Natural History Books - Baring-Gould - Cliff Castles and Cave Dwellings of Europe

Farey, John snr., General View of the Agriculture and Minerals of Derbyshire, London, 1815-1817, 3 volumes; original publisher's boards with papered spines and printed labels (spine absent to vol.I), pages untrimmed with volume 3 mostly uncut at top edge (priced at 1 guinea, 15 shillings and 18 shillings respectively 'in boards'); vol.I (1815): xlvii pp. + 532 pp. + 4 pp. [advertisements], coloured folding map at pp.96-97; volume II (1815): xx pp. + 28 pp. [place names & contents] + 522 pp. + 22 pp. [advertisements], folding plate at pp.10-11; volume III (1817): xxvii pp. + 725 pp. + 2 pp [advertisements + 2 plates], folding map frontis; with three detailed collector record cards and small ink 'E SIMPSON' stamp to titles. 2.6 kg total, 23.2 x 14.5 cm each

Overall good condition; several boards detached and text blocks to volumes I and II broken and fragile at spines; needs rebinding. Rare set.

Ex libris Dr Eli Simpson. Acquired Miss C M Rawdin, 1983. The property of Mr and Mrs PR of East Sussex. Thence by descent to family members. Accompanied by three 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: 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.

Buckland, Rev. William, Reliquae Diluvianae or Observations on the Organic Remains Contained in Caves, Fissures and Diluvial Gravel and on Other Geological Phenomena, John Murray, London, 1824, 2nd edition; later half calf with marbled boards by Roberts of Chester, page edges uncut; pp.vii + pp.303 with 27 fine plates (some folding, some coloured) and index (lacking pp.299-302 of index); with collector record card providing full details; with inked inscription to fep for D Hay Fleming (dated 20 January 1921) and bookplate of Hay Fleming Reference Library, St Andrews (dated 1932) with later inked 'Withdrawn' stamp over. 1.53 kg, 29 x 23.5 cm

Generally fine condition; light foxing in places. Rare and a classic work.

Ex libris D Hay Fleming (1921) and Hay Fleming Reference Library (withdrawn). Acquired Tony Oldham, Wales, January 2006. 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.