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Click here to subscribeAsia.- Forrest (Capt. Thomas) A Voyage to New Guinea, and the Moluccas, from Balambangan: including an account of Magindano, Sooloo, and other Islands, first Dublin edition, folding engraved map and 3 engraved plates, one folding, occasional light soiling or browning, contemporary calf, rubbed, spine worn at head, 8vo, Dublin, Price, W. & H.Whitestone, Sleater [& others], 1779.⁂ Including Magindano and Papua vocabularies at end.
South German Baroque.- Kraus (Johann Ulrich) Heilige Augen- und Gemueths-Lust , 2 parts in 1, first edition, part 1 with xylographic half-title, letterpress title with engraved vignette, four-page preface with engraved pictorial head-piece and ornamental initial, one-page index of holidays, full-page allegorical engraving of the Church, and 70 engraved plates, part 2 with letterpress title with engraved vignette, full-page engraving of the apostles and their symbols, and 50 plates, all the engravings finely coloured throughout with some gold heightening, all by a contemporary hand, the plates printed on thick card paper, interleaved, occasional minor marginal soiling, small marginal repairs to 2 text leaves, plate 32 with small stain, contemporary dark brown speckled calf over boards, covers with single gilt fillet border, spine richly gilt with red morocco gilt lettering-piece, gilt edges, a little rubbed, lower joint starting, folio (336 x 205mm.), Augsburg, Johann Ulrich Kraus, [1706].⁂ Special copy of Kraus' famous illustrated book, representing one of the high points from the Southern German Baroque period. Unique and splendid luxury copy with the engravings beautifully coloured in gouache and watercolour, heightened in gold and on special thick card paper. Johann Ulrich Kraus (1655-1719) was one of the most successful engravers and publishers at Augsburg in the latter part of the 17th century. This monumental emblem book was conceived as a suite to his famous Picture Bible or Bilderbibel (1698-1700), and follows the same illustrative formula, in which the upper portion of each plate contains an illustration of a Bible scene and the lower portion an engraved circular emblem. Each plate is devoted to a different Saint's day, and each emblem is printed within an elaborate cartouche or frame, itself often incorporating small medallion vignettes or emblems. In his artistic style Kraus's ornamental engravings - represented here by the varied and imaginative emblem cartouches - were widely influential in Germany, through their use as models for cabinetmakers, woodworkers and other craftsmen. While a coloured copy of Kraus's Bilderbibel, also on thick paper, is recorded (cf. Tenschert catalogue XLVIII/98), we have been unable to trace any other coloured copies of the present edition. In his 1933 study of the illustration of the Bilderbibel and its suites (see below), Otto Reichl made no mention of any coloured copies. Literature: Landwehr, German 390. Faber du Faur 1849. Praz, Studies in Seventeenth-Century Imagery, p. 389. Brunet III, 697 (citing Latin version only). Thieme-Becker 21:440. Otto Reichl, Die Illustrationen in vier geistlichen Büchern des Augsburger Kupferstechers, Johann Ulrich Krauss. Studien zur deutschen Kunstgeschichte 294 (Strassburg, 1933).
Terence (Publius) Comœdiæ, title in red and black, engraved illustrations, ex-library with label to front pastedown and occasional discreet ink-stamps, ink inscription, manuscript notes to title verso, contemporary Italian vellum, a little rubbed, bumping to corners and spine extremities, [Brunet V 723, Graesse VII 61], folio, Urbino, 1736.⁂ A superb Urbino production dedicated to Cardinal Albini, with the Italian translation by Forteguerri here printed for the first time. According to Graesse, the engravings in this edition are more accurate than those reproduced by Dacier in 1723.
French bindings.- Fontenelle (Bernard le Bouyer de) and La Motte (Antoine Houdar de) Poésies, 2 vol., half-titles, engraved portrait frontispiece, contemporary red morocco, gilt, g.e, Geneva, 1777 § La Rochefoucauld (Duc de) Memoires, first edition, second issue, title with woodcut device, woodcut initials, ink number stamp to verso of title, red crushed morocco by Brany, Cologne, Pierre van Dyck, 1662; and 5 others, French bindings, including blue morocco by Hardy, v.s. (8)
Asia.- Osbeck (Peter) A Voyage to China and the East Indies...together with A Voyage to Suratte, by Olof Toreen...and An Account of Chinese Husbandry, by Captain Charles Gustavus Eckeberg, translated by John Reinhold Forster, 2 vol., first English edition, 13 engraved plates, mostly botanical, some light browning and offsetting, vol.1 with tear to upper margin of Y3, vol.2 with foxing to U gathering, contemporary calf, gilt, red roan labels, a little rubbed and scuffed, slight wear to corners and heads of spines, 8vo, for Benjamin White, 1771.
France.- [Sauvan (Jean Baptiste Balthazar)] Viage Pintoresco por las Orillas del Sena, desde Paris hasta el Mar, translated by J. J. de Mora, first edition in Spanish, hand-coloured engraved map, hand-coloured aquatint title-vignette & tail-piece and 24 superb hand-coloured aquatint plates after A. Pugin and J.Gendall, light foxing to text but plates very clean and bright, contemporary half calf, gilt-stamped red morocco label on upper cover, spine gilt, a little rubbed, [cf. Abbey, Travel 90 & Tooley 445, English edition of 1821], folio, R.Ackermann, 1826.⁂ Scarce Spanish edition of one of Ackermann's finest publications, with magnificent views along the river Seine.
India.- Hastings (Warren) A Narrative of the late Transactions at Benares, first English edition, lacking final advertisement leaf, lightly browned, cropped shaving pagination of last few leaves, stab-holes to inner margin, bookplate of John Barneby Esq., handsome contemporary tree calf, spine ruled in gilt and with red roan label, an excellent copy, for J.Debrett, 1782.⁂ Scarce account in which Hastings attempts to justify his actions against Chait Singh, Rajah of Benares, and the Wazir of Oudh, both of whom had refused to pay tribute money to the East India Company. Hastings sent troops to arrest the Rajah but they were massacred, causing outrage at home in Britain. The work was first published in Calcutta earlier the same year with an extensive Appendix of papers and correspondence. This is considerably abbreviated in this edition but does include some letters and affidavits. It is rarer than the Calcutta edition with only 6 UK locations on ESTC (BL, Cambridge, Oxford - Bodleian & Christ Church, Manchester - Central Library & John Rylands Library).
Italy.- Buonaiuti (B. Serafino) Italian Scenery; representing the Manners, Customs, and Amusements of the different states of Italy, first edition, text in English and French, 32 hand-coloured stipple-engraved plates by James Godby after P. van Lerberghi, lacking engraved sheet of music, title soiled, some other soiling and staining but mainly to text, marginal to plates, a few leaves shorter, final leaf becoming loose, later cloth, uncut, rubbed, [Abbey, Travel 164; Colas 2970; Tooley 354], folio, 1806.
Levant.- Mayer (Luigi) Views in the Ottoman Dominions, in Europe in Asia, and some of the Mediterranean Islands, from the Original Drawings taken for Sir Robert Ainslie, first collected edition, 71 finely hand-coloured aquatint plates by William Watts and others after Mayer, one folding, title lightly soiled, occasional spotting, mostly marginal but very slightly affecting folding plate, later morocco-backed cloth with vellum corners, spine faded, cloth boards damp-stained but internally a good copy, [Abbey Travel 371; Atabey 789; Blackmer 1100; Koc 177; Tooley 321], folio, by T.Bensley for R.Bowyer, 1810 [plates water-marked 1809].⁂ Completing Bowyer's series of Mayer's views of the Ottoman Empire, including the fine folding panorama of Constantinople and scenes of Turkey, Thrace, Syria, Palestine, Sicily, Gozo & the Lipari Islands, Libya, Samos and Ephesus. This is the issue without the letterpress descriptions of the plates.
Elyot (Sir Thomas) The Boke named the Governour..., fifth edition, black letter, title with woodcut architectural border dated 1534 in the sill, this copy without colophon on verso of f.216 (blank) and with f.91 correctly numbered and f.103 numbered as 102, woodcut initials, contemporary and near contemporary ink signatures & inscriptions to head & verso of title, verso of final leaf and leaf of printer's waste bound as front free endpaper, including those of John Alyngton & Thomas Cutter and later Francis Winn dated 1686, marginalia in fine contemporary hand, later manuscript index of corrections bound in at rear, title soiled and with short tear to inner margin, free endpapers supplied from 15th century Latin illuminated manuscript on vellum, old calf, a little worn, rebacked and repaired, [STC 7639; cf. Pforzheimer 254 & PMM 61, first edition], 8vo, [?Thomas Berthelet], 1553.⁂ Influential work on moral philosophy and concerning the education of those destined to govern. It was first published in 1531 and there were several further editions throughout the 16th century. This is a curious copy, with the collation conforming to the Thomas Berthelet edition of 1553 but that includes a colophon on the verso of f.216 and f.91 is numbered 19; the variations in this copy are not noted in ESTC.
Holinshed (Raphael) The firste volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande. Conteyning the description and chronicles of England, from the first inhabiting vnto the conquest, vol.1 only (of 2), first edition, titles to 3 parts within woodcut borders, woodcuts within text, woodcut decorative initials, lacking 1st s7&8, title and dedication f. to Ireland section misbound after D4, 2E3 frayed at outer edge, with loss to side-notes, some staining at head, occasional spotting or small stains eslewhere, some marginal worming, contemporary panelled calf, gilt, arabesque centre- and corner-pieces, worn, but holding firm, [STC 13568b; Pforzheimer, 494], Imprinted for John Hunne, 1577. sold not subject to return.
Law.- Crompton (Richard) L'authoritie et iurisdiction des courts de la Maiestie de la Roygne, first edition, black letter, title with woodcut ornament, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, contemporary ink marginalia, lacking 2G7&8 and 2H1-4, title trimmed and laid down with loss of part of imprint, occasional spotting, lightly browned, 20th century calf-backed marbled boards, [STC 6050], small 4to, Charles Yetsweirt, 1594.⁂ Provenance: Edward Valentine (contemporary ink signature to title).
Tacitus (Publius Cornelius) The Annales, first edition in English, first f. blank apart from signature, woodcut decorative initials, [STC 23644], [By Arn. Hatfield, for Bonham and Iohn Norton],1598 bound with (as issued) Tacitus (Cornelius) The Ende of Nero and beginning of Galba. Fower bookes of the Histories of Cornelius Tacitus. The life of Agricola, second edition in English, full-page engraved plan of Roman army camp, woodcut decorative initials, lacking final blank, [STC 23643], [By Edm. Bollifant, for Bonham and Iohn Norton], 1598, together 2 works in 1 vol., as issued, some water-staining and spotting, lightly browned, contemporary calf, sympathetically rebacked, covers with gilt arms of Queen Elizabeth I, corners repaired, folio
Day (Angel) The English Secretary, or Methode of writing of Epistles and Letters, fourth edition, title with elaborate woodcut border, woodcut device on final leaf of text, contemporary ink signature and a couple of annotations to title, contemporary note to verso of final leaf, lightly browned, ink stain to outer margin of signatures I-Q affecting one or two side-notes, light water-staining towards end, printer's waste endpapers stained and frayed, contemporary limp vellum, rubbed and stained, lacking ties, small hole to spine, [STC 6404], small 4to, by P.S. for C.Burbie, 1599.⁂ The most comprehensive work of its kind at the time, first published in 1586 and scarce in any edition. ESTC lists only 2 copies in the UK (BL & Liverpool University) and 5 locations in America.
Gregory (Saint, of Nazianzus) In iulianum invectivae duae, edited by Henry Savile and Richard Montagu, first English edition, title, preliminaries and commentary in Latin, text in Greek, woodcut ornaments and initials, with the final blank, title with contemporary ink inscriptions on title, verso of final blank and remains of front free endpaper, a few ink marginalia, title soiled and with portion cut away from upper margin removing inscription (also to final blank), browned, staining to N3, lacking endpapers, contemporary calf, worn, spine defective, [STC 12346], 4toEton, [M.Bradwood] for John Norton, 1610.⁂ One of the earliest books printed at Eton.
Middle East.- Russell (Alexander) The Natural History of Aleppo, 2 vol., second, revised and enlarged edition, 20 engraved plates including some botanical plates by Ehret, 6 folding, final errata leaf in vol.1, some foxing, a few small stains, final leaf in vol.2 loose, original boards, uncut and partly unopened, a little worn, vol.2 lacking paper covering from boards and label from spine, [Blackmer 1458; Nissen BBI 3534], 4to, for G.G. and J.Robinson, 1794.⁂ Russell was physician to the English factory in Aleppo, this second edition was revised by his brother Patrick and contains additional plates to those in the first edition of 1756.
Donne (John) Devotions vpon emergent occasions, and seuerall steps in my sicknes: digested into 1. Meditations vpon our humane condition. 2. Expostulations, and debatements with God. 3. Prayers, vpon the seuerall occasions, second edition, without initial blank, title with outer margin trimmed to border, some spotting and water-staining, 19th century vellum, [STC 7034; Keynes 36], 12mo, Printed by A[ugustine]. M[athewes]. for Thomas Iones [, and are to be sold at the black Rauen, in the Strand], 1623.⁂ Second edition, published in the same year as the exceedingly rare first edition (we can trace only one copy of the first edition at auction since 1975, the Bradley Martin copy sold in 1990, and three copies of this second edition). The work contains 'Nunc lento sonitu dicunt Morieris', with the lines: No man is an Iland, intire of it self; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the Sea, Europe is the lesse, as well as if a Promontory were, as well as if a Mannor of thy friends, or of thine owne were; Any mans death diminishes mee, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tols, It tols for thee.'
Brathwait (Richard) The English Gentleman: containing Sundry excellent Rules or exquisite Observations, tending to Direction of every Gentleman..., first edition, first issue without 'Three Choice Characters of Marriage' section at end, fine engraved additional pictorial title by Robert Vaughan with accompanying folding letterpress explanatory leaf (often lacking), woodcut initials and head-pieces, with errata leaf and final blank Nnn4 at end, tear to upper outer corner of engraved title just touching border (repaired), marginal foxing to title, [STC 3563], by John Haviland, and are to be sold by Robert Bostock, 1630; The English Gentlewoman, drawne out to the full Body: expressing, What Habilliments doe best attire her, What Ornaments doe best adorne her, What Complements doe best accomplish her, first edition, variant with final leaf (errata) signed Kk, fine engraved additional pictorial title by William Marshall with accompanying folding letterpress explanatory leaf, woodcut initials, a few contemporary ink marginalia, engraved title lightly soiled and with small hole causing slight loss and frayed at outer edge, tear to explanatory leaf, light water-staining towards end, [Pforzheimer 78, lacking explanatory leaf; STC 3565], by B.Alsop and T.Fawcet, for Michaell Sparke, 1631, together 2 vol., contemporary limp vellum, the second with later calf label, a little rubbed and soiled, lacking ties, together in modern cloth slip-case, small 4to (2)⁂ Important English courtesy book and its companion volume, influenced by Castiglione's Il Cortegiano of 1528. The first work, aimed at gentlemen, enforces the duties of a householder, a soldier, a statesman and justice of the peace and contains discussions on gambling and hunting, while the second for gentlewomen is mainly concerned with dress and behaviour. Both contain the folding explanatory leaves to the engraved titles, often missing.
Brathwait (Richard) A Survey of History: Or, a Nursery for Gentry, second edition, fine engraved additional title by William Marshall (slightly soiled and with 2 short unobtrusive tears neatly repaired), paper flaw hole to N1 with loss of a few letters, Mexborough bookplate, late 19th century half blue morocco, spine gilt, [Pforzheimer 82; STC 3583a], by I.Okes, for Jasper Emery, 1638 § [Walker (Obadiah)] Of Education Especially of Young Gentlemen. In Two Parts, first edition, variant with engraved arms of University College, Oxford on title, with initial blank, near contemporary panelled calf, gilt, g.e., spine ends chipped, [Wing W399], Oxford, At the Theater, 1673 [i.e. 1672]; another edition, second impression, title with engraved arms of Oxford University, errata leaf, contemporary ink signatures of Thos. and Elizabeth Hussey, engraved bookplate of Edward Astley, contemporary sprinkled calf, gilt, spine gilt, Oxford, 1673 § Hartcliffe (John) A Treatise of Moral and Intellectual Virtues..., first edition, with initial imprimatur leaf and final advertisement leaf, browned, handsome contemporary panelled black morocco, gilt, spine gilt, g.e., spine a little rubbed and faded, [Wing H971], for C.Harper, 1691 § Panton (Capt. Edward) Speculum Juventutis: or, a True Mirror; where Errors in Breeding Noble and Generous Youth...are clearly made manifest, first edition, initial licence leaf, 3pp. advertisements at end, contemporary calf, spine gilt, splits to joints, [Wing P277], for Charles Smith, and Thomas Burrell, 1671, all from the library of Arnold Muirhead with his book-label, a little rubbed; and 2 others, similar, v.s. (7)⁂ Good group of courtesy books belonging to the scholar Arnold Muirhead (1900-1988); the first is a greatly expanded version of the author's The Schollers Medley of 1614.
Vere (Sir Francis) The Commentaries...Being Diverse pieces of Service, wherein he had command..., edited by William Dillingham, first edition, half-title with verses on verso, 3 engraved portraits, 4 double-page maps & plans and 3 double-page plates by Richard Gaywood, Robert Vaughan and others, some light browning, a few small stains, handsome later panelled burgundy morocco, gilt, spine gilt in compartments, g.e., very slightly rubbed at edges, [Cockle 166; Wing V240], folio, Cambridge, by John Field, 1657.⁂ An important source for the Anglo-Dutch war against Spain, published posthumously.
Woolley (Hannah) The Gentlewomans Companion; or, a Guide to the Female Sex, first edition, without the engraved portrait by W.Faithorne but with blank S4 and 8pp. advertisements at end, contemporary ink inscriptions to title, upper outer corner of A3 & 4 and G5 & 6 torn away with loss of a few letters, title and B8 with small portion torn away at fore-edge not affecting text (title repaired), title lightly soiled, small stains to a few leaves particularly D1 & 2, modern calf with border in blind, morocco label, [Oxford p.36; Wing W3276a; Not in Bitting, Cagle or Vicaire], 8vo, by A. Maxwell for Dorman Newman, 1673.⁂ Rare first edition of this collection of recipes, cosmetics, remedies, and advice to women on education, governesses, servants and social conduct. The portrait by Faithorne which is found in some copies is now believed to depict not Woolley but Sarah Gilly. It is probable that Woolley died in the early 1670s, before this work was published as it was unauthorized.ESTC lists only 5 copies, all in America; COPAC likewise lists no UK copy but according to WorldCat there are 6 copies in the UK. We have been unable to find an auction record for this edition.
Brémond (Sébastien de) Gallant memoirs, or, The adventures of a person of quality, only edition in English, translated by P. Belon, 2 advertisement ff. at end, upper corners nibbled, those corners of first 12 ff. repaired, trimmed at head, affecting some headlines, some staining, lightly soiled, modern leather, faded, [WinG 4347], 12mo, printed for R. Bentley and M. Magnes at the Post-Office in Russel-street in Covent-Garden, 1681.⁂ A rare little semi-erotic novella.
New Zealand.- Wakefield (Edward) New Zealand Illustrated. The Story of New Zealand and Descriptions of its Cities and Towns...The Natural Wonders of New Zealand, first edition, 15 lithographed plates including folding plate of eruption of Mount Tarawera, all but one chromolithographed views, the other with 3 images of the Waitomo caves, lacking additional pictorial title with view of Queenstown (repeated on upper cover), tear to fold of folding plate but very neatly repaired, occasional light spotting, mostly to text, endpapers a little marked, original cloth-backed pictorial upper board, lower cover cloth, a little rubbed and marked, upper board lightly spotted and with small abraded patches at head, oblong folio, Wanganui, 1889.
Profligate whore.- Pilkington (Laetitia) The Celebrated Mrs. Pilkington's Jests, second edition, engraved frontispiece, title in red and black, some light soiling, modern calf-backed marbled boards, [Teerink 102 "I have not seen the first edition"; ESTC cites 9 locations], bookplate of J.O. Edwards, 12mo, for W. Nicoll, 1764.⁂ Considerably revised second edition of an important jest book, the first edition (1759) is known in only one copy, at the Bodleian. Mr. and Mrs. Pilkington were introduced to Swift's circle in the 1730s but Swift became disillusioned with them, saying "He proved the falsest rogue and she the most profligate whore in either kingdom." The frontispiece depicts Swift reading the manuscript of this work and the caption notes that this was one of only three occasions in his life when Swift is supposed to have laughed.
Quesnay (François) Physiocratie, ou Constitution Naturelle du Gouvernement, first edition, second issue, half-title, engraved frontispiece, later calf-backed marbled boards, Leiden & Paris, chez Merlin, 1768; with [Dupont de Nemours (Pierre Samuel)] Discussions et Developpemens sur quelques-unes des Notions de l'Economie Politique. Pour servir de seconde Partie au...Physiocratie, first edition, wood-engraved title-vignette, small ink stamp to title, contemporary French mottled sheep, spine gilt, Leiden & Paris, chez Merlin, 1767, 8vo (2)⁂ First edition of this fundamental contribution to the history of economic thought, which greatly influenced Adam Smith, who venerated Quesnay as his master. This second issue is identified by the place of printing (Leiden and Paris) and by a correction to p.104 of part 1, where the reference to Louis XV's engagement in the printing of the work was suppressed.Reference: Einaudi 4431; Goldsmiths' 10391; Kress 6548
Oceania.- [Fleurieu (Charles Pierre Claret, Comte de)] Discoveries of the French in 1768 and 1769, to the South-East of New Guinea, first edition in English, half-title, 12 folding engraved maps and plates, most a little foxed and stained (as usual), some offsetting, first map torn at fold (rather crudely repaired), light damp-staining to margins of last few leaves of text, bookplate of John Ashley Warre, later half calf, red morocco label, a little rubbed, [Ferguson 105; Sabin 24749], 4to, for John Stockdale, 1791.⁂ Account of exploration by the French, British and Spanish, important for the rediscovery of the Solomon Islands.
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, original green cloth, lightly rubbed and faded, a couple of small stains to boards, spines a little browned and labels slightly chipped, a good clean copy, 8vo, 1848.⁂ One of the most significant and influential works on economics of the mid-nineteenth century.
Doyle (Sir Arthur Conan) The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, first edition, illustrations by Sydney Paget, hinges neatly and professionally strengthened, original pictorial cloth, gilt, spine a little rubbed, minor bumping to spine ends and corners, but a sharp and bright copy generally, g.e., 8vo, 1894.
Oceania.- Kolff (Dirk Hendrik) Voyages of the Dutch Brig of War Dourga, through the southern and little-known parts of the Moluccan Archipelago, and along the previously unknown southern coast of New Guinea, performed during the years 1825 & 1826, translated by George Windsor Earl, first edition in English, 2 engraved maps, one double-page, advertisement leaf at end (foxed), light offsetting, bookplate of Sir Richard Vyvyan Bt., original purple cloth, slightly rubbed, spine faded, [Ferguson 3016], 8vo, 1840.⁂ Scarce in the original cloth.
Auden (W.H.) Poems, first edition, [one of 1000 copies], upper hinge pulling, original printed turquoise wrappers, uncut, contemporary ink inscription to head of upper wrapper, light foxing and very slight rubbing to edges, a little soiling or spotting to fore-edge, [Bloomfield & Mendelson A2a], 8vo, 1930.⁂ The author's influential first published book, only preceded by the notoriously rare issue of 1928 printed privately by Stephen Spender.
Buchan (John) Witch Wood, first edition, ink ownership inscription to half-title, original cloth, slight fading to spine, dust-jacket, spine slightly browned, 2 small tape repairs to foot of spine verso, spine ends and corners a little chipped, light spotting to flaps, light surface soiling to rear panel, light rubbing to extremities, still an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1927.⁂ An excellent copy of Buchan's masterpiece, a difficult title to find in the jacket.
Byron (Robert) The Road to Oxiana, first edition, frontispiece, map and 15 plates, original cloth, spine very slightly faded, dust-jacket, spine ends and corners a little chipped with sympathetic minor restoration and strengthening, rubbing to extremities, in effect an excellent copy, 8vo, 1937.⁂ An attractive example of Byron's classic travelogue, difficult to find in good condition.
Fleming (Ian) Casino Royale, first edition, half-title lettering faintly inked-in, neat ink ownership inscription to front free endpaper, endpapers spotted, original boards with heart design to upper cover, spine lettered in red, minor bumping to spine ends and corners, but a near-fine example otherwise, 8vo, 1953.⁂ The first of the James Bond novels, a key book in any modern literature collection.
Graves (Robert) Good-Bye to All That, first edition, first issue, frontispiece, plates, publisher's printed 'War' order form loosely inserted, original cloth, spine slightly discoloured, minor bumping to spine ends, first issue dust-jacket with wide flaps, spine slightly browned, minor chipping to head and foot, split to head of upper joint, surface soiling, a very good copy overall, 1929.⁂ The first issue, with the reference to Spiritualism on p.290 and the unauthorised transcription of a poem from Sassoon to Graves on pp.341-3, subsequently removed at Sassoon's request and reintroduced in the second edition.
Africa.- Veitch (Sophie F.F.) Views in Central Abyssinia. With Portraits of the Natives of the Galla Tribes, taken in pen and ink under circumstances of peculiar difficulty, by T.E., a German traveller, believed at present to be one of the captives there, first edition, half-title, 40 plates with guards, occasional foxing, ex-library copy with bookplate and "Withdrawn" stamp to front pastedown but otherwise unstamped, original cloth, g.e., a little rubbed, new endpapers, oblong 4to, 1868.⁂ Scarce.
Oceania.- [Wilson (William)] A Missionary Voyage to the Southern Pacific Ocean...in the Ship Duff, commanded by Captain James Wilson, first edition, 7 engraved maps, 5 folding, and 6 plates, list of subscribers at end, some light offsetting but generally very clean, one or two minor marginal tears or defects, contemporary sprinkled calf, gilt, spine gilt wirh green roan label, rubbed, a few worn patches, worming to joints at foot, [Ferguson 301], 4to, by S.Gosnell, for T. Chapman, 1799. ⁂ Account of the first missionary voyage to the South Pacific, including Tahiti, Tonga, Fiji and the Marquesas. The maps made an important contribution to Pacific cartography and the plates include a view of Rio de Janeiro.
Isherwood (Christopher) All the Conspirators, first edition, some splitting to inner gutter but holding firm, very light browning to endpapers, small ink ownership inscription, original cloth, spine a little rubbed and faded, dust-jacket, very light browning to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped, small chip to head of upper panel, light browning to top edge, light surface soiling, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1928.⁂ The author's first novel, published when he was only 24 years old, his only novel entirely set in London. Scarce in the dust-jacket, especially so in such excellent condition.
James (Henry) English Hours, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "To Arthur Granville Bradley, Rye, May 25th 1905" to endpaper, plates and illustrations, captioned tissue-guard, half-title and frontispiece damp-stained, modern morocco, gilt, spine gilt, t.e.g., others uncut, [Supino 62], 8vo, 1905.⁂ Arthur Granville Bradley (1850-1943) author, son of George Granville Bradley. In Some British Inns Bradley writes extensively about Rye and mentions the residence of Henry James 'the famous American novelist'.
Lowry (Malcolm) Under the Volcano, first edition, original cloth, spine slightly faded, some very light browning to extremities, dust-jacket, spine a little sunned, minor chipping to spine ends and corners, light creasing to head, some light surface soiling to rear panel, but a remarkably sharp, excellent example overall, 8vo, 1947.⁂ A crisp, attractive copy of Lowry's masterpiece, difficult to find in such good condition.
Pasternak (Boris) Doktor Zhivago original typescript, 2 vol., the George Katkov copy, author's autograph deletion of passages, insertion of words and typographical corrections in faint pencil and ink on over 200pp., light toning to text margins, vol.1 with 5ff. creased, vol.2 misbound with pagination as follows: 1-165, 178-184, 166-177 and 185-422, 2pp. in Russian relating to the 1958 BBC broadcast, lower joints starting, original brown cloth, large 8vo, 1956.⁂ One of the most famous Russian novels of the 20th century, which earned Pasternak the Nobel Prize for Literature and was a major source of embarrassment to the Soviet Union. Doctor Zhivago stands as one of the great epic Russian novels, its semi-autobiographical saga of the love between the eponymous doctor and the tragic Lara told against the backdrop of revolution and civil war familiar to many Russians of that generation. "I wrote the novel in order for it to be published and read, and that remains my only desire." - Boris PasternakThe George Katkov copy of the Doctor Zhivago typescript. One of only six typescripts to leave the Soviet Union prior to the novel's publication. This copy was instrumental in the first English translation, the BBC broadcasts of the novel in Russian and is very likely one of only two possible copies used by the CIA to publish Doctor Zhivago in Russian. No other complete typescript has ever been available freely on the market; the remaining copies are either in institutions or exceedingly unlikely to be sold. The existence of the Katkov typescript only became widely known with the publication of Paolo Mancosu's Zhivago's Secret Journey from Typescript to Book in 2016. Mancosu's authoritative research gives us a new and incontrovertible account of the complexities of the situation.Pasternak was already a highly acclaimed poet when he began writing Doctor Zhivago in 1945. He had long planned to write a novel which he considered a higher form of art than poetry, and regarded this work the greatest achievement of his oeuvre. Although it was already known to friends through private readings, the first public announcement of its existence and impending publication was a notice in the magazine Znamya in 1954: "The novel will probably be completed in the course of this summer. It covers a period from 1903 to 1929, with an epilogue relating to the Great War for the Fatherland." Nevertheless, it took until 1955 for Pasternak to complete the novel, submitting it for publication with a number of Soviet publishers in early 1956. Having received no reply for several months, Pasternak then commenced plans to have the typescript smuggled out of the USSR and published in translation overseas, hoping that this would force the Soviet Union to agree to publication in his homeland. Pasternak's forebodings about publication in Russia were realised when he received an excoriating thirty-page analysis of his novel from the editors of the literary magazine Novy Mir, rejecting it as unfit for Soviet publication and concluding with the sentence: "And so, Boris Leonidovich you have used your great gift in order to resuscitate in the soul of our people ideals which have been dead for a long time, and have passed by those ideals by which our people live."Mancosu has traced and examined the six typescripts sent out of Russia by Pasternak, all have handwritten corrections by the author, and Pasternak continued to add or alter passages throughout 1956-58 (the Katkov and Jacqueline de Proyart copies were the last to leave Russia, although it is unclear in what order).The first typescript to leave the country was given to Sergio D'Angelo, an Italian literary scout, on 20th May 1956. It made its way to the Italian publisher Giangiacomo Feltrinelli who arranged a contract for publication with Pasternak, signed in June of that year. After delays owing to severe pressure brought to bear by the Soviet authorities upon both Pasternak and Feltrinelli (who was a member of the Italian Communist Party), the latter went on to publish the first worldwide edition on 15th November 1957. This typescript is now located at the Feltrinelli Foundation in Milan.The remaining five typescripts were distributed as follows:1. To Ziemowit Fedecki, now located in the Biblioteka Narodowa in Warsaw. This copy is lacking the final 250pp.2. To Isaiah Berlin, now located with the Pasternak Family Papers at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, California. 3. To Hélène Peltier, now located in the Peltier archive in Sylvanès, France. This copy is lacking the second volume.4. To Jacqueline de Proyart which remains in private hands.5. To George Katkov.George Katkov (1903-85), a Russian academic, born in Moscow, was the son of a professor of Roman law at Kiev University. In 1921, at the age of 18, he fled Russia with his family at the height of the civil war, the very era of which Pasternak writes so movingly in the novel. He earned a doctorate in Philosophy at the German University in Prague before finally settling in England in 1939. After working at a number of academic posts and for a period with the BBC he became senior lecturer in Russian history at St. Anthony's College, Oxford, in 1953. Katkov travelled to Moscow in 1956 as part of a British academic delegation and met Pasternak during this trip. During their meeting Pasternak told Katkov that he had given a copy of his typescript to Feltrinelli and requested that Katkov assist in the English publication. Katkov could not risk taking the typescript at this point but one was sent to him, most likely through diplomatic channels, arriving in February or March 1957. Collins publishers obtained the rights for publication in English in late 1956, and the process of translation began. Katkov recommended Max Hayward, who worked as a research fellow at St. Anthony's College, as the principal translator, he was later joined by Manya Harari, with Stephen Spender enlisted to help translate the poems. The English translation was then checked for style before being read to Katkov, who checked it against his copy of the typescript, noting any passages that he felt had become distorted. The first English edition was published on 8th September, 1958.Katkov, along with his copy of the text, was also instrumental in the 1958 BBC radio production of the novel in Russian which was broadcasted into the Soviet Union. The two pages accompanying this copy show the breakdown of the novel into thirty-eight segments for broadcast. His assistance with this broadcast was contentious and earned Katkov the opprobrium of a number of Russian émigrés, including Berlin. For many people living in the USSR however, this would have been the first, and possibly only, opportunity to listen to the novel. The controversy surrounding the BBC broadcasts embodied the wider philosophical debate that had occupied many of the people involved in the novel's publication: though Pasternak was determined to have the …
Priestley (J.B.) Benighted, first edition, light browning to endpapers, bookplate, original cloth, spine slightly darkened, dust-jacket, a little spotted, very light discolouration to spine, some minor rubbing to tips of spine and corners, but a near-fine example overall, 8vo, 1927.⁂ A superb copy of this early Priestley title, his only foray into horror and rare with the dust-jacket in such condition. Benighted was adapted into the classic James Whale-directed 1932 film The Old Dark House and has been recently re-adapted for stage.
Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, first edition, first impression, frontispiece, one plate and 8 illustrations, including 7 full-page, map endpapers printed in red and black, all by the author, 2pp. advertisements, occasional scattered spotting, original pictorial cloth, slight shelf-lean, very minor bumping to corners, else fine, first state dust-jacket with the misprint "Dodgeson" for "Dodgson" corrected by hand on rear flap, light spotting and horizontal mark to spine, light toning to extreme head and foot of flaps, light scuffing and creasing to corners, some very minor surface soiling, but a sharp, near-fine example overall, 8vo, 1937.⁂ A superb copy of Tolkien's landmark work.
Tolkien (J.R.R.) Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics, first edition,some light scattered spotting, original printed wrappers, browned at spine and cover margins, light creasing to extremities, still an excellent copy overall, 8vo, [1937].⁂ An excellent example of a rare Tolkien publication.
Tolkien (J.R.R.).- Bloomfield (Mark) and Leonard Newmark. A Linguistic Inroduction to the History of English, first edition, J.R.R. Tolkien's copy with his ownership inscription in pencil dated 4/64 to endpaper, bookplate of Desmond Morris, original boards, dust-jacket, spine faded, torn with loss to foot of upper panel, spine chipped at head, New York, 1963.⁂ J.R.R. Tolkien's copy of a book on the history of the English language, a subject of deep academic interest to the author that heavily influenced his Middle Earth novels. Provenance: When Tolkien died in 1973 Desmond Morris was surprised to discover that his collection of books had been sent to Thornton's bookshop in Boad Street, Oxford, for sale. He was shown them arranged on the floor in a back room at Thorntons and, although Tolkien's specialist subjects were outside Morris's range of interests, he noticed that Tolkien had written his name in pencil in each of the volumes and he decided to acquire one as a memento of the great author.
Polar.- Rae (John) Narrative of an Expedition to the Shores of the Arctic Sea in 1846 and 1847, first edition, 2 folding engraved maps hand-coloured in outline, without the 10pp. advertisements at end, maps foxed and offset onto facing leaves (including title), large map with short tear at edge (repaired), some other foxing, mostly at beginning and end, ex-library copy with ink stamp to title, verso of maps and one or two other leaves, contemporary half calf, later black roan label, a little rubbed, [Sabin 67428], 8vo, 1850.⁂ Rae was sent by the Hudson's Bay Company to survey the north coast of Canada. The work provides much information on the natives of the area and also lists the fauna and flora. On a later journey he discovered the fate of Sir John Franklin and his expedition.
Traven (B.) The Death-Ship, first English edition, scattered spotting, ownership blind-stamps and light browning to endpapers, original cloth, spine slightly dulled, dust-jacket, light browning to spine and top edge of panels, short closed tear to foot of spine, slight creasing to spine ends, some light spotting and surface soiling, an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1934.⁂ Traven's breakthrough novel a scathing critique of bureaucracy and the loss of workers' rights, adapted into a 1959 film of the same name.
Yeats (William Butler) Poems, first edition, one of 750 copies, pictorial title by H.Granville Fell, bookplate, endpapers browned, spine browned, spine ends and corners bumped, spine ends chipped, 1895 ; Poems, first American edition,pictorial title by H.Granville Fell, spine browned, spine ends and corners bumped, Boston, 1895; Poems, second edition, frontispiece, scattered spotting, spine ends and corners a little bumped, 1899; Poems, third edition, frontispiece, contemporary ink inscription, spine rubbed and faded, spine ends and corners a little bumped, 1901; Poems, fourth edition, frontispiece, spotting, heavy to prelims, light rubbing to spine, minor bumping to spine ends and corners, 1904; Poems, fifth edition, frontispiece, scattered spotting to edges, light rubbing to spine, very slight rubbing to tips of spine and corners, else fine, 1908, all with tissue-guards present, original decorative cloth, gilt, uncut, 8vo.(6)⁂ A good grouping of the first five editions of Yeats' Poems as well as the first American edition. Yeats disliked the Granville Fell design for the first edition and from the second edition onwards this was replaced by an Althea Gyles one. Internally too Poems underwent numerous revisions and changes, as Yeats stated in his preface to the third edition: "These details may seem unnecessary; but after all one writes poetry for a few careful readers and for a few friends, who will not consider such details very unnecessary."
Ashendene Press.- Berners (Dame Juliana) A Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle, one of 150 copies on paper, woodcut frontispiece and illustrations copied from the original edition printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1496, first initial printed in red, etched bookplate of James Curle of Priorwood, Melrose, original limp vellum, uncut, a little faded, spine slightly soiled, [Hornby 16], 8vo, Ashendene Press, 1903.⁂ Beautifully-printed facsimile of the first English book on angling.
Russia.- Chappe d'Auteroche (Jean, Abbé) A Journey into Siberia, made by order of the King of France, first English edition, folding hand-coloured engraved map, 9 engraved plates (mostly of costumes), rather soiled and browned (mainly text), light water-staining to foot of plate of thermometers, tear to Kk3 not affecting text, bookplate of Richmond Allen, contemporary tree calf, red roan label, rubbed, spine worn at head, 4to, for T.Jefferys, Geographer to the King, 1770.⁂ Chappe d'Auteroche was sent to Siberia to study the transit of Venus which was due in June 1761. On his return he published this account of the manners and customs of the native inhabitants.
Beerbohm (Max) The Happy Hypocrite, first edition, title printed in red and black, ink inscription to endpaper, original printed wrappers, spine a little creased and browned, light fraying to extremities, 1897; An original pen and ink drawing of Lord George Hell.signed "Max '00" and inscribed "Lord George Hell for John Blair", additionally inscribed in another hand "To dear Louis from me" at head, on two sheets joined, 203 x 105mm., window-mounted, 1900, housed together in custom folding chemise, sadly broken; and a typescript with covering letter for the Orson Welles Show production of Happy Hypocrite, v.s. (4)⁂ A lovely group relating to Beerbohm's Happy Hypocrite. The book and original illustration belonged to Louis Shipman (1869-1933), writer, and his wife Ellen Shipman (1869-1950), architect.
Russia.- Pallas (Peter Simon) Travels through the Southern Provinces of the Russian Empire..., 2 vol., second edition, lacking half-title in vol.2 (not called for in vol.1), 52 aquatint or engraved plates or plans (most hand-coloured, 26 folding), 3 folding engraved maps, and 28 engraved vignettes (all but a few hand-coloured), light offsetting as usual, occasional spotting or soiling, light staining to lower margin of frontispiece and title to vol.1, handsome contemporary mottled calf, rebacked preserving old gilt spines, a little rubbed, corners repaired, [cf. Abbey, Travel 222, first edition of 1802-3], 4to, 1812.
Faber, Jr. (John) The Kit-Cat Club done from the Original Paintings of Sr. Godfrey Kneller, first edition, engraved throughout with mezzotint allegorical title by Faber after Gravelot, engraved dedication and 47 magnificent mezzotint portraits (one double-page depicting two figures) by John Faber after Kneller, without the 10pp. text sometimes bound in, one plate with short tear to outer margin repaired, book-labels of Stanley William Sykes and J.O.Edwards, nineteenth century panelled calf, gilt, by Root & Son, rebacked preserving old gilt spine, rubbed, spine ends & bands and corners a little worn, J.Tonson, 1735 § [Caulfield (James)] Memoirs of the Celebrated Persons composing the Kit-Cat Club; with a Prefatory Account of the Origin of the Association, first edition, 48 engraved plates after Kneller, errata slip at end, plates foxed, modern half calf, spine gilt, uncut, spine a little faded, 1821, folio (2)⁂ The Kit-Cat Club was a late 17th and 18th century political and literary club including the most powerful Whig politicians of the day. It met at a London tavern run by Christopher Cat, by which it got its name. The original portraits by Kneller are in the National Portrait Gallery.
Voyages.- Bougainville (Louis-Antoine, Comte de) A Voyage round the World...in the Years 1766, 1767, 1768, and 1769, translated by John Reinhold Forster, first edition in English, 5 folding engraved maps and folding engraved plate, some offsetting, lightly browned, contemporary speckled calf, spine gilt with red morocco label, rubbed, spine ends repaired, [Sabin 6869], 4to, for J. Nourse...and T.Davies, 1772. ⁂ An account of the first official French circumnavigation. In 1766 Bougainville sailed from Nantes in the frigate La Boudeuse to Rio de Janeiro, then on to the Falklands and thereafter through the South Pacific. The work is noted for its descriptions of Tahiti and includes a vocabulary of the language, the first publication of any Polynesian language.
Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back - First Edition paperback book (1980) signed to the inside by Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, Dave Prowse, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, Gary Kurtz & Irvin Kershner.Provenance: Obtained at a book signing at Selfridges Store in London on the 5th of May 1980. The signing took place at a special 'Empire Strikes Back' exhibition in Selfridges..
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