Natural History Books - Balch - Wookey Hole Its Caves and Cave Dwellers

Mitchell, Albert, Yorkshire Caves and Potholes 1 - North Ribblesdale, Skipton, 1948; xv pp. + 81 pp. + 18 pp. [advertisements], illustrated; WITH Yorkshire Caves and Potholes 2 - Under Ingleborough, Skipton, 1948; xi pp. + 140 pp., illustrated; both in lettered card covers with dustwrappers; with detailed collector record cards. 350 grams total, 18.2 x 12.5 cm each

Fine condition. Scarce.

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.

MacLean, J. P., An Historical Archaeological and Geological Examination of Fingal's Cave in the Island of Staffa, Clarke, USA, 1890, subscriber's edition; original pictorial cloth; 49 pp., illustrated; with detailed collector record card and Haverhill Public Library bookplate to front inside cover with embossed library stamp to title and associated adhesions to bep and back inside cover. 310 grams, 22.5 x 16.5 cm

Good condition; slightly loose; spine sunned. Rare.

Ex libris Haverhill Public Library (1891). Acquired Tony Oldham, Wales, 1984. 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: Hamer, John L., The Falls and Caves of Ingleton, 1946 (2 copies); stapled pictorial wraps, illustrated, folding map; with White Scare Cave a Pictorial Guide, 1962; stapled pictorial wraps, illustrated; with White Scar Cave Ingleton under Ingleborough Yorkshire, nd (2 copies); stapled lettered card, illustrated; with Newly Discovered White Scar Caverns Ingleton, nd (2 copies); stapled lettered wraps, illustrated; with White Scar Caves, 1030s (3 copies, 2 issues); stapled lettered wraps, illustrated; with Sweeting, M. M., Erosion Cycles and Limestone Caverns in the Ingleborough District, extracted from Geological Journal, Vol.115; disbound, illustrated; some with detailed collector record cards. 567 grams total, 18.5 x 12.5 - 25 x 15.5 cm

Good to fine condition. Some scarce.

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.