Prestige Items

The Doctrine of Gold and Silver Computations – Thomas Snelling – First Edition Published 1766

An extremely rare book on gold and silver assaying and standards of value.Self published by Snelling from his premises next to the Horn Tavern, Fleet Street, London in 1766 … he advertises .. “who buys and sells all Sorts of Coins and Medals”.

Title continues … in which is included, that of the par of money; the proportion in value between gold and silver; and the valuation of gold, silver, and parting assays; with useful tables and copper plates.

Full calf with six compartments to spine each with elaborate giltwork, redone by Perry to his usual high standard, and a separate black leather title label. Complete with 144 pages after preliminaries including assay tables followed by 10 pages of copper engravings of coins all quite beautifully executed showing the printers plate mark for each coin pair. A few marks on the title, less elsewhere and generally very clean and bright inside.

Technically a book of high standard with comprehensive workings and tables allowing for a proper understanding of the difficulties of assay in the 18th Century.

The “Preface” sets the context of the book nicely … explaining that there are 480 defined qualities of silver and 384 defined qualities of gold and when mixed and possibly further mixed with copper give rise to 460,800 potential variations then the issue of assay and valuation is inherently complex.

Thomas Snelling (1712-1773) was a leading English numismatist of the period. He carried on business as a coin dealer at 183 Fleet Street next door to the Horn Tavern. His collection was sold off after his death and the catalogue is held in the Medal Room at the British Museum. There are three portrait medals of Snelling in the British Museum, one by Pingo who also did the Cook Medal commissioned by the Royal Society.

First Edition of Snelling’s Book on Gold, Silver and Coins

$290.00

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Rhodonite [Manganese Silicate] – Tamworth, New South Wales

A nice lump of Rhodonite [Greek for Rose] from the old Manganese mine north of Tamworth in New South Wales. Whilst generally described a Manganese Silicate it contains, Iron, Magnesium and Calcium as well as the aforementioned Manganese.

This example, cleaved and polished to reveal its beauty is of massive fine-grained form with few larger crystal forms around the uncut surface.

The black inclusions are manganese oxide.

Rhodonite has special properties in the love and forgiveness department if you get that. We can see why it is a pretty mineral.

A good nicely layered example 9.0cm by 6.0cm, 4.0cm deep, weighing 354.0gm

Shiny Black Mica from the Northern Territory.

$35.00

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Grandfather Clocks and their cases – Brian Loomes

A first edition of this classic work published by David & Charles Newton Abbot, London in 1985.

Largish quarto, 352 pages, illustrated throughout. A very good if not better copy. Heavy, unsuitable for Overseas postage, subsidised by Voyager in Australia.

Brian Loomes was a Yorkshireman and new more about clocks than anybody. The book contains images of some of the greatest clocks the likes of which will surely never be made again. Now a collector’s book and maybe for the digitally challenged.

Classic clocks for clock lovers – tick tock

$80.00

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A Moveable Feast – Hemingway True First Edition -1964 Predates American Edition by one day

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast”.

Published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1964. Octavo, 192 pages.

A bit of age to the jacket, see image, and a previous owner has kindly spot pasted an article about the Shakespeare an Co bookshop in Paris which features in AMF being a favourite Hemingway haunt – as well as Joyce, Pound etc. otherwise very clean, top edge stained red as required. Still a very good example.

Collectable Hemingway First Edition – our favourite book.

$120.00

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The White Stone – The Story of a Boy From the Bush – Herbert MacIlwaine – Illustrated by Rowlandson – First Edition c1900

A very good copy of a scarce and impressive book but much published MacIlwaine. Published by Wells Gardner etc, London c1900. Large octavo, pictorial cloth cover, images to spine and rear. Top edge gilt. 408 pages, illustrated throughout by Gardner who was much known for his paintings of horse.

White Stone is a symbol for optimism and that underlined the contents, albeit given the period narrative there are a few tears, and hugs, along the way.

Australian Bush Stories from 1900 in a super presentation

$90.00

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The Pilgrim’s Progress – John Bunyan – Nister Edition, Illustrated by Walter Paget – c1900

The Pilgrim’s Progress; From This World to That Which is To Come; Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream.

This edition was published by Ernest Nister, London circa 1900. Large octavo, 348 pages, striking coloured images to front board and spine, gilt titles … rich colours. Illustrated by the great Walter Paget with 12 full page black and white and five full page coloured plates.

“As I walked through the Wilderness of this World, I lighted on a certain Place, where was a Den, and laid me down in that Place to sleep: And as I slept, I dreamed a Dream”

Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress Beautifully Presented

$90.00

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The Doctrine of Gold and Silver Computations – Thomas Snelling – First Edition Published 1766

Rhodonite [Manganese Silicate] – Tamworth, New South Wales

Grandfather Clocks and their cases – Brian Loomes

A Moveable Feast – Hemingway True First Edition -1964 Predates American Edition by one day

The White Stone – The Story of a Boy From the Bush – Herbert MacIlwaine – Illustrated by Rowlandson – First Edition c1900

The Pilgrim’s Progress – John Bunyan – Nister Edition, Illustrated by Walter Paget – c1900

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