Non-fiction

Fine Photograph – Dr David Livingstone. J. G. Tunny, Photographer, Edinburgh Circa 1870’s.

Distinguished African Missionary and Explorer, Dr David Livingstone died in 1871. This photograph likely taken just before his final African adventure. He left for Zanzibar in 1866, part of his objective to find the source of the Nile, believing it to be further south than proposed by Burton and Speke. It was in 1870 that Stanley found him with that now famous introduction “Livingstone I presume?”.

The photographer James Good Tunny (1820-1887) was highly regarded and in business for many years. This image was reproduced likely to commemorate news of the death of Livingstone as it references 13 Maitland Street, Edinburgh and 11 Salisbury Place … the latter being Tunny’s second studio and home from 1871 to 1886.

A very good image in carte de visite style, a trifle marked, otherwise a fine albumen print.

Important photograph of the esteemed African Explorer, Dr David Livingstone, possibly commemorative.

$80.00

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The Celebrated George Barrington: A Spurious Author; The Book Trade, And Botany Bay – Nathan Garvey

For collectors of early Australiana the confusion over the Barrington books is well known. There might be the occasional flight to Wantrup but the riddle will most likely still remain unresolved. Here we have it, the essential explanation and reference ..

Octavo, 327 pages nicely illustrated from early Barrington books. Published by Hordern House, Sydney 2008. A fine copy.

Traces the genesis of the Barrington books, with an excellent account of publishing in England in the period. Contains the authoritative bibliography with over eighty works referenced.

George Barrington and his early Australian books … resolved

$40.00

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Captain James Cook – The Greatest Discoverer [Hordern House Reference]

Well, another magnificent Hordern House production. A catalogue of encyclopedic quality and proportions to reflect the once only collection of Robert and Mary Anne Parks.

No Cook devotee or great voyages enthusiast should be without this incredible reference to 133 works some unique some so rare that they make one shimmer with envy.

Cook delights dished up on quality service.

$40.00

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Van Diemen’s Land Revealed Editor [Bass and Flinders] – Dan Sprod

All about – Flinders and Bass and their circumnavigation of the island in the colonial sloop Norfolk in 1798-1799.

Superior work from Dan Sprod and a limited edition of 750. Published by Blubber Press in 2009. Here in fine condition.

Large octavo, 256 pages, nicely illustrated. Three charts in pocket at end as required.

Although modern this strangely is the first work dedicated to this important circumnavigation which in a sense defines Tasmanians. Other Flinders and Bass events provide support including Bass in the Tom Thumb from Sydney Cove to Western Point; Flinders to the wreck of the Sydney Cove and a facsimile of the rare Flinders pamphlet “Observations on the Coast of Van Diemen’s Land” to which the folding charts relate. Nice work.

Essential Tasmanian reference

$50.00

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Atlantic Adventure – John Groser – First Edition

This is the book about the highly controversial third London Observer Singlehanded Transatlantic Rec in 1968.

A first edition published by Ward & Lock, London. Octavo, 160 pages, nicely illustrated and with two good appendices at rear – Scale Drawings of Yachts in the 1968 Race and … List of entries with helmsman, designer, builder, type, rig, size and “result”. A fine copy.

Running down the “results” column maybe you get an understanding of the drama in the book with … Steering trouble, disqualifies, taken ill, rudder trouble, unable to navigate, sank!, leak in hull, mast came loose, mast broke, sank, sank … sank.

The North Atlantic not to be underestimated.

$25.00

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The Billings Microscope Collection of the Medical Museum Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. James Hansen et al [Second and Preferred Edition]

This is the preferred second edition 1974 of this standard reference for antique microscope collectors and those interested in antique scientific instruments generally. It contains 32 additional pages of microscopes to the first published in 1967.

The existence of this collection which maybe rivals that of the London Microscopical Society is down to Lieutenant John S Billings a medical officer in the US Amy who was put in charge of the Army Medical Museum. He did a magnificent job and must have been well financed and supported. He built the heart of the collection between 1883 and 1993 [couldn’t be a better period}. The result has been augmented over the year from donations and acquisitions.

Softcover quarto, 244 pages, 4 colour plates and 473 black and white photographs of examples. Very good condition … the covers might look marked but it is just the trendy arty finish.

A brief history of the microscope is followed by a three part catalogue. Part I … contains the collection acquired by Billings and later donations etc up until 1966. Part II represents a significant collected added from Europe in 1966 – the Kaas Collection. Part II are the important additions since the first printing.

Billings and essential scientific reference – the best edition .

$90.00

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Fine Photograph – Dr David Livingstone. J. G. Tunny, Photographer, Edinburgh Circa 1870’s.

The Celebrated George Barrington: A Spurious Author; The Book Trade, And Botany Bay – Nathan Garvey

Captain James Cook – The Greatest Discoverer [Hordern House Reference]

Van Diemen’s Land Revealed Editor [Bass and Flinders] – Dan Sprod

Atlantic Adventure – John Groser – First Edition

The Billings Microscope Collection of the Medical Museum Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. James Hansen et al [Second and Preferred Edition]

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