A rare George III mahogany multiple-tube barometer Peter Rabalio, London, circa 1790. The glazed break-arch case with hinged moulded door enclosing boxwood scale signed RABALIO FECIT with parquetry star to arch above tube consisting of two mercury columns each with bulb at the top and to each cistern linked by a similar column filled with coloured oil, above the second cistern is an open-ended narrow bore extension tube against a scale calibrated 0-16.5 inches, to the left is a Fahrenheit scale mercury thermometer, 59cm high, B.C. Ref. 108. Illustrated in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETERS Stick or Cistern Tube page 212. Peter Rabalio is recorded by Banfield as working probably in London 1787-91. The concept behind this barometer is to make the instrument more portable by reducing its size. In 1688 a Frenchman, Guillaume Amontons, published a design for a multiple tube barometer where the mercury column had been split into two, placed side by side and linked by a column of a lighter fluid, thus allowing the instrument to be half the size of a conventional mercury stick barometer. Amontons version used the junction of two separate coloured oils (one lighter than the other) moving against a scale behind the linking column to indicate barometric pressure. The current instrument utilises a second column of oil above the second bulb cistern to give a reading. This scale, as with full-height double tube barometers, reads in reverse and amplifies the barometric range by approximately five times.
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A rare and potentially important mahogany cased balloonists barometer Henry Negretti, London, circa 1845. The shallow arch top glazed front case with cavetto moulded edge to front door enclosing a Guy-Lussac type of wide bore syphon tube with a Bunten air trap mounted against an adjustable ivory scale calibrated from 5 to 31 inches, with manual vernier and signed H. NEGRETTI, 19 Leather Lane, HOLBORN to upper edge, 97cm high overall, B.C. Ref. 100. Illustrated in Banfield, Edwin BAROMETERS Stick or Cistern Tube page 201 and described on page 203. Henry or Enrico Negretti is recorded by Banfield as working from his 19 Leather Lane, Holborn address in London 1845-9 after which he formed a partnership with Joseph Warren Zambra establishing the prolific firm of Negretti & Zambra which operated throughout the second half of the 19th and into the 20th century. This barometer has a scale calibrated from 5 to 31 inches which could record altitudes up to 40,000 feet. The scale is adjustable via an ivory knob half way up the scale in order to zero it against the mercury level in the cistern via a brass pointer before a reading can be taken. The vernier only covers the normal 27-31 inch range of barometric pressure. Banfield suggests that this barometer, due to its ability to measure very high altitudes, was probably used for early balloon experiments and comments that Negretti was an acquaintance of James Glaisher the well known balloon pioneer. Glaisher was known to have run an experiment to compare two of Negretti & Zambras aneroid barometers with a syphon tube mercury barometer at pressures down to 7 inches and Banfield conjects that the current example could well have been used for these experiments.
A George IV mahogany barrel front secretaire bookcase, with ebonised stringing and marquetry inlay and satinwood panels, the pair of astragal glazed doors with applied fleur de lys motifs (many missing) enclosing adjustable shelves to a satinwood crossbanded top above a deep drawer fitted later wood knob handles hinging to a birds eye maple veneered interior of central cupboard door, pigeon holes and drawers, the fall with a hinged baize lined slope to a well, above a pair of panel doors enclosing three slides, all fitted later escutcheons, on turned bun feet, 92in (233.5cm) h, 51in (129.5cm) w, 24in (61cm) d.
A Dutch satinwood veneered bombe bureau, with inlaid stringing, the fall with a walnut moulded edge to a shaped front fitted interior with central cupboard door, drawers, pigeon holes and a well, above a pair of lopers and two short and two long drawers fitted cast and pierced brass plate swing handles on ogee bracket feet, 18th century with later veneer, 40in (101.5cm) h, 43in (109cm) w, 24in (61cm) d.
A Regency mahogany secretaire bookcase, the moulded cornice above a pair of astragal glazed doors enclosing adjustable shelves, the base with a line inlaid frieze to a conforming fall with fitted interior having a marquetry door and strung drawers, fitted cast and pierced gilt brass handles, on bracket feet, top and base associated, 90.25in (229cm) h, 41.75in (106cm) w, 22.75in (57.5cm) d.
A walnut bureau bookcase, in Queen Anne style, the astragal glazed doors enclosing painted interior with adjustable shelves, above a feather banded fall with central cupboard door, pigeon holes and shaped drawers above lopers and two long drawers to a girdle moulding and three further drawers, fitted brass plate handles on bracket feet, 20th century, 84.25in (214.6cm) h, 34in (86.4cm) w, 18.25in (46.4cm) d.
A 19th century breakfront side cabinet by Lamb of Manchester, veneered in burr walnut, rosewood, kingwood and sycamore with inlaid stringing and gilt brass mounts, with a pair of panelled doors inset Sevres style oval porcelain panels, painted ladies in period costume, enclosing two shelves, flanked by mirror backed open shelves, on a plinth base, the right door stamped 'Lamb, Manchester', 39.75in (101cm) h, 53in (160cm) w, 14.75in (37.5cm) d. The back of the top cut and the sides also cut for skirting board.
A late 19th century Irish mahogany ladies writing cabinet, inlaid stringing, parquetry and marquetry, the pierced swan neck pediment above a pair of palmwood astragal glazed doors with shaped ivory escutcheons, enclosing adjustable shelves with plush linings, the leather inset top, worn, above a central frieze drawer and a deep drawer both cedar lined and a cupboard door revealing three pigeon holes, on square tapering collared legs, ink stamped numerous times and with paper label for 'M Butler, 26 & 127, Upper Abbey St., Dublin', 66.25in (168cm) h, 30in (76cm) w, 18.75in (47.5cm) d.
A George III mahogany kneehole dressing table, the canted top with a moulded edge above a baize lined slide and a frieze drawer with an arcaded drawer with recess cupboard door behind enclosing a shelf flanked by three further drawers to each side, the blind fret canted angles on ogee bracket feet, 32.5in (82.5cm) h, 41.25in (105cm) w, 21in (53.5cm) d.
A late George III longcase clock, the 8 day movement striking on bell to a painted 13in arch dial, with pierced day aperture and inscribed 'W. Taylor, Whitehaven', to floral decoration and a moon phase, the hood painted gilt floral panels above columns to a shaped top crossbanded trunk door with quarter pilasters, the panelled base with canted angles on bracket feet, 93.5in (237cm) high.
A George III mahogany eight-day longcase clock, makers Wm Wright, Dunbar, the arched enamel 13-inch dial with Roman numerals and floral spandrels and crest, subsidiary seconds and date dials, the hood with swan neck pediment (damaged) and fluted columns above the trunk with rectangular flame veneered door and quarter columns on plinth base, 208cm high x 44cm wide
![* Diana (Princess of Wales). Autograph letter signed 'Diana', Kensington Palace, 25th December 1991, to Simon [Barnes], 'Goo](http://lot-images.atgmedia.com/SR/10729/2717855/424-69-10729_468x382.jpg)
* Diana (Princess of Wales). Autograph letter signed 'Diana', Kensington Palace, 25th December 1991, to Simon [Barnes], 'Goodness knows what I am going to be like having swallowed your potions! You'll be entirely to blame, so if Patrick knocks on your door ... you have been warned! I was very touched to be thought of at Christmas time, Simon, & in such an original way - thank you. I do hope that '92 will be a happy time for you ... onward we go! My love & heartfelt thanks for your kindness & friendship', 2 pp. on headed paper printed in red with red ruled border, 8vo, excellent condition in orig. envelope inscribed by Princess Diana with her initial lower left, no stamp or postmark (1)
Clarke (Samuel). A Generall Martyrologie: Containing a Collection of all the Greatest Persecutions which have Befallen the Church of Christ from the Creation to our Present Times, both in England and Other Nations..., 2nd ed., corrected and enlarged..., printed by Tho. Ratcliffe, for Thomas Underhill and John Rothwell in Saint Pauls Church-yard near the little north-door, 1660, eight (of 12?) eng. plts., one with loss to lower outer corner, lacking pp.[i-xiv], 27-30, 35-38, 75-78, 213-32, 315-18, 395-96, 441-46, and final leaf of Table at rear, browned and stained throughout, some edge-fraying and repairs, hinges strengthened, 19th c. half calf over contemp. sheep, rubbed and worn, with corners showing, sometime crudely rebacked, joints cracked and loss to spine ends, 4to. Wing C4514. Sold with all faults, not subject to return. (1)
Sitwell (Edith). The Canticle of the Rose, Selected Poems 1920-1947, 1st ed., 1949, inscribed on the front free endpaper 'For Ivor Newton Esq. signed with good wishes from Edith Sitwell', endpapers browned, orig. cloth, spine lightly faded, and cloth lifting to upper return, in price-clipped d.j., rubbed and some sl. fraying to edges, spine darkened and a little stained at foot, 8vo, together with Sitwell (Osbert), Open the Door! A Volume of Stories, 1st ed., 1941, inscribed on the front free endpaper 'For Val Gielgud from Osbert Sitwell. November, 1941', orig. cloth, spine faded, 8vo, plus Masefield (John), Right Royal, 1920, t.e.g., remainder untrimmed, free endpapers browned, orig. qtr. japanese vellum gilt, 8vo, (limited edition 389/500 copies, signed by the author), plus six others, incl. three signed limited books by John Masefield, plus 21 vols. William Faulkner's Collected Edition, Chatto & Windus, 1960s, orig. cloth in d.j.s (30)
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