art Gallery and School of Painting – South Brisbane – Catalogue of Works in Oils, Water Colours, Pastels, Black and White etc by the Late R.J. Randall

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