Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

An oval plate with four Knightia alta specimens. 161 grams, 13.8 cm



From Wyoming, USA. From a Lincolnshire, UK, collection.

In southwest Wyoming (and parts of Colorado and Utah), in the Green River Formation, are found some of the world's most outstanding specimens of fossil fish. The Green River system was composed of three lakes: Lake Uinta, Lake Gosiute and Fossil Lake. These Eocene lakes lay in a series of intermountain basins formed by geological events that uplifted the Rocky Mountains during the early Tertiary time. The climate was much different from the desert-like climate of this area today. Both the fauna (crocodiles, alligators, boa constrictors and some subtropical fish families) and the flora (such as large palm trees) indicate a climate much like that found along the Gulf Coast today. Large amounts of ash found in the sediments indicate that volcanoes were particularly active at this time.

The inner surface lined with vibrant dark purple amethyst crystals and an area of brown-orange druzy quartz, the polished edges of the geode displaying vibrant banding; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 4.14 kg, 20 x 16 x 10 cm, 29 cm including stand



From Artigas, Uruguay. Property of a London lady.

Shallow platter carved from fossiliferous stone containing several Orthoceras specimens. 1.42 kg total, 35.5 cm



Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.

Cut section from the trunk of an extinct tree fern showcasing the complex central vascular system. 1.07 kg total including stand, 14.8 cm



From Brazil. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of an old typed information slip.

An ovoid geode section with large prismatic quartz and light purple amethyst crystals with colour concentrations at the peak of the terminations; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 14.75 kg, 37.5 x 25 x 17 cm, 52 cm including stand



From Artigas, Uruguay. Property of a London lady.

Boxed group of specimens including a hexagonal sapphire crystal, amethyst, lazurite, calcite, red jasper, quartz, malachite, prehnite(?), and others. 1.45 kg total, 0.8-11.7 cm



From Brazil. Ex Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's), Harwich, UK.

Comprising mainly irregular geode sections with prismatic amethyst crystals. 2.19 kg total, 21-66 mm



From Brazil. Ex Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's), Harwich, UK.

A group of three sawn rectangular shale specimens, each displaying manganese oxide dendrites resembling ferns and branching vegetation. 397 grams total, 10.9 x 7.2-13.7 x 7.7 cm



Ex Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's), Harwich, UK.

Comprising three hundred honey-coloured chunks of calcite displaying vitreous lustre. 1.66 kg total, 18-32 mm



From Mexico. Ex Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's), Harwich, UK.

A near-complete tibia of Coelodonta antiquitatis. 1.62 kg, 36 cm



From the North Sea, UK. From the private collection of Kenneth Machin (1936-2020), Buckinghamshire, UK; his collection of antiquities and natural history was formed since 1948; thence by descent.

Woolly rhinoceros is an extinct species of large rhinoceros that inhabited northern Eurasia and was adapted to living in the extreme cold weather of the steppe.

Comprising ten cut geodes with polished faces showing the internal layering. 2.53 kg total, 76-86 mm



From Brazil. Ex Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's), Harwich, UK.

Comprising one hundred irregular specimens. 3.68 kg total, 32-52 mm



Ex Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's), Harwich, UK.