Natural History Books - Various - Australia, Jenolan Caves Guides

Casteret, Norbert, The Darkness Under the Earth, Dent, London, 1954; original cloth; 14 pp. + 168 pp., illustrated; with detailed collector record card, small 'ANGUS & ROBERTSON' Sydney bookseller label to inside front cover and inked 'P V Rose / 1955' to fep. 459 grams, 22 x 14.5 cm

Fine condition.

Acquired new by gift from family friend George Baker via Angus & Robertson, Sydney, Australia, 1955. 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.

Speight, H. (Johnnie Gray), The Craven and North-West Yorkshire Highlands, Stock, London, 1892; original pictorial cloth; 470 pp. +1 p. [advertisement], illustrated, some folding; with detailed collector record card and inked 'W Scott / Beansley' to fep and 'J H Robb / Beansley 1897 / WS' to title. 1 kg, 23.2 x 15.2 cm

Good condition; minor wear to binding, hinges slightly weak.

Ex libris W Scott and J H Robb (by gift 1897). Acquired Martin's Books, Wales. 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.

Packard, A. S. and Putnam, F. W., The Mammoth Cave and its Inhabitants, Salem, USA, 1872; original pictorial cloth; 62 pp., illustrated; with detailed collector record card and inked manuscript 'Mr A Boucart / with the kind regards/ of A S Packard' presentation inscription to title and old mark to inside front cover where small label removed. 287 grams, 23.5 x 15 cm

Fine condition. Rare.

Ex libris A Boucart and 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 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.