[39342] Agassiz, Louis. The structure of animal life. Six lectures delivered at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in January and February, 1862. London: Sampson Low, Son, and Marston, 1866. Octavo, 128 pp., text illustrations. Publisher’s cloth, a very good copy. $350 Swiss born Jean Louis Rodolphe Agassiz (1807-

1873) was a prodigious scientific writer and founded the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University. He could not accept the Darwinian argument and these essays are his attempt to reconcile religion and biology.

[39647] Andersen, Knud. Catalogue of the Chiroptera in the collection of the British Museum, volume one: Megachiroptera [all published]. London: British Museum (Natural History), 1912. Octavo, 854 pp., text illustrations. Publisher’s cloth, small library stamp and library bookplate, otherwise a very good copy. $200

“This edition is in reality a completely new monograph.” BM(NH) Supplement p. 22.

[39251] Anderson, R. H., editor. Contributions from the New South Wales National Herbarium. Sydney: Department of Agriculture and Forestry, 1939-1973. Octavo, four volumes. Binders cloth, parts two and three of volume one supplied in photocopy but bound, scarce. $150

The copy of Dennis Carr.

[39722] Bacon, Francis. Sylva Sylvarum: or a natural historie in ten centuries. London: John Haviland, 1639 fifth edition). Quarto, 282 pp. $2,000

[39875] Bennett, George. Gatherings of a naturalist in Australasia. London: John Van Voorst, 1860. Octavo, 456 pp., eight handcoloured

lithographs by George French Angas. Later half morocco and marbled boards, a very good copy. $600

Bennett made a serious contribution to the

unravelling of the Platypus mystery and his account of this extraordinary mammal is a classic. “The drawings, with a few exceptions, are from the accurate pencil of Mr G. F. Angas, well known for his correct delineations of subjects of natural history, and the author of three splendid works illustrative of the scenery and natives of New Zealand, South Australia and southern Africa ...” (Preface). Ferguson 6929; Mengel 228; Whittell p. 49; Wood p. 231.

[39820] Broinowski, Gracius J. The birds of Australia, comprising three hundred full-page illustrations with a descriptive account of the life and characteristic habits of over seven hundred species. Melbourne: Charles Stuart & Co. 1890-1891. Folio, 303 chromolithographic plates

with accompanying text and tissue guards. Six volumes bound in three, contemporary half calf and gilt lettered cloth, expertly re-spined, all edges coloured and tissue guards present, a sound clean set. $9,000

[9979] Buick, T. Lindsay. The discovery of Dinornis: the story of a man, a bone, and a bird. New Plymouth: Thomas Avery and Sons, 1936. Octavo, 153 pp., photographs, very good copy with slightly chipped dustwrapper. $200 The story of the discovery of the fossil Moa. One critic has said: “It reads like an Edgar Wallace novel”.

[36183] By an ex-commissioner. Destruction of life by snakes, hydrophobia, etc. in western India. London: W. H. Allen, 1880. Duodecimo, 120 pp. Publisher’s green cloth with titles, a few blemishes otherwise a very good copy, rare. $500

[39723] Byron, George Anson. Voyage of H.M.S. Blonde to the Sandwich Islands, in the years 1824 - 1825. London: John Murray, [1826]. Quarto, 260 pp., folding aquatint frontispiece, three engraved portraits, eight aquatint plates. Later quarter polished calf and label with early boards, uncut, a fine copy. $2,500

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[36417] Campbell, Archibald James. Nests and eggs of Australian birds: including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon. Sheffield: Author, 1901. Octavo, 1102 pp., 28 (27 of eggs) chromolithographs by Brittlebank, photographs. Publisher’s brown decorated

cloth [single volume], a bright crisp copy, scarce in this condition. $1,500

A. J. Campbell, a foundation member of both the Royal Australasian Ornithologists’ Union and the Bird Observers’ Club, was a prolific contributor to the journals of the day. Along with A. J. North, he was the leading oological authority and his work is rightly one of the classics of Australian ornithology. “A most interesting account of the nidification of the 765 Australian birds, with copious notes and beautiful photos of nests and nestlings ...” (Wood). The publication date of copies can vary. Some copies, as per Whittell’s comment, have the date of 1900 pasted on the title page. This copy has the title page with a proper printed date of 1901. Ferguson 7872; Whittell pp.106-115; Wood p. 277; Zimmer p. 123.

[39767] Cayley, Neville Henry Pennington. Pair of shot ducks. Watercolour on paper, signed “Neville Cayley”. $1,500

[5645] Charsley, Fanny Anne. The wild flowers around Melbourne. London: Day & Son (Limited), 1867. Folio, uncoloured title page and 13 handcoloured lithographs. Publisher’s blue cloth with gilt armorial title,

all edges gilt; a presentation inscription dated 1870 (not from the author), the plates fine and crisp. $5,000 The first issue, with the uncoloured title page and slightly larger than the second issue. Ferguson 8106a; Nissen BBI 347.

[39694] Cheeseman, Evelyn. Backwaters of the savage South Seas. London: Jarrolds, 1933. Octavo, 285 pp., photographs, fine copy in publisher’s cloth. $200

[30516] Chisholm, Alec H. The story of Elizabeth Gould. Melbourne: Hawthorn Press, 1944. Octavo, 76 pp., uncoloured frontispiece. Publisher’s green cloth, limited to 350 copies, a fine copy. $450

[39554] Cooper, William. Hairy Pittosporum Pittosporum revolulum. Watercolour on paper, 77cm by 98cm, captioned and annotated in the artist’s hand. Elaborately framed with ruled double, a few pale spots. $5,500

Part of a small collection of rainforest plants painted by Bill Cooper in the early 1980’s.

[39553] Cooper, William. Scentless Rosewood Synoum glandulosum. Watercolour on paper, 77cm by 98cm, captioned and annotated in the artist’s hand. Elaborately framed with ruled double, a few pale spots. $5,500

Part of a small collection of rainforest plants painted by Bill Cooper in the early 1980’s.

[5757] Cornish, C. J. Life at the zoo: notes and traditions of the Regent’s Park Gardens. London: Seeley Service & Co., (1895 third edition). Octavo, 340 pp., text illustrations. Publisher’s green stamped cloth, a fine copy. $100

[39589] Dandy, J. E, editor. The Sloane Herbarium: an annotated list of the Horti sicci; with biographical accounts of the principal contributors. London: British Museum, 1958. Quarto, 246 pp., 96 facsimiles of handwriting. Publisher’s cloth, fine copy. $100

[14598] Diggles, Sylvester. The ornithology of Australia. Brisbane: Author, [1866-1870]. Folio, two volumes, 126 handcoloured lithographs with accompanying single text leaves. Modern half green morocco and red label, all edges uncut, wrappers retained. The usual foxing, paper tears, grubby marks but otherwise a sound copy of a book invariably found in poor condition. $35,000

An unusual and bibliographically interesting copy of the “second edition “ with the title pages”, indices and the “original prospectus” bound in volume one. Also bound in both volumes are the 21 original numbered wrappers titled “Ornithology of Australia”. The price of each part is given as 10 shillings. Sylvester Diggles was a prominent figure in early Colonial Brisbane and had interests ranging from music to entomology. His book belongs to that small but select group of colour-plate books produced in Australia. Copies of Diggles are invariably found in average, or worse, condition; probably because all but three copies were originally subscribed

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for in the subtropics of Queensland and New South Wales. Copies in quality contemporary bindings are almost non-existent. Diggles is complex bibliographically and virtually no two copies are alike, but for practical purposes there are two editions. “Seeing that the magnificent work of Mr Gould on “The Birds of Australia”, so completely supplies every want of the ornithologist in that particular direction, it may be thought that any other work is superfluous; but copies of Mr Gould’s Ornithology are so difficult to procure, and their price is far beyond the means of any but the most wealthy, that the author of the present publication deems any further reasons for the necessity of a second work unecessary, as he desires to place within the power of all who wish to obtain it, an accurate and useful book of reference, at as low a cost as will allow of its being published in a credibable manner ...” (Prospectus). The first edition, The Ornithology of Australia, appeared in 21 parts from 1866 to 1870 with six plates per part for a total of 126 plates. This first edition is usually found in a contemporary binding with plates and accompanying text leaves but no title page or index. The title The Ornithology of Australia is invariably found on the spine or upper board. Typically, such copies have only 120 plates and were obviously bound before the 21st part was produced. However, Ferguson (9148) notes a copy with 126 plates and a title page. There was a two-year gap between the 20th part and the final part. The second edition, Companion to Gould’s Handbook ..., was issued in two volumes dated 1877, with a title page and index for each volume. The prospectus, printed on the lower wrappers of the first five parts of the first edition, is reprinted. Some of the plates from the first seven parts were redrawn for this edition. The plates from the final part are always present, whereas they are usually absent in bound copies of The Ornithology of Australia. Sets of The Companion are often found in contemporary half red morocco, usually in two volumes, and call for 123 plates with three plates (11A, 75 and 106) listed as “description only”. Presumably Diggles had run out of stock of these three plates. The scarcity of Diggles can, in part, be attributed to the financial problems which beset him. His subscriber list dropped from 92 to 60 and a letter from Diggles to the Rev. J. J. Halley dated 19 September 1871 gives some insight into the difficulties under which he was labouring; “I was delighted to receive the first part of your excellent work on the Psittacidae of Australia, & wish you every success in its full and complete termination. I only hope that the disappointments I have met with, may not be your lot & that no adverse “crisis” may arise to cause the sudden withdrawal of some of the dilatory payment or sometimes the not paying at all of many subscribers. I fear that you will without the aid of energetic and persevering agents be obliged to act to a considerable extent on the credit system. It is now nearly 2 years since I stopped the issue of my work & saved myself from severe loss. I hope bye & bye to resume, but do not flatter myself that I shall surpass your work in the quality of either plates or letterpress (the latter especially). We could not attempt the chromo-process here, if it could be done a vast deal of trouble would be saved. The amount of anxiety I have had in bringing out the 20 parts already issued is unknown to any one but myself. Slapdash colouring which could not be passed but I dare not complain, as I should not be able to replace my colourist. Many are the arduous hours I have spent in going over the plates to make them at all possible. I shall be happy to use my influence to obtain some subscribers but do not be too sanguine of my success. For my own part I will send you a part of my work in exchange for every one of yours & will undertake to give every plate a modicum of my own pencil work. You invite criticism which shows you are not afraid of the same ... My own lithographer’s work is far from faultless. If at any time I can assist you with a few notes I shall be glad ... ”( Moyal, pp.116-117). Diggles, in any edition and in reasonable condition, is a rare and desirable book. Ferguson 9146, 9147, 9148, 9148a; Whittell pp.201-203; Wood p. 319; Zimmer pp.171-2. See also Mathews, Gregory M. Sylvester Diggles, Ornithologist. The Austral Avian Record, Vol. 3, 1917. Marks, Elizabeth N. Notes on Diggles “Ornithology of Australia”. Queensland Naturalist, Vol. 17, 1965.

[39874] Findlay, Richard. Some South African birds. Pretoria: Author, 1956 Small folio, two watercolour title pages, 26 numbered interleaved leaves with typed text (verso only) on clear parchment paper, 21 signed and dated watercolours; the title pages and watercolours all approximately 36cm by 25cm and individually mounted on

a larger leaf of rag paper 41 cm by 34 cm. The album is red half calf and red cloth with the title “Some South African Birds” on the spine, inner hinges strengthened. $15,000

A magnificent album of watercolours of South African birds. The first title page reads: “Some South African game birds/studies of certain quails, partridges & francolins etc./ for/ M. E. Bourke esq/ with/ illustrations & (more hesitantly) text/ by/ Richard Findlay”. All plates are portrait and captioned unless otherwise listed. They are: 1. Ortygornis coqui “Swempi male and female, Dick Findlay 56” 2. Chaetopus adspersus “Red-billed Francolin, Dick Findlay 56” 3. Chaetopus natalensis “Natal Francolin, Dick Findlay 56” 4. Pternistis swainsoni “Swainsons Francolin, Dick Findlay 56” 5. Pternistes humboldt “Humboldts Francolin, Dick Findlay 56” 6. Coturnix Africana “Cape Quails male and female Dick Findlay 56” 7. Coturnix delegorguei “Harlequin Quails male and female, Dick Findlay 56” (Landscape) 8. Excalfactoria adansoni “Blue Quails male and female, Dick Findlay 56” 9. Numida mitrata “Crowned Guineafowl Dick Findlay 58” 10. Guttera educardi “Crested guineafowl Dick Findlay 56” (Landscape) The second title page reads: “Shrikes of Southern Africa/ studies of some of the family Laniidae with text/illustrations by Dick Findlay Pretoria 1957”. All plates are portrait and captioned. They are: 1. Lanius collaris “Fiscal Shrike Dick Findlay 57” 2. Lanius collurio “Red-backed Shrike male and female Dick Findlay 57” 3. Tchagra tchagra “Tchagra Shrike female Dick Findlay 57” 4. Tchagra senegala “Black-headed Bush Shrike male Dick Findlay 57” 5. Laniarus ferrugineus “Boubou Bush Shrike male and female Dick Findlay 58” 6. Laniarus atrococcineus “Black and Crimson Shrike male Dick Findlay 57” 7. Telephorus zeylonus “Bokmakerie Dick Findlay 55” 8. Telephorus quadricolor “Four coloured Bush Shrike male Dick Findlay 57” 9. Laniarius abbotti “Abbotts Bush Shrike male Dick Findlay 57” 10. Prionops poliocephala “Smith’s Helmet Shrike Dick Findlay 57” 11. Sigmondus retzii “[Retz’s Helmet Shrike] Dick Findlay 57”. This album is of the highest quality, in terms of both the standard of artwork and presentation. All the birds figured are accurately coloured and the simple botanical backgrounds are uncoloured. The title pages are both pleasing simple watercolours using only one or two colours. THE ARTIST: Richard Findlay (born Pretoria 1928) is a well known South African natural history painter. He has supplied illustrations for journals and books. Findlay illustrated the 1959 Folio of South African Birds as well as books by Eugine Marias. He is active within South African theatre and visual arts and is a published playwright.

[39678] Gilbert, Thomas. Voyage from New South Wales to Canton, in the year 1788, with Views of the Islands discovered. London: J Debrett, 1789. Quarto, engraved vignette on the title, four large folding plates. Later half red morocco and marbled boards, some wear, the bookplate and stamp of Rupert Clarke.

$7,500

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[32963] Gould, John A Monograph of the Trogonidae or Family of Trogons. London: Author, [1858]- 1875. Folio, 47 handcoloured lithograph plates by W. Hart, and H.C. Richter. Full contemporary green morocco, gilt inner rules, elaborate gilt spine, five raised bands and gilt title, some minor rubbing. The King of Belgium’s gilt stamp with crown and initials, a superb copy, crisp and free of foxing. $70,000

The second edition, completely rewritten and with new illustrations; the first edition, published in 1838, contained 11 fewer plates. Fine Bird Books (reprint) p.101; Nissen 381; Sauer 21; Zimmer p. 253.

[26957] Gould, John. Handbook to the birds of Australia. London: Author, 1865. Octavo, two volumes, 1266 pp. Publisher’s handsome decorated cloth, bookplate, a few minor splits in the cloth, otherwise a near fine copy. $2,500

The Handbook is a significant elaboration of the text of Birds of Australia and Gould’s final contribution to Australian ornithology. It is still a useful book in any working collection of Australian ornithology. Ferguson 10031; Sauer 25; Whittell pp. 295-6: Wood p. 365; Zimmer p. 262.

[26913] Greene, W. T. Parrots in captivity. London: George Bell and Sons, 1884-1887. Tall octavo, three volumes, 81 colour-printed wood-engraved plates (chromoxylographs) by Benjamin Fawcett, drawn by A. F. Lydon. Publisher’s medium green blindstamped cloth, a very good, crisp set. $5,000 The first book devoted exclusively to

parrots in captivity and with much of Australian interest. Occasional contributions were made by the Rev. F. G. Dutton, who writes of the spectacular, but now extinct, Paradise parrot Psephotus pulcherrimus and unwittingly describes their breeding behaviour of burrowing into termite mounds; “A pair I had were most anxious to burrow into the wall of a room in which they were. Had they done so they would have got into a loft and escaped. So they were caged and sent to the Zoological Gardens [London] ...” (volume two, pp. 31-2). Parrots in captivity is also significant because of the method used in producing the handsome coloured plates. Benjamin Fawcett (1808-1893) devised a technique of colour printing using wood blocks known as chromoxylography. He is best known for his illustrations for Morris’ A history of British birds and “The last bird book for which [Frank] Lydon did the drawings and Fawcett the printing was ... Parrots in

Captivity, published in 1884-88 in three volumes and two parts of a proposed fourth volume” (Jackson, Christine. Wood engravings of birds 1978). The fourth volume mentioned by Jackson is exceptionally rare, probably a proof issue, and hardly ever seen on the market. Parrots in captivity should always be considered complete in three volumes. Ferguson 10071; Fine bird books (reprint) p. 103; Nissen IVB 393; Whittell p. 303; Wood p. 368; Zimmer p. 274.

[39721] Grew, Nehemjah. Musaeum Regalis Societatis: or a catalogue and description of the natural and artifical rarities belonging to the Royal Society and preserved at Gresham Colledge. London: Hugh Newman, 1694. Quarto, 459 pp., 31 plates. Later half morocco and title label over early worn marbled boards, edges lightly coloured, a very good copy. $1,500

[35993] Hachisuka, Masa U. A handbook of the birds of Iceland. London: Taylor and Francis, 1927. Quarto, 128 pp., photographs. Publisher’s blue cloth, a fine copy. $450

[6444] Hachisuka, Masauji. The Dodo and kindred birds, or the extinct birds of the Mascarene Islands. London: Witherby, 1953. Quarto, 250 pp., colour plates and text illustration. Unobtrusive owner’s stamp on bottom edge, owner’s sticker, an unnumbered copy, fine copy in dustwrapper. $1,200

[39845] Henry, Richard. The habits of the flightless birds of New Zealand; with notes on other New Zealand birds. Wellington: John Mackay, Government Printer, 1903. Octavo, 88 pp., ten plates. Binder’s green cloth, wrappers retained, very scarce. $1,200 Richard Henry became the caretaker of Resolution Island and realised if New Zealand’s birds were to be saved from extinction, then their best chance was relocation from the mainland to predator-free islands. This pioneering conservation model has

saved a number of species (Saddleback, Stitchbird, Kakapo, Kokako, Notornis) from extinction.

[17680] Iredale, Tom. Birds of New Guinea. Melbourne: Georgian House, 1956. Quarto, two volumes, 492 pp., colour plates by Lilian Medland. Publisher’s quarter morocco and decorated spine, a fine set. $400

[38873] Keith, Arthur. The antiquity of man. London: Williams and Norgate, (1915 first edition). Octavo, 519 pp., text illustrations. Publisher’s decorated cloth, signature, a very good copy. $100

[39200] Keulemans, John Gerard. Frozen Out. Original framed watercolour, 28.5cm by 22cm (size of image), in a white mount of a Red robin on the side of a terracotta pot in the snow, signed J.G. Keulemans lower left. $4,000

[39195] Keulemans, John Gerard. Congress of Titmice. European Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus and Coal Tit Periparus ater. Original framed watercolour, 25.5cm by 40.5cm (size of image), in a plain white mount, of

twelve titmice in a tree watching a caterpillar, signed J. G. Keulemans and dated April 1897 lower right. $6,000

[39203] Keulemans, John Gerard. Swallows on a Branch. Original framed watercolour, 22.5cm by 44.5cm (size of image), in a plain white mount, of five swallows perched on a branch and of one flying towards them, signed and dated 1898 lower right. $4,000

[39343] Kidd, Walter. The sense of touch in mammals and birds, with special reference to the papillary ridges. London: Adam and Charles Black, 1907. 176 pp., text illustrations. Publisher’s cloth, very good copy, scarce. $200

[26971] Krefft, Gerard. The snakes of Australia; an illustrated and descriptive catalogue of all the known species. Sydney: Thomas Richards, Government Printer, 1869. Quarto, 100 pp., 16 (four in duplicate) uncoloured lithographic plates. Binder’s cloth, the plates crisp and free of foxing. $2,500 Gerard Krefft (1830-1881) is rightly considered the father of Australian herpetology. He was a significant figure in colonial science and

wrote papers on mammals, fish, invertebrates and palaeontology. Unfortunately his career was marred by an acrimonious dispute with the Trustees of the Australian Museum and it never recovered. Krefft’s Snakes is the premier Australian reptile book and is one of the most desirable and important of all Australian nineteenth-century natural history publications. The plates were drawn and coloured by the Scott sisters, Harriet and Helena, who were responsible for many natural history illustrations including Krefft’s other great book, Mammals of Australia 1871, and Australian Lepidoptera and their transformations 1864-1898, by their father, A. W. Scott. The advertisement leaf in Mammals of Australia offers copies of Snakes of Australia for sale at “Plain 15s; Coloured 30s.” Ferguson 11247.

[7009] Laurie, Eleanor M. O. Mammals collected by Mr Shaw Mayer in New Guinea 1932-1949 London: Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History Volume 1, No. 10,1952). 269-318 pp. Modern blue half calf, a few flecks, wrappers retained, a fine copy.

$100 Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Zooloogy volume one, number ten.

[39812] Mathews, Gregory M. The Birds of Australia. London: Witherby & Co., 1910-1927. Quarto, thirteen volumes, 600 handcoloured plates by Keulemans, Gronvold, Goodchild and

Green. Contemporary dark green morocco with gilt fillets and lozenge ornaments in spine compartments (except volume four); volume one with gilt stamped birds, a handsome crisp set, scarce in this condition. $32,000

Gregory Macalister Mathews (1876-1949) was born into a wealthy New South Wales grazing family. He settled in England at the turn of the century and over the next 40 years, with the help of his secretary Tom Iredale into the 1920’s, he devoted his life to Australian ornithology. His contribution to Australian ornithology, particularly taxonomy, is profound and at times controversial. The Birds of Australia is the last of the great colour-plate bird books and one of the most ambitious bird books ever published. Along with Gould’s Birds of Australia 1840-1869 and A. J. North’s Nests and Eggs 1904-1914 Mathew’s The Birds of Australia is fundamental to Australian ornithology. Anker 328; Nissen IVB 605; Nissen SVB 329; Whittell pp. 488-504: Wood p.454; Zimmer p.419.

[39771] Mivart, St George. The cat. An introduction to the study of backboned animals, especially mammals. London: John Murray, 1881. Octavo, 557 pp., uncoloured frontispiece, text illustrations. Publisher’s decorated cloth, a fine crisp copy, scarce in this condition. $1,200

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[39779] Mivart, St. George. On the genesis of species New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1871. Octavo, 314 pp., text illustrations. Publisher’s cloth, apart from a loose blank endpaper and slight cracking, a superb crisp copy. $300 Mivart was friendly with Darwin and Huxley and a supporter of Darwininan evolution, but the relationship soured with his conversion to Catholicism. He then became well known for his anti Darwinist views.

[39687] Nicol, John. The life and adventures of John Nicol, mariner. Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1822 Small octavo, 215 pp., portrait frontispiece. Contemporary half calf and marbled boards, coloured label, a fine copy. $1,800

Scottish-born sailor John Nicol (1755-1825) twice circumnavigated the globe and visited every inhabited continent, including Australia.

[26916] Perry, George. Arcana, or, The Museum of natural history: containing the most recent discovered objects embellished with coloured plates ..., volume one [all published]. London: Printed by George Smeeton for James Stratford, [1810- 1811]. Octavo, 84 handcoloured engraved plates with tissue-guards and accompanying text leaves. Superb period style

tree calf and red label by Aquarius, preserved in a slipcase, an inscription on the verso on the title page, some minor oxidation, otherwise the contents excellent and free of foxing. $55,000

The Arcana was issued in monthly parts between 1810-1811, the whole work split into sections of Zoology, Ornithology, Entomology, Ichthyology, Conchology (for which Perry was mostly known), Amphibia and Botany, followed by various articles including an extract relating to Mungo Parke’s travels in Africa. A work of substantial importance on early Australian zoology with sixteen Australian animals figured, including the first illustrations and descriptions of the Koala and Brolga. The following

Australian subjects are illustrated: Plate three, image four. Trocis. “lately imported from Botany Bay”; Plate six Triton. “Another shell ... has lately been discovered in New Holland”; Plate nine Nonpareil Parrot [Eastern Rosella] “has lately been imported alive into England” Plate ten Platypus; Plate eleven Green Parroquet [Ground Parrot]; Plate 17; Koala; Plate 18 Hippocampus [Weedy Sea Dragon] “a native of Botany Bay”; Plate 19 Bulimus [shell] “have lately been discovered in the neighbourhood of New Holland and Botany Bay”; Plate 21 Wombach Plate 22 Red-headed Crane of New Holland [Brolga]; Plate 27 Jerboa [Potoroo] ; Plate 32 Opossum Flying mouse [Feathertail Glider]; Plate 59 [Black Swan]; Plate 73 Kangaroo; Plate 74 [Emperor Gum Moth]; Plate 83 [Cassowary] “The Arcana is technically interesting too, as its glowing plates were printed with variously coloured inks to suppress their outlines” (Petit). The Arcana has now been given the recognition it deserves with the publication of an excellent facsimile by Richard Petit. A survey of known copies identifies 32 copies of which only 13 are complete and 24 are in institutions. Ferguson 524; Nissen 3133; Wood p. 517. See also Mathews and Iredale, Perry’s Arcana-an overlooked work. Victorian Naturalist volume 29, 1912 and Petit, Richard E. Perry’s Arcana: a facsimile edition with a collation and systematic review. Philadelphia: 2009.

[7735] Ramsay, E. Pierson. Hints for the preservation of specimens of natural history, for museum purposes. Sydney: Australian Museum, (1876 first edition). Octavo, 12 pp., binder’s cloth, the bookplate of George Mackaness, scarce. $150

[36779] Rothschild, Walter. Extinct birds. An attempt to unite in one volume a short account of those birds which have become extinct in historical times that is, within the last six or seven hundred years. To which are added a few which still exist. London: Author, 1907. Small folio, 244 pp., 45 chromolithograph plates by Keulemans, Gronvold, Lodge and Frohawk. Publisher’s half calf gilt, limited to 200 numbered copies (this copy number 146) and signed by the author, a fine copy. $18,000

The most famous book on extinct birds. Many of the original paintings including life sized paintings of Moa are held at Tring, formerly Rothschild’s residence and museum and now the property of the British Museum (Natural History). Anker 430; Nissen IVB 795; Nissen SVB 417; Wood p. 543; Zimmer p. 533.

[7999] Semon, Richard. In the Australian bush, and on the coast of the Coral Sea: being the experiences and observations of a naturalist in Australia, New Guinea and the Moluccas. London: Macmillan, 1899. Large octavo, 552 pp., four folding coloured maps and text illustrations. Publisher’s green cloth, a few spots but a sound copy. $350

[15547] Seth-Smith, David. Parrakeets: a handbook to the imported species. London: R. H. Porter, (1903 first edition). Octavo, 282 pp., 20 coloured (including 19 handcoloured) plates by Gronvold, Green and Goodchild. Contemporary half red morocco, top edge gilt, wrappers retained, owner’s signature and price paid on

front endpaper, a very good copy. $1,500 A handsome publication and one of the last colour- plate bird books, with many Australian species. The plates were first published in the Aviculture Magazine.

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[26928] Spencer, Baldwin, editor. Report on the work of the Horn Expedition to central Australia. Melbourne: London and 1896. Octavo, four volumes, text illustrations; a total of 69 plates including eleven zoological chromolithographs (three mammal, three bird by Neville Cayley senoir,

four reptile and one frog), folding map. Publisher’s dark blue cloth ruled and lettered in gilt on spines, all edges uncut, a few minor flecks and fraying to tops of spine, otherwise a handsome set. A presentation copy with a signed inscription from Spencer to the South Australian Government Geologist, L. Keith Ward. $6,500

The Horn Expedition is the most comprehensive record of a scientific expedition undertaken in Australia in the nineteenth century. Sir Walter Baldwin Spencer was the leader of the expedition and the principal editor of the official account. The four volumes are made up of the Narrative, Zoology, Geology and Botany, and Anthropology. The reports were written by the notable Australian scientists of the day, including Spencer himself, Professor Ralph Tate, J.A. Watts, J.H. Maiden, E.C. Stirling, Alfred J. North, Waiter Frogatt, and Edgar Waite G. A. Keartland was the ornithologist on the expedition. The bird plates by Neville Henry Pennington Cayley [senior] are particularly fine and the only coloured plates ever published during the artist’s lifetime. Ferguson, 16071; Greenway, 8672; Nissen, ZBI 1991.

[39696] Stefansson, Vilhjalmur. The adventure of Wrangel Island. London: Jonathan Cape, 1926. Octavo, 416 pp., photographs, folding map, dustwrapper. $250

First published New York 1925.

[39881] Tench, Watkin (Captain). A complete account of the settlement at Port Jackson, in New South Wales. London: 1793. Quarto, folding engraved map. Contemporary full polished calf with coloured labels, hinges tender, some wear, an excellent copy. $12,000 The second first Fleet book of Watkin Tench.

[39669] Tench, Watkin. A narrative of the expedition to Botany Bay. London: J Debrett, (1789 first edition). Octavo, viii, 146 pp.. Modern half morocco, lacks half title and final advertisement leaf. $7,000

The first First Fleet book. “It is a rare book in first edition and much sought-after, even more so as collectors gradually realize its significance as the earliest printed record of the settlement. It is worth noting that bound copies frequently lack either the half-title or the advertisement leaf and often

both. Since these leaves are integral to the text, collectors prefer copies with both leaves present” (Wantrup p. 57). Ferguson 48.

[39681] Tench, Watkin. Letters written in France, to a friend in London, between the month of November 1794, and the month of May 1795. By Major Tench, of the Marines, late of His Majesty’s Ship Alexander. J Johnson, 1796. Octavo, 224 pp. Publisher quarter cloth and boards, entirely uncut, “from the author” on the front endpaper, a superb unsophisticated copy. $3,000

[39889] van Musschenbroek, S. C. J. W. Dagboek van Dr. H. A. Bernstein’s laatste reis van Ternate naar Nieuw-Guinea, Salawati en Batanta 17 October 1864 - 19 April 1865, met aanteekeningen, bijlagen en eene kaart. The Hague: Martinus Nijhoff, 1883. Octavo, 258 pp., folding map, folding graphs. Blue publisher’s cloth. $300

[4920] Vaurie, Charles. Tibet and its birds. London: H. F. & G. Witherby, 1972. Large octavo, 407 pp., three colour plates, photographs. Publisher’s red half morocco and marbled endpapers, bound by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, limited to 65 numbered copies and signed by the author, a fine copy. $650

[8444] Waite, Edgar R. A popular account of Australian snakes, with a complete list of the species and an introduction to their habits and organisation. Sydney: Thomas Shine, 1898. Small octavo, 72 pp., 16 chromolithograph plates. Publisher’s blindstamped cloth, lightly cracked and a few flecks, otherwise a very good copy. $950

Edgar Waite is a significant figure in Australian zoology. He was director of the South Australian Museum from 1914 until his death in 1928. He wrote prolifically on reptiles, fish and mammals and was a world authority on the fish of Australian waters. A Popular Account of Australian Snakes is a

handsome little publication, very scarce, and one of the most desirable of all Australian reptile books. Ferguson 18029.

[17940] Wallace, Alfred Russel. Island life: the phenomena and causes of insular faunas and floras, including a revision and attempted solution of the problem of ecological climates. London: Macmillan, (1902 third edition). Octavo, 563 pp., coloured map, text illustrations. Publisher’s cloth, bookseller’s stamp on front endpaper, a few flecks, otherwise a very good copy. $450

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[38388] Waterhouse, G.R. The Naturalist’s Library, volume 24. Mammalia: marsupialia or pouched animals. Edinburgh: W.H. Lizars, (1855 second edition). Duodecimo, 323 pp., 34 handcoloured plates, handcoloured half title. Publisher’s cloth with new endpapers. $650 Most Australian

species are covered with an accompanying handcoloured plate.

[37175] Westwood, J. O. On the Australian species of the Coleopterus genus Bolboceras, Kirby. London: Transactions of the Linnaean Society, 1848. Quarto, 11-18 pp., one uncoloured plate. Contemporary half calf, bound with six other quarto papers on Coleoptera 1838-1862, with an index in a handsome copperplate hand, inscribed on the front pastedown “F. Erasmus Wilson from C. French”. $950

[39167] Whittell, Hubert Massey. The literature of Australian birds: a history and bibliography of Australian ornithology. Perth: Paterson Brokensha, 1954. Small quarto, 788 pp., illustrations. Publisher’s brown cloth, an excellent copy. $400 The standard bibliography

of Australian ornithology. The introductory essay is a valuable summary of the history of Australian ornithology.

[18630] Wilkie, A. A. W. and A. R. Osborn. Almost human: reminiscences from the Melbourne Zoo. Melbourne: Whitcombe and Tombs, [1918]. Octavo, 237 pp., photographs. Publisher’s cloth, a fine copy, with newspaper cuttings relating to the author. $100 Andrew Wilkie (1853-1948) worked at

Melbourne Zoo for 69 years and served as Director.

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