Asia

Rare Large Sized Microscope Size – Lantern Fly – China (Duplicate)

No date or maker but this presentation was a specialty in the late Victorian / Edwardian era. Reference authority “Bracegirdle” shows a number of “outsized” examples but none quite like this.

In modern terms known as the spotted lantern fly. The insect is on the move and a potential threat in Australia – modelling has shown that it could survive well in western and north-western Victoria. When we say a threat, it was endemic to China and Vietnam but moved into South Korea in 2006, Japan in 2009 and the USA in 2014 … so the move is on.

Here the little blighter is beautifully preserved and presented in Canada Balsam … we know that CB was the mounters choice due its quality and the cursive narrative says so.

A microscopical rarity outsized mount of the Spotted Lantern Fly.

$150.00

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The Eastern Archipelago – Adams – First Edition 1880

… A description of the Scenery, Animal and Vegetable Life, People, and Physical Wonders of the Islands in the Easter Sea.

Published by Nelson, London in 1880 a first edition. Octavo, 576 pages with 54 illustrations.. Nicely decorated cover, a little rubbed, remnant od prize giving label in ends, still a good copy.

With the success of Wallace’s Malay Archipelago there was heightened interest in the islands of the East Indies. Prolific writer William Henry Davenport Adams saw an opportunity and compiled this easily read book on the region. Takes in Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Timor, Celebes, Sarawak, the Moluccas, New Guinea, Papua and the Philippines.

Special book on the very East and its many islands.

$90.00

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Travel and Sport in Turkestan [Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and a few more Stans] – Captain J.N. Price Wood – First edition 1910

First US edition published by Appleton, New York in 1910.

An adventure indeed in 1907 through Turkestan to the Thian [Tien] Shan Mountains on the borders of Mongolia taking in modern day Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and, as we say, a few more Stans.

Royal octavo, original gilt decorated red cloth covered boards, top edge gilt. 202 pages after xx preliminaries,100 illustrations from original photographs, two to a full-page plate. Folding map of the region. Previous owners name to front end paper, a little toned at the end papers, otherwise a very good copy.

Wood was stationed at Ambala in the Punjab from 1902 after the 12^th Lancers were posted there following the Boer War. He had plan to explore and hunt in Central Asia. However, a pass was required to use the Gilgit Road – any other route making the planned journey far too long. It already was 2,500 miles. Eventually his pass came through and he set off in 1907 – departure still had to be tuned as he had to make the Burzil Pass at 13,500 feet which could only be done between May and October.

Whilst there are guns going off at game [not really our cup of tea] the travel elements of this book make it more than worthy. Great insight into the regions at that time – Huza, Mintaka, Shikari, Hadji Tombs, Kok Su, Tekkes Valley, Kulja, Gorge of the Arpalik, Aksu River etc etc.

The quality coloured map and the photographs help you along the way very nicely.

By pony, camel and yak 2,500 miles to the Thian Shan

$390.00

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Nasal Notocanthus – Shaw and Nodder – 1802

Over two hundred year old and still in fine condition.

Original and rather striking hand coloured copper engraving of the Notocanthus Nasus or Nasal Notocanthus. Described by Shaw as a having short prickles along the back and a nose-like snout.

The genera Acanthonotus instituted by Dr Bloch. Inhabits the Indian Ocean including in the deeps of Western Australia at the time of writing Shaw noted that “the history and manner (of the fish) are entirely unknown”

Price $190.00 nicely framed in gilt with cream black cored mat board. It works its lovely ….

Price unframed $90.00

Unusual and rather decorative

$90.00

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Red Peak – Ascent of Pik Kommunizma [Now named Ismoil Somoni Peak in Modern Day Tajikistan - 7,495 m]

An unusual mountaineering event form start to finish written by the expedition second Malcolm Slesser seemingly without the authority of leader Sir John Hunt.

First American Edition, published by Coward McCann, New York in 1964. Octavo, 256 pages well illustrated from expedition photographs, charts , diagrams etc. A little ageing but still a very good copy.

The first British / Soviet joint expedition to climb in the Soviet Asia Pamir Mountains [Now Tajlikistan]. And a venture not without drama. No local porters were taken. Things got tense between the groups, two Englishmen died during the ascent of a particularly rugged stage. Hunt and several others gave up and went home. Slesser elected to stay … the frankness with which he describes the flare-ups as they struggled to reach the 25,000 foot peak adds to the drama of this unique climb

Slesser writes frankly about the first British / Soviet joint mountaineering expedition.

$25.00

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Tek Sing Shipwreck Treasure [Recovered by Mike Hatcher] – Shipwreck in the Gaspar Straits 1822

Qing Dynasty decorated footed dish recovered by Mike Hatcher from the Tek Sing shipwreck. A very good clean example.

Niceley decorated and with peony and magnolia flowers and double lines at rim, simple decoration under rim. Strong colouring and no damage which is rare. 10.5 cm in diameter 2.5 cm high. Retains the auction reference sticker from the famous Nagel auction in Germany underneath.

A fine example of a Tek Sing shipwreck bowl

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The Tek Sing Shipwreck – Background

The Tek Sing (Chinese for “Bright Star”’) was a large Chinese Junk which sank in 1822 in the South China Sea at the Belvidere Shoals. She was 50 meters long, 10 metres wide and weighed a thousand tons. Manned by a crew of 200. The great loss of life has led to the Tek Sing being referred to as the “Titanic of the East”.

Sailing from the port of Amoy (now Xiamen), the Tek Sing was bound for Jakarta, with a cargo of porcelain goods and 1,600 Chinese immigrants. After a month of sailing, Captain Lo Tauko took a shortcut through the Gaspar Straits and ran aground on a reef and sank in 100 feet of water.

The next morning and English East Indiaman captained by James Pearl sailing from Indonesia to Borneo passed through the Gaspar Straits. He found debris from the sunken Chinese vessel and survivors. They managed to rescue 190 people.

In 1999, marine salvor Mike Hatcher discovered the wreck. His crew raised what has been described as the largest cache of Chinese porcelain ever recovered. It was auctioned by Nagel in Stuttgart, Germany the following year

$140.00

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Rare Large Sized Microscope Size – Lantern Fly – China (Duplicate)

The Eastern Archipelago – Adams – First Edition 1880

Travel and Sport in Turkestan [Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and a few more Stans] – Captain J.N. Price Wood – First edition 1910

Nasal Notocanthus – Shaw and Nodder – 1802

Red Peak – Ascent of Pik Kommunizma [Now named Ismoil Somoni Peak in Modern Day Tajikistan - 7,495 m]

Tek Sing Shipwreck Treasure [Recovered by Mike Hatcher] – Shipwreck in the Gaspar Straits 1822

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