Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

The Gold Deposits of the Granites-Tanami Districts, Central Australia by P.S. Hossfeld – 1940 [Edric Chaffer’s Copy]

Sought after report of this area that contains the now 600,000 oz per annum Newmont operated mine. To date 12 million ounces have been extracted and mining activities are continuing at a depth of 1.5 km.

The author Paul Samuel Hossfeld (1896-1967) was born in South Australia worked various geological roles in Australia and Papua New Guinea. During WWII he conducted experimental work for the Government in Melbourne returning to his chosen field afterwards retiring as a senior lecturer at the School of Geology, Adelaide University.

Complete report being no 43 of the Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia. Foolscap in size 28 pages of narrative followed by a full set of eight large folding, mainly coloured, folding maps and plans, all in superb condition.

One of the most remote areas of Australia approximately 500kms north-west of Alice Springs. Arthur Davidson was the first European to discover signs of gold in the Tanami desert around 1900. He gave the area the name Tanami from a local word meaning water hole. It was not until this report based on work conducted throughout the 1930’s that the true potential was recognised – another eighty years would pass until the bonanza became real. What other prospects exist within these reports?

The maps, charts etc include

1. Geological Map – the Granites- Tanami District, Central Australia – Colour [65cm x 35cm]

2. Plan of Quorn-Golden Sho-Vee Portion of the Granites Gold-Field etc showing Geology, Lodes, Workings and Assays – Colour [75cn x 45cm]

3. Assay Plan & Sections of Portion of Golden Shoe & Vee Workings etc [70cm x 56cm]

4. Plan of Long Bottom -Bullagitchie Portion – The Granites etc showing Geology, Lodes, Workings, Assays – Colour [65cm x 45cm]

5. Plan of Bunker’s Hill – Chapman’s hill Portion etc – Colour – [65cm x 95cm!]

6. Plan Tanami Goldfield etc – Reefs & Assays – Some colour – [50cm x 75cm]

7. Plan of Northern Portion – Tanami Gold Field etc [70cm x 70cm]

8. Map – Western Portion of Central Australia Showing Topographical Features – [95cm x 75cm]

The final map above ranges from Alice Springs in the south east to Tennant Creek in the north east; Lake MacDonald in the south west and the sandy areas above Tanami in the north-west. A really super maps produced from numerous sources including aerial surveys in 1934, 1937 and 1938.

Ownership signature of past President of the Royal Society of New South Wales, geologist, Edric Keith Chaffer.

The Granites and Tanami Regions Gold Prospects Expertly reported by Hossfeld

$390.00

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Meteorite Craters at Henbury [Central Australia] – Geophysical Report – J. M. Rayner – 1939 [Edric Chaffer's copy]

Report No 42 of the Aerial, Geological and Geophysical Survey of Northern Australia published in 1939.

Report on the Magnetic Survey conducted in 1937 with large folding plan showing craters and position of magnetic traverses and anomalies (75cm x 75cm) and a second folding plate showing the profiles of horizontal and vertical components of the magnetic field (70cm x 55cm). All in very good condition.

Ownership signature of E. K. Chaffer to front page. Edric Keith Chaffer was a geologist and long time supporter of the Royal Society of New South Wales – he was President of the Society in the 1970′s. His interest in all things geological started at Knox Grammar School … there he participated in the schools special interest in climbing. Know were the first school to climb Ayers Rock in 1950 – Chaffer as a participant narrated the film recording the event title – “Red Horizon”.

Thirteen craters ranging from 9m to 200m in diameter.

A significant cluster of meteorite craters can be found on the Henbury Station which is 130km south of Alice Springs. The craters were recognised by A. R. Alderman, who surveyed and catalogued them, in 1931 closely followed by the Bedford group – a substantial amount of meteor samples was removed. Jack Maxwell Rayner (1906-1982) conducted the first serious scientific study in 1937 the work forming the basis of this unique report published in 1939.

The craters have special scientific significant as it is believed to be the only example where all criteria e.g. size, shape, degrees of erosion can be studied in the one place. There are 13 significant craters and Rayner conducted full technical studies on all but crater no 9 {not sure why]. Rayner went on to become Director of the Commonwealth Bureau of Minerals and Resources.

Henbury Meteorite Crater Cluster.

$220.00

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Rare Image of Australia’s Rarest Bird – Rawnsley’s Satin Bower Bird [Ptilonorhynchus Rawnsleyi] – Silvester Diggles – c1870

Rare original hand-coloured image lithographed on stone by Queensland naturalist Silvester Diggles. Highlighted with gum Arabic. Published as part of his magnificent work “The Ornithology of Australia” between 1866 and 1870 in twenty-one parts by Pugh of Brisbane, in a very limited edition. By the time part sixteen was published there were only ninety-two subscribers. The original plates were executed by Diggles and his niece, Rowena Birkett.

The bird specimen from which this lithograph was derived was found by H.C. Rawnsley in the scrub behind his house in Witton [Indooroopilly] on the Brisbane River in Julu 1867. Diggles dedicated and named the bird after him. The narrative that accompanies the plate goes on and is of historical interest. Diggles states that the strong resemblance in the bird’s colouring to the Satin Bower bird and the Regent Bower bird may lead to the suspicion of it being a hybrid. However, he refers to the explorer A.C. Gregory, who inspected the bird and confirmed that he had seen the very same species in Northern Queensland … the narrative goes into detail regarding Gregory’s testimony. However, we now know that the bird was a hybrid after all – the only other examples of a similar occurrence are quite recent … in the last twenty year. We believe though only three such occurrences have been identified to date.

The work measures 38cm by 27cm, good strong hand colouring clean and undamaged. A very scarce item.

About Silvester Diggles

Silvester Diggles (1817-1880) artist and musician born in Liverpool, England. He came to Australia in 1853 settling in Brisbane where he taught music and drawing. Diggles was a founder of the Brisbane Choral Society in 1859 and the Philharmonic Society in 1861 known as “the father of music in Brisbane”. Diggles was also a founder of the Queensland Philosophical Society and helped establish the Museum. His greatest work was The Ornithology of Australia. It nearly sent him broke. His health deteriorated worry about finances being a factor. He died at Kangaroo Point in 1880.

Price $590.00 unframed
An opportunity to own a Silvester Diggles lithograph of an exceedingly rare bird indeed.

$590.00

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The Sextant Simplified [A Practical Explanation of the Use of the Sextant at Sea] – Oswald Watts

A later edition of this “go to” book on the sextant published by Thomas Reed, Sunderland etc in 1969.

Octavo, 100 pages, many diagrams and images to explain the use of the instrument as one would expect. A near fine copy.

First glance the sextant is a pretty simple and straightforward device. This book take one from the simple “take and angle” understanding to the more complex use and correction required have a solid and sure position – quite useful the sure bit when facing reefs and rock in previously new territory.

Sextant explained – enough to make you a master mariner – fill up the bathtub and go for it!

$35.00

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The Foraminifera: An Introduction to the Study of Protozoa- Frederick Chapmen – First edition 1902.

A first edition by Longman, Green et al, London in 1902.

Octavo, 354 pages after preliminaries, illustrated with the little foram beauties. A super work for those fascinated by this many varied and ubiquitous life form. Scarce and in good condition bar a bit of wear to the cloth at edges.

Frederick Chapman (1864-1943) studied and worked as Assistant in the Geological Laboratory at the Royal School of Chemistry, London before emigrating to Australia. He was given a position as palaeontologist at the National Museum Melbourne

Chapman shared his extensive knowledge in this important text on forams.

$120.00

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Geological Observations in South Australia – Tenison Woods – First Edition 1862

A first edition of Father Julian Edmund Tenison Woods (1832-1889) important work on the geology and palaeontology of South Australia – he would become one of the most significant contributors of the period.

Published by Longman Green, London in 1862. Octavo, 404 pages after preliminaries, 32 illustrations, 5 pages of plates and a map. Bound in half leather over cloth with marbled end papers and page edges. The embossed stamp of the New South Wales Library on the lower title approving their release of the book – some strange selections were and still are being made. A very good copy of a scarce and worthy book.

Tenison Woods and his first significant published work of Australian geology

$290.00

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The Gold Deposits of the Granites-Tanami Districts, Central Australia by P.S. Hossfeld – 1940 [Edric Chaffer’s Copy]

Meteorite Craters at Henbury [Central Australia] – Geophysical Report – J. M. Rayner – 1939 [Edric Chaffer's copy]

Rare Image of Australia’s Rarest Bird – Rawnsley’s Satin Bower Bird [Ptilonorhynchus Rawnsleyi] – Silvester Diggles – c1870

The Sextant Simplified [A Practical Explanation of the Use of the Sextant at Sea] – Oswald Watts

The Foraminifera: An Introduction to the Study of Protozoa- Frederick Chapmen – First edition 1902.

Geological Observations in South Australia – Tenison Woods – First Edition 1862

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