Science including Natural Sciences, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy, Medical Sciences etc

Charles Darwin – The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Earthworms – 1883

Published London 1883 by John Murray. An early edition, first published in 1881. It was extremely popular at the time – this super copy is from the seventh thousand.

Original deep green cloth covered boards, with blind impressed lines as decoration to boards, title gilt in gilt decoration on spine. Octavo, 328 pages Illustrated with tables and drawings. Very good condition – best we have seen.

Darwin’s last published work. This volume looks at the life and activity of the earthworm, and the share they have taken in the formation of the layer of vegetable mould which covers the whole surface in every moderately humid country. It is a summary of the part which worms have played in the history of the world. Their aid in the disintegration of rocks, the denudation of the land, the preservation of ancient remains, and the preparation of the soil for the growth of plants. A fascinating look at one of the lowliest but highly organised creatures of the world by the legendary Victorian Naturalist.

Darwin his final thoughts – in the soil getting his hands dirty.

SO SORRY ON HOLD – PLEASE ENQUIRE IF YOU WISH

$380.00

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With the “Aurora” in the Antarctic 1911-1914 – John King Davis – First Edition

The rare first edition of this primary Heroic era account. Published by Melrose, London no date but 1919.

Preface by Douglas Mawson. There is little that appears in “Home of the Blizzard” that appears here and vice versa. As such it is an excellent companion to the Blizzard and harder to find in any condition.

John King Davis skippered seven Antarctic voyages between 1907 and 1930.

Large octavo, xxi, 183 pages, 8 maps (1 folding), plan, 83 illustrations on 42 plates … more illustrations in text. Original blue cloth binding, titles to spine faded as usual, ship device and titles to front are as bright as we have seen, a little age a pale foxing, frontispiece reattached, a good copy of a very scarce item. Refer Taurus 101, Rosove 87, Spence 354.

John King Davis was Captain of the Aurora during Mawson’s 1911-1914 Expedition. The expedition encountered many challenges along with the dangerous weather and uncharted nature of the Antarctic coastline there were problems with the ship including failing pups and engine difficulties. Much of the success and relative safety of the expedition was put down to Davis’s “masterly seamanship, firm decision of mind, and courageous daring in handling the expedition ship Aurora” The Aurora made several critical voyages, establishing and the later relieving the wintering bases at Macquarie Island and the Antarctic mainland at Commonwealth Bay and the Shackleton Ice Shelf. Davis was left with the decision … whether to wait for blizzards and harsh seas to abate to collect Mawson’s party, or to relive the second base party led by Frank Wild … he chose the latter.

John King Davis and his first-hand account on the Aurora.

$890.00

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$Madeira Spectroscopic, being a Revision of 21 Places in the Red half of the Solar Visible Spectrum with a Rutherford Diffraction Grating at Madeira in the Summer of 1881 – C Piazzi Smyth – Astronomer Royal Scotland – 1882.$

Madeira Spectroscopic, being a Revision of 21 Places in the Red half of the Solar Visible Spectrum with a Rutherford Diffraction Grating at Madeira in the Summer of 1881 – C Piazzi Smyth – Astronomer Royal Scotland – 1882.

Anyone who follows Voyager will know how much we adore Charles Piazzi Smyth read his wiki – too much for here. The Piazzi is after his Italian father-in-law and astronomer who influenced the Smyth family to set up their own observatory when CPS was very young. At near to sixteen he was off to South Africa to assist in astronomical experiments and it all expanded from there – his work of the Great Pyramid of Cheops is also something else.

Newton has written that the only way to improve the quality of astronomical images [having regard to size and quality of optics] was to take instruments higher in the atmosphere. CPS became an expert in this and pioneered trips to Teneriffe and Madeira to lug his instruments to higher ground – always accompanied by his knowledgeable wife. There we gave you a bit – like all these people of the times his brothers and sisters had similarly interesting lives.

Solar spectroscopy became a particular interest … as an aside he promoted the use of the Browning Rainband Spectroscope [we usually have one for sale]. At Madeira he went for the diffraction grating rather than prism combination. The results are scientific glory and nicely presented in this work published by Johnston, Edinburgh in 1882.

Square quarto, cloth binding with gilt rule and titles, 32 pages, 18 plates on in striking colour, vignette to title page. Some foxing but excuse it for its rarity, author and spot in astronomical history.

Charles Piazzi Smyth [1819-1900] top rank astronomer and pyramidologist.

$490.00

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An Inquiry into the Animism and Folk-lore of the Guiana Indians by Walter Roth – First Edition 1915

Those that know about Walter Roth and his incredible work and publications relating to the Northern Queensland aboriginals may be surprised with this similarly important anthropological work on the native Indians of Guiana [Guyana].

Without raking too much up, Roth was more or less expelled for his Queensland work as, in his obsession for detail, he was deemed to overstep the mark more than once. However, he was quickly given a plum job in British Guiana.

Roth was employed in British Guiana as stipendiary magistrate, medical magistrate and district commissioner and was responsible for producing the Aboriginal Protection Order of 1910. Continuing his anthropological work, he made three extensive field expeditions which formed the basis of this book and various related papers. On his retirement he stayed there and became the curator of the Georgetown Museum and government archivist. He died there in 1933.

Walter Roth had a fascinating life and produced some special work that without him would have been lost to the World.

$240.00

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Vacuum Pump with Dome – Griffin and Tatlock c 1930 – Super Example

A very good working example of a vacuum hand pump, complete with glass dome from notable maker Griffin and Tatlock [a design by John Griffin]

Nice oak handle, the brass pump body retains its original lacquer, valve moves freely and pumps seals nicely. The glass dome with bell top handle is ground for contact with the pump base plate [in operation this would be grease/ vaseline sealed. There is a small chip to the inside rim but not impinging on the “sealability” of the instrument.

Carries the Griffin and Tatlock branding plaque. We can date this to around 1930 as John Griffin and sons merged with the distinguished Scottish form Baird and Tatlock circa 1925.

Dimensions approx. – 40 cm long 30 cm high and 18 cm wide. Not really suitable for overseas and will require a postage supplement dependent on buyer location.

Rare complete and working a genuine sucker.

$440.00

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The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, under the Command of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., during the years 1832 to 1836 – Edited, introductions and Notes by Charles Darwin

Originally published by Smith and Elder in parts from 1839-1843. Considered a superb example of scientific publishing.

This is the three-volume facsimile published by Nova Pacifica, Wellington, New Zealand in 1980. Til then the only reproduction and even now the standout in terms of quality.

Limited to 750 copies. Three volumes quarto, 34 cm by 26 cm. Original quarter blue leather binding with salmon buckram covered boards. Separate contrasting title labels and gilt to spine, marbled end papers. Various pagination, complete, illustrated in colour and black and white including tipped in plates. A very good set. Very heavy may require a postage supplement especially Overseas.

Volume one comprises Fossil Mammalia by Richard Owen [part 1] and Mammalia by George R Waterhouse [part 2]. Volume two comprises Birds by John Gould [part 3] and Anatomical Appendix by T.C. Eyton. Volume three contains Fish by Leonard Jenyns [part 4] and Reptiles by Thomas Bell [part 5]

Who can afford the original? This super facsimile set the best alternative.

$790.00

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Charles Darwin – The Formation of Vegetable Mould through the Action of Earthworms – 1883

With the “Aurora” in the Antarctic 1911-1914 – John King Davis – First Edition

Madeira Spectroscopic, being a Revision of 21 Places in the Red half of the Solar Visible Spectrum with a Rutherford Diffraction Grating at Madeira in the Summer of 1881 – C Piazzi Smyth – Astronomer Royal Scotland – 1882.

An Inquiry into the Animism and Folk-lore of the Guiana Indians by Walter Roth – First Edition 1915

Vacuum Pump with Dome – Griffin and Tatlock c 1930 – Super Example

The Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. Beagle, under the Command of Captain Fitzroy, R.N., during the years 1832 to 1836 – Edited, introductions and Notes by Charles Darwin

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