Non-fiction

Artificial Teeth – adapted on an entirely new and improved system of Painless Dentistry – G.H. Jones Surgeon Dentist.

Paper covered booklet published in 1878, printed by Arless Andrews, Museum Street, London for the surgeon author. 64 pages, saddle stitched, dense type – loads of content. The rather special front cover give one lots more background.

George Horatio Jones was a prominent surgeon dentist of the period. He had superior premises at 57 Great Russell Street, opposite the British Museum. He had won prize medals [London, Paris and New York] for his artificial teeth and was awarded Her Majesty’s [Victoria] Royal Letters Patent.

Nice enough image of the premises as frontispiece. List of Jones’s numerous appointments on Title.

This is not a trade catalogue but a monograph on teeth. Contents include after introductory remarks … Dentition; Irregularity of Teeth; Decay; Tooth-ache; Extraction; Nitrous Oxide; Scurvy, abscess etc; Artificial teeth; Mode of Fixing; General Construction of Dentures; Cleft Palate …

Finishing with a narrative “Visit to the Factory” and numerous distinguished testimonials.

Illustrated with a number of unusual artificial dental arrangements.

Very good if not better condition – a bit of a miracle for its age and inherent fragility. Very scarce no other copies appear available.

Dentistry and artificial teeth in their infancy … superb reference

$120.00

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Antarctic Journey – Three Artists in Antarctica

Published by the Australian Government in 1988.

Card covered square format, 50 pages, numerous illustrations of the artwork of the chosen three – John Caldwell, Bea Maddock and Jan Senbergs.

Interesting accompanying narrative regarding Antarctic art in general and its history and then in-depth personal narratives of the very different but equally talented artists.

Art in the Antarctic … almost a tongue twister

SO SORRY SOLD

$30.00

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Medal Commemorating Admiral Vernon’s Capture of Porto Bello [Panama] – Struck 1740.

Half length figure of Admiral Edward Vernon (1684-1757), facing with baton raised in the left hand, right hand outstretched. Inscribed around the edge “THE BRITISH GLORY REVIVE-D BY ADMIRAL VERNON”.

Reverse a view of the Port; six ships [of Vernon’s fleet” and two Spanish gun-boats. Inscribed below “BY COURAGE AND CONDUCT” and around the edge “HE TOOK PORTO BELLO WITH SIX SHIPS ONLY”.

Very good condition, 37mm weighing 19gm.

For those impressed but also confused by the elaborate artwork and extensive description … there is a whole world out there of collectors of Admiral Vernon medals, and the detailed description matters to identify the precise medal, there were quite a few types. He was pretty much admired for his success at capturing Porto Bello in November 1739 and he possibly became the most medal(ised) person in history.

The event was an early conflict in what became known as the War of Jenkins’ Ear. In 1738 Captain Robert Jenkins appeared before the House of Commons with his amputated ear which had been severed by the Spanish in the West Indies. This added to other stories of bad behaviour by the Spanish led to war. Veron, then Vice Admiral was in charge of the Jamaica Station. Vernon preferred small well armed fleets and his attack with only six vessels was seemed foolhardy by others ... he succeeded and had a mountain named after him and the most fashionable street in London was named after the battle.

Vernon takes Porto Bello and gets one back for Jenkins’ Ear …

$180.00

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Important Voyage Account – The Voyage of the Duff to the South Sea Islands – Captain James Wilson – First edition 1799

Full title … A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean Performed in the Years 1796, 1797, 1798, in the Ship Duff, Commanded by Captain James Wilson. Compiled from Journals of the Officers and the Missionaries; and Illustrated with Maps, Charts and Views drawn by Mr William Wilson, and engraved by the most eminent Artists. With a Preliminary Discourse on the Geography and History of the South Sea Islands; and an Appendix, including details never before published, of the Natural and Civil State of Otaheite.

Several neat manuscript corrections to names, places and dates in such a manner that the book, at one time, must have been in the hands of someone intimately involved in the adventures, if not a member of the exploring group. Add's a touch of class and intrigue.

Printed by Gosnell for Publisher T. Chapman, Fleet Street, London 1799. Large quarto, the wide margin version. 420 pages after preliminaries and before substantial and distinguished subscribers list. With seven folded engraved maps and six beautifully engraved plates. Rebound at some time in half crimson morocco over matching red cloth covered boards, headband, top edge freshly gilt; a very professional job. Overall a very good solid copy..

An early voyage to the Pacific, undertaken for the purpose of establishing a mission in Tahiti. A settlement of was formed with twenty five members. Though the King befriended them, they met with continual difficulties due to continuous civil wars and were finally forced to flee to Australia. Though some returning some time much later in 1815. The work contains many valuable details regarding Tahiti, the Fiji Islands, Tonga, the Marquesas, etc. The discovery of a new group of islands, named the Duff Group among the Santa Cruz Islands. The narrative is full and readable with considerable valuable observation – not at all in the often dry “missionary” style. Stands, in our view, as a key read in the early Pacific Voyages genre.

The large folding “Chart of the Duff’s Track in the Pacific Ocean” was the first map to use the name Australia than New Holland.

Other important maps comprise – Feejee Islands; Marquesas Islands; Duff’s Group; Gambier Islands; Island of Otaheite and Island of Tongataboo.

Views comprise … Harbour of Rio Janeiro; Missionary Settlement at Matavai; View of Tallo Harbour; Great Morai of Oberca; Morai and Ark of the Eatooa at Attahooroo and Fiatookas of Futtasaihe.

One of classic late 18thC voyage accounts of significant exploration interest – a very good copy..

$890.00

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Rocks and Minerals of Australia – Oliver Chalmers

Published by Methuen in Australia a first edition 1976. Very good condition. 246 pages with lots of images, diagrams and maps. And with the striking Crocoite on the front board - see our examples on this website.

Or favourite “Observer Book” part of an Australian contribution to the series. A serious miniature work on the subject and the source of much of Voyager’s knowledge.

The detailed maps at the end and connectivity to the narrative open up the enormous subject to the newcomer

An expert in a day!

$30.00

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Narrative of the Wreck of HMS Porpoise – Robert Purdie, Surgeon’s Mate of HMS Investigator [A Matthew Flinders Item]

Octavo, xiv, 134 pages, published by Hordern House in 2014. A very good copy. The best dust jacket ever with a facsimile period map on the reverse from Flinder’s Journal Atlas.

Robert Purdie was a young surgeon who was wrecked on HMS Porpoise on a reef off the Queensland coast (to become known as “Wreck Reef’’). This was the vessel originally taking Matthew Flinders back the England having completed his coastal survey of Australia, confirming the entirety of the land mass. Purdie’s account had been published anonymously in The Naval Chronicle in 1807/07. He had been a junior officer on the Investigator and was among those that stayed on the reef whilst Flinders and others rowed back to Sydney to successfully mount a rescue.

The narrative is lively, informative and readable … here well presented with an excellent introduction and notes by Matthew Fishburn.

Matthew Flinders and Wreck Reef by Surgeon’s Mate Purdie.

$30.00

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Artificial Teeth – adapted on an entirely new and improved system of Painless Dentistry – G.H. Jones Surgeon Dentist.

Antarctic Journey – Three Artists in Antarctica

Medal Commemorating Admiral Vernon’s Capture of Porto Bello [Panama] – Struck 1740.

Important Voyage Account – The Voyage of the Duff to the South Sea Islands – Captain James Wilson – First edition 1799

Rocks and Minerals of Australia – Oliver Chalmers

Narrative of the Wreck of HMS Porpoise – Robert Purdie, Surgeon’s Mate of HMS Investigator [A Matthew Flinders Item]

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