Natural History Books - Balch - Mendip The Great Cave of Wookey Hole

Group comprising: Beautiful East Gippsland, Bulmer, nd; stapled lettered wraps, illustrated; with Trickett, O., Guide to the Wombeyan Caves New South Wales, 1906; stapled pictorial wraps, illustrated; with Souvenir of the Visit of the Empire Press Delegation to the Caves of Western Australia, 1925; laced boards with mounted photographs; NSW Government, The Systems of Limestone Caves, nd; stapled pictorial wraps, illustrated; with Danes, Dr J. V., Physiography of Some Limestone Areas in Queensland, Royal Society of Queensland, 23 July 1910; stapled lettered wraps, illustrated; with Railway Commissioners, Australia Calls You, nd; stapled pictorial wraps (some folds and pulling loose), illustrated; with Jennings, Nicoll and Spate, Karts Stream Self-Capture at London Bridge Burra Creek NSW, offprint, 1976; stapled pages (folded); with Government Tourist Bureau, The Wellington Caves, 1908; stapled pictorial wraps, illustrated; with The Abercrombie Caves, New South Wales, 1908; stapled pictorial wraps, illustrated; with two pieces of ephemera related to Jenolan Caves. 809 grams total, 20 x 12.5 - 25 x 18.5 cm

Good to fine condition. Some rare.

The property of Mr and Mrs PR of East Sussex. Thence by descent to family members.

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: Hovey, Horace Carter, Hovey's Handbook of the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky - A Practical Guide to the Regulation Routes, Morton, Kentucky, 1909; pictorial wraps; 64 pp., illustrated WITH Randolph, Helen F., Mammoth Cave and the Cave Region of Kentucky, pictorial wraps; 153 pp. + 6 pp. [index and advertisements], illustrated and folding map; both with detailed collector record cards. 276 grams total, 19 x 13.7 cm each

First fine condition; second with browned pages. Both scarce.

Acquired Tony Oldham, Wales. The property of Mr and Mrs PR of East Sussex. Thence by descent to family members. Accompanied by two 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.

Group comprising: Bevilaqua, Harry G., Views of the Narracoorte Caves, privately published, nd; card wraps, stapled; series of photographic views; WITH Davidge, C. W., Narracoorte Caves and Town, Osboldstone, Melbourne, privately published, nd; card wraps, stapled; series of photographic views; WITH Gurry, L. J. Views of the Naracoorte Caves and Township, Gurry, Naracoorte, nd; card wraps, laced; series of photographic views. 266 grams total, 25 x 15.3 - 25.6 x 20.3 cm

Generally fine condition. All scarce.

The property of Mr and Mrs PR of East Sussex. Thence by descent to family members.

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.