Natural History Books - Mitchell - Three Expeditions Into the Interior of Eastern Australia

Farey, John snr., General View of the Agriculture and Minerals of Derbyshire, London, 1815-1817, 3 volumes; original publisher's boards with papered spines and printed labels (spine absent to vol.I), pages untrimmed with volume 3 mostly uncut at top edge (priced at 1 guinea, 15 shillings and 18 shillings respectively 'in boards'); vol.I (1815): xlvii pp. + 532 pp. + 4 pp. [advertisements], coloured folding map at pp.96-97; volume II (1815): xx pp. + 28 pp. [place names & contents] + 522 pp. + 22 pp. [advertisements], folding plate at pp.10-11; volume III (1817): xxvii pp. + 725 pp. + 2 pp [advertisements + 2 plates], folding map frontis; with three detailed collector record cards and small ink 'E SIMPSON' stamp to titles. 2.6 kg total, 23.2 x 14.5 cm each

Overall good condition; several boards detached and text blocks to volumes I and II broken and fragile at spines; needs rebinding. Rare set.

Ex libris Dr Eli Simpson. Acquired Miss C M Rawdin, 1983. The property of Mr and Mrs PR of East Sussex. Thence by descent to family members. Accompanied by three 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.

Taylor, Dr J. E., Our Island Continent a Naturalist's Holiday in Australia, SPCK, 1886; original pictorial cloth; 256 pp. + 4 pp. [advertisements], folding coloured map; with detailed collector record car and printed 'St Edmund's School Sarum' prize label for May 1898 to fep. 325 grams, 17.2 x 12 cm

Good condition; map torn at folds and with piece detached. Scarce.

Ex libris Alfred Barwell (St Edmund's School, Sarum prize, May 1898). Acquired Krokodile Books, Australia, February 2010. 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: Anelli, Franco, Richerche Paletnologiche nella Grotta Betal presso Postumia, 1933 (2 copies); WITH Il Pozzo ossifero delle Cave di Ca Negra presso Punta Slavore nel Vallone di Sicciole, 1933 (2 copies); WITH Conetti di Deiezione di Oligocheti nella Grotta nera di Portumia, 1936; WITH Sfiatoi do Grotta nella Regione Carsica di Postumia, 1936; WITH Boegan, Eugenio, Sullo sviluppo delle richerche speleologiche nella Venezia Giula, 1930; WITH Sulle Explorazioni Speleologiche in Italia, 1933 (2 copies); WITH Catasto delle Grotte Italiane, 1930; WITH Spezzotti, L., Ralazione, 1945 (3 copies); some with detailed collector record cards and ink 'E SIMPSON' stamps to covers or titles. 717 grams total, 17 x 24.2 cm each

Generally fine condition. Most scarce.

The property of Mr and Mrs PR of East Sussex. Thence by descent to family members. Most 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.