Natural History

A Specimen of Quartz Bolivia 6¼ by 5 inches (15.8 x 12.7 cm). Custom lucite base 9½ by 9 by 7 inches (24.1 x 22.8 x 17.8 cm).

a specimen of quartz

Natural History; Including Fossils, Minerals, & Meteorites

A CRYSTALLINE GOLD SPECIMEN FROM THE WORLD'S PREMIER GOLD MINE Round Mountain Mine, Nye County, Nevada U.S.A. Overall size: 2.6 x 1.3 x 0.87 inches (6.6 x 3.7 x 2.2 cm). Weight:171.5 grams (5.5 Troy ounces). A compact and solid mass of inter grown Spinel-Law twinned crystals mixed with cubic and cuboctahedral crystals.

a crystalline gold specimen

Natural History including Gus Rex

Marine Reptile Fossil (Ichthyosaur) — Juvenile Specimen

Marine Reptile Fossil (Ichthyosaur) — Juvenile Specimen Stenopterygius sp. Early Jurassic, Toarcian Stage (approx. 180 million years ago) Holzmaden, Germany Ichthyosaur fossil measures 33½ x 9¼ inches (85.1 x 23.5 cm), 39¼ x 17 inches (99.7 x 43.2 cm) in matrix. 50 pounds (22.7 kg). This mostly complete fossil skeleton belongs to an extinct marine reptile – Stenopterygius sp. It is preserved mostly in articulation in its original sedimentary rock. The skeleton is prepared with the right side exposed in very fine detail. Based on its overall size, disproportionately large skull, and bone development, this suggests that this specimen belonged to a juvenile. The skeleton shows loosely articulated bones due to the immaturity of the individual where articular surfaces have not fully formed or fused. The skull is preserved with bones articulated and teeth in their intact position. The eye bones (sclerotic) are also articulated within the orbit. The left lower jaw is positioned lower than the right. The bones of the front and back paddles, ribs and gastralia are visible.

View 1 of Lot 4: Marine Reptile Fossil (Ichthyosaur) — Juvenile Specimen

marine reptile fossil (ichthyosaur) — juvenile specimen

CRYSTALLINE GOLD SPECIMEN FROM THE WORLD'S PREMIER GOLD MINE Round Mountain Mine, Nye County, Nevada U.S.A. Overall measurements: 3.74 x 2.72 x 1.58 inches (9.5 x 6.8 x 4.0 cm). Weight: 434 grams (13.96 Troy ounces). An exceptionally large mass of intergrown crystals, dominated by large Spinel-Law twinned crystals up to 2.4 centimeters long. The geology of the Round Mountain Mine yields very few matrix specimens. The present specimen has the added value of a small tab of rhyolitic tuff volcanic matrix on the reverse.

crystalline gold specimen

TWO LABRADORITE SPECIMENS Madagascar Two elegantly rising specimens, polished on all sides, showing iridescence of turquoise and blues. Presented on minimalist bases. Labradorite was claimed to have been "discovered" by Moravian missionaries in 1770 in the Labrador region of Canada; in reality the feldspar mineral had long been known and is mentioned frequently in the legends of the Inuit people, who referred to it as a "fire stone," and were known to grind it into powder to treat a variety of ailments. According to Inuit lore, Labradorite fell from the frozen fire of the Aurora Borealis, and indeed this mysterious mineral is just as visually fascinating as the northern lights. Labradorite can appear opaque and colorless, however when the angle of view is changed, pearly and iridescent green, blue, turquoise, silver, and gold colors leap out, produced by the interference of light in the mineral structure.

two labradorite specimens

A CRYSTALLINE GOLD SPECIMEN FROM THE WORLD'S PREMIER GOLD MINE Round Mountain Mine, Nye County, Nevada U.S.A. The present specimen exhibits a pleasing combination of undulatory gold leaves accented by cuboctahedral crystals as large as 3 mm. Overall measurements: 3.3 x 2.4 x 1.4 inches (8.3 x 6 x 3.5cm). Weight: 171.53 grams (5.51 Troy ounces) Starting in the mid 1990’s, Round Mountain was not only the most prolific producer of crystalline gold specimens, it also lays claim to some of the finest quality golds ever placed on the collector’s display shelf. Specimens from the mine are known for fine luster as well as exceptional and varied crystal habits. An impressive number of fine small pieces, and a limited number of larger specimens reached the market during a nearly 20 year span. Unfortunately, the mining company changed philosophy and mining methods, and the last specimen to be saved was almost 4 years ago. It is sad to think there will be no more great golds from the mine, but cessation insures collectible value and future growth.

A BLUE AMBER SPECIMEN Hymenaea protera Oligocene Indonesia 18 cm, presented in a custom, mahogany black-light box. . One side has been polished while the other side has been left in its original rough condition. A RARE SPECIMEN OF INDONESIAN BLUE AMBER. In artifical light, blue amber often displays the characteristic honey-gold hue found in most fossilized tree resins, however when exposed to either direct sunlight or lit with long-wave Ultra Violet (UV) light, the amber fluoresces with a brilliant blue color. Blue amber is only found in three locations in the world, with the largest deposit being in the Dominican Republic, followed by smaller deposits in Mexico and Indonesia. Produced by the relatively short-lived Hymenaea protera tree, it is thought that the blue color is caused by the presence of anthracene, the result of incomplete combustion in massive forest fires of the now-extinct tree.

a blue amber specimen

CHINGA METEORITE — COMPLETE SPECIMEN Iron Nickel, ataxite Discovered in 1913 by gold prospectors Eastern Siberia, Russia, near the border with Tibet Measuring 4 ½ x 4 x 1 ½ inches (11.43 x 10.16 x 3.81 cm) and weighing 3 ibs. (1,350 grams). From a fall with limited specimens, this complete Chinga exhibits the small thumbprint-like depressions, known as regmaglypts, which were caused by burning and melting during the meteorite's descent through the atmosphere. Believed to have collided with the Earth approximately 15,000 years ago, meteorites from this fall were carved by the Tibetans into religious ornaments and deities, eliciting an infamous chapter in the Indiana Jones movies about one such statue. Chingas are a rare type of iron meteorite known as an ataxite. Ataxites have a very high nickel content (this meteorite contains 16% nickel), which explains its lustrous appearance. When cut and sliced, ataxites lack any visible crystal pattern but they do polish into a beautiful mirror like finish.

chinga meteorite — complete specimen

A STROMATOLITE SPECIMEN Morocco A gorgeous natural concretion of a deep red-orange, measuring 60 cm tall on a custom stand. Stromatolites are the oldest fossils on Earth, and bear witness to the emergence and evolution of biological life on our planet. Formed from cyanobacteria, their name derives from the Greek "stroma", meaning cushion or layer, due to the fact that they are formed by strata of unicellular organisms living in colonies. Most frequently, stromatolites are carbonate, but siliceous stromatolites can also be found. The fossil record of stromatolites is surprisingly large, spanning nearly four billion years of geological history, with living organisms that have lived in every imaginable environment to have existed on Earth.

a stromatolite specimen

CLASSIC GOLD IN QUARTZ SPECIMEN CALIFORNIA MOTHER LODE Specimen Gulch, Bullion/Whitlock District, Mariposa County, California, U.S.A. Overall measurements: 3.14 x 2.36 x 1.97 inches (8.0 x 6.0 x 5.0 cm). When one envisions natural gold specimens, it’s gold from the California Mother Lode that come to mind. Here is a large crown of bright yellow gold growing out of classic white quartz from the Southern portion of the famous Mother Lode. This is why the West was settled, and the only reason this specimen was discovered recently is because of fire. A forest fire burned off the thick brush allowing intrepid access with a metal detector.

classic gold in quartz specimen

Chatsworth: The Attic Sale

including an assortment of corals, three smooth chestnuts, a carved French Colonial carved coconut shell, an Emu egg, Indian glass bangles, a small pietra dure panel of Vesuvius, a carved hardstone turtle, two South American clay Inca whistles, boars teeth, barnacles, dried crabs, fossils, the carapace of a small tortoise, two unusal cast iron desk weights, an ebonised frame set with convex glass medallions reverse painted with insects and animals, silk and velvet applique worked purses, a child's painted model of a Russian sleigh and small carved wood diaorama of a Quebecoise tavern scene etc. etc. (Qty)

a cabinet of curiositiesthe collection comprising natural history specimens, ethnographic items and handicrafts

A SPECIMEN OF GARNIERITE Madagascar 47 cm tall, on a custom stand. This exotic stone was discovered by the French geologist Jules Garnier in New Caledonia in 1864. The term Garnierite is a generic name, rather than an official mineral name (as no definite composition or formula has been adopted), for a green nickel ore from the phyllosilicate group, with the color varying from light yellow-green to dark green.

a specimen of garnierite

Fine Books and Manuscripts, Including the Olympic Manifesto

Property from the Sporting and Travel Library of Arnold "Jake" Johnson

Property from the Sporting and Travel Library of Arnold "Jake" Johnson HALES, STEPHEN Vegetable Staticks: Or, An Account of some Statical Experiments on the sap in vegetables: Being an Essay towards a Natural History of Vegetation. Also, a specimen of An Attempt to Analyse the Air, By a great Variety of Chymio-Statical Experiments; Which were read at several Meetings before the Royal Society. London, W. & J. Innys and T. Woodward, 1727 8vo (7 5/8 x 4 7/8 in.; 195 x 125 mm). 19 engraved plates by Simon Gribelin; Gilmanton Theological Library label to dedication leaf, minor soiling and foxing. Contemporary brown calf; overall worn, upper cover perished. Half brown morocco over cloth covered board clamshell case. First edition. Joseph Seccombe's copy. The "first complete account of the physiology of plants, including the reaction with air and movement of the sap" (Horblit). Hales measured the amount of water lost by plants through evaporation and related this to the amount of water present in a given area of soil in which plants were growing. He was the first to realize that plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air, and that it forms a vital part of their food supply. REFERENCE: Dibner 26; Horblit 45a; Norman 970; PMM 189a; Waller 11526; Wellcome III:194 PROVENANCE: Joseph Seccombe (signature to title-page). Seccombe is best remembered as the author of the first American work on fishing.

hales, stephen | vegetable staticks: or, an account of some statical experiments on the sap in vegetables: being an essay towards a natural history of vegetation. also, a specimen of an attempt to analyse the air, by a great variety of chymio-statical experiments; which were read at several meetings before the royal society. london, w. & j. innys and t. woodward, 1727

Fine Books and Manuscripts Including Americana Online

8vo (7 5/8 x 4 7/8 in.; 195 x 125 mm). 19 engraved plates by Simon Gribelin; Gilmanton Theological Library label to dedication leaf, minor soiling and foxing. Contemporary brown calf; overall worn, upper cover perished. Half brown morocco over cloth covered board clamshell case.

'vegetable staticks: or, an account of some statical experiments on the sap in vegetables: being an essay towards a natural history of vegetation. also, a specimen of an attempt to analyse the air, by a great variety of chymio-statical experiments; which were read at several meetings before the royal society'. london, w. & j. innys and t. woodward, 1727

A SPECIMEN OF RED JASPER 37 cm tall, on a minimalist base. A magnificent specimen of red jasper, of sculptural form, resembling a work of contemporary sculpture. Jasper has long played a role in art, and in fact, the Christians of the Middle Ages made frequent use of red jasper to illustrate the blood in scenes of the crucifixion, leading to it being called the "stone of martyrs".

a specimen of red jasper

A SPECIMEN OF LAPIS-LAZULI Afghanistan 40.5 cm A gorgeous, sculptural piece, the freeform perfectly polished on all sides. The main deposit of Lapis Lazuli (from the Latin lapis for "stone", and the Arabic azul for "deep blue") is found in the Sar-e-Sang mine in the Kokcha River Valley of Afghanistan. The popularity of this semi-precious stone has persisted through the centuries; in the time of the ancient Sumerian dynasties (2900-2340 BCE), lapis lazuli was extremely popular, as it was believed to have the ability to ward off evil. More than 50 pounds of raw lapis lazuli were found in the Syrian palace of Ebla, and hundreds of objects fashioned from this fabled stone (such as jewelry, inlays, cylinder seals, and amulets) were found in the tombs of the royal cemetery of Ur. What is perhaps one of the most beautiful specimens is housed in the Musée du Louvre in Paris; a cup in the form of a boat, having belonged to both Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette.

a specimen of lapis-lazuli

A SPECIMEN OF SPHALERITE WITH GALENITE Pomorzany Mine Olkusz Malopolskie, Poland 26 cm tall, on custom stand. A beautiful, pilished slice of this unusual association of minerals, with rich caramey, honey, and ochre hues.

a specimen of sphalerite with galenite

FOUR SPECIMENS OF PAESINE, OR "RUIN-MARBLE"

FOUR SPECIMENS OF PAESINE, OR "RUIN-MARBLE" Tuscany, Italy Ranging in size from 6 x 16 cm to 9.5 x 32 cm. In late 19th-early 20th century frames. Paesine is a metamorphic limestone found in Italy. Thanks to the numerous natural cracks and mineral salts found in the stone, the stone appears to be painted with natural abstract landscapes, and the ruins of ancient cities. Paesine has always been considered an element par excellence in the greatest cabinets of curiosities.

four specimens of paesine, or "ruin-marble"

Travel, Atlases, Maps & Natural History

Title within botanical watercolour border, 35 botanical watercolours (from 234 x 210mm. to 387 x 283mm.), some explanatory inscriptions and dates in ink, one watermarked 1863, loose, browning and minor tears, occasional repairs to verso

"botanical sketches coppied from natural specimens chiefly from the new government gardens at sydney, during a residence there in 1863-65." [sydney, c.1863-1869]

Magnificent Books, Manuscripts and Drawings from the Collection of Frederick 2nd Lord Hesketh

Folio (sheet size 465 x 320mm.), including 79 original watercolour drawings by J.W. Lewin, John Abbott, Thomas Davies, Sydenham Edwards, and others, of plants, fish, butterflies and caterpillars, beetles and birds, later half calf over contemporary boards

an album of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century watercolour drawings of specimens collected around the globe, including north and south america, australia, and india

4 volumes, folio, various sizes (from 371 x 225 to 505 x 417mm.), 3 volumes containing 144 fine original botanical watercolours, most interleaved with descriptive manuscript text, one larger volume containing 31 engraved proof plates by William Skelton after Charlotte Strickland, 21 hand-coloured, with ink and pencil annotations by Charlotte Strickland, contemporary blue morocco gilt, the watercolour volumes labelled "British Botany MSS vol. 9 [10, 11]", rebacked retaining original spines

specimens of british plants. english, late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century

Travel and Atlases

First edition, 8vo (236 x 155mm.), text in Arabic throughout, names of animals, birds, fish and reptiles in Arabic, Latin and English, 2 folding maps, modern green morocco, upper cover lettered in gilt, original printed grey wrappers bound in, [cf. online bibliography: Jennings, M.C. A draft Bibliography of Arabian Ornithology, (June 2011)], short clean tear to one map

[arabic text:] report on a trip to study the fauna and collect specimens from the arabian peninsula, 12 december 1944 to 9 june 1945. cairo: ministry of agriculture, 1947

jones, edward, editor. lyric airs: consisting of specimens of greek, albanian, walachian...

shaw, george. museum leverianum containing select specimens from the museum of the...

gould, john. asiatic birds: fifty-four specimens selected from `the birds of...

gruner, ludwig and emil braun. specimens of ornamental art. london: thomas m'lean,...

Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History

Oblong folio (330 x 465mm.), 19 plates on 18 leaves, each in 4 states (hand-coloured aquatint, outline etching, tinted aquatint, monochrome aquatint), each accompanied by a letterpress sheet with colour samples applied by hand, contemporary red half morocco gilt, one plate with repaired tear, binding rubbed

aqua pictura. illustrated by a series of original specimens… second edition. london: printed for the proprietors, and sold by hassell & co., [watermarks 1818]

Travel, Atlases, Maps and Natural History Including the Library of Colin and Joan Deacon

FIRST EDITION, folio (573 x 455 mm), list of subscribers, dedication leaf to Nathaniel Wallich, hand-coloured lithographed title, 8 hand-coloured lithographed plates, large hand-coloured tailpiece vignette by P. Gauci after Roupell, occasional marginal soiling, original tan buckram by Rowbotham with his ticket, gilt title (“Cape Flowers by a Lady”) and floral wreath on upper cover, modern folding case, some spotting, one or two repairs, binding repaired

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