Natural History

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1880

Printed at the “Mercury” Steam Press Office and published 1881.

Briefer than usual but full of papers presented by the most notable observers, natural scientists with an interest in the Society.

A new Helix fossil is found in the Kent Group by geologist R.M. Johnston – with engraved plate. Johnston also reports on a new fish species in the Derwent.

Notes on some Tasmanian plants by the distinguished baron F von Mueller.

Robert Etheridge jnr [now in London] reports on a Unionide found in the Launceston Tertiary Basin – with engraving.

And, reports from discoveries elsewhere – Algae from the New Hebrides and the Lichens of Queensland by expert F.M. Bailey.

Original soft wrappers, 64 pages of papers, followed by meteorological tables [in detail – a daily record presented twice monthly] and the annual reports and accounts, list of Fellows etc Very good condition.

istinguished contributors to a tight honed edition – 1880.

$60.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1892

Printed at the “Mercury” Steam Press Office and published 1893.

A interesting journal. Much about fish, probably the most comprehensive account of Tasmanian estuary and fresh water fish to date. Interesting note on the Derwent Hand-Fish which is described as not uncommon – reference made to Mrs Meredith’s painting of the hand-fish which she uses to illustrate her book Tasmanian friends and Foes.

Nice paper of Silurian Trilobites [or bits of then] in the Mersey region by Robert Etheridge Jnr [Voyager paleo hero … he is now at the British Museum references samples sent to his famous Dad of the same name. Nice plate of the Trilobites and Silurian Mollusca similarly found.

Paper on Antachini [marsupial shrew] first one found in Tasmanian.

The accounts always make interesting reading … the Society has financial responsibility for the Museum [annual spend GBP282 and the Botanical gardens GBP700] cash in the bank at year end was GBP27!

Interesting reference early on to the first telephone demonstration from the Society rooms rooms to Battery Point and Mount Nelson – 20mls – everyone fairly astonished.

Original soft wrappers, xlvi pages followed by 178 pages of papers, followed by tables and the annual reports and accounts, list of Fellows etc A very solid edition with good content. Very good condition.

Fish and Fossils and the first telephone trial

$90.00

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The Tasmanian Tiger in Pictures – Dr Eric Guiler

A scarce item by the unchallengeable Thylacine expert Dr Eric Guiller.

Published in 1993. Soft wrapper, landscape, 28 pages with numerous illustrations from old photographs and contemporary photographs from the authors expeditions and field studies – he followed the Thylacine for over 40 years. Also, maps showing sightings and “unfortunately” earlier killings, sketches of Tiger tracks identified by Eric Guiler etc.

Very good if not better condition.

Guiler out and about the bush …. searching for the Thylacine – convincing.

$80.00

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Ray Society – William Turner – Libellus de Re Herbaria 1538; The Names of Herbes 1548.

William Turner (1508-1568) is regarded as the father of British Botany. He was born at Morpeth, Northumberland, the son of a tanner. He was a super bright lad and went to Cambridge [early days] and worked his way up there before publishing his first book Libellus de Re Herberia – regarded as the first serious compilation of plants with medical properties.

His primary study was in theology and he became a name in the Protestant Church of Henry VIII. Unfortunately, when Mary became Queen he had to bolt to the Continent only to return after her death.

Published by the Ray Society, who do such magnificent important facsimiles. Note there are only five known copies of the first book and one of the second, such was their then circulation and style [quality] of printing and binding. This book, large octavo, 275 pages, jacket near complete, chip to bottom jacket spine. A near very good copy.

There have been two books previously about Turner and his work and publications, both in the 19th C with limited print runs – they themselves scarce. They have useful “best histories” of Turner’s life so that content is reproduced here along with some other useful tabular comparisons from those works – all very informative.

William Turner Botanical First and a very interesting life.

$60.00

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The Fossil Fishes of the Hawkesbury Series at Gosford – Robert Etheridge Jnr – 1890

A very good copy of this rare report issued by the New South Wales Department of Mines – Memoirs of the Geological Survey of New South Wales – Palaeontology No 4.

Thick hard cover, cloth crimped spine, as issued. Large format 30 cm x 25 cm.

Begins proper with a letter from Wilkinson Geological Surveyor in Charge to the Minister setting out the background and content. A railway was being built in the Hawkesbury region, and a superb group of fish fossil remains were found … they were examined by non-other than T. W. Edgeworth David who provides a “Stratigraphical Note” as an introduction along with a geological section of the “find”.

55 pages of scientific narrative are followed by ten full page plates on very thick paper / card with interwoven explanatory notes. An impressive set of engravings lithographed by Berjeau & Highley printed by Mintern Bros.

Philibert Charles Berjeau [1845-1927] was a leading London based natural history lithographer who worked hand in hand with Percy Highley [1856-1929]; the printers Mintern Bros were also London based and produced work of a high technical standard including John Gould’s Birds of New Guinea.

Rare work edited by Etheridge introduced by Edgeworth David and lithographed by a top London outfit.

$140.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1936 – Meston on the Origin of the Tasmanians

Printed by Shimmins, Hobart – the Government Printer. Published, as always, a year later – 1937.

Contains a number of papers of natural history interest – crustaceans, leaf-hoppers, and fossil plane [at Warrentinna, North East Tasmania.

A good paper by much hated Crowther on an early sealing voyage in the Bass Staits – the schooner “Brothers” Captain Kelly. Historical content is from a manuscript log by Kelly in Crowthers hands – we would love to know where it is now. This is an early voyage indeed before Kelly’s circumnavigation of the island. They had a total cull of over 7,000 seals [poor things]. Salt to preserve the skins was got from Kangaroo Island.

Distinguished anthropologist A.L. Meston offers a thoroughly considered paper on the origins of the Tasmanian aboriginal. Written without prejudice we think – he debunks the then theory that they arrived via Pacific Islands [via New Caledonia] and believes that they arrived in Northern Australia and after moving south, island hopping over the Bass Strait having the skill to build the bark canoes that feature in our modern view of their history. Interesting report.

Original soft wrappers, larger size, 104 pages, illustrated with scientific drawings, images form photographs etc. A nice copy.

The origin of the Tasmanian aboriginals, voyage of the Brothers etc

$80.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1880

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1892

The Tasmanian Tiger in Pictures – Dr Eric Guiler

Ray Society – William Turner – Libellus de Re Herbaria 1538; The Names of Herbes 1548.

The Fossil Fishes of the Hawkesbury Series at Gosford – Robert Etheridge Jnr – 1890

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1936 – Meston on the Origin of the Tasmanians

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