Natural History Books - Casteret / Gattet - Paysages Souterrains

Rōmer, Dr Ferd, The Bone Caves of Ojcow in Poland, Longmans, London, 1884; 41 pp. + 12 pl., illustrated; with detailed collector record card with printed 'J B HIMSWORTH bookplate and ink manuscript 'To Cimmie / from Hilary(?) / Aug1950' inscription to front inside cover (Cimmie is E Simpson). 754 grams, 31 x 24 cm

Fine condition; spine lightly rubbed. Very rare.

Ex libris J B Himsworth and Dr Eli Simpson ('Cimmie', August 1950). Acquired Miss C M Rawdin, 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: Smeaton, Oliphant, The Treasure Cave of the Blue Mountains, nd; pictorial cloth; WITH Souvenir of New South Wales Blue Mountain Scenery, Series No.2, nd; pictorial wraps, illustrated; WITH Souvenir of Our Visit to the Blue Mountains, nd; lettered wraps, illustrated; WITH Bechervaise, John, Blue Mountains Sketchbook, Rigby, 1971; cloth with dustwrapper, illustrated; WITH Booker, Jo, A Pictorial History of the Blue Mountains, nd, pictorial wraps, illustrated; WITH Watkins, Paul, A Portrait of the City of Blue Mountains, RBA, 1988, cloth with dustwrapper, illustrated. 1.76 kg total, 19 x 12.2 - 32 x 23.7 cm

Generally good to fine condition.

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.

A mixed group of reports and pamphlets on Victoria cave, Settle including a 1908 typescript exploration report by G.H. Brown; five subsequent reports and 1925 printed guide pamphlet on its history and exploration. 225 grams total,18.5 x 12.5 - 27 x 21 cm



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.