Natural History

Kauri Gum Hair Pieces – Late 19thC early 20thC

Rare and unusual outside museums. See example only at the Kauri Museum, Metakohe, New Zealand.

The Kauri Pine associated with New Zealand and Northern Australia and Papua New Guinea. The trees were harvested in North Island New Zealand for boat building and along with that its unusual gum was collected. At one time Kauri gum was Aukland’s biggest export. Over harvesting almost killed them off and now they are protected.

One of the oddest uses was the making of blonde simulated hair. This was dome by placing a piece of gum onto a heated plate. After a few second it was slowly lifted off. Fine strands formed as the gum was taken away. While still warm this could be arranged or plaited into this mock hair style. If become fragile another reason why examples are hard to come across.

Several groups in a shed made display cabinet approximately 44cm wide.

A postage supplement may be required dependent of any buyers location … don’t be shy ask us to quote best rates.

One of the most unusual curiosities we have ever sold – Kauri Gum Hair

$340.00

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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 Guiler etc.

Very good if not better condition.

Guiler about and searching for the Thylacine – convincing.

$80.00

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Australian Antarctic Science – The First Fifty Years of ANARE – Marchant, Lugg and Quilty

Published in 2002 by the Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, Tasmania. Large octavo, 622 pages after preliminaries. Illustrated boards (never had a dust jacket). A substantial quality production. A fine copy – heavy book probably not suitable for Overseas postage alone.

Edited by Harvey Marchant (leader of the Biology program), Desmond Lugg (Chief, Medicine of Extreme Environments at NASA) and Patrick Quilty (Retired Chief Scientist).

A wealth of knowledge brought together and condensed into a fine work on the Antarctic.

Born out of the 1997 Jubilee Science Symposium the work begins with an address from the Governor of Tasmania.

The scope and process of developing research programs is reviewed and the then stimulus of new technologies. An exciting lengthy chapter on Cosmic-ray physics and astronomy. Antarctic operational metrology by Neil Streten and the automatic weather stations.

Our favourite, the History of the Southern Ocean and Antarctic Continental Shelf followed by its companion the Geological Evolution of the East Antarctic Shield. Terrestrial biology, aquatic microbiology …. Krill, fish, birds and mammals. And the physics of the atmosphere, climate and other environmental issues.

The whole well illustrated with charts, diagrams and images and as expected cross referenced to wealth of published research.

ANARE a lasting scientific record.

$70.00

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Spring on an Antarctic Island (Bylot Island) – Katherine Scherman

First edition published by Victor Gollancz, London in 1956. The author and a group of naturalists and scientists visit remote Bylot Island, north of Baffin Island well within the Arctic Circle.

Octavo, 329 pages, end paper maps, illustrated from photographs taken on the expedition. A small chip top of dust jacket, otherwise a fine copy.

The party flew by light aircraft to Pond Inlet a remote Hudson Bay Company outpost on the northern shores of Baffin Island. Some explorations in the locale and then off further north to Bylot with Eskimo guide Idlouk. They set up camp near the Aktineg glacier. Bylot sparsely populated with a few friendly Eskimo group is a cold mountainous place with its own unique flora and fauna. Image the Arctic Willow which last eight years but never gets higher than five inches.

Bylot a unique environment – an authentic account.

$35.00

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Tales of the Angler’s Eldorado New Zealand – Zane Grey – First edition 1926

First edition, published by Hodder & Stoughton, London in 1926.

Quarto, x,228 pages bound in the original blue cloth covered boards with gilt titling and leaping fish to front. A little age to spine ends otherwise a super copy for a book near 100 years old. Heavy at circa 2kg so likely not suitable for Overseas.

Zane Grey (1872-1939) famous for his interest in and writing about great fishing adventures rather than his profession – dentistry. He was also handy with the camera and the many illustrations are from photographs taken by the author. Additional sketches by Frank Phares.

Fishing for some big guys … Marlin, Swordfish and the Mako Shark and maybe less butch for Taupo and Trout on quieter waters.

Zane Grey is the man with the “fush” in New Zealand ..

$120.00

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Three 19thC Prepared Microscope Slides of Australian Diatomaceae by J.D. Moller

Three fascinating early microscope slides by preparer Johann Diedrich Moller (1844-1907). The most talented and famous preparer of diatom slides of all time.

Three slides carrying a relatively early version of his distinctive slide labels.

His makers label announcing – Gold Medal St Petersburg & Altona 1869 J.D. Moller Wedel in Holstein [Germany].

The slide subjects being Diatomaceae and further labelled.

Fossils – South Australia
Fossils – South Yarra
Aqua Marina – Carpentaria Gulf Australia.

Fine examples of historical significance, likely harvested during one of the scientific and surveying voyages of the second half of the 19thC.

Price $190.00 the group – if you would like an individual one they will be $80.00 each. Send us a message through our enquiry page.

Postage costs likely to be reduced on final billing.

A trifecta of rather unique 19thC slides top maker and Australian subjects.

$180.00

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Kauri Gum Hair Pieces – Late 19thC early 20thC

The Tasmanian Tiger in Pictures – Dr Eric Guiler

Australian Antarctic Science – The First Fifty Years of ANARE – Marchant, Lugg and Quilty

Spring on an Antarctic Island (Bylot Island) – Katherine Scherman

Tales of the Angler’s Eldorado New Zealand – Zane Grey – First edition 1926

Three 19thC Prepared Microscope Slides of Australian Diatomaceae by J.D. Moller

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