Natural History Books - Brady - The King's Caravan

Hurley, Frank, The Blue Mountains and Jenolan Caves, Sydney/London, 1952; original quarter cloth with papered boards; 116 pp,, illustrated with colour frontis; with detailed collector record card. 541 grams, 26.2 x 20.5 cm

Near fine condition except for some adhesions to lower page edges, not affecting text or images.

Acquired Netherlands bookshop, 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.

Vaughan, H. M., An Australian Wander-Year, Secker, London, 1914; original lettered cloth; 316 pp., maps to eps, illustrated; with detailed collector record card 779 grams, 23 x 15.5 cm

Near fine condition.

Acquired Rainy Day Books, Australia, September 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.

Bertarelli, L. V. and Boegan, E., Duemila Grotte Quarant' Anni di Esplorazioni Nella Venezia Guila, Milan, 1926; original pictorial cloth; 494 pp., Italian text, illustrated and with maps/charts; with detailed collector record card and pencilled 'P V Rose' inside front cover 1.4 kg, 24.7 x 17 cm

Good condition; spine damaged and front hinge failed; minor foxing to eps. A classic caving work.

By gift, 1958. 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.