Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

The Antarctic – Henry King – First Edition 1969

Henry King was the Librarian of the Scott Polar Research Institute between 1955 and 1983, incredible stretch.

So, he definitely had time and the access to material nigh unlimited to produce this all-embracing Antarctic book. There are other attempts, but we think this one the best to that period given the aforementioned advantage the writer had.

Published by Blanford Press, London in 1969. Octavo, 276 pages, a multitude of images from period photographs, many in colour, end paper maps. Top edge stained blue as required by the first. A very good copy.

Henry King form his Library – but what a library.

$35.00

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Sightings – The Gray Whales’ Mysterious Journey – Peterson and Hogan

A National Geographic Publication, 2002, first edition and quite hard to find for one of theirs – possibly because of its then price.

Octavo, 286 pages, nice photographic illustrations. A very good if not better copy.

The Gray Whale travels 10,000 along the western coastline of North America… breeding in the warm waters off Mexico and feeding in the chill of the Arctic.

Probably no better book on the subject and one that more should take an interest in.

Gray whales put the effort in – makes walking to work seem a breeze!

$35.00

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Piltdown Man [Exposure] – Ronald Millar – First Edition 1972.

Subtitled – “The story, as fascinating as a whodunit, of how the Piltdown skull came to be discovered; how the hoax was exposed and who the hoaxer may have been”.

A very good if not fine copy. Octavo, 264 pages, well- illustrated, great jacket. Published by Victor Gollancz in 1972.

Even if you are from the dark or from the modern ages and have never heard of the Piltdown man this book is a winner.

We had our own feeling about the identity of the hoaxer and the writer agrees – or vice versa. We will not spoil it but an Australian of then some dignity born in Grafton NSW – which is the big clue! We may have some of his work?

Piltdown Man – in some circles, a skull that has caused more controversy than any other!

$35.00

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Kalgoorlie Golden Mile – Western Australia – Original Magic Lantern Slide – Newton & Co – c1910

Very good condition magic lantern slide from Newton & Co Fleet described in cursive writing.

We date the slide to around 1910. New & Co were at 43 Museum Street London. They were the world’s longest established suppliers of scientific instruments being formed by Sir Isaac Newton’s cousin J. Newton in 1704. At the time of this slide the proprietors were still from the Newton family. The British Museum have Newton & Co out of business at Museum Street in 1913, but other references have it continuing

A really broad view which magnifies to present incredible detail. Standard British size in fine condition. We believe this slide and image is pretty rare.

Kalgoorlie was discovered by Paddy Hannan and Tom Flanagan in 1893. There horse had thrown a shoe and when they stopped to sort it out they noticed gold …. Well … on the ground everywhere. Hannan staked a claim and the rush was on. By 1896 the rail had arrived and the area had taken over from Coolgardie as the primary WA goldfield.

As an aside the Newton & Co address is as you might suspect in sight of the British Museum in London and also opposite The Plough … a favourite Voyager pub.

Rare Australian Gold Mining Lantern Slide

$80.00

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[Early Catalogue] – Dr Kirby’s Ready Remedies – 1872

Full title: Prices Current of Dr Kirby’s Ready Remedies being Selected Officinal Medicines prepared in the form of coated pills, pilules, granules, concentrated mixtures etc for Medical Practitioners by Messrs. Kirby & Company.

[Officinal is not a misspelling - it means a place where medicines are kept - from a Latin expression]

Brown paper cover catalogue, saddle stitched, 20 pages, Pictorial advertisement for Kirby’s Miniature Dispensary inside back cover, terms of trade to rear. Some marks and a stamp remnant [probably taxed] on cover, internally very clean.

Edmund Adolphus Kirby was a medical entrepreneur of the day. Author of “A formulation of selected remedies” and a pioneer in modern medicine preparation and dispensing.

The catalogue provides an interesting opening narrative on the methods and trends introduced by Kirby re the consistent preparation of medicines in pill and other form so that practitioners could ‘do away with” the mortar and pestle. His literally hundreds of standard formulations could be delivered swiftly by the use of the new parcel postage system.

Kirby patented a number of inventions including the adjustable medical couch and the “folding pattern portable medicine case’ suitable for “Saddle Practice”

Very scarce we cannot find a copy anywhere there should be including the Welcome Collection.

Scarce and interesting medical ephemera – early medical wholesaling

$80.00

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Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1880

Printed at the “Mercury” Steam Press Office and published 1881.

Briefer than usual but full of papers presented by the most notable observers, natural scientists with an interest in the Society.

A new Helix fossil is found in the Kent Group by geologist R.M. Johnston – with engraved plate. Johnston also reports on a new fish species in the Derwent.

Notes on some Tasmanian plants by the distinguished baron F von Mueller.

Robert Etheridge jnr [now in London] reports on a Unionide found in the Launceston Tertiary Basin – with engraving.

And, reports from discoveries elsewhere – Algae from the New Hebrides and the Lichens of Queensland by expert F.M. Bailey.

Original soft wrappers, 64 pages of papers, followed by meteorological tables [in detail – a daily record presented twice monthly] and the annual reports and accounts, list of Fellows etc Very good condition.

istinguished contributors to a tight honed edition – 1880.

$60.00

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The Antarctic – Henry King – First Edition 1969

Sightings – The Gray Whales’ Mysterious Journey – Peterson and Hogan

Piltdown Man [Exposure] – Ronald Millar – First Edition 1972.

Kalgoorlie Golden Mile – Western Australia – Original Magic Lantern Slide – Newton & Co – c1910

[Early Catalogue] – Dr Kirby’s Ready Remedies – 1872

Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania – 1880

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