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Scientific Instruments, Specimens, Books and Collectables

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Bowhead Whale – 1793 (Balaena Mysticetus) – Shaw and Nodder

The Bowhead Whale then known variously as the Great Northern Whale, Toothless Whale, Greenland Whale, Artic Whale etc etc. They grow up to 18 metres and 100 tonnes and have no dorsal fin. It has the largest mouth of any animal. Whilst once endangered a moratorium in 1966 has saved the species which is now no longer under threat.

Copper engraved and hand coloured by Shaw & Nodder and published in London on 1st March 1793 (marked in the plate). Shaw was in charge of the Natural History Department at the British Museum. Frederick Nodder was a natural history artist and worked for Banks on his Florilegium.

Framed in Voyager Natural History style within black cored cream mat and beaded gilt frame.

Early Whale Engraving in fine condition … click on the image to see all my whaliness! … hmmuuuueooowmh

$180.00

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Cape River Gold Field – Report of William Rands – 1891

William Rands was Assistant Geologist to Robert Logan Jack. This is his report to the Queensland Parliament on the Cape River Gold Field.

18 foolscap pages of the usual intense observation and detail exhibited by the Queensland geological team of the period. Covers Union Reef, General Grant Reef, Hayward Reef, The Big reef, The Just-In-Time Reef, Hughes Leader, The Mystery Reef (no Mystery!), Springs reef, Mount Remarkable, Morning Star, Martin’s, Bell-Gay, Victoria, and Governor Blackall Reefs and many many more. Crushing reports with yield from Ellen Boss, Treasure and Albion as complied by Commissioner Gill.
An appendix provides a short geological description of rocks and thin section slides of 43 samples taken in the area. The thin section slides being prepared by Clarke of Charters Towers.

The report contain a folding coloured page showing 8 geological sections the first across Mr Davenport and the cape River. And a very nice coloured Geological Sketch Map of part of the Kennedy District by William Rands (50cms by 25 cms) … note our image on the Voyager website is partly truncated because of the limitations of our scanner.

Quality Cape River Report with fine example of the Map

$90.00

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Facts in Mesmerism – With Reasons for a dispassionate inquiry into it by Rev Chauncy Hare Townshend – Very Scarce First Edition 1840

An extremely rare First edition, published by Longman, London 1840

An extensive study and defence of mesmerism by Chancy Hare Townshend (1798-1868) and English priest, poet, collector of natural history and a man with a passionate interest in mesmerism. He was a good friend of Charles Dickens who dedicated “Great Expectations” to him [Townshend had the manuscript of Great Expectations at the time of his death].

Mesmerism (named after Franz Mesmer) a hypnosis based on the theory of animal magnetism. Due to its spiritual associations and uncanny effects it was controversial in the early 19th century. Towsnhend describes in detail the mental states mesmerism induces, which he defines as similar to a state of sleepwalking. Fascinating content including the accounts of experiments carried out by the author in which he hypnotised his subjects into feeling his own sensations and possessing knowledge that they could not have known.

Townshend has quite a Wikipedia write up and the hilarious meeting with poet John Clare is worth a read

Rare and valuable first edition of an early work on Mesmerism

$90.00

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Ten Early Microscope Slides – Diatoms (including one Australian slide)

A uniform group of ten prepared microscope slides all in very good condition. Unknown preparer although Voyager finds the handwriting familiar possibly Norman of London late 19thC. Nice to have an Australian sample in the mix.

Diatoma Grande
Nitzschia Sigma
Fossil Shetland
Primary Peat
Surirella Nobilis
Fossil Bilin Bohemia
Ichaboe [Island off Namibia] Guano
Primary Peat (2)
Surirella Ovata
Coscinodiscus Yarra [Australia]

All annotated in strong cursive writing

Nice varied Diatom Collection

$150.00

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The Microscope by Hogg – 1867

Another great mid-Victorian book on the microscope by Jabez Hogg who was President of the medical Microscopical Society and a leading Ophthalmic Surgeon of hid day. Published by Routledge, London.

This is the sixth edition 1867 still in its rather grand red cover. Intact and firm binding, unusual for such a thick book from that period. Over 750 pages and over 500 illustrations some in colour.

Superb history of the development of the instrument and in terms of application excellent chapters on various natural history subjects and mineralogy as well as superior content on histology as might be expected given the authors background

A sizeable body of work well executed and collectable

$120.00

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Evenings at the Microscope – Philip Gosse -1874

Title continues … or Researches among the Minuter Organs and Forms of Animal Life

A new edition revised and annotated published by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London 1874.

A classic on the subject and fairly comprehensive in detail focused on the student of microscopy. 422 pages nicely illustrated with the odd spot, missing the front free endpaper and with some marks to the original green boards although the gilt titling and designs are still vivid … the tadpole at the bottom of the spine is a delight.

Good work on Victorian microscopy – a standard

$50.00

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