Natural History Books - Victoria Cave - Reports and Pamphlets

Various contributors, The Railway Guide of New South Wales, Potter, Sydney, 1886, 3rd edition; original blind stamped and lettered faux leather; 148 pp. + advertisements, illustrated, folding map; with two detailed collector record cards and ink manuscript 'NSW Railway Guide 1886' to title. 545 grams, 24.7 x 19 cm

Very good condition; minor binding wear and browning to pages. Scarce.

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.

[Anonymous], The Gritstone Clube, Volume 4, No. II, Gaskarth, Bradford, nd (believed 1934); original pictorial wraps; 35 pp. text, 11 mounted photographs and folding plan of Diccan Pot, Alum Pot and Long Churn (surveyed E Simpson, 1933); with detailed collector record card and ink 'E SIMPSON' stamp to front cover. 213 grams, 25.5 x 15.5 cm

Fine condition. Rare.

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 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.

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.