Natural History Books - Farrer - Further Explorations in the Dowkerbottom Caves

David, T. W. Edgeworth, Anniversary Address Read Before the Royal Society of NSW May 20 1896, RSNSW, Sydney, 1896; stapled; 69 pp., folding map and 2 sections; with detailed collector record card and ink 'ICGT GEOLOGY DEPT' and 'JUDD LIBRARY' stamps to front page. 148 grams, 22.5 x 14.3 cm

Good condition; lacking wraps and outer pages browned.

Ex ICGT Geology Department and Judd Libraries. Acquired Internet Bookshop, Gloucestershire, 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.

Hughes, Prof. T. McKenny and Thomas, Rev D. R., Exploration of Cave Ha near Giggleswick Settle Yorkshire, and On the Occurrence of Felstone Implements of the Moustier Type in Pontwnewydd Cave, Anthropological Institute, London, 1874; later red cloth with original wraps bound in; 10 pp., illustrated, with blank pages at back; with detailed collector record card and ink 'E SIMPSON' stamp to front wrap. 178 grams, 22 x 14.2 cm

Fine condition. Rare.

Offprint from Journal of the Anthropological Institute. Ex libris Dr Eli Simpson. Acquired Miss C M Rawdin. 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.

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.