Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

Museum Quality Fossil Bowfin Fish from the Messel Pits, Germany

Very nice large extinct form of Bowfin Fish, Cyclurus kehreri. From the Middle Eocene (Geisealtalain) period – 47 Million Years Old.

These fossils are found within the bituminous oil shales that occur near the village of Messel, Darmstadt, Germany. The fossils are removed from the shale using a technique called reverse transfer preparation, where the fossil is mounted onto a resin plate and the destructive oils shale is then removed leaving the fossil on the resin plate. This is the only way for them to be preserved and the method is used by leading authorities.

Size of fish 26cm by 7cm, overall mount 36cm by 15cm.

The Fish has a number of living relatives such as the mudfish, mud pike, dogfish, griddle etc. and is also related to the gars.

An extremely rare and sought after fossil

$120.00

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Evolution in the Light of Modern Knowledge – Various Notable Scientific Contributors

A special book published by Blackie, London and Glasgow in 1932, a new edition. Some minor ageing to page edges very good complete dust jacket, overall a very good copy.

Bringing forward the views of notable scientists of the day to explain the position of the “Theory of Evolution” by reference to their special disciplines. Includes the Astronomer Jeans, Zoologist MacBride, Chemist Soddy, Geologist Watts and Australian born Elliot Smith Anatomist and pursuer of Ancient Man. A fine provoking work despite and later revelations.

Evolution and Elliot Smith among the best.

$120.00

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In Search for Man’s Ancestors – Prof Grafton Elliot Smith – 1931

Published by Watts & Co, London, 1951 first edition, 56 pages part of the Forum Series. Very good condition in a complete dust jacket. Inscription to paste down.

Grafton NSW born Elliot Smith has risen to Professor of Anatomy at University College, London by the time this book was published.He was involved in the Piltdown hoax, which features (pre-exposure) here along with Pithecanthropus, Heidelberg Man and Peking Man. His view on the “Cradle of Mankind” in which the Australian “Talgai” skull from near Warwick gets a reference.

Grafton born Professor Searches for the beginning of Man

$60.00

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The Total Solar Eclipse of May 1900 – Walter Maunder FRAS

A series of expeditions was organised by the British Astronomical Society to observe the total solar eclipse of 28th May 1900. This book printed by the “Knowledge” Office, London was published the following year.

It is a remarkable record of a substantial effort in logistics for such a momentary event. The best position forecast by the Smithsonian Institute was expected to be Wadensborough, North Carilona. The British attended but also went to Portugal, Mid-Spain, Manzandes, Elche and Algiers. The photography of the “set-ups” at each location are a treasure … and it is good to see lady scientists in all their finery and the odd social event. The scientific content is immeasurable and the photographs of corona etc at various locations comprehensive and priceless.

As well as corona we have … dark markings, coronal extensions, the shadow bands, Baily’s Beads … and a good summary of results. The highlight for Voyager is the period images of the astronomers going about their business.

The 1900 eclipse was part of the Saros cycle which repeats itself every 18 years and 11 days but with a limit, a total of 71 events, from 1179 to the final one in 2044 … so not long to go.

Unique work and more than you would expect for such a brief event … special

$90.00

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A Treatise on the Differential Calculus – William Walton – 1845 – Viscount Cross to be Home Secretary’s Copy

An advanced work published in 1845 by Deightons, Cambridge. The author was a Fellow of Trinity College. Original blind stamped cloth binding.

A very good copy with the normal progression … Fundamental Principles; Successive Differentiation; Elimination of Constant Functions; Evaluation of Indeterminate Functions; Maxima and Minima; Tangency; Asymptotes; Multiple Point, Conjugates, Cusps etc; Concavity and Convexity of Curves and Points of Inflexion … Centre of Curvature etc; Theory of Evolutes and Involutes; envelops; Polar Co-ordinates etc.

Distinguished First Owner Viscount R.A. Cross

Carries the bookplate and Signature, College and Ownership Date of Richard Asshetn Cross (1823-1914). Cross also went to Trinity and was then called to the Bar, Inner temple in 1849. He entered Parliament first in 1857 and then a second stint in 1868. He was elevated to the peerage, Viscount Cross of Broughton-in-Furness, in 1886. He was Home Secretary under Disraeli and also under Lord Salisbury. For a time, he was in the India Office and in eventually given the sinecure post Lord Privy Seal

$120.00

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The Antiquity of Man – Arthur Keith – 2 Volumes (Piltdown Man)

1928 edition by Sir Arthur Keith’s first published 1925 as a single volume. Reviewed and enhanced.

A famous work in that it includes several chapters on the greatest scientific hoax ever … The Piltdown Man … there should be a BBC mini-series on this crime. Charles Dawson discovered the skull fragments that were to provide the “missing link” between apes and man. He was then assisted by the distinguished Dr Smith Woodward. In this book Keith is not sure at all and his chapter headed “The difficulties of reconstruction” alludes to error and alternative interpretations and perhaps even the reality. The reality was exposed in1953 when the bones were found to have consisted of the mandible and some teeth of an orangutan combined with the cranium of a small brained modern human. Grafton Elliot Smith a fellow anthropologist sided with Dawson and Woodward at the Royal Society claiming that Keith’s views were motivated by ambition. Keith later recalled “Such was the end of our long friendship”.

Whilst Piltdown makes the book special there are other excellent anthropological finds well written up, not the least being the Pleistocene skull found at Talgai (near Warwick Queensland) in 1884 but brought out of a cupboard in 1914 and properly categorised by Sir T.W. Edgeworth David …. Robert Etheridge also had a hand.

Much could be said about the author Sir Arthur Keith whose interest in the origins of man stemmed from being put in charge of the Museum of the Royal Society of Surgeons at an early age.

We have included an image of the painting of key players investigating the skull of Piltdown Man … Arthur Keith is seated in the middle with Dawson and Smith Woodward standing behind him to the right …. note a painting of Charles Darwin on the wall behind the group.

Early Man and Piltdown examined but not exposed

$90.00

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Museum Quality Fossil Bowfin Fish from the Messel Pits, Germany

Evolution in the Light of Modern Knowledge – Various Notable Scientific Contributors

In Search for Man’s Ancestors – Prof Grafton Elliot Smith – 1931

The Total Solar Eclipse of May 1900 – Walter Maunder FRAS

A Treatise on the Differential Calculus – William Walton – 1845 – Viscount Cross to be Home Secretary’s Copy

The Antiquity of Man – Arthur Keith – 2 Volumes (Piltdown Man)

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