Prestige Items

Antarctic Lantern Slide – Scott’s Southern Party about to Depart – 2nd November 1902 – Newton & Co

An original magic lantern slide of an important moment during Scott’s “Discovery” Expedition, by Newton & Co, London

The British National Antarctic Expedition also known as the “Discovery” Expedition, after their boat was carried out 1901-1904.

Scott chose the popular Shackleton and his trusted buddy Wilson to form, with him, the three-man party to push as far south as possible. It was not an attempt at the South Pole. They mostly achieved their goal reaching 82 degrees south, further than the previous Borchgrevink achievement.

The adventure did not run smoothly. They took many dogs with them and lost 22 from tainted food and other difficulties. Shackleton broke down and became a burden [something Shackleton later watered down – the recording of his difficulties in both Scott and Wilson’s diaries was the start probably of ill-founded views that Scott took a dislike to Shackleton, partly because of the latter’s popularity among the men]. On return to camp Scott had Shackleton sent away on the support ship “Morning” to recover.

Newton & Co can be traced back to 1704 – started by a J. Newton who was related to the big man himself Isaac Newton who was not knighted until the following year 1705.

Standard size circa 3.5 inches or 8 cm by 8 cm.

A period memento of a key moment in Polar exploration.

$140.00

Updating cart…

Fuller’s Spiral Slide Rule [Calculator] – Manufacturer W.F. Stanley, London

Invented by George Fuller, Professor of Engineering at Queens’s College Belfast, patented in 1878.

The rule consists of a logarithmic scale of numbers spiral wound in the form of a helix; the scale is 500 inches [circa 42 feet] in length having 7,250 divisions. This rule is therefore equivalent to a straight slide rule twice that length or c 84 feet. If you understand the principle – it’s the [lack of] length of a slide rule that inhibits accuracy. It can be held in one hand while performing calculations or fixed on the removable brass holder if more convenient. The mahogany box is true to the instrument and has felt covered fittings to protect it in transit. The original instruction booklet is still with the instrument.

The manufacturer was W.H. Stanley at one time the biggest instrument maker in the World. Stanley a Fellow of all the right Societies was an architect and had near 100 patents to his name.

This instrument is one of the last manufactured, which probably accounts for its pristine condition. We can date it to 1965 for two reasons. First, all instruments were numbered at the bottom of the B cursor, and this one is serial number 13111 and below that stamped 65 for 1965. Secondly, there is a magnificent paper published by the esteemed Oughtred Society [Look it up] which gives excellent background information on the instrument and provides a graph of the serial numbers and dates of a good sample from No 1 in 1884 to number 13688 in 1973 – so you can see that ours is placed right in the twilight zone.

We find it interesting that only 14,000 instruments were ever made over a period of 90 years. After a slowish start and an end tail-off the graph of units made is pretty steady with a bit of a jolt during WWI and WWII. Your guess is right it was killed pretty dead by Hewlett Packard.

We haven’t gone into full details of how the instrument is constructed and functions, but we do have information in our Research Section, and you can always look up the aforementioned “Oughtred” reference – best information going – forget Wiki.

In terms of size the box is 46 cm x 12 cm x 11 cm. The rule is 43 cm long 9 cm in diameter.. Total weight around 2 kgs.

A postage supplement may be required dependent on location of buyer.

Fullers system of spiral slide rule – top of the pile and an instrument of some beauty

$690.00

Updating cart…

Antique Brass Table Spectroscope by John Browning of London circa 1880

An original prismatic lacquered brass spectroscope by the leading London based Victorian maker John Browning. Special quality as would be expected from a Browning instrument. Original fitted Mahogany Case with carrying handle, which has lost its lock as often, no damage to the case.

The table is engraved and Vernier works as it should. Telescope and collimator. The adjustable slit is in perfect condition and has its cover or protector which is usually missing. The optics are in A1 condition. The telescope arm is fully articulated and can be locked into position. The flint glass prism looks original to the instrument and has its original oxidised table housing. The telescope length is 20cms fully in 30cm fully extended. The instrument stands 25cms high.

Quality Victorian Spectroscope Top Maker

$790.00

Updating cart…

Folding Georgian Guinea Scales circa 1805

A very good set of early Guinea Scales with contemporary instructions label. Manufactured Stephen Houghton who took over from Anthony Wilkinson at Ormskirk, Lancashire. Wilkinson had died in 1804. We have two very good examples this probably the best.

Self-erecting and known generally as the Lancashire Gold Balance. The brass beam is rectangular in section and has a hinged “turn and swing” overweight which counter poises the beam for the guinea or half-guinea. Once folded the end-button release mechanism sets and releases nicely.

A small rectangular sliding weight on the load arm registers in graduations to show discrepancies in of under-weight coins.

The collapsing mechanism makes the whole entirely portal in the gentleman’s trouser.

Functioning Georgian Gold Sovereign Scale

$190.00

Updating cart…

Buffon’s Natural History – 180 Hand Coloured Plates in 31 Volumes – Paris 1827

Oeuvres Completes de Buffon – Mises en order er Precedees d’une Notice Historique Par M.A. Richard Professor Agrege a la Faculte de Medecine de Paris; Suives de Deux Volumes sur les Progress des Sciences Physiques er Naturelles Depuis la mort de Buffon par M. le Baron Cuvier Secretaire Perpetuel de l’Academie Royale des Sciences.

Published by Chez Baudouin Freres and Chez N Delangle Paris in 1827. A full set less volume 8 which is purely narrative – all of the 180 magnificent hand coloured plates are present.

Lavishly bound in full polished tree calf with wide gilt floral design around front and back boards, gilt rolled on board edging, gilt design to spine, with each volume carrying separate black leather title and volume labels themselves gilt styles, marbled endpapers.

Some scuffing and wear to the leather boards and internally occasional foxing and browning and offsetting. On the whole, a handsome set with superior shelf presence – see images – more can be supplied in request – no issue.

Buffon with every hand coloured plate present

$1,590.00

Updating cart…

No Image Available

The Origin of Species – Charles Darwin – Murray of London Edition 1894

Published by John Murray, London, 1894. Sixth edition. Charles Darwin amended each edition – the sixth represents the final text..

In the preferred original Murray green cloth binding and in very good condition. Octavo, xxii,432 pages a tiny bit rubbed and marked, light age – still a very good copy.

Described by Bern Dibner as “the most important single work in science”.

Darwin’s theory of the origin of species by means of natural selection arose out of his studies in the 1830′s during the voyage of the Beagle. In 1856 geologist Charles Lyell, urged him to write a book on the subject. In 1858 Wallace sent Darwin a summary of the views Darwin had formed twenty years earlier. Darwin set about writing “The Origin of Species” which was published in Nov 1859.

Darwin concluded, “There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that whilst this plan has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.”

Darwin – The Origin of Species - The greatest scientific book ever written

$790.00

Updating cart…

Antarctic Lantern Slide – Scott’s Southern Party about to Depart – 2nd November 1902 – Newton & Co

Fuller’s Spiral Slide Rule [Calculator] – Manufacturer W.F. Stanley, London

Antique Brass Table Spectroscope by John Browning of London circa 1880

Folding Georgian Guinea Scales circa 1805

Buffon’s Natural History – 180 Hand Coloured Plates in 31 Volumes – Paris 1827

The Origin of Species – Charles Darwin – Murray of London Edition 1894

Product Categories