Natural History Books - Balch - Caves of Mendip

Group comprising: Porteous, Crichton, Caves & Caverns of Peakland, Derby, 1950; pictorial card, illustrated; WITH Wilson, George H., Some Caves and Crags of Peakland, nd (circa 1927); lettered card, illustrated; WITH Royse, John, Ancient Castleton Caves, 1943; stapled lettered wraps, illustrated; WITH Martell, E. A., The Caverns of Derbyshire, 1914, extracted and translated from Irlande et Cavernes Anglaises; sewn card, spine taped, illustrated; WITH Lancaster Hole and the Ease Gill Caverns Casterton Fell Westmorland, Transactions of the Cave Research Group of Great Britain, Vol.9, No.2, March 1967; lettered card, illustrated, charts in rear pocket; most with detailed collector record cards and 'E SIMPSON' ink stamp to front. 771 grams total, 18 x 12.5 - 30 x 21 cm

Good to fine condition. Some rare.

Ex libris Dr E Simpson. The property of Mr and Mrs PR of East Sussex. Thence by descent to family members. Accompanied by hand-written record cards from Mr and Mrs PR.

This lot is from the collection assembled by a man who pursued a lifelong interest in speleology - the study of natural cave systems and he sought out important books on the subject ranging from 18th century classic works to rare pamphlets and offprints. The first book apparently acquired, by way of a gift from a family friend in 1955, when he was living as a young man in Australia and exploring the famed Jenolan Caves in New South Wales. For over fifty years, as he moved around the world, his interest expanded into USA cave systems and those in the United Kingdom and Europe. Many of the books have a pedigree of previous ownership and almost all are accompanied by meticulous index cards that record not only the full bibliographic information for each book but also when, where and from whom it was acquired, together with the price paid; the cards are often punctuated with pithy personal comments that show clearly the depth of interest in the subject. The collection represents an unrivalled opportunity today for collectors and others to acquire rare and important works.

Curran, J. M., The Geology of Sydney and the Blue Mountains, Sydney, 1898; original lettered cloth re-backed with new eps and old spine laid; 391 pp. + 17 pp. [advertisements], illustrated; with detailed collector record card and ink 'DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION' stamp to title and elsewhere. 569 grams, 19 x 13.5 cm

Good condition. Scarce.

Ex libris Broken Hill Technical College Library. Acquired Time Booksellers, Australia, February 2005. The property of Mr and Mrs PR of East Sussex. Thence by descent to family members. Accompanied by a hand-written record card from Mr and Mrs PR.

This lot is from the collection assembled by a man who pursued a lifelong interest in speleology - the study of natural cave systems and he sought out important books on the subject ranging from 18th century classic works to rare pamphlets and offprints. The first book apparently acquired, by way of a gift from a family friend in 1955, when he was living as a young man in Australia and exploring the famed Jenolan Caves in New South Wales. For over fifty years, as he moved around the world, his interest expanded into USA cave systems and those in the United Kingdom and Europe. Many of the books have a pedigree of previous ownership and almost all are accompanied by meticulous index cards that record not only the full bibliographic information for each book but also when, where and from whom it was acquired, together with the price paid; the cards are often punctuated with pithy personal comments that show clearly the depth of interest in the subject. The collection represents an unrivalled opportunity today for collectors and others to acquire rare and important works.

Brereton, J. le Guy, Landlopers: The Tale of a Drifting Travel and the Quest of Pardon and Peace, Fisher Unwin, London, nd (believed to be circa 1899); original lettered cloth; 177 pp.; illustrated; with a detailed collector record card and pencilled 'Arthur W Jose' (a friend of the author) to fep. 343 grams, 19.7 x 13.5 cm

Good condition; hinges worn and spine sunned.

Ex libris Arthur Wilberforce Jose. Acquired Grisly Wife Bookshop, Australia, January 2006. The property of Mr and Mrs PR of East Sussex. Thence by descent to family members. Accompanied by hand-written record cards from Mr and Mrs PR.

This lot is from the collection assembled by a man who pursued a lifelong interest in speleology - the study of natural cave systems and he sought out important books on the subject ranging from 18th century classic works to rare pamphlets and offprints. The first book apparently acquired, by way of a gift from a family friend in 1955, when he was living as a young man in Australia and exploring the famed Jenolan Caves in New South Wales. For over fifty years, as he moved around the world, his interest expanded into USA cave systems and those in the United Kingdom and Europe. Many of the books have a pedigree of previous ownership and almost all are accompanied by meticulous index cards that record not only the full bibliographic information for each book but also when, where and from whom it was acquired, together with the price paid; the cards are often punctuated with pithy personal comments that show clearly the depth of interest in the subject. The collection represents an unrivalled opportunity today for collectors and others to acquire rare and important works.