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The Doctrine of Gold and Silver Computations – Thomas Snelling – First Edition Published 1766

An extremely rare book on gold and silver assaying and standards of value.Self published by Snelling from his premises next to the Horn Tavern, Fleet Street, London in 1766 … he advertises .. “who buys and sells all Sorts of Coins and Medals”.

Title continues … in which is included, that of the par of money; the proportion in value between gold and silver; and the valuation of gold, silver, and parting assays; with useful tables and copper plates.

Full calf with six compartments to spine each with elaborate giltwork, redone by Perry to his usual high standard, and a separate black leather title label. Complete with 144 pages after preliminaries including assay tables followed by 10 pages of copper engravings of coins all quite beautifully executed showing the printers plate mark for each coin pair. A few marks on the title, less elsewhere and generally very clean and bright inside.

Technically a book of high standard with comprehensive workings and tables allowing for a proper understanding of the difficulties of assay in the 18th Century.

The “Preface” sets the context of the book nicely … explaining that there are 480 defined qualities of silver and 384 defined qualities of gold and when mixed and possibly further mixed with copper give rise to 460,800 potential variations then the issue of assay and valuation is inherently complex.

Thomas Snelling (1712-1773) was a leading English numismatist of the period. He carried on business as a coin dealer at 183 Fleet Street next door to the Horn Tavern. His collection was sold off after his death and the catalogue is held in the Medal Room at the British Museum. There are three portrait medals of Snelling in the British Museum, one by Pingo who also did the Cook Medal commissioned by the Royal Society.

First Edition of Snelling’s Book on Gold, Silver and Coins

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$290.00

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IMAGO MVUNDI (MUNDI) – Vol II – A Periodical Review of Early Cartography – 1937 Review Copy

The first volume of Imago Mundi had been published in Berlin in 1935. The founders were Leo Bagrow and Hans Wertheim.

Bagrow continued, finding a publisher in England, Henry Stevens and an English editor Edward Lynam. So was the beginning of the greatest journal on cartography.

A scarce issue, a review copy with the charm of having many of the intended plates tipped into the document.

Folio, softcover, 115 pages plus adverts. Eleven full page plates, three large and folding and many other plates images throughout the text. Covers browned somewhat, internally clean … a very good copy.

Contents includes … From the Cosmos Picture to the World Map; Time Charts of Historical Cartography; The Evolution of Cartography in Japan; The “De Ventis” of Matthew Paris; Atlas by Vesconte Maggiolo 1518; The Booke of the Sea Carte; Kirlov the first Russian Atlas 1689-1737 etc. Numerous shorter articles including The Peking Map Collection; A Treasure Map etc

Imago Mundi at the beginning – already the highest quality and curiosity

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$60.00

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The Loneliest Mountain – The Climbing of Mt Minto, Antarctica – Lincoln Hall

First edition of the record of the first climbing of Mt Minto on Antarctica. A feat completed by a team of eleven the year before the publication of this book in 1989.

Published by Simon and Schuster, Sydney. Octavo, 232 pages, profusely illustrated, many from photographs by Jonathan Chester. Very good condition.

The narrative by Lincoln Hall is presented in journal style and is viewed by many as beautifully written. Forward by author Thomas Keneally says … “Lincoln Hall’s tale is one of the two or three best and most engrossing accounts ever written about travel in Antarctica”. We will stop there …

Incredible modern era expedition – well told.

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$40.00

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Kiap – Australia’s Patrol Officers in Papua New Guinea – Jmes Sinclair – First Edition 1981

Published by Pacific Publications, Sydney a first edition 1981. Quarto, 294 pages with illustrated end paper and many many images from photographs … quite a few iconic of the people particularly the KuKuKuKu tribe. A very good copy in a complete and bright dust jacket.

The author James Sinclair is the man with all the knowledge. After WWII he took up the position of Cadet Patrol Officer and rose to District Commissioner by Independence in 1975. He was in Papua all through the period with a keen eye a handy camera and an ability and desire to record activities as he saw them.

This book is much more than about the Kiap role … it is about the people, the many varied people of this remarkable place on Earth. The photographic record contained within this volume is justification alone.

The Kiaps had their place and surrounded by the people and the environment of Papua New Guinea

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$60.00

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The Doctrine of Gold and Silver Computations – Thomas Snelling – First Edition Published 1766

IMAGO MVUNDI (MUNDI) – Vol II – A Periodical Review of Early Cartography – 1937 Review Copy

The Loneliest Mountain – The Climbing of Mt Minto, Antarctica – Lincoln Hall

Kiap – Australia’s Patrol Officers in Papua New Guinea – Jmes Sinclair – First Edition 1981

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