Non-fiction

The Total Solar Eclipse of May 1900 – Walter Maunder FRAS

A series of expeditions was organised by the British Astronomical Society to observe the total solar eclipse of 28th May 1900. This book printed by the “Knowledge” Office, London was published the following year.

It is a remarkable record of a substantial effort in logistics for such a momentary event. The best position forecast by the Smithsonian Institute was expected to be Wadensborough, North Carilona. The British attended but also went to Portugal, Mid-Spain, Manzandes, Elche and Algiers. The photography of the “set-ups” at each location are a treasure … and it is good to see lady scientists in all their finery and the odd social event. The scientific content is immeasurable and the photographs of corona etc at various locations comprehensive and priceless.

As well as corona we have … dark markings, coronal extensions, the shadow bands, Baily’s Beads … and a good summary of results. The highlight for Voyager is the period images of the astronomers going about their business.

The 1900 eclipse was part of the Saros cycle which repeats itself every 18 years and 11 days but with a limit, a total of 71 events, from 1179 to the final one in 2044 … so not long to go.

Unique work and more than you would expect for such a brief event … special

$90.00

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A Treatise on the Differential Calculus – William Walton – 1845 – Viscount Cross to be Home Secretary’s Copy

An advanced work published in 1845 by Deightons, Cambridge. The author was a Fellow of Trinity College. Original blind stamped cloth binding.

A very good copy with the normal progression … Fundamental Principles; Successive Differentiation; Elimination of Constant Functions; Evaluation of Indeterminate Functions; Maxima and Minima; Tangency; Asymptotes; Multiple Point, Conjugates, Cusps etc; Concavity and Convexity of Curves and Points of Inflexion … Centre of Curvature etc; Theory of Evolutes and Involutes; envelops; Polar Co-ordinates etc.

Distinguished First Owner Viscount R.A. Cross

Carries the bookplate and Signature, College and Ownership Date of Richard Asshetn Cross (1823-1914). Cross also went to Trinity and was then called to the Bar, Inner temple in 1849. He entered Parliament first in 1857 and then a second stint in 1868. He was elevated to the peerage, Viscount Cross of Broughton-in-Furness, in 1886. He was Home Secretary under Disraeli and also under Lord Salisbury. For a time, he was in the India Office and in eventually given the sinecure post Lord Privy Seal

$120.00

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Somewhere in New Guinea – Frank Clune – First edition 1951

Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1951, a first edition in pretty good condition

A companion book to Frank Clune’s “Prowling in Papua”. This time the north side and a good deal of mooching around “as he put it”. Wewak, Hagen, Madang, Markham Valley and Rabaul included.

First Edition Clune in New Guinea

$40.00

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The Great Pyramid Witness and Near Eastern Nations in the Light of Christ’s Second Coming – Rev Lamb (Sydney) 1928

A rather special soft covered second edition of Rev lamb’s book on the second coming and the link to the Great Pyramid of Giza. Self-published in Sydney in 1928.

Lamb a rather eccentric Reverend with a keen eye for Marketing. His list of five titles could be got at the discounted price of 7/6 if the money was sent directly. His first edition was sold out and given that the second coming would have severe personal consequences it was essential that this book was purchased if you missed the first printing!

His forward is direct “This book, over which I have earnestly prayed for many days, is now finished. Its message, as in everything else I have previously written, is to convince all who read it that the coming of God’s Son to this world is now right at hand. The intention all through its pages is to make its every reader feel that their chief business now should be that they “May be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” … I shall now pray every day that its mission may in this way be fully realised”

Lamb, not too keen on this modern theory of Evolution, correctly points out how clever the early Egyptian were any Greek civilisation having been founded on Egyptian intelligent. The destruction of the great library at Alexandria still stands as the worst act of vandalism against culture. The books kept the fires in the bakeries and hot baths etc. going for many months. His references to the Pyramids and the Great pyramid of Giza are a very special account. He recounts the scale, accuracy and quality of construction which is always bewildering to read, how was it really done? And the alignment with the stars. Early views of Sir John Herschel and then, Voyager favourite Piazzi Smyth who calculated the date of construction as 2,170 BC given the backward calculation of the position of Draconis, the Pole Star, being directly aligned with the extraordinary passage at midnight that year. This vent will happen 25,817 years later when the stars will be similarly aligned.

The book contains more than this of course and his view of the likely consequences of the rise in fascism throughout the world … well we all know what happened.

$30.00

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Up from South – A Prospector in New Guinea, 1931 – 1937 – Jack O’Neal

The author Jack O’Neal prospected for gold at Edie Creek, Wau, Bulolo, Ramu and Waria. Pure Morobe goldfield adventure often in danger yet he admired the native tribesman. Based on his diaries and edited by the knowledgeable James Sinclair. Nice list of Pidgin terms for the uninitiated and curious.

Morobe Gold

$50.00

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WG Lawes of Savage Island and New Guinea – Joseph King – 1909 First Edition

Published by The Religious Tract Society London in 1909, a First Edition. Original binding with snag top of spine glued otherwise a pretty good complete copy. Gilt titles and image all bright.

388 pages with folding coloured map of PNG and 21 most interesting black and white photographs. Lawes (1839-1907) went to Niue in 1861 for 11 years before then serving in Papua New Guinea in and around Port Moresby for 32 years from 1874. A tough man who worked with Chalmers met Bully Hayes and built the first church and school in Port Moresby.

Pioneering Missionary in PNG – Cornerstone PNG

$120.00

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The Total Solar Eclipse of May 1900 – Walter Maunder FRAS

A Treatise on the Differential Calculus – William Walton – 1845 – Viscount Cross to be Home Secretary’s Copy

Somewhere in New Guinea – Frank Clune – First edition 1951

The Great Pyramid Witness and Near Eastern Nations in the Light of Christ’s Second Coming – Rev Lamb (Sydney) 1928

Up from South – A Prospector in New Guinea, 1931 – 1937 – Jack O’Neal

WG Lawes of Savage Island and New Guinea – Joseph King – 1909 First Edition

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