Curiosities

Tasmanian Period Photograph – Dover Beach and Adamson’s Peak – J.C. Breaden

A nice image of the Adamson’s Peak, in the Hartz Mountains, over the beach at Dover Southern Tasmania c1930, by J.C. Breaden carrying his studio stamp at rear. Size 22 x 16.5 cm. Overall in good condition.

J.C. Breaden is recorded as having been a gifted Hobart amateur photographer who was active from 1920. He died in 1947. The rear of the photograph carries his stamp of Agent General of Tasmania and various notes.

An overcast day at Dover beach looking south to Adamson’s Peak.

$50.00

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Photograph from Burrow’s Studios Launceston North End of Great Lake

An original photograph from Burrow’s Photo Studios, Quadrant, Launceston. The North End of Great Lake, Tasmania. Size 21 x 16.5cm the image filling the whole of the photograph. Overall in good condition. The rear of the photograph carries the Burrow’s Photo Studios stamp and address at the Quadrant and, that of the Agent General for Tasmania, London and various notes.

There was a Burrows photographic business at the Quadrant, Launceston as early as the 1850′s. The business continued and was style “Photo Studios” in the 1920′s.

Pleasure craft on the Great Lake

$50.00

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Direct Vision “Rainband” Cased Brass Spectroscope – Late Victorian

A good example of a hand held direct vision spectroscope made by or to a design by John Browning of London.

Late Victorian in manufacture and in its original case. Works nicely and produces sublime spectra. Contains a train of alternating crown and flint glass prisms in order to correct for chromatic aberration. Brass body left unpolished as is preferred by collectors of fine scientific instruments. Original plush lined case is in very good condition and the clasp still hold firm.

This design is also known as the “Rainband” spectroscope and was used by gentlemen scientist to detect the spectral bands that appear as water vapour builds in the atmosphere 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.

Very good condition working spectroscope

$280.00

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The Badge of the Artists Rifles (Special Air Service)

The Artists Rifles was formed in 1860. The idea of the Artists occurred to Edward Sterling, an art student and ward of Thomas Carlyle, who convened a meeting of fellow students in the life class of Carey’s School of Art, Charlotte Street, Bloomsbury – from this the Corps of Artists was formed consisting of painters, sculptors, engravers, musicians, architects and actors. The badge was designed by Wyon, the Queen’s medallist –consisting of two heads: Mars – God of War and Minerva – Goddess of Wisdom. The badge carries the motto “Cum Marte Minerva” also the title of the regimental march. A regimental rhyme of note is “Mars, he was the God of war, and didn’t stop at trifles, Minerva was a bloody whore. So hence The Artists’ Rifles”.

Light weight pressed metal 9cm by 6cm. strong deep relief.

The Artists have an outstanding war record; the Victoria Cross being awarded on eight occasions. Whilst disbanded in 1945 they were reformed in 1947 as the 21st Special Air service Regiment (Artists Rifles).

Notable members of The Artists included Ford Madox Brown, Edward Burne-Jones, Noel Coward, Frank Dobson, Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes OBE, Frederic Leighton, William Morris, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Barnes Wallis

$80.00

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A Strange Career – The Life and Adventures of J. G. Jebb – 1895

John Gladwyn Jebb led as an adventurous life as could be possible. This book was compiled by his widow and carries the introduction of none other than possibly the greatest adventure writer H Rider Haggard.

English born Jebb’s adventures began as a military man in India. Soon he was conducting privately funded explorations into Central and Southern America. Involved in numerous business dealings… helped to start White Line … was in involved in armaments. He moved to the US and the Wild West … bear hunting, gold mining and a few conflicts with local bandits and Indians. Off to Mexico to make his fortune gold mining (made it and lost it) and much of the later part of the books is about his times in Mexico padded a bit with history of the region.

Published by Blackwood, Edinburgh in 1895 octavo, 271 pages, frontispiece of the great man, illustrated in a Victorian way by John Wallce. Pictorial boards nice but rubbed especially at the tips. Overall, still a particularly good copy of a book rather hard to find so.

Inspiration for Rider Haggard – John Jebb Adventurer

$80.00

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Mining Engineering Cards by W.D. & H.O. Wills – Full Set of 50 – 1912

Very hard to find complete set of 50 cards circa 1912 issued by Wills of Bristol and London.

Very good condition, now protected in standard card wallets.

Seven cards represent Coal Mining featuring Miner Holing; Miner Drilling and Blasting; Electric Coal Cutters; Electric Train; Taking Coal to Pit Mouth by Pony; At the Bottom of the Shaft; Sorting and Cleaning Coal and the all important Mine Surveyor.

Cards specific to Australia include BHP Silver Mine Mechanical Feed and a General View of the Mine … Mount Morgan Gold (with it’s interesting story) and Digging and Washing Sapphires in Queensland.

The rest of the world is represented including Asbestos at Thetford Canada; China Clay at St Austell Cornwall; Copper at the famous Rio Tinto Mine Spain; Diamonds at Kimberley; Tin at Perak Malaya; Turquoises from Nishapour, Persia; Rock salt in Cheshire; Rubies from Burma etc etc

Large 50 card Mining set over 100 years old.

$120.00

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Tasmanian Period Photograph – Dover Beach and Adamson’s Peak – J.C. Breaden

Photograph from Burrow’s Studios Launceston North End of Great Lake

Direct Vision “Rainband” Cased Brass Spectroscope – Late Victorian

The Badge of the Artists Rifles (Special Air Service)

A Strange Career – The Life and Adventures of J. G. Jebb – 1895

Mining Engineering Cards by W.D. & H.O. Wills – Full Set of 50 – 1912

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