Curiosities

Admiral Byng – A Letter to a member of Parliament in the Country, from His Friend in London relative to the Case of Admiral Byng – with some Original Papers and Letters which Passes during the Expedition – First Edition 1756

Admiral Bying was famously executed on his ship at Plymouth having been found guilty of retiring against the enemy [cowardice].

It was a terrible set-up and much information was withheld during his Trial and much more was bent out of shape – noting much changed there!

An anonymous author but obviously with many contacts relevant to the matter.

A pamphlet printed by J Cooke at the King’s Arms, Great Turnstile, Holborn [London] in 1756. Saddle stiched as original 31 pages, pretty good condition, very clean.

Contains extracts from numerous contemporary reports and letters and a set of tables that prove the assertion that Byng retreated from and “inferior” force to be very wrong.

Byng a through rebuttal of the case against him – but too late.

$150.00

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The Great Pyramid – [Astronomical] Observatory, Temple and Tomb – Richard Proctor – First Edition 1883

One of the great books on the Great Pyramid. A first edition published by Chatto and Windus, London 1883.

Octavo, 323 pages, plus lengthy publishers catalogue. Illustrated throughout with explanatory diagrams and with frontispiece. Bound as original in red/brown cloth with embossed Egyptian inspired design to front, gilt titling to spine and super gilt Great Pyramid to front. Slightly cocked with a little ageing mainly from the front tissue guard otherwise a very good copy of this important work.

Proctor was a distinguished author on many things astronomical during the era and held a fascination [along with others] about the astronomical purposes of the Pyramid. Here he explores this and other propositions with his usual diligence and we learn about the extraordinary uses of this massive structure.

Proctor explains the Great Pyramid.

$220.00

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Brecciated Mookaite – Mooka Springs Western Australia

A small but attractive piece of Mookaite with the distinctive mosaic pattern of cream and brown separated by ever so thin layers of opal. Special texture.

The brecciation is formed by tectonic stress applied to the Mookaite Jasper structure. Over time silica rich waters flow through the fractured structure providing the binding layer.

The jasper structure is formed from the fossilised remains of tiny Radiolaria a creature we know well at Voyager through our interest in microscopy.

7cm by 5cm by 2.5cm weighing 15gm.

Small piece of Mooka and millions of radiolaria.

$20.00

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Honey Calcite – Northern Tasmania

An attractive piece of honey calcite from Flowery Gully, Tamar Valley, Tasmania.

Good example, like this, are occasionally found in pockets within massive dolerite. In the Tamar Valley, the calcite crystals include iron or manganese inclusions which gives it the lovely amber [honey] colouring without removing the natural translucent qualities. Fluorescent under ultraviolet light. Lovely mass of rhombic structures to this example.

10cm by 8cm by 6cm weighing 125gm.

Honey calcite a nice display and seemingly very soothing on the mind

SO SORRY SOLD

$40.00

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Australian Desert Rose – Unusual Gypsum Formation

A nice example of a Gypsum desert rose dug out of the dry lakebed at Woolcunda Station, Coomba, NSW. The location is 125 km south of Broken Hill.

Iron oxide in the sand gives its colouring but it’s the special formation of the crystals [formed by infrequent leaching when the rains actually come] that makes this special.

A nice even sided display, weighing 40 gm and measuring 10cm by 6cm by 4cm

Desert Rose with a very attractive structure.

$35.00

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The Lure of the Limerick – William S Baring-Gould.

Published by Rupert Hart-Davis, London in 1969. Squat quarto, 143 pages, very good condition.

If you have made it through life without a few limericks “up your sleeve”, then you are missing out. Limericks by nature are often a bit rude … well crude – but that’s the point.

Imagine that ghastly dinner party, or better still a business lunch or annual get-together. It’s all a bit tired and predictable and, maybe fortified out it pops ….

“There was a young student of Johns

Who wanted to bugger the swans.

But the loyal hall porter

Said, “Sir, take my daughter.

Them birds are reserved for the dons”

If there is complete silence – regard that as success!

Rest assured some contain Australia – just not as good.

Limericks – become an expert overnight.

$30.00

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Admiral Byng – A Letter to a member of Parliament in the Country, from His Friend in London relative to the Case of Admiral Byng – with some Original Papers and Letters which Passes during the Expedition – First Edition 1756

The Great Pyramid – [Astronomical] Observatory, Temple and Tomb – Richard Proctor – First Edition 1883

Brecciated Mookaite – Mooka Springs Western Australia

Honey Calcite – Northern Tasmania

Australian Desert Rose – Unusual Gypsum Formation

The Lure of the Limerick – William S Baring-Gould.

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