Natural History Books - Browne - Ice-Caves of France and Switzerland

Balch, H. E., The Caves of Mendip, Somerset Folk Series 26, Folk Press, London, 1926; pictorial wraps; 82 pp., illustrated (some folding); with detailed collector card. 173 grams, 18 x 12.5 cm

Fine condition; spine lightly sunned.

Acquired T R Shaw, 1967. 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.

Balch, Herbert E(rnest), Wookey Hole Its Caves and Cave Dwellers, OUP, 1914; original quarter cloth with pictorial boards and dustwrapper; xiv pp. + 268 pp., illustrated; with detailed collector record card. 2.19 kg, 32.5 x 26.5 cm

Fine condition; dw sunned and torn.

Acquired Tony Oldham, Wales, October 1983. 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 works by E A Martell: The Grottoes of the Drach near Manacor (Majorca), from French Alpine Club Yearbook, Vol.XXIII, 1896, nd (believed 1920); stapled brochure, illustrated with folding map; WITH La Spelelogie ou Science des Cavernes, Musee Pedagogique, 1898; sewn booklet; WITH Les Leves Topographiques Sommaires dans les Explorations de Cavernes, offprint from Bulletin de la Societe de Topographie de France, April-June 1892, pp.50-55; paper wraps, illustrated; WITH Padirac Historique et Description Sommaire, 1925; spatpled pictorial wraps, illustrated; WITH Gouffre de Padirac, nd; folded pamphlet, illustrated; WITH Sur la Grotte D'Altamira et L'Age de ses Peintures, offprint from Bulletin de la Societe Prehistorique de France, February 1906; loose pages with later brown paper front; WITH British Caves and Speleology, offprint from The Geographical Journal, November 1897; sewn with card wraps, illustrated; WITH Les Abimes ou Puits Naturels, offprint from Association International Hydrologie Scientific, No.19, 1932; loose pages mounted on paper backing sheets; WITH Deuxieme Rapport sur les Eaux Souterraines, offprint, 1930; stapled wraps with presentation inscription from author to E Simpson to front; WITH Martell, E. A. and Gaupillat, G., Sur la Formation des Sources dans l'Interieur des Plateaux Calcaires des Causses, offprint from Seances de l'Academie des Sciences, 25 November 1889; most with detailed collector record cards, some with ink 'E SIMPSON' stamps. 372 grams total, 17 x 12 - 28 x 23.2 cm



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.