Non-fiction

Azurite “Sun” – Copper Mineral, the form, Unique to Malbunka Copper Mine near Areyonga, Northern Territory.

A very nice clean example of a decent sized azurite sun with a couple of smaller examples in the usual kaolinite matrix from the Malbunka Mine.

Azurite formed by the oxidation and weathering of copper deposits – Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2 and this specific indeed unique “sun” structure formed at depth and with high pressure. Monclinic and comes with a variety of colour depths this one Royal to Dark Blue.

The main sun is 45 mm in diameter and has good crystal definition around its edge. The whole sample weighs 80 gm.

Azurite “Sun” structure unique to Australia.

$100.00

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Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe – 1790 – Two Volume Illustrated Edition.

The full title of one of the world’s most famous books … “The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventure of Robinson Crusoe, of York, Mariner: Who lived eight and twenty years all alone in an uninhabited Island on the Coast of America, near the Mouth of the Great River Oroonoque, Having been cast on Shore by Shipwreck, wherein all the Men perished but himself: With An Account how he was at last as strangely delivered by Pyrates. Written by Himself.” …

The Second Volume is separately titled … “The Farther Adventures of Robinson being the Second and Last Part of his Life” … to which is appended George Chalmers’s “Life of Daniel Defoe”

Two volume large octavo set bound in contemporary calf, re-backed beautifully by Perry. Pagination Volume 1 .. viii,[iii]-iv, 493 pages – 9 full page plates: Volume 2 … [2],vi, 483 pages – 7 full pages plates. A very good and desirable Robinson Crusoe set.

This is the first edition of the Stockdale version with, by far, the best illustrations. Engraved frontispieces and plates by Thomas Stothard.

Robinson Crusoe the most popular, delightful and extraordinary of all of Daniel Defoe’s works. Loved by Dr Johnson who challenged anyone to put it down easily. By 1790 the text of Robinson Crusoe had become abused by other publishers, reduced and amended. Here, Stockdale reverted to the original text of Defoe to which he added the finest illustrations yet seen in the work.

Most may know that Defoe was a great follower of William Dampier the first person to circumnavigate the World twice and eventually three times. Dampier was embroiled in the strange goings on resulting in the leaving of Scotsman Alexander Selkirk on Juan Fernandos Island, off the coast of Chile. He also, rather strangely, was pilot on the vessel that was to pick Selkirk up many year later. The story of Selkirk’s solitary life there, goats etc is the basis of Robinson Crusoe. Defoe had the island transported to the mouth of the Orinoco, for marketing purpose one presumes.

Early and preferred illustrated Stockdale Volumes of Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe – 235 Years old.

$980.00

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The Founding of Hobart – A Diary Recounting the Events on the Derwent 1803-1804 – Frank Bolt

The author of this fine book, Frank Bolt, was surprised that he could not find any book on the very early period of the settlement of Hobart. So he carried out his own research and effectively self published this work.

Large octavo, 320 pages, illustrated, with folding plan, printed to a high standard. A first edition 2004 and fine, like new, condition.

An unusual work in structure … Bolt explain his approach well in the lengthy Preface. Having assembled all of the exiting evidence his challenge was how to present it … landing on the idea of creating a faux diary of events on a nearly day by day basis. It work very well. After a further introductory “Prologue” the diary runs from page 38 through to page 279. Within this there are separate brief “cut-aways” regarding the “difference between the initial Risdon Settlement and the final Settlement at Sullivan’s Cove and “the Cargo of the Collin’s Expedition”.

Notes on Sources are kept until the end and are extensive and useful as well is a list of the Pioneers of Hobart Town. And, Meehan’s Plan of circa 1811.

Hobart the early days revisited

$50.00

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Erect-Crested Penguin – Lance Richdale – 1950

This is an offprint from the “The Emu” the then official organ of the Royal Australasian Ornithologist’s Union.

The point of this item is that since 1940 the population of this species of Penguin has been in decline and is now categorised as endangered. They nest on the Bounty and Antipodes Islands. Previously on the Auckland, Campbell etc Islands and the Otago Peninsula but no longer. At the time of writing the report Richdale was probably observing the last Otago nesters …

Typical offprint faded card covers, 18 pages with quite a few images from photographs of the beautifully crested penguins. Maybe there are some clues in here as to what will soon lead to further reductions in breeding.

Lance Richdale was a big individual in the bird world – he was a Fulbright Fellow at Cornell and a Nuffield Fellow in his field – later in life he spent time at the Zoological Society in London. Author of the Sexual Behavior of Penguins.

Erect-Crested doing it tough in the far reaches of the Southern Ocean.

$20.00

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Direct Vision Spectroscope [Produces Super Clear Spectra] – c1890-1910

A fine example of a direct vision spectroscope no makers mark but likely manufactured by John Browning of London. Browning was the top London maker of spectroscopes in the late 19th early 20th Century and, was the leader in spectroscope development.

Victorian or Edwardian in manufacture. Works very well and produces sublime spectra. Contains a train of five alternating crown and flint glass prisms in order to correct for chromatic aberration. Brass body unmarked and with a complete covering of the original gold lacquer. Plush lined case has some rubbing; the clasp still holds firm.

This design is also known as the “Rainband” spectroscope and was used by gentlemen scientists to detect the spectral bands that appear as water vapour builds prior to a shower of rain. This is the more sophisticated version with a knurled device for altering the slit width and a draw tube for fine focus. cap to protect the slit from dust is original and fits snugly.

Very good condition working spectroscope

$190.00

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A Cursory Sketch of the State of the Naval, Military and Civil Establishments, Legislative, Judicial, and Domestic Economy of This Kingdom, During the Fourteenth Century. – Bree John – Self Published London, 1791

Published in London in 1791 with a particular account of the campaign of King Edward the Third, in Normandy and France, in the years 1345 and 1346, to the taking of Calais: collected merely from the ancient manuscripts in the British Museum, and elsewhere. Volume I, [all that was published].

First Edition, printed for the author, and sold by J. Debrett (and others), 1791, quarto, pages xxxvi, 381, (30) – index and errata, pages 385 and 386 misnumbered 335 and 381.

Bound in delightful full antique tree calf, raised bands and gilt decoration to spine, gilt lettered leather labels. Contents bright and clean, binding tight and firm, a very good to better copy.

There are two sections concerning the Navy:

1) Of the General State of the Navy of England during the Fourteenth Century; and more particularly of the naval armament collected by King Edward the Third for his expedition against Normandy and France: and first of the appointment and succession of the Lord Admirals of England; and

2) Of the Size, Tonnage, and Construction of the Ships; their Complement of Men, Victualing, the Number of Officers, their Pay, and that of the Mariners and Soldiers, on board the Navy of England, during the Fourteenth Century.

A most interesting historical record in very good condition in a quality tree calf binding.

John Bree (c1734-c1796) was Rector of Rysholme in the County of Lincoln. He was a Oxford graduate – B.A. 1753, M.A. 1759 and a devout historian of the 14th Century. He must have spent years compiling the information required for this very interesting work, unmatched for its detail. His departing got in the way of any further volumes that may have been intended. Nevertheless, the book is complete and stands on its own.

$590.00

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Azurite “Sun” – Copper Mineral, the form, Unique to Malbunka Copper Mine near Areyonga, Northern Territory.

Robinson Crusoe – Daniel Defoe – 1790 – Two Volume Illustrated Edition.

The Founding of Hobart – A Diary Recounting the Events on the Derwent 1803-1804 – Frank Bolt

Erect-Crested Penguin – Lance Richdale – 1950

Direct Vision Spectroscope [Produces Super Clear Spectra] – c1890-1910

A Cursory Sketch of the State of the Naval, Military and Civil Establishments, Legislative, Judicial, and Domestic Economy of This Kingdom, During the Fourteenth Century. – Bree John – Self Published London, 1791

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