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Picasso (Pablo).- Ovid. Les Metamorphoses, one of 95 copies on Arches laid, from an edition of 145 copies signed by the artist, signed by Picasso in pencil to half-title verso, 30 etchings by Picasso, of which 15 loose as plates and 15 within text, unsigned, initials in red throughout, a very few scattered and faint spots or a tiny amount of browning to very edges of a few ff., loose as issued, original printed wrappers and glassine jacket, edges uncut, within original chemise, scattered spots to verso, light abrasions to corners (likely due to tight slip-case), original slipcase, a few light abrasions and marks, [Cramer, Pablo Picasso The Illustrated Books: Catalogue Raisonné (1983), 19; Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Artist and the Book 1860-1960 (1961), 224], 4to, Lausanne, Albert Skira, 1931.*** The first of Picasso's major illustrated books. 

Mathematics.- Hardy (G.H.) A Course of Pure Mathematics, first edition, ownership names on pastedown, endpapers browned, light marginal toning, original cloth, rubbed along joints and to corners, 8vo, 1908. *** Rare in commerce.Designed to reform mathematics teaching in the UK, particularly at the University of Cambridge and in schools preparing students for higher mathematics. 

[Caradoc (of Llancarfan, Saint)] [The Historie of Cambria, now called Wales], first edition, largely printed in black letter, lacking engraved title, now provided in manuscript and tipped-in, illustrations (portraits and coats-of-arms), initials and decorations, lacking 2G4 (final blank), ink marginalia in an early hand (trimmed in parts), C2-6 with tiny hole to bottom edge, K1 with small loss to bottom edge, 2F2 with small loss to fore-edge, spotting and staining, booksellers descriptions pasted in, bookplate, later calf, rebacked, lower board detached, rubbed and worn, [STC 4606; Sabin 40914], 4to, [Rafe Newberie and Henrie Denham], [1584]. *** 'First and rarest of all editions' (Sabin). An important early history of Wales from Roman times down to 1282, which remained the standard work on the subject until the 20th century. Caradoc was 'one of the brilliant band of men of letters that gathered round Earl Robert of Gloucester, the bastard son of Henry I' (DNB). Sabin notes 'a special interest in this work for the American collector consists in its relation of the most ancient Voyage and Discovery of the West Indies, performed by Madoc, the sonne of Owen Guined, prince of North Wales, anno 1170'.

Fleece Press.- Buckland Wright (John) Baigneuses, one of 204 copies, from an edition limited to 240, 1995; Surreal Times: The Abstract Engravings and Wartime Letters..., one of 210 copies from an edition limited to 266, 2000; Endeavours & Experiments...Essays in Woodcut and Colour Engraving, one of 150 copies from an edition limited to 300, with JBW Double Crown Club menu for Simon Lawrence talk 'Books & Blocks' and a note from Lawrence loosely inserted, 2004, all with introduction by Christopher Buckland Wright, illustrations, many tipped in, a few colour, the first original vellum-backed marbled boards with original cloth drop-back box, the last two original cloth-backed JBW patterned-paper with slip-cases, uncut, Fleece Press, Denby Dale or Upper Denby, v.s. (3)*** Three of the press's six works devoted to John Buckland Wright produced between 1993 and 2014, with many of the engravings printed from the original blocks left in the artist's studio at his death. 

Pirates.- Exquemelin (Alexandre Olivier) The History of the Bucaniers of America, 3 parts in 1, third edition, 15 folding engraved portraits, plates and maps, woodcut profiles and full-page engraved maps within text, armorial Rolle bookplate, bookplate of Adrian Bullock to front free endpaper, contemporary ownership name Rob. Walter and small ink smudge to title, folding map at 2A1 lightly creased at foot with short tear and tape repair to verso (no image loss), some plates trimmed close at fore-edge, once touching border but no image loss, very small worming within text and plates from K3, generally one or two small wormholes but increasing to part 3, part 3 first c.15 leaves with worm traces to head repaired, foxing and browning to text, contemporary calf, spine gilt, some wear to extremities, joints cracked but holding firm, 8vo, for Tho. Newborough, 1704.

Consul Joseph Smith.- Bibliotheca Smithiana, seu Catalogus Librorum D. Josephi Smithii Angli per cognomina authorum dispositus, first collected edition, half-title, title printed in red and black and with large engraved arms, engraved armorial head-piece, wood-engraved tail-pieces, occasional spotting or faint foxing, mainly marginal, contemporary limp boards, remnants of black ?seal and small loss to both covers upper corner, some creasing and wear to joints and extremities, [De Ricci pp.54-55], 4to, Venice, Jo. Baptista Pasquali, 1755.*** Leonardo Trissino's copy of the first complete edition of the catalogue of Consul Smith's superb library, which following its sale to King George III (for £10,000) became the foundation for the King's Library in the British Museum, now housed in the British Library. It is likely that this catalogue was prepared with the sale in mind. It is extremely valuable for its extensive appendix, which reprints the prefaces of all of the incunabula in the collection. Smith (c.1682-1770) was British consul at Venice (1744-1760), a patron of arts (notably Canaletto), and a collector of art and books. While at Venice he financed the Pasquali press, and enjoyed commissioning lavish limited editions, including an almost perfect facsimile of the rare 1527 edition of the Decameron. Provenance: 'Leonardo Trissino 1830' (ink inscription to front free endpaper and ?his ink prices in margins). Trissino (1780-1841) was a Venetian bibliophile and friend of poet Giacomo Leopardi, whose Canzone ad Angelo Mai (1820) was dedicated to him. It appears that he has used this copy to record contemporary prices of books and possibly his own purchases.  

Stevenson (Robert Louis) Treasure Island, first edition, half-title, map frontispiece, 4pp. advertisements at end dated 5G-783, very light browning to half-title and margins, few chips or small portions of loss to margins, occasional light finger-soiling, original drab green cloth, neatly recased, spine with slight vertical pucker and ends little bumped, few small and light marks, light rubbing to spine ends and corners, very slight shelf-lean, preserved in cloth chemise and slip-case, [Beinecke 240; Prideaux 11], 8vo, Cassell & Company, Limited, 1883. *** With the following first issue points: "dead man's chest" not capitalised on pages 2 and 7; lacking "a" in line 6 page 63; numeral "7" missing in pagination on page 127; lacking full-stop after "opportunity" in line 20 page 178; "worse" for "worst" line 3 page 197. This copy also with broken "v" in "vain" on last line page 40. The book was published on 14th November 1883, the first printing consisting of 2000 copies. There is some disagreement over the priority of the different cloth colours and publisher's ads. According to Beinecke, the first 750 copies were bound up with the advertisements dated "5G-783" (July 1883), present here, but this copy in drab green rather than blue cloth. 

Voyages.- Slocum (Joshua) Sailing Alone Around the World, first edition, association copy with signed presentation inscription from the author "To 'Alan Erric', a friend who had a kindly encouraging word for the struggling skipper when the breakers seemed close aboard | Joshua Slocum | Boston March 31st 1900" on front free endpaper, illustrations, some light marginal toning, browning to pp.120-121 and slightly lighter to pp.264-265, otherwise mostly clean, original decorative cloth, spine faded, light surface marks, extremities lightly rubbed, else an excellent and bright example, 8vo, New York, 1900. *** Rare association copy of this classic of nautical literature. Sailing Alone Around the World is the superb narrative of the first single-handed circumnavigation of the globe and the "justly admired record of [Slocum's] seamanship, character, and navigational skill" (ANB).In 1892, he was given the Spray, a small weather-beaten 37-foot oyster sloop designed for coastal sailing. After rebuilding the sloop, Slocum left Boston in 1895 for his three-year solo voyage.In Chapter X, he shields from a storm and gets the Spray into a snug nook in Port Angosto, still 60 miles short of his next destination towards Cape Pillar and the Pacific. Laden with tallow and salvaged cargo, he just escapes from a brush with the native Feugians and gets out of his anchorage, though not before drifting around - namely the eponymous dedicatee of the inscription – Alan Erric Island.  The eponymous Alan Erric is not mentioned in detail, but alluded to only as an acquaintance: “I named it Alan Erric Island, after a worthy literary friend whom I had met in strange by−places” – p.132. A rare association inscription and link to this maritime literary cornerstone.

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) A History of the English-Speaking Peoples, 4 vol., first edition, maps, handsomely bound in modern burgundy half-morocco, gilt spines, [Woods A138 (a)], 8vo, 1956-58.

A[insworth] (H[enry]) The Communion of Saincts. A treatise of the fellowship that the faithful have with God, and his angels, first edition, title within woodcut typographic border, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, lacking blank *8, very small tear to upper inner corner of title (without loss), N4 torn at upper corner with loss of text, final 3 ff. closely trimmed at outer margin, just touching a little text, some water-staining and spotting, lightly browned, later (?19th century) sheep pastiche of a contemporary binding, spine in compartments and with morocco label, spine ends and corners worn, upper joint split (cover still intact), rubbed and scuffed, [STC 228], 8vo, Amsterdam, Giles Thorp, 1607.  *** Rare, with only five copies recorded by USTC. We can trace only one appearance at auction (1962, bought by Quaritch). Ainsworth (1571-1622) was an English Separatist, who split from the Church of England. Persecuted in England he fled to Amsterdam, where early on he worked as a porter to a bookseller. He later became a teacher of Francis Johnson's church. On 15th December, 1610, he split from Johnson's church and later invested money in the 1620 Mayflower voyage to the New World. In the end his church did not join the venture, but instead waved off the pilgrims at Leiden. He is considered one of the finest Hebrew scholars of his day, and was an integral part of an Amsterdam circle of English Hebraists who published commentaries and translations of several books of the Old Testament. 

Fleming (Ian) From Russia With Love, first edition, ownership inscription on front free endpaper, original boards with gun-and-rose design to upper cover in bronze and silver, spine lettered in silver and bronze, dust-jacket, neat and expert restorations down joints and to spine ends, and lightly along edges, in effect a crisp and near-fine copy, 8vo, 1957.

Chandler (Raymond) The Lady in the Lake, first English edition, original cloth, a few light scattered spots, small patch of fading to spine head, dust-jacket priced at 8/6, 2" tear down lower spine joint and across spine, neatly repaired, other few short nicks to edges, light surface marks to lower panel, 8vo, Hamish Hamilton, 1944.

Polar.- Shackleton (Ernest H.) South, first edition, half-title, colour frontispiece with captioned tissue guard, plates, folding map at end (detached), some toning to text as usual, original dark blue pictorial cloth, stamped and lettered in silver, small nick and slight bumping to head of spine but generally a very good copy, 8vo, 1919.*** The account of the extraordinary journey across hazardous seas from the stricken Endurance to Elephant Island and the subsequent rescue mission which not only ensured the safety of all his men, but ensured Shackleton a place in the pantheon of heroic deeds and exceptional leadership.

Volpi (Gaetano) La Libreria de' Volpi, e la Stamperia Cominiana illustrate con utili e curiose annotazioni, first edition, [one of 200 copies], title with engraved printer's device, engraved Volpi arms at end, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, vellum backed contemporary 'carta rustica', edges uncut, [Bigmore & Wyman III, 548, 'very rare'; Peignot pp.131-132], 8vo, Padua, Guiseppe Comino, 1756. *** Anthony Hobson's copy of the complete catalogue of the Vulpiorum Bibliothecæ Domesticæ, followed by a list of all the Comino Press editions to date. Provenance: Anthony Hobson (1921-2014), book auctioneer, book historian (particularly bindings) and bibliophile (armorial bookplate). 

Polar.- Cherry-Garrard (Apsley) The Worst Journey in the World: Antarctic 1910-1913, 2 vol., first edition, half-titles, colour frontispieces, plates, some folding and linen-backed, folding maps, very occasional light foxing, original hessian-backed plain boards, spines slightly foxed and paper labels a little browned, modern cloth slip-case, 8vo, 1922.*** An excellent, tight set of this classic account of Scott's ill-fated expedition to reach the south pole.

World.- Quin (Edward) An Historical Atlas; in a Series of Maps of the World as known at different periods, 21 hand-coloured aquatint engraved folding maps mounted on paper stubs, of which 6 dissected and mounted on linen, facsimile title of first edition, occasional finger soiling, some light foxing, contemporary dark green half morocco, gilt spine, bumped at corners, some rubbing to extremities, 4to, for R. B. Seeley and W. Burnside, 1846.*** Quin's cartography mapped the world across time, with each map revealing the geography and the history of the age to which it refers, demonstrating the reach of various empires.

Borneo.- Beeckman (Daniel) A Voyage To and From the Island of Borneo, in the East-Indies..., first edition, half-title, engraved map of Borneo, 6 engraved maps or plates, of which 3 folding, 3pp. advertisements at end, bookplate of Adrian Bullock, half-title lightly creased with few small tears and tape repairs causing very small loss (affecting few letters of advertisement to verso), contemporary ownership name to title, final advertisement f. with very small chip to head of gutter, light offsetting, text foxed and browned but plates largely clean, hinges repaired, later half morocco, rebacked preserving original backstrip, rubbed with wear to extremities, some splitting to joints, [Hill 98], 8vo, for T. Warner & J. Batley, 1718. *** A description of Beekman's 1713 voyage in the Eagle Galley, written to advance his ideas for trade. "This work includes the first European reference to the Indonesian orangutan, which is depicted in one of the plates" (Hill). 

Bulgakov (Mikhail) мастер и маргарита [The Master and Margarita], first Russian edition, light marginal toning, original wrappers, a little stained and browned, still crisp and sharp, tall 8vo, Paris, YMCA Press, 1967. *** A rare first Russian edition.After a censored and truncated version of the Soviet classic was published in two instalments in Moscow magazine, Bulgakov's greatest and final novel was smuggled out to be printed in full in Paris. Published in June 1967 by YMCA (which had also published Alexander Solzhenitsyn) this first printing made publishing history. 

Zola (Émile) L'Oeuvre, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "à Henry Bauer, mon divoué confrére Emile Zola" on half-title, with 2pp. Autograph Letter signed from Zola to the same recipient bound after half-title and dated 6th April 1886 (one or two ink stains), light marginal toning and light foxing, original wrappers bound in, later morocco-backed boards, spine lightly faded, extremities lightly rubbed, 8vo, Paris, G. Charpentier, 1886. *** Presented to Henry Bauer, a journalist who wrote a favourable review on the work. In the seemingly unpublished letter the author thanks the journalist for the article which he read with "profound enthusiasm".  The work follows a fictional account of Zola's friendship with Paul Cézanne, the two had known each other since their boyhood in Aix-en-Provence, and he was the model for Zola’s character Claude Lantier. The book is often blamed for ending the friendship. The story of a groundbreaking artist unable to live up to his potential may have read as a personal slight to Cézanne; no correspondence exists between the two after a letter in which Cézanne thanks Zola for sending him the novel.

[Austen (Jane)] Mansfield Park: A Novel, 3 vol., second edition, ink ownership inscription of Edward Knatchbull dated 1838 to front pastedown of vol. 1, lacking half-titles, with final blanks to vol. 2 and 3 as called for (the latter bearing imprint on verso), initial ff. vol 1 faintly foxed, thereafter across the three vol. occasional light foxing or spots, contemporary tree calf, covers with single-rule gilt border, spines gilt with double red morocco labels, vol. 1 with remnant of early ?paper label to spine head, vol. 3 upper joint cracked but holding, most others just beginning so and with some light wear, [Gilson A7], 12mo, for John Murray, 1816.*** Austen's concerns over Mansfield Park's first edition published by Egerton, led her to transfer business to John Murray for the second. Revisions were also made, most noticeably on technical details, likely on the advice of one of her sailing brothers. Provenance: Vol. 1 bears the ink inscription ‘Edward Knatchbull 1838’, this date seeming to place receipt of this uniform set to around his 10th birthday.Sold as part of lot 20, along with S. & S. and P. & P. in the sale of the 'Valuable Library of the late Rt. Hon. Lord Braboune' by Messrs. Puttick & Simpson, 26th June 1893.

Blake (William).- Malkin (Benjamin Heath) A Father's Memoirs of his Child, first edition, half-title, engraved frontispiece by R.H.Cromek after William Blake and 3 plates including one folding map, with a duplicate of the plate opposite p.33 bound in, some very light foxing or soiling, a Malkin family copy with pencil inscription dated 1871 to front free endpaper, Siegfried Sassoon's copy with his small monogrammed book-label to front pastedown, contemporary half calf, spine ruled in gilt with roan label, rubbed, head of spine and corners a little worn, [Bentley 482], 8vo, 1806.*** Contains the first recorded account of Blake by a contemporary. Malkin knew Blake well, and herein devotes 24pp. in the preface to an account of his friend's life and genius, largely recorded from conversations with Blake himself. The preface also contains the first typographic printing of several of Blake's poems including a variant of 'The Tyger'.

Catalogo dei Libri dal Conte Angiolo Maria d'Elci donati alla Imperiale e Real Libreria Mediceo-Laurenziana, first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece of d’Elci after Pietro Benvenuti, foxed, contemporary half vellum over blue boards, flat spine gilt and with morocco labels, tear to lower cover corner exposing boards, rubbing to covers, spine labels and edges, [Brunet I, 1639-40; Taylor p.136], 4to, Florence, Printing at the sign of Dante, 1826.  *** Rare privately printed library catalogue 'd’une collection très-précieuse…il mérite d’être conservé, tout au moins comme un livre rare.’ (Brunet). It was rich in incunables, Aldines, editions of the classics, Hebraica, and first editions of Dante and Petrarch. It includes a list of books printed on vellum. The Count began building his collection in the early 1780s when touring the great capitals of Europe, before being forced to seek refuge with his books in Vienna during the Napoleonic wars. He returned to Florence after the Restauration and in 1818 donated his books to the state, to be housed in the Laurentian library in Florence. 

Irish railway.- Nichol (Andrew) Five Views of the Dublin and Kingstown Railway...with a description of this important national work, first edition, 5 superb hand-coloured aquatints by J.Harris after Nichol, some light staining and finger-marking, little spotting, yellow endpapers, contemporary red half morocco over red cloth (without original printed wrappers), gilt, titled in gilt on upper cover, some staining (including ink), corners worn, rubbed and scuffed, [Bobins 1568], 4to, Dublin, William Frederick Wakeman, 1834 [text dated 20th October at end & plates dated October, 1834].  *** Rare, with only a handful of copies offered at auction since 1913. It was issued to celebrate the inauguration of Ireland's first passenger railway, and the plates superbly 'convey the scale of the project and the engineering feats that had been required to build this railway.' (Bobins). After a series of setbacks (including the destruction of a bridge by a storm) it opened in December 1834 with two engines, the Vauxhall and the Hibernia, which were able to reach speeds of over thirty miles an hour. Provenance: By descent through an Anglo-Irish family. 

Nonesuch Press.- White (Rev. Gilbert) The Writings of Gilbert White of Selborne, edited by H.J.Massingham, 2 vol., number 462 of 850 copies, fine wood-engraved pictorial titles and head- & tail-pieces by Eric Ravilious, folding map, inscribed by A.J.A.Symons "For John Rayner who almost made me read this masterpiece: with typographical salutations from AJ. Finchingfield 1940" on front free endpaper, some light spotting, mostly at beginnings and ends, original pictorial grey buckram, gilt, spines gilt with animal motifs, t.e.g., others uncut, spines a little faded (as usual), [Dreyfus 114], 8vo, Nonesuch Press, 1938.*** A.J.A.Symons (1900-41), writer and bibliographer, founder of the First Edition Club, and the Wine & Food Society (with André Simon), and author of The Quest for Corvo about the eccentric writer Frederick Rolfe.

Grahame (Kenneth) The Wind in the Willows, first edition, slight spotting, slightly heavier to peripheral pages, original pictorial cloth, second issue dust-jacket priced at 7/6, portion of loss to spine head supplied in facsimile, spine slightly browned, panel edges a little toned, chipping and creasing along edges with the odd nick, a few spots to lower panel but generally a sharp and largely intact example, 8vo, 1908.

Darwin (Charles) The Descent of Man, 2 vol., first edition, first issue with "transmitted" at start of vol. 1 p.297 and errata to vol. 2 title verso, half-titles, illustrations, and 16pp. advertisements at end of both vol. (spotted), splitting to hinges, very faint foxing to endpapers and titles but clean generally, original cloth, spines gilt, a little damp-stained, some surface wear, extremities rubbed, vol.2  with surface abrasions with mark to upper cover and some to spine affecting text, both vol. recased with text block sitting flush with lower edge, preserved in custom-made drop-back box, [Freeman 937; Norman 599], 8vo, John Murray, 1871. *** The first appearance of the word 'evolution' in any of Darwin's works.In The Descent of Man Darwin 'compared man's physical and psychological characteristics to similar traits in apes and other animals, showing how even man's mind and moral sense could have developed through evolutionary processes' (Norman). This set bears all the first issue points as called for by Freeman.

Fleming (Ian) Diamonds are Forever, first edition, one or two spots to fore-edge, otherwise internally fine, original boards with upper cover decorated in blind with silver diamond to centre, spine lettered in silver, lower corner bumped, dust-jacket, some light and expert restoration and retouching to spine head and upper edge, in effect a very sharp and excellent copy, 8vo, 1956.

Fleming (Ian) Dr. No, first edition, internally clean, original first state plain black boards, dust-jacket, slight toning on flap edges and spine, spine ends rubbed and chipped, still excellent overall, 8vo, 1958.

Fossils.- Brown (Captain Thomas) Illustration of the Fossil Conchology of Great Britain and Ireland, first edition, 115 engraved plates, many hand-coloured, spotting, previous owner's additional f. of pencil notes expertly bound in at beginning, previous owner's ink signature to front free endpaper, contemporary cloth, rebacked retaining original backstrip, neat restoration to corners, a little rubbed, 4to, 1849.

Voyages.- Pinto (Fernão Mendes) The Voyages and Adventures, first English edition, title printed in red and black, wood-engraved head-pieces and initials, a few leaves with ink stains, 2H1 with hole with slight loss of text on verso, some light water-staining at beginning causing a few marginal holes, contemporary speckled calf, rebacked, corners repaired, [Wing M1705], small folio, Printed by J. Macock, for Henry Cripps, and Lodowick Lloyd, 1653.*** The title continues "Travels...in the Kingdoms of Ethiopia, China, Tartaria, Cauchichina, Calaminham, Siam, Pegu, Japan, and a great part of the East-Indies."Provenance: Joseph Jones (bookplate).

Burton (Sir Richard Francis, translator) The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night, 16 vol. (including 6 vol. Supplement), first edition, some light spotting or surface soiling, mainly to first and last few ff., bound in brown half morocco by Hatchards, gilt, vol. 1 with some light staining to lower cover, some rubbing, mainly to spines and corners, still an attractive set, t.e.g., 8vo, Benares [but London], Printed by the Kamashastra Society for Private Subscribers Only, 1885-88. 

Stevenson (Robert Louis) Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, first English edition, cloth issue, 1p. advertisement, bookplate of Edmund Arthur Smith, light browning and foxing to free endpapers, gutter cracked at few points, upper hinge tender but holding, original cloth, few small marks, little rubbed with some wear to spine ends and corners, very subtle shelf-lean, still overall an excellent copy, [Prideaux 17], 8vo, Longmans, Green, and Co., 1886.

Morelli (Jacopo) Bibliotheca Maphaei Pinellii Veneti magno iam studio collecta, 6 vol., first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece of Maffeo Pinelli by Francesco Bartolozzi, large folding plate of the Pinelli papyrus in vol. III, and 5 plates of Egyptian and classical sculpture in vol. V, faint damp-staining lower fore-edge margin vol. 5 and occasionally to vol. 6, contemporary polished calf, gilt spines in compartments, spines slightly rubbed, some chips to heads and abrasions to extremities, vol. 1 upper joint cracked but holding, all edges yellow (variously faded), [Brunet III, 1899, 'fort recherché'; Peignot 118; Taylor, pp. 97-98], 8vo, Venice, Carlo Palese for Lorenzo Baseggio, 1787. *** The Lisburne-Abbey-Hobson copy. 'Ce catalogue est un des meilleurs qui existent, tant par la valeur et le nombre des ouvrages curieux qui le composent, que part la manière dont il est rédigé, et par les notes savants dont l’a enrichi le célèbre M. Morelli.’ (Peignot). Maffeo Pinelli (1735-1785) was a  translator, the director of the Doge’s press in Venice, and a book collector. The library was catalogued by Jacopo Morelli (Keeper of the Biblioteca Marciana), and was bought on en bloc by the London bookseller James Edwards and his associates Robson and Clark. It was then offered at auction in two London sales. Provenance: Wilmot Vaughan, 1st Earl of Lisburne (1730-1800), Lord of the Admiralty; Major John Roland Abbey (1894-1969), English book collector and High Sheriff; Anthony Hobson (1921-2014), book auctioneer, book historian (particularly bindings) and bibliophile (bookplates). 

Conrad (Joseph) Youth: a Narrative and Two Other Stories, first edition, 32pp. advertisements dated 10/02, bookplate, hinges cracked, endpapers toned, original cloth, spine a little faded, extremities a little rubbed, light cockling to cloth, still excellent overall, preserved in custom-made drop-back box, 8vo, 1902. *** An excellent example of Conrad's most important short story collection, including Heart of Darkness, one of the most celebrated novellas of the 20th century.

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) Marlborough: His Life and Times, 4 vol., first edition, plates and maps, some folding, vol.2 with errata slip at p.434, vol.3 with errata slip at p.19, lacking vol.1 errata slip, vol.1 frontispiece lightly foxed, the odd spot, finely bound in modern burgundy half morocco, gilt spines, [Woods A40a], 8vo, 1933-38.

Rackham (Arthur).- Grahame (Kenneth) The Wind in the Willows, one of 500 numbered copies on handmade paper, tipped-in colour frontispiece and 11 plates by Arthur Rackham, few spots to first few ff., very light browning to endpapers, original full white calf, spine lettered in gilt, t.e.g., others uncut, slight wear to spine ends and corners, some very faint finger-soiling, else excellent, original slipcase with printed paper label to upper panel (few marks and light browning, some wear to extremities), 4to, 1951. *** The hundredth edition of Grahame's timeless classic.

Voyages.- Cannibalism.- Dillon (Captain Peter) Narrative and Successful Result of a Voyage in the South Seas ... to ascertain the Actual Fate of La Pérouse's Expedition, 2 vol., first edition, 2 folding lithograph frontispieces (one hand-coloured), one engraved plate, one folding hand-coloured map, occasional light spotting, bookplate, contemporary calf, expertly rebacked and recornered, a little rubbed, [Abbey Travel 598; Hill 480], 8vo, 1829. *** "It was during this voyage that the mystery of the disappearance of La Pérouse and his expedition in 1788 was finally solved. ... After various adventures in Australia, New Zealand, and Tonga, Dillon found the wrecks of the lost ships on the reefs surrounding Vanikoro in the Santa Cruz Islands." (Hill)

King William IV, "The Sailor King".- Nautical Almanac (The) and Astronomical Ephemeris for the year 1783, bookplate of William IV when Prince William, 2pp advertisement at end, duty stamp to title, modern photocopy of image of William as a midshipman tipped to front free endpaper, joints beginning, by William Richardson, 1779 § Colliber (Samuel) Columna Rostrata: or, a Critical History of the English Sea-Affairs, first edition, previous owner's ink note to front pastedown, abrasion mark to front pastedown where ?label removed, rebacked, for R. Robinson, 1727 § Memoirs of the English Affairs, chiefly Naval, from the Year 1660, to 1673, engraved frontispiece, later endpapers, rebacked retaining original backstrip, 1729 § Britannia Triumphant: or, An Account of the Sea-Fights and Victories of the English Nation, second edition, engraved portrait frontispiece and 5 plates, neat repairs to spine head and corners, by R. James, 1766 § Byng (Sir George) An Account of the Expedition of the British Fleet to Sicily ..., for J. and R. Tonson, 1739, occasional faint spotting, all but the first with bookplate of Robert J. Hayhurst, contemporary calf, slight bumping to corners and extremities, 8vo (5) *** The first mentioned with the bookplate of King William IV when Prince William and serving as a midshipman under Admiral Digby. 

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) Lord Randolph Churchill, 2 vol., first edition, portrait frontispieces with tissue-guards, plates, a few leaves with very light foxing, modern burgundy half morocco, gilt spines, finely bound, [Woods A8 (a)], 8vo, 1906.

Birds.- Willughby (Francis) Ornithologiae Libri Tres, edited by John Ray, first edition, variant without initial imprimatur leaf and title with 'Aves' line 7 and four typographical ornaments above imprint, 77 engraved plates, 2 folding letterpress tables, small paper repair to title lower edge, some browning and foxing, including to a handful of plates, contemporary calf, joints cracking but firm, a bit worn, [Nissen IVB 991; Wing W2879], folio, John Martyn, 1676.*** The first systematic classification of the birds of the world. 

Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Return of the King, first edition, first impression, with signature mark "4" and text block misaligned on p.49, folding map (unusually sharp and fine), original cloth, patch of damp-staining on spine tail and upper cover foot, covers marked, spine a little faded, dust-jacket, splitting up spine joints from foot, 1" tear to lower flap, a little toned, some stains on spine and panels, spine ends chipped and a little frayed, still a very good unrestored copy, 8vo, 1955.

Kircher (Athanasius) Ars Magna Sciendi, 2 parts in 1, first edition, separate engraved title to each part, letterpress title with woodcut printer's device, engraved portrait of Emperor Leopold, one engraved plate depicting the 'Arbor Philosophica Universae cognitionis Typus', 4 letter-press tables, double page and/or folding, engraved diagrams in text, those on fols. B3r and Y3r with volvelles (bound at Y2r), numerous woodcut illustrations, decorated initials, and large tailpieces, four verso paper repairs for small marginal losses (letterpress title, A4, a folding table, P6), extensive browning, some faint damp-staining and foxing or spots, contemporary calf, discretely rebacked and retaining large central portion of original backstrip, corners worn, folio, Johannes Jansson van Waesberghe and the widow of Elizeus Weyerstraet, 1669.*** First edition copy of one of the most influential works by the well-known German Jesuit, who was an eclectic scholar, inventor, collector, and founder of the Museum Kircherianum in the Roman College. In this monumental work, which is dedicated to Emperor Leopold I, Kircher builds an exhaustive scientific system based on logical combinations and symbolic logic formulae capable of expressing each truth; it thus represents one of the most celebrated seventeenth-century attempts at creating a universal language for scientists and philosophers to describe and circumscribe all knowledge into a unified system.Literature: Merrill 22.

Oxford.- Ackermann (Rudolph, publisher) A History of the University of Oxford, 2 vol., first edition, list of subscriber's, engraved portrait of the Chancellor Lord Grenville, 114 hand-coloured plates comprising 64 aquatint views by Buck, Stadler, Hill & others after Pugin, Mackenzie, Westall & others and 17 stipple-engraved plates of academic costumes and with the 33 portraits of the Founders (often lacking), vol. 2 half-title with short tears at gutter and expert repairs, occasional off-setting, handsome contemporary black straight grain morocco, expertly rebacked retaining original backstrips, gilt doublet filet, edges with broad gilt roll and narrow blind roll, large gilt diamond with floral corners and blind triangles with floral corners, 5 raised spine bands, richly gilt spines, [Abbey Scenery 280; Tooley 5], large 4to, 1814.

Flaubert (Gustave) Madame Bovary - Moeurs de Province, 2 vol., first edition, half-titles, some reinforcement to inner margins at beginning and end, small stain to lower margin of pp.73-80 vol.1, original printed upper wrappers bound in, bookplate removed from pastedowns, modern brown half morocco over marbled boards, preserved in modern suede-lined cloth drop-back box (erroneously titled "first English edition"), 8vo, Paris, Michel Levy Freres, 1857.*** A first edition of one of the cornerstones of 19th century French literature. This is of the first issue with the name of the dedicatee misprinted as "Senart" not "Senard" and with "ni de votre devouement" instead of "et de votre devouement" on the same page. Also, on p.7, there is a large space between two words in "et la posa sur ses genoux" six lines from bottom.

Africa.- Savigny (John Henry) Narrative of a Voyage to Senegal in 1816, first English edition, Vice-Admiral Sir George Brooke-Pechell's copy with his signature, half-title, hand-coloured frontispiece, one plate, faint off-setting, scattered spotting, bookplates, contemporary half-calf, rebacked, 1818 § Damberger (Christian Frederick) Travels in the Interior of Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope to Morocco, 2 vol. in 1, hand-coloured frontispiece and 2 hand-coloured plates, large folding map, evenly toned throughout, previous owner's ink signature to title, near contemporary calf, 1801 § Denham (Major) & Captain Clapperton. Narrative of Travels and Discoveries in Northern and Central Africa, 2 vol., third edition, engraved frontispieces and 10 plates, 3 folding maps and plans, off-setting, occasional light spotting, bookplate of Robert J. Hayhurst, contemporary calf, lightly sunned spines, 1828; 8vo (4)

[Austen (Jane)] Sense and Sensibility: A Novel, 3 vol., second edition, half-titles and final blanks as called for, foxing, near contemporary calf, spines gilt with red and green morocco labels, vol. 1 joints just beginning to crack, vol. 3 spine head chipped, light rubbing to joints and spines, [Gilson A2], 12mo, for the author, by T. Egerton, 1813.*** The first edition was sold out by July 1813, with Austen writing to her brother in September "There is to be a 2d Edition of S. & S. Egerton advises it"  and it is believed Austen made some revisions, with a couple of major differences (pp. 3, 66) and some minor (Gilson, p.16).Provenance: Although differently bound to the other titles, this copy of S. & S. seems to have passed to Edward Knatchbull nonetheless.Sold as part of lot 20, along with P. & P. and M.P., in the sale of the 'Valuable Library of the late Rt. Hon. Lord Braboune' by Messrs. Puttick & Simpson, 26th June 1893. 

Shelley (Mary).- Milner (H[enry] M.) Frankenstein; or, The Man and the Monster! A Peculiar Romantic Melo-Dramatic Pantomimic Spectacle, in Two Acts. Founded principally on Mrs. Shelley's singular Work, engraved frontispiece of 'Mr. O. Smith as the Monster in Frankenstein', wood-engraved diagram at end showing 'Disposition of the Characters when the Curtain falls', frontispiece with some foxing and offsetting on to title, occasional spotting, lightly browned, disbound, large 12mo, Printed and published by J. Duncombe, 19 Little Queen Street, [1826]. *** The first pictorial representation of 'The Monster' in print. It is preceded only by the first two editions of Shelley's work, and appears five years before her third edition.

[Austen (Jane)] Emma: A Novel, 3 vol., first edition, lacking half-titles, initial 3ff. vol. 1 lightly foxed, thereafter across the three vol. occasional scattered instances of light foxing or spots, vol. 2 pp. 73-96 differently stained perhaps by damp, contemporary tree calf, covers with single-rule gilt border, spines gilt with double red morocco labels, very slight wear to joints, [Gilson A8], 12mo, for John Murray, 1816. ***A lovely first edition copy of this well-loved novel, Austen's fourth, published in an edition of 2000 copies. Thomas Moore wrote to Samuel Rogers in June 1816: "Let me entreat you to read 'Emma' - it is the very perfection of novel-writing - and I cannot praise it more highly than by saying it is often extremely like your own method of describing things - so much effect, with so little effort!" (Gilson p.71).Provenance: part of the set in uniform binding that would seem to have been received by Edward Knatchbull from his mother, Fanny, around his 10th birthday.  Sold as part of lot 21, along with N.A. & P. in the sale of the 'Valuable Library of the late Rt. Hon. Lord Braboune' by Messrs. Puttick & Simpson, 26th June 1893.

Digges (Sir Dudley) The Compleat Ambassador: or Two Treaties of the Intended Marriage of Qu: Elizabeth ... comprised in Letters of Negotiation ..., first edition, fine additional engraved title depicting Elizabeth flanked by Burleigh and Walsingham, title in red and black, occasional faint spot, R2 with small paper defect to bottom edge, bookplate, red morocco by J. Mackenzie, wide gilt borders, gilt inner dentelles, richly gilt spine, g.e., [Wing D1453], folio, by Tho: Newcomb, for Gabriel Bedell and Thomas Collins, 1655.

Wells (H.G.) The War of the Worlds, first edition, second state with 32pp. publisher's advertisements (carelessly opened), light spotting, heavier to first few pages, endpapers lightly toned, contemporary ink ownership name on half-title, original cloth, spine browned, extremities toned and lightly rubbed, preserved in custom-made drop-back box, [Currey p.526], 8vo, 1898.

Fitzgerald (F. Scott) The Great Gatsby, first edition, first issue with 'northern' to p. 119, 'it's' to p. 165, 'chatter' to p. 60, 'sick in tired' to p. 205, and 'Union Street station' to p. 211, faint spotting to half-title, title and final page, with a few spots from fore-edge straying onto the odd internal page but largely very clean, original blind-stamped cloth, extremities bumped, spine a little faded but overall an excellent and very sharp copy, 8vo, New York, 1925.

Fleming (Ian) Goldfinger, first edition, ink mark removed leaving some abrasion to corner of front free endpaper, original boards with skull design in gilt and blind, spine lettered in silver, dust-jacket, spine toned, the odd nick to edges, corners and extremities a little creased and chipped, 8vo, 1959.

[Brontë (Emily and Anne)], "Ellis and Acton Bell". Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey, 1 vol. as issued, second English edition, first issue with title dated 1850, lacking half-title and advertisement f. and publisher's catalogue, front free endpaper with later ownership inscriptions (abrasion and few small holes where one  removed), divisional title to Agnes Grey with contemporary ownership name to verso, few short marginal tears, p.27 & 131 into text with tiny loss to one letter, p.318 some old tears and paper repairs affecting text with loss to few words, the occasional small stain, some soiling, gutter slightly cracked at points, upper hinge cracked, 19th century ?library cloth, spine lettered in gilt and with some fraying to ends, spine and upper cover slightly faded, few small and light stains, corners bumped and rubbed, [Smith 3 pp.63-69], 8vo, Smith, Elder and Co., 1850. *** Around September 1850, Smith, Elder and Co. wrote to Charlotte to suggest that they take over publication of Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey from Thomas Cautley Newby. Charlotte agreed and included a biographical preface regarding Ellis and Acton Bell in order both to clear up the confusions surrounding the authorship of the Brontë novels as well as to reveal the true identity of the Bells.

*** Please note the description of this lot has changed *** Voyages.- Cook (Captain James).- First Voyage.- Hawkesworth (John) An Account of the Voyages ... for making Discoveries in the Southern Hemisphere, 3 vol., first edition,  52 engraved maps and plates, including map of 'Straights of Magellan' (detached and loosely inserted), many folding or double-page, slight chipping to fore-edges of one or two plates,vol. 1 a1-B1 detached and vol. 2 E2-3 detached and loosely inserted, scattered spotting, occasional off-setting, cracked hinges, bookplate, contemporary calf, rebacked, a little rubbed, bumping to corners and extremities, [Sabin 30934], 4to, for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, 1773. *** The first edition with continuous pagination to vols. 2 & 3. 

Angelo (Domenico) The School of Fencing, with a General Explanation of the Principal Attitudes and Positions peculiar to The Art, first edition, 47 engraved plates on 44 sheets, occasional light spotting, faint staining to bottom edges, contemporary calf, rebacked, a little rubbed, oblong 8vo, 1787.

Dawkins (Richard) The Selfish Gene, first edition, signed by the author on title, ticket for the lecture "An Evening with Richard Dawkins and Friends" at which Professor Dawkins signed the book loosely inserted, original boards, dust-jacket, slight sunning to spine (though less than often), near-fine otherwise, 8vo, 1976.*** Dawkins' first book and one of the most influential science books of the 20th century, rare signed.

Economics.- Mill (John Stuart) Principles of Political Economy with some of their Applications to Social Philosophy, 2 vol., first edition, vol. 1 with advertisement leaf and 4pp. publisher's catalogue at end, vol. 2 with initial blank and 2pp. catalogue at end, one or two pencil annotations and notes to rear free endpaper, contemporary ink inscription to front free endpapers, bookplate of Thomas Lett Wood, slight worming to hinges, a good clean copy, original green cloth, uncut, lightly rubbed, spines a little browned and labels chipped, spine ends of vol. 1 and joints slightly worn, corners bumped, preserved together in modern cloth slip-case gilt-stamped morocco label "Emilio Colombo", 8vo, John W. Parker, 1848. *** One of the most significant and influential works on economics of the mid-nineteenth century and with an interesting provenance. Emilio Colombo (1920-2013), Italian politician, Prime Minister of Italy from 1970-72, and president of the European Parliament from 1977-79.

Jones (Inigo) The Most Notable Antiquity of Great Britain Vulgarly Called Stone-heng, 3 parts in 1, 2 engraved portraits of Jones and Charleton bound at beginning, general title in red & black but lacking separate title to first part, 13 engraved plates including one repeated in third part, most folding or double-page, engraved illustrations in text, lacking advertisement leaf at end, browning to some plates particularly portrait and repeated plate, worming to lower margin of first few leaves, engraved bookplate of Sir Charles Mordaunt to verso of title and of Sir John Mordaunt to front pastedown, contemporary mottled calf with double gilt fillet, rubbed, rebacked preserving old gilt spine, lacking label, [Fowler 159; Harris 384], folio, printed [by James Betterman] for D. Browne Junior...J.Woodman and D.Lyon, 1725.*** Collected edition of the second editions of Jones's hypothesis concerning the Roman origin of Stonehenge, Charleton's critical response to this, suggesting that the stones were erected by Danes, and Webb's vehement reply in defence of Jones's theory.

Hardy (Thomas) Tess of the D'Urbervilles, a pure woman, 3 vol., first edition in book form, first issue with chapter XXXV misnumbered as "XXV" on p.199 of vol. 2 [one of 1000 copies], half-titles, occasional spot or surface stain, some cracking to gutters, original cloth, slight shelf lean, browning to spines and lower covers, gilt design on covers faded, bindings soiled and stained, crack to vol. 1 and 2 upper covers slightly affecting cloth, vol. 1 hinges partially broken, some wear to extremities, [Purdy p.67, Danielson p.27], 8vo, James R. Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., 1891.

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) The Second World War, 6 vol., first edition, vol.1 with errata slip at p.611, very occasional light scattered spotting, finely bound in modern navy half morocco, gilt spines, [Woods A123 (b)], 8vo, 1948-54.