Natural History Books - Balch - Caves of Mendip

Baring-Gould, S., Cliff Castles and Cave Dwellings of Europe, Seeley, London, 1911; library quarter bound with cloth boards; 24 pp. + 1 p. [advertisement], with 52 plates; with detailed collector record card and with Folkestone Library label and 'withdrawn' ink stamp to inside front cover 777 grams, 22 x 14.5 cm

Good condition; some minor foxing.

Ex Folkestone Library (withdrawn). Acquired Anne Oldham, Wales, 1985, Yorkshire, April 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.

Group comprising: Tiddeman, R. H., Report of the Victoria Cave Exploration Committee, offprints from British Association for Advancement of Science, 2rd-6th Reports, 1874-1878; sewn wraps, with On the Age of the Hyena-Bed at the Victoria Cave Settle and its Bearing on the Antiquity of Man, offprint from Journal of the Anthropological Institute, November 1877; sewn; with, The Work and Problems of the Victoria Cave Exploration, offprint from Geological and Polytechnic Society of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1875; sewn lettered wraps; with Brown, Geo. H., Victoria Cave its History and Exploration,1903; stapled lettered wraps, illustrated; some with detailed collector record cards. 179 grams total, 18.5 x 12 - 21.5 x 14 cm

Generally fine condition. Some rare.

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.

Ballou, Maturin M., Travels Under the Southern Cross, Houghton Mifflin, nd (believed 1888), 2nd edition; original pictorial cloth; xi pp. + 405 pp.; with detailed collector record card and printed bookplate typed for 'ERVIN E REED' to inside front cover and same name pencilled to fep. 613 grams, 20.5 x 13.5 cm

Near fine condition.

Ex libris Ervin E Reed. Acquired Grand Fallon Books, USA, October 2008. 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.