Natural History

In Crocodile Land – Wandering in the Northern Territory – Ion idriess

Published by Angus and Robertson in 1948, a reprint of the first.

Tall octavo, 241 pages, with great period photographs – lots of crocs! A very good copy.

Idriess crocodile and buffalo hunting in the “bad coasts” of the Northern Territory. Wild men and Wilder women!

Idriess gets the Croc’s

$50.00

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Field or Students Microscope [French Style] c1900

A late Victorian perhaps Edwardian student’s or field drum microscope. In fine working condition. Original wooden case. This variety would have been used by a naturalist in the field. French by manufacture.

Single brass objective, the body retains nearly all its original lacquer and is quite bright, swivel mirror unblemished. Mahogany fitted case in fine condition.

Practical antique scientific instrument

$190.00

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Howdah Elephants Bookends from Aronson 1923

A nice set of bookends from Aronson (formerly Art Metal Works) of the USA.

In the black enamelled form. A little age and authentic pair. Carries the maker’s original label.

As with our multi coloured pair [see separate listing] these bookends are not large things and we coin them “bedroom bookends” …. weighing 980gm the set.

Deco Bookends by Ronson

$190.00

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Waller’s Owl [Australian Eastern Grass owl] -Silvester Diggles – Brisbane – c1870

Rare original hand-coloured lithograph by Queensland naturalist Silvester Diggles. 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 92 subscribers. The original plates were executed on stone and coloured by Diggles and his niece, Rowena Birkett.

The Waller’s Owl in modern times referred to as the Eastern Grass Owl. A beautiful reclusive and rarely seen bird which is occasionally seen in New South Wales but mainly in Queensland where it hunts the cane fields and grasslands for rodents. A medium sized owl similar to the barn owl. Colouring tan-brown with black, white and orange mottling, long legs which it uses to snatch its prey from dense undergrowth.

The work measures 38cm by 27cm, good hand colouring pretty clean and undamaged. A 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 $490.00 unframed.

An opportunity to own a rare original owl by Queenslander Silvester Diggles.

$390.00

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Lord Howe Island – Jean Edgecombe.

A first edition softcover published in 1987. Published by Australian Environmental Publications, Mullens Street, Balmain [effectively self published].

151 pages, heavily illustrated, including some good images in colour from relevant photographs. Large, detailed fold out map provided separately. A very good copy.

Jean Edgecombe was indeed the best writer on Lord Howe and Norfolk Island. Starts with a good history re discovery and early settlement before excellent work on the geography and abundant natural history. Dick Smith’s foray to top Ball’s Pyramid gets an airing.

Lord Howe another special island location

$25.00

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Pig Raising in Tasmania – V.J. Fagan

Published in 1966 when pigs were not as full on the meat rich Australian dinner table – now we like a bit of crackling and as many chooks as we can eat.

Octavo, 171 pages, Lots of images from photographs, diagrams of various constructions, statistics etc.

Obviously mass animal husbandry practices have moved on (not sure in which direction) since the 1960’s. However, if your thinking about raising a few oinkers this is a good book to start with.

It was written at a time when first time hobby farmer types actually made things rather than just going to the wholesaler and buy absolutely everything or where it cannot be bought get the man in.

Also, we like the careful simplicity without the mention of organics or welfare – it was a time when animals were er looked after like the family.

So a small investment if you are in say the Huon Valley or Southern Highland of NSW or the Queensland tablelands – get to it!

For all those pig lover out there

$25.00

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In Crocodile Land – Wandering in the Northern Territory – Ion idriess

Field or Students Microscope [French Style] c1900

Howdah Elephants Bookends from Aronson 1923

Waller’s Owl [Australian Eastern Grass owl] -Silvester Diggles – Brisbane – c1870

Lord Howe Island – Jean Edgecombe.

Pig Raising in Tasmania – V.J. Fagan

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