Curiosities

French Miniature Furnace Microscope – c1850-60

Scarce miniature Mineral or Furnace Microscope attributed to Bertrand, Paris in the Billings Collection pages 37 and 193. The Billings example no 369 on page 193 is identical even down to the circle made on the outer case from running the closing catch around.

Beautifully made, the original mahogany box has a conical dove tail slide cut into its top into which the instrument sits. The brass base screws to the tune stand. There is a square cut in the front that houses a single mirror on a milled head pivot. The stand is cut away for the fixed circular stage. At the top of the stand there is a screw in cylinder into which the body tube slides. There is an outer casing which slides downward to become a slide holder. The objective and ocular screw in.

This is a collector’s item – it is probably one of the smallest practical microscopes ever made, is extremely well made and in as perfect a condition one could expect for its age. The case is undamaged with a great patina.

Case dimensions approximately 85mm x 45mm x 35mm. Microscope height 75mm base diameter 25mm.

Perfect collectable miniature microscope – over 150 years old.
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$260.00

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Mining Medal – Centenary of The Deep Navigation Coal Mine – 1979.

The Deep Navigation Colliery was a major underground mine at Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales. It was the deepest of all South Wales cola mines. It produced high quality “steam coal” which powered the Mauretania and the Lusitania in successful Blue Riband attempts for the fastest Atlantic crossing.

Opened in 1879 after much effort sinking shafts, many lives were lost. Throughout its life it suffered from huge amounts of water ingress and massive pumps were used constantly to keep it manageable. The quality of the coal ensured its profitability until the early 1990’s when the geology became more challenging and it was closed and the area reclaimed as public sports fields.

This medal was given to each miner in the workforce in 1979 at the 100-year anniversary of the mine opening – so about 500-600 were likely struck. A fine example, gilt finished, haunched miner figures to both sides – one an early 19thC miner with mandrel and Davey lamp, the other a modern miner with safety helmet vs cloth cap. 40 mm diameter fine condition, high relief 25 gm.

Scarce Coal Mining Commemorative

$60.00

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Original PhD Thesis – The Force-Field Approach to Neutron Monitor Observations of the Eleven-Year Cosmic-Ray Modulation Cycle – H. Morall

Harm Moraal [1947-2015] born in the Netherlands but spent most of his life in his adopted home South Africa where he was Professor of Physics at Potchefstroom University. He became an accepted world authority in Cosmic Rays and a member of the Commission on Cosmic Rays of the International Union of Pure and Applied Physics – now the Commission on Astro-particle Physics – in the 1990’s he was Chair of the Commission. He was involved in numerous other related bodies.

Harm Moraal completed this PhD in December 1973. The work comprises 130 pages reproduced from typescript bound in faux black Morocco, gilt titles to front hand done consistent with the techniques of the period.

This is high level science and of history of science merit. Chapter subjects include :–

Cosmic-Ray Modulation Theory [Development of Equations; Mono-Energetic Solutions; Force-Filed Solutions etc]

The Force-Field Equation Applied to Neutron Monitor Response Functions [Force-Field Equations for a Mixture of Particle; Neutron Monitor Distribution Functions (the Experiments); Validity of the modified convection diffusion approximation etc]

The Force-Field Equation Applied to Measurements of Stationary Neutron Monitors [Fractions Counting Rates etc]

The Modulation of Cosmic-Ray Electrons [Comparison with neutron monitor results and separability of the diffusion coefficient etc]

Various Appendices including – the Rigidity Dependence of the Diffusion Coefficient near the Cosmic-Ray Maximum of May 1965.

Important PhD Thesis by a man who then devoted his life to his subject Cosmic-ray Physicist Harm Moraal .

$140.00

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Antique Drum Microscope [Steward’s Portable Botanical Compound Microscope] c1870’s

A very nice cased English drum or field microscope. We have identified this exact type including accessories in the J.H. Steward Catalogue for 1871 so we can date it pretty well – see image of catalogue page with full description.

Original mahogany case with internal compartments circa 21cm x 8cm x 7cm. It has a crack in the lid of no structural consequence. Overall, a lovely patina superior to the usual pine equivalents.

Microscope in good condition with original eyepiece, three numbered objectives – instructions claim to give maximum magnification of 10,000 times.

Also provided is a brass box with a glass bottom usually for aquatic objects also crystals, salts etc. An insect box for small live insects. Five [would have been six] named paper covered prepared slides original to the set.

Extra special, almost unheard of, we still have the original “printed directions” with schematic of the microscope and accessories. Put back together by someone else with Sellotape

A super example of this upmarket drum style brass microscope.

Steward’s Catalogue goes on … “For Utility, Portability, and Cheapness, this Instrument is not equalled; and to convey some idea of its power, a Microscopic Photograph of the “Trial of Pickwick”, containing upwards 9,000 letters, and occupying the space of a pin’s head, when placed under this Instrument every word can be rad with the greatest ease”

1870’s Quality identified drum microscope with original accessories and printed directions.

$360.00

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Lord Rochester’s Monkey (Being the Life of John Wilmot, Second Earl of Rochester) – Graham Greene – First Edition 1974

Graham Green had written this lengthy biography in the early 1930’s. Rochester’s work and life were considered rather racy for the period and there was difficulty getting it published.

Moving the clock forward to 1974 and it is finally published backed up by some very good relevant illustrations.

Published by the Bodley Head, London in 1974. Large octavo (25cm by 19cm) 231 pages with numerous illustrations many in colour. A very good copy.

Rochester the second Earl (the first having hidden Charles up the Oak tree) was well favoured by the restored King Charles II. He had an incredible brain, although at Oxford spent the entire time drunk. He entered the King’s Court at an early age after a surprisingly distinguished naval career. His writing of odes and poetry was of the highest standard although cutting; a wit to the extreme. A wit not held back on the King himself who saw Rochester off to the Tower to reflect. Supposed to be the author of the erotic play Sodom, based on the debauch Court of Charles. None of his work was published in his lifetime … he died at an early age from medical complications associated with his wild life.

Lord Rochester his life was not Monkey Business

$60.00

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[Music Theme] Violin with Score Bookends – By Marion Bronze c1940’s

Delightful pair of weighty bookends. Stand 8cm high and weigh 2.8kg the pair. A few bumps but overall, pretty good. A great present for the musically gifted. Made by Marion and Arthur France in their cottage factory in New Jersey.

Marion Bronze – Bookends

Marion Bronze was a Mom and Pop business. Marion and Arthur France started making bookends and other decorative items in 1922 in the sheds behind their house at Metuchen, New Jersey. They continued to do this until the mid-1950’s when the business was put up for sale.

The image of the house comes from the actual business sale document which Voyager found through a website run by Marion and Arthur’s grandchildren who could remember waiting on the porch of this fine cottage – waiting for Grandpa to finish his daily toil in the shed at the back of the yard.

The Encyclopaedia of Bookends by Kuritzky states that the history of Marion Bronze is very sketchy, and they do not even have the information above.

What they do have is numerous examples of Marion Bronze items as they were bought as a collection from a New York City landlord who had found them in an abandoned apartment. The tenant had been an employee of Marion Bronze and had brought home over fifty examples of their w

$380.00

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French Miniature Furnace Microscope – c1850-60

Mining Medal – Centenary of The Deep Navigation Coal Mine – 1979.

Original PhD Thesis – The Force-Field Approach to Neutron Monitor Observations of the Eleven-Year Cosmic-Ray Modulation Cycle – H. Morall

Antique Drum Microscope [Steward’s Portable Botanical Compound Microscope] c1870’s

Lord Rochester’s Monkey (Being the Life of John Wilmot, Second Earl of Rochester) – Graham Greene – First Edition 1974

[Music Theme] Violin with Score Bookends – By Marion Bronze c1940’s

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