Natural History Books - Brown and Others - Various British Speleological Titles

Mitchell, Maj. T. L., Three Expeditions into the Interior of Eastern Australia with Descriptions of the Recently Explored Region of Australia Felix and of the Present Colony of New South Wales, Boone, London, 1839, 2 volumes; rebacked half calf with cloth boards with original spines laid; vol.1: xxi pp. + 354 pp. (of 355), illustrated, coloured frontis (lacking folding map and 1 plate); vol.2: ix pp. + 415 pp., illustrated (some folding); with detailed collector record card and 'CITY of PRAHAN FREE LIBRARY' embossed stamps to front covers and inked stamps to eps, title and throughout. 1.63 kg total, 21.5 x 14.5 cm each

Generally good condition; with faults. Rare.

Ex libris City of Prahan Free Library. Acquired Grant's Bookshop, Australia, July 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.

Group comprising: Trickett, O., Guide to Yarrangobilly Vaves, Geological Survey, NSW, nd, 2 copies: 1st(?) and 2nd editions; pictorial wraps; illustrated; WITH Brotherus, Dr V. F. and Watts, Rev W. Walter, The Mosses of Yarrangobilly Caves District NSW, Linnean Society NSW, vol.xxxvii, pt.2, 1912 (offprint with presentation inscription); lettered wraps (detached); WITH Kerry's Australian Postcards, Series 102, Yarrangobilly Caves NSW, printed Germany, nd; printed envelope with 12 monochrome pictorial postcards; WITH Jennings, J. N. and Anderson, N., Water Tracing at Yarrangobilly, Canberra Speleological Society, 23 May 1966; 2 page typescript; the offprint with detailed collector record card. 377 grams total, 16 x 12.5 - 25 x 18 cm

Generally good to 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.

Group comprising: Brown, Geo. H., Victoria Cave its History and Exploration, 1925; stapled pictorial wraps figure; WITH The Ebbing and Flowing Well Giggleswick, 3 copies, 2 editions; stapled pictorial or lettered wraps (weak), illustrated; WITH Richard Frankland the Founder of the Rathmell Academy, 1912; stapled lettered wraps; WITH Keith, Sir Arthur, History from the Caves a New Theory of the Origin of Modern Races of Mankind, Presidential Address, British Speleological Association, 25 July 1936; stapled lettered wraps; some with detailed collector record cards. 257 grams total, 18 x 11.5 - 22 x 14 cm

Generally 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.