Mining/Geology

Geology and Mineralogy – William Buckland [Considered with Reference to Natural Theology] – Published 1837

Published in London by William Pickering in 1837 – 2 Volumes complete bound in half black Morocco over marbled papered boards, gilt titles, volume numbers and designs to spine. In very good condition, the condition of the plates terrific.

Large octavo, xvi, 618 pages; vii, 129 pages, 69 plates [2 folding]

The volumes as lavishly illustrated with a famous multiple fold out plate in excess of a metre long beautifully hand coloured demonstrating various geological structures [one of the best executed coloured plates of the period.

Rev William Buckland (1784-1856) was an exceptional individual – a Fellow of the Royal Society, President of the Royal Geological Society. His interest in geology and paleontology led him to write the first full account of a fossil dinosaur which he named Megalosarurus. He discovered the Kirkdale cave and concluded that it had been a prehistoric hyena den – for which he was awarded the Copley Medal by the Royal Society. This work was written just prior to his awakening that certain geological structures and fossil remains were a result of glaciation and not the effect of floodwaters from the great deluge. Buckland was a friend of a young Charles Darwin - there must have been some very interesting conversations.

Buckland’s Great Work on Geology and Paleontology - a Voyager favourite

$440.00

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Elliot Brothers – Strand London – Prismatic Compass – c1880

A working Victorian prismatic compass by the esteemed Elliot Brothers.

Constructed of blackened brass, 9.5cm in diameter, weight 160 gm. Engraved on the sighting arm “Elliot Bros. 449 Strand London”. Also, likely first owners name engraved on the rear "Herbert J Dauberry". The sighting arm still contains its “horsehair” and lifts and stays in the vertical position. The hinged prism can be moved to its operating position over the base plate. With the compass held steady and flat a notch on the prism body is aligned with the horsehair on the arm. A compass reading can be taken through the magnified prism lens, the compass can be held in position via a locking pin under the arm. The compass rotates freely, and the lead glass is unusually free of scratches. Really quite a special object.

William Elliot founded his business at Gray’s Inn, London in 1800. He started by making fine drawing instruments. By 1807 he had moved to High Holborn and by 1816 was making telescope and barometers. In 1830 he moved to 56 The Strand and his sons joined the partnership. They began making surveying instruments particularly for the fast-developing railway industry. In 1853 Willam died, and the sons continued as Elliot Brothers. They moved to larger premises at 449 The Strand sometime around 1860 and were there until another move to St Martin’s Lane circa 1890 – so we can have a good stab at the date of manufacture.

The business continued to flourish and eventually became part of G.E.C. and then Siemens.

Quality Prismatic Compass – by Distinguished Elliot Bros.

$160.00

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Fortunes in Minerals including Uranium [Simple Tests and How to Make Them] – Ion Idriess – Very Good Copy

An Ion Idriess classic which followed “Prospecting for Gold”. Experts regarded this book as a serious compendium. Includes chemical tests and sections on the use of the blowpipe.

Published by Angus and Robertson, a 1959 issue of the revised edition. Large octavo, 310 pages with some instructive illustrations. A very good copy in a super dust jacket.

Ion Idriess classic – makes your fortune in minerals – plenty have.

$60.00

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Walhalla Heyday – James & Lee

A 1983 edition of this significant and extensive local history of the gold mines north-east of Melbourne particularly Walhalla. Starting with Stringer’s Creek then Walhalla and the “Long Tunnel Gold Mining Company”. The establishment of the Gippsland Railway and the various ups and downs and extensions of the already “Long Tunnel” before fire, flood and eventually inevitable decline.

Perfect bound, quarto sized, 144 pages and too many great illustrations to count, the odd map etc. Very good condition.

Walhalla one of the better historical mining accounts

$30.00

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Moonta Copper Mine, South Australian – Magic Lantern Slide – Issued by Newton & Co 1913

An original magic lantern slide showing a working scene at the Moonta Copper Mine, South Australia, by Newton & Co, London. This formed part of a set on Australasia sold in 1913.

Copper was discovered at Moonta on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, near a Wombat burrow in 1860. A mine was soon built based on Cornish principles and bringing in mining experience from Cornwall, By the mid 1860’s it was thriving and by 1870 Moonta rivalled Adelaide – a million pound dividend was soon paid. The depression of the 1920’s put paid to all of that and the mine closed in 1923.

Some buildings or remnants still exist, and the site was put on the National Heritage Listing in 2017. It is well worth a visit look it up online. When you look it up you will see the remains of two engine houses – Hughes Engine House which was used to de-water the mine [active layers were below the natural water table] that engine ran for over 58 years. And, Richman’s Engine House which was used for crushing and processing ore [32 inch Cornish Beam Engine]. We recon our image is of the Richman Engine House … what do you think? The Engineer for both Houses was Frederick May.

Newton & Co were formed in 1858. In the period 1912-1925 they had premises in Covent Garden.

Standard size circa 3.5 inches or 8cm by 8cm.

Early active image of work at the Moonta Copper Mine

$90.00

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Copper to Gold – History of Wallaroo [South Australia] – Rex Whiltshire.

Published in 1968 by the township of Wallaroo. Octavo, perfect bound soft cover, 162 pages, illustrated throughout, images on end paper. A few marks on the back otherwise a very good copy.

Thorough presentation of the history of Wallaroo and the region. Flinders visit, aborigines, notable identities, the discovery of copper and then gold, good images from the period.

Another super local history associated with the discovery of copper and gold.

$25.00

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Geology and Mineralogy – William Buckland [Considered with Reference to Natural Theology] – Published 1837

Elliot Brothers – Strand London – Prismatic Compass – c1880

Fortunes in Minerals including Uranium [Simple Tests and How to Make Them] – Ion Idriess – Very Good Copy

Walhalla Heyday – James & Lee

Moonta Copper Mine, South Australian – Magic Lantern Slide – Issued by Newton & Co 1913

Copper to Gold – History of Wallaroo [South Australia] – Rex Whiltshire.

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