Paris: Delaunay, c. 1810.
Peoples of the world, and their characters shown on their faces
Duodecimo, 25 engraved plates (all hand coloured); mottled pink wrappers. First edition of this fascinating French physiognomical study of the peoples of the world, which compares the facial structures and features of various European races... More
Venice: Io. Antonius da Sabbio & others, July, 1533.
Renaissance cosmography
Small octavo, with a large woodcut on title-page of an astrolabe enclosing the world, full-page astronomical woodcut on the verso, numerous illustrations and diagrams in the text, printer's device on last leaf; old half red calf. Essential cosmographical text... More
Venice: Sabiensis, 1551.
Renaissance worldview, neatly summarised
16mo., several woodcut illustrations; contemporary vellum. A particularly attractive copy of one of the early editions of Apian's classic description of the earth and its context, in the popular shortened format. Apianus' hugely influential work on cosmography offered an early geographical text with... More
Sydney: Printed by H. Bull, Colonist Office, Sydney, September 1, 1836.
"Pipes &c to be conveyed by convict ship free of charge"
Four foolscap folded leaves, some wear, as usual, at folds. Scarce early prospectus, printed in Sydney, for "the lighting of this large, increasing, and opulent metropolis with Gas."... More
Sydney: James Waugh 1857-, 1858. Six issues, octavo, all but one in original printed wrappers. The Sydney Magazine published the proceedings of the Australian Horticultural and Agricultural Society, and the Philosophical Society of New South Wales. These six issues include a variety of articles; including viticulture, horticultural exhibitions and prizes... More
London: Charles Knight, 1832.
Babbage's most successful work
Small octavo, engraved title-page, original maroon cloth. Second edition of Charles Babbage's most successful work: there were four editions between 1832 and 1835 and the book was translated into at least six European languages. Babbage wrote this at the time he was... More
Sydney: Government Printer, 1924.
With colour plates of Austrailain timbers
Oblong octavo, photo plates, original blue cloth. The first comprehensive scientific assessment of Australian timbers for use in the production of pulp and paper products, with its curiously appealing coloured plates showing microscopic details of wood-fibres.The authors focused on species... More![A Short Account of the Cause of the Disease in Corn, called by the Farmers the Blight, the Mildew, and the Rust [in] CURTIS: Practical Observations on the British Grasses. Sir Joseph BANKS, William CURTIS.](/pictures/thumb/2308889.jpg?v=1445314352)
London: Printed for H.D. Symonds and Curtis, 1805.
Banks on disease in corn
Octavo, six engraved plates in the first work, and one folding engraved plate by Bauer in the second work; contemporary half calf (restored). One of remarkably few works by Joseph Banks to have appeared in print. Despite... More
London: printed for J. Harding, 1805.
Sir Joseph Banks in print
Octavo, 32 pp. including the half-title, with a folding plate; with the half-title in "Mackaness" morocco, with the Mackaness bookplate. One of remarkably few works published by Banks, but an apt demonstration of his wide range of scientific interest... More
Paris: Gravé par Tardieu, 1808.
French designs for South Australia.
Engraved chart measuring 580 x 850 mm. (sheet size). Impressive early chart of the South Australian coastline revealing French colonial ambitions for Australia, a result of the survey undertaken during the Baudin expedition in Australian waters during 1802. As the... More
London: Henry Colburn, 1839.
The Beagle voyage: first issue of the first edition
Four volumes, octavo, with four charts bound in and eight loose folding maps (two accompanying each volume in original endpaper sleeve), and a total of 44 engraved plates after Augustus Earle and Conrad Martens; an attractive set... More
La Haye and Paris: Pierre Aillaud, 1786.
Science in the wake of Pacific exploration
Octavo, [ii], 236 pp., uncut copy in original buntpapier wrappers. Curious and eclectic collection of essays on geography, astronomy, and recent voyage discoveries. The geographical sections are informed by the discoveries of Cook, la Pérouse and... More
Sydney: David Mason, printer, circa 1866.
Atmotic: pioneering steam driven airship in 1860s Sydney
Single printed sheet measuring 570 x 445 mm. in good condition, mounted. Rare Sydney broadside and a milestone in aviation history. This ephemeral large single sheet promotes the 'Atmotic Ship' – an early steam driven airship... More
Paris: H.L. Guerin and L.F. Delatour, 1754-56.
The explorer as prodigy
Two volumes, quarto, with three folding plates;in contemporary French mottled calf, spines gilt in compartments with floral motifs, double labels, marbled endpapers and edges. The explorer Louis de Bougainville's first published work, and a milestone in his life. Few... More
Leipzig: Johann Gottlob Heinrich Richter, 1793.
The "Six Parts" of the World with interesting maps
Small thick octavo, eight folding maps with original outline hand-colouring, early bookplate, mark on title-page and small library stamp on verso (Hälle); a very good copy, original half calf over marbled boards, spine banded and... More
Adelaide: Andrew Murray, 1846. Duodecimo, 32 pp., printed wrappers; in stylish gilt decorated quarter green morocco bookform box by Sangorski. Photolithographed facsimile circa 1900. See note to Ferguson 4245. More
Perth: Wm. Alfred Watson, Government Printer, 1902.
Incomprehensible suffering and despair
Folio, 62 pp., with a large folding lithographic map measuring 890 x 648 mm., fine in handsome quarter green polished calf with gilt lettering. Official account of the scientific expedition financed by the wealthy English traveller Albert Calvert, dispatched... More!['Observations… at King George's Island in the South Sea' [and] 'Variation of the Compass, as observed on the Endeavour Bark' [and] 'Transitus Venus' [from] Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society. COOK: FIRST VOYAGE, James COOK, Charles GREEN.](/pictures/thumb/4107612.jpg?v=1434432481)
[London]: [Royal Society], 1767-, 1776.
Royal society transactions
Large octavo, folding plate; modern speckled boards. An attractive collection of three articles relating to Cook and the Endeavour voyage from the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society for 1771.The collection gives an interesting insight into some of the chief scientific concerns... More
London: Printed by W. and A. Strahan; and sold by J. Nourse. J. Mount and T. Page. Booksellers to the said Board, 1777.
Rare and 'the true appendix to Cook'
Quarto, with a double-page plate, two folding plates and a folding map; attractively bound in full calf, spine ornately gilt... More
London: published by William Mackenzie, circa 1885. Steel engraving, 107 x 134 mm. within larger sheet, A remarkable engraved portrait of legendary naturalist Charles Darwin.The engraving is taken from an image by the famous studio of Elliott & Fry, specialists in portrait photographs of fashionable and socially prominent members of... More
Sydney: Thomas Richards, 1859. Foolscap folio, 37 pp.; printed on blue paper; protected in recent brown buckram. A scarce Government paper on the "Defence of the Town and Harbour of Sydney". Motivated chiefly by the memory of the Crimean War, the paper was a telling contribution to the then current... More
Paris: Charles Antoine Jombert, 1752.
French naval construction handbook
Quarto, frontispiece, title-page vignette; a very good copy in contemporary mottled calf. A beautiful first edition of this landmark in the development of naval architecture. This study distilled the French naval engineer Duhamel's years of experience into a well-organised manual, and... More
London: J.D. Potter, 1861.
The chronometers of HMS Fly, by an officer on board
Octavo, xvi, 228 pp., including appendices and tables. New edition, revised and considerably expanded. The work includes important statistical tables from the north Australian survey conducted by HMS Fly under the command of Francis Blackwood between... More
London: Bell and Daldy, 1867. Octavo, wood-engraved illustrations including frontispiece;original dark brown gilt-decorated cloth. Scarce and attractive children's book, based on the experiences of Harden S. Melville on the Fly, with frontispiece and 29 other illustrations by Melville (the "Griffin") from his original sketches.Melville sailed with Francis Blackwood on the... More
London: J. Walthoe, 1726.
First history of medicine written by an Englishman
Two volumes, octavo, contemporary panelled calf. Attractive early mixed set of this first history of medicine written by an Englishman, comprising the third edition of the first volume and first edition of the second. Regarding nautical medicine, Friend... More