Natural History Books - Stirling - Caves Perforating Marble Deposits

Group comprising: Cumming, C. F. Gordon, At Home in Fiji, Armstrong, New York, 1886; original pictorial cloth; xii pp. + 365 pp. + 7 pp. [advertisements], illustrated, folding map; WITH Neill, J. S. Ten Years in Tonga, Hutchinson, 1955; original cloth; 220 pp., illustrated. 1 kg total, 20.5 x 14.3 - 22 x 14.5 cm

Good to fine condition; first with some binding wear.

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

Department of Mines, Records of the Geological Survey of New South Wales, Sydney, 1909; original printed papered boards (spine broken); 54 pp., illustrated (some folding); with detailed collector record card and printed 'Franklin Institute Library, Philadelphia' label to inside front cover and same perforated to title. 476 grams, 24 x 18 cm

Fair condition; needs rebinding. Rare.

Ex libris Franklin Institute Library, Philadelphia, USA (1911). 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.

Casteret, Norbert, E-A Martell Explorateur du Monde Souterrain, Gallimard, 1943, 1st edition; pictorial paperback with later glassine sleeve; 234 pp., illustrated; with detailed collector record card and pencilled 'a Monsieur Henri Lelaige / ces jages consacres au createur / et a l'ajatre de la Speleologie / Avec mon [....] cordial sauvering / Norbert Casternet' or similar presentation inscription to fep. 275 grams, 21 x 14.5 cm

Fair condition; front cover detached, spine torn, paper browned and fragile; typical for the era. Rare.

Acquired 2007. 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.