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Click here to subscribePowell (Anthony) Agents and Patients, first edition, the odd spot, original cloth, light sunning to spine, splitting to lower joint, ring- and splash-marks to covers, dust-jacket by Misha Black, price-clipped, spine and panels with neat and expert repairs and restoration, light creasing to head and foot, in effect an excellent example, 8vo, 1936.⁂ An early Powell title, scarce in the dust-jacket.
Pratchett (Terry) The Colour of Magic, first edition, signed by the author on title, original boards, dust-jacket with publisher's overlay to front flap, light rubbing to extremities, light surface abrasion to lower panel, a near-fine example, 8vo, Gerrards Cross, Colin Smythe, 1983.⁂ A superb signed example of the first of the Discworld books. Copies of this title are scarce, especially so signed.
Pratchett (Terry) The Light Fantastic, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author and signed by dust-jacket artist Josh Kirby on title, remains of author's erased signature on title, some light toning to text, original boards, dust-jacket, price sticker to front flap, very slight fading to spine, light creasing to spine tips and corners, but a near-fine example overall, 8vo, Colin Smythe, 1986.
Pratchett (Terry) [The Witches novels], 11 vol., comprising Equal Rites, 1987; Wyrd Sisters, 1988; Witches Abroad, 1991; Lords and Ladies, 1992; Maskerade, 1995; Carpe Jugulum, 1998; The Wee Free Men, 2003; A Hat Full of Sky, 2004; Wintersmith, 2006; I Shall Wear Midnight, 2010; The Shepherd's Crown, limited edition, slip-case, 2015, first editions, all but the last signed or with signed presentation inscriptions from the author, the first 6 signed by dust-jacket artist Josh Kirby, original boards, all but the last with dust-jackets, fine copies, 8vo. ⁂ The complete sequence of the Discworld Witches novels, the last was the final Discworld novel, published posthumously. Most signed within a year or two of publication.
Repton (Humphry) Designs for the Pavillon at Brighton, first edition, allegorical aquatint frontispiece misbound after d1, hand-coloured plan, 18 aquatint plates and vignettes (9 hand-coloured, 6 with overslips, one with overpage, one double-page, one folding, one plate and one vignette tinted), small tear to folding plate, slight creasing to edges of some overslips, light water-stain to one leaf, other minor, mostly marginal soiling, modern green half morocco over boards retaining part of original printed paper label on upper cover, preserved in modern green morocco-backed cloth slip-case, [Abbey, Scenery 57; Tooley 397], folio, Printed for J.C. Stadler...the letter press by T. Bensley, 1808.⁂ Repton's proposal for the pavilion in the Indian style of architecture, originally published in 1808, was not built due to the Prince Regent's financial difficulties at the time, but his ideas were taken up by John Nash who designed the building we know today in 1815.Provenance: E.P. John Westby (bookplate).
Pratchett (Terry) [The City Watch novels], 8 vol., comprising Guards! Guards!, 1989; Men at Arms, 1993; Feet of Clay, signed by Stephen Briggs, 1996; Jingo, 1997; The Fifth Elephant, 1999, Night Watch, 2002; Thud!, limited edition, slipcase, 2005; Snuff, 2011, first editions, signed presentation inscriptions from the author, the first 5 signed by dust-jacket artist Josh Kirby, original boards, dust-jackets, fine copies, 8vo.⁂ The complete City Watch sequence, all signed within a year or two of publication.
Pratchett (Terry) and Neil Gaiman. Good Omens, uncorrected proof copy, signed presentation inscriptions from the authors "To Neil, Burn this book* Terry Pratchett" "*Despite the fact it's a rare collectible wossname. Neil Gaiman. p.s. Apply the match here" and additionally signed by jacket artist Chris Moore all on title, original stapled wrappers, proof dust-jacket, 1990; Good Omens, first edition, signed presentation inscriptions from the author and Chris Moore on title, original boards, dust-jacket, 1990, near-fine copies, 8vo (2)⁂ The proof is rare and only runs to p.34, the proof jacket has a few printed differences to that on the first as well as being shorter. We can trace no like example.
Pratchett (Terry) The Carpet People, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author on title over author's earlier tippexed inscription on title, illustrations by the author, original cloth, dust-jacket, price-clipped, neat reinforcing backing strip to head and foot verso, light rubbing but still a near-fine example overall, 8vo, 1971.⁂ Pratchett's first novel, written when he was a teenager, rare signed.
Rendell (Ruth) From Doon with Death, first edition, bookplate signed by the author to endpaper, slight shelf-lean, dust-jacket, spine ends and corners chipped, short nick with light creasing to head of upper panel, light rubbing to extremities, light foxing to verso, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1964.⁂ The author's first novel, introducing Chief Inspector Wexford.
Rushdie (Salman) Midnight's Children's, first edition, first issue on American sheets, signed by the author and by jacket artist Bill Botten on title, light spotting to endpapers, original cloth-backed boards, upper and lower edge sunned, dust-jacket, spine and lower panel a little sunned, light creasing to spine tips and corners, an excellent example, original printed warparound band, spine creased, otherwise excellent, 8vo, 1981.⁂ An excellent example of Rushdie's most famous work, the winner of the Best of the Booker prize in 2008.
Saint-Exupéry (Antoine de) The Little Prince, first English edition, illustrations by the author, light spotting, original cloth, slight shelf-lean, dust-jacket, lower 1/3 of spine supplied in very good facsimile, head of spine and corners a little chipped, faint spotting or marking to panels, light rubbing to fore-edges, but in effect an excellent example, 4to, 1944.
Waugh (Evelyn) The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold, a Conversation Piece, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Miss [Margaret] Case to front free endpaper, original cloth, spine a little darkened, dust-jacket, spine ends and corners a little chipped, short nick to head of upper panel, an excellent copy overall, 8vo, 1957.⁂ "A lady called Miss Case is in love with me- unreciprocated""- Evelyn Waugh in a letter to Nancy Mitford, November, 1948.Margaret Case worked at Vogue for around 40 years, mostly as an editor. She appears to have met Waugh whilst they were on board the Queen Elizabeth. In 1971 she was unceremoniously fired from the magazine and tragically killed herself a few days later.
Waugh (Evelyn) Helena, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "For Hugh Burnett, Souvenir of Stinchcombe, August 18th, Feast of St. Helena from Evelyn Waugh" to endpaper, light browning to half-title, the odd spot, original cloth, spine dulled, some light rubbing, dust-jacket, paper reinforcement to head and foot verso, ink lettering to foot of upper flap, faint surface soiling, light rubbing to extremities, light creasing to head, near-fine otherwise, original Daily Mail Book of the Month wraparound band (spine browned), 8vo, 1950.⁂ An excellent association copy of Waugh's favourite of his own books. David Burnett (1924-2011) was a television and radio producer who interviewed Waugh as part of his Personal Call radio series in 1953. The interview took place at Waugh's home at Stinchcombe, Gloucestershire. Burnett would later recall that "before we left he asked if we would accept a signed copy of one of his books. I asked for the one he liked best - and he presented me with 'Helena'".
Waugh (Evelyn) Scoop, first edition, light toning to endpapers otherwise internally near fine, original patterned cloth, spine ends lightly bumped, dust-jacket, first issue with Daily Beast masthead, extremities frayed and chipped with some loss, worse to spine ends affecting text, spine faded, 8vo, 1933.⁂ Waugh's classic on the world of Fleet Street journalism, with the original dust-jacket issued before Lord Beaverbrook threatened to sue due to the obvious visual play on the Daily Express.
Waugh (Evelyn) Brideshead Revisited, first edition, bookplate to pastedown, one or two spots to fore-edge, original cloth, fine, dust-jacket, light creasing to lower flap, one light mark to upper panel, very light nicks or fraying to spine ends and joints but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1945.
Lambert (Johann Heinrich) "Observations Trigonometriques", extract from Nouveaux Memoires de l'Academie des Sciences et Belles-Lettres, vol. 24, pp. 327-354, engraved folding plate, Berlin, 1770, bound with 6 others extracted papers in 2 vol., modern cloth, 4to.⁂ First edition of this key work on non-Euclidean geometry in which Lambert introduced hyperbolic functions into trigonometry. The only paper by Lambert on the subject to be published during his lifetime. The other papers included in the group comprise: Solution générale et absolue; Du probleme de trois corps; Moyennant des suites infinies; Sur la fluidite du sable, de la terre et d'autres corps mous; Suite de lessai dhygrométrie; Sur la densité de l'air.
Waugh (Evelyn) Robbery Under Law: The Mexican Object-Lesson, first edition, publisher's postcard loosely inserted, original cloth, spine a little sunned, light rubbing and bumping to spine tips and corners, dust-jacket, price-clipped, toning to spine and lower panel, some chipping and fraying to head and foot with small portion of loss along head of upper panel, light creasing to head and foot, a little rubbed, but a very good example overall of a scarce jacket, 8vo, 1939.⁂ Scarce with the jacket in good, unrestored condition.
Wells (H.G.) The World Set Free. A Story of Mankind, first edition, 10pp. advertisements at rear, light browning to endpapers, original cloth, light rubbing to spine and corners tips, else fine, dust-jacket, light toning to spine, portion of browning and creasing to upper panel, upper fore-edge with tape repairs to verso and some resultant show-through, some slight chipping and fraying to head and foot, 8vo, 1914.⁂ Wells' science fiction future war novel that famously envisaged the creation and use of atomic bombs, rare in the dust-jacket.
White (T.H.) [The Arthurian trilogy], 3 vol., comprising The Sword in the Stone, upper hinge weak, ink ownership inscription to endpaper, very light fading to spine, light marking to covers, jacket neatly price-clipped, light browning to spine, spine ends and corners chipped, affecting first word of title at head of spine and upper flap, a little creased at head, 1940; The Witch in the Wood, light edge spotting, ink gift inscription to endpaper, light toning to spine ends, jacket neatly price-clipped, spine ends and corners a little chipped, some chipping and fraying along head and fore-edges, extremities rubbed, some paper reinforcement to verso, 1940; The Ill-Made Knight, light fading to foot of spine, jacket spine ends and corners a little chipped and creased, extremities rubbed, closed tear with creasing to head of lower panel, 1941, first or first English editions, original cloth, dust-jackets, 8vo.⁂ White's classic Arthurian trilogy, subsequently enlarged by two further books as part of the collected edition The Once and Future King.
Wodehouse (P.G.) Young Men in Spats, first edition, light browning to endpapers, original cloth, light fading to spine, splash mark to lower cover, sunning to head and foot, dust-jacket, neat and expert repairs and restoration to head and foot, rubbing to fore-edge, light creasing to head and foot, an excellent example, original printed "The Drones Club Book of the Month" wraparound band, [McIlvaine A55a], 8vo, 1936.⁂ Rare in such attractive condition and with the amusing wraparound band.
Woolf (Leonard) Barbarians at the Gate, first edition, publisher's archival copy with ink stamp to title, endpaper and upper panel, neat ink ownership inscription to endpaper, original cloth, light bumping to spine tips, else fine, dust-jacket, light toning to spine, minor chipping to spine tips and corners, slight sunning to panel margins, otherwise a near-fine example overall, 8vo, 1939.⁂ Woolf's assessment of the world as it stood in 1938. Also issued as part of the Left Book Club, the Gollancz issue is by far the rarer, especially in such attractive condition.
[Wyndham (John)] "John Beynon". The Secret People, first edition, foxing, marginal abrasion to pp. 124-5, p. 129 with toning to margin, light browning to half title and final text p., original first issue red cloth, spine lettered in gilt, slight shelf-lean, rubbed, light finger-soiling, dust-jacket priced at 2/6, spine ends and corners a little chipped, light spotting and surface soiling, short nick with creasing to head and foot of lower panel, but overall an excellent example of a rare jacket, 8vo, [1935].⁂ Wyndham's second novel and his first attempt at science fiction. Exceptionally rare in the dust-jacket, we can trace no other example at auction.
Wyndham (John) The Day of the Triffids, first edition, original green cloth, slight toning along foot, else fine, dust-jacket, neat and expert restoration and repairs to spine and joints and along head and foot of panels, in effect a near-fine example, 8vo, 1951.⁂ A sharp, attractive copy of Wyndham's enormously influential sci-fi thriller.
Stevenson (Robert Louis) A Child's Garden of Verses, first edition, issue with smaller "of" in title on spine but rounded apostrophe, no mention of "Two Series" in the list of other works by the author, half-title, some very light spotting or finger-soiling, occasional splitting at gutter, endpapers browned, original blue cloth, lightly rubbed, corners bumped, t.e.g., others uncut, a bright and excellent example overall, [Prideaux I, 14], 8vo, 1885.
Photography.- Emerson (Peter Henry) Marsh Leaves, first edition, [one of 200 copies from an edition limited to 300 copies], 16 fine photogravure plates, tissue-guards (1 or 2 with short tears, 1 detached), a very good, clean copy internally, original parchment-backed cloth, neatly rebacked, retaining majority of original backstrip, some light toning to spine, light soiling to covers, t.e.g., preserved in custom drop-back box, folio, David Nutt, 1895.⁂ A clean, attractive copy of one of the key photobooks of the period. "Certainly, the 16 photo-etchings take his art to where it could probably go no further, and as a fusion of text and imagery the book is entirely successful... It is one of the most beautiful books about isolation and solitude, perhaps death, ever made, and Emerson's spare, evocative pictures were seldom equalled by the later Pictorialists." - Grolier, The Photobook.
Browning (Robert) Strafford: An Historical Tragedy, first edition, 4pp. advertisements at end dated April 15 1837, original drab wrappers with paper label to upper cover bound in, later brown crushed morocco by the Club Bindery (dated 1898), elaborate gilt borders to both covers with tan morocco onlays, spine gilt in compartments with raised bands, g.e., fine tan morocco doublures with gilt floral design and leafy sprays in corners, olive green watered silk endpapers, very slight rubbing to joints and raised bands, 8vo (binding 222 x 144mm.), 1837.⁂ Provenance: Henry William Poor (morocco book label); Christine Alexander Graham (hand-coloured armorial bookplate).
Flaubert (Gustave) Trois Contes, first edition, one of 100 copies on papier de Hollande, original yellow printed wrappers bound in, stunning dark blue morocco by Noulhac, ornately stamped in gilt to an overall mosaic design of blue and ochre onlays, very small abrasions to upper cover, spine gilt in compartments with raised bands and geometric design of the same colours, g.e., dark and royal blue morocco doublures with multiple gilt fillet borders, blue watered silk endpapers backed by marbled endpapers, blue half morocco chemise and morocco-edged marbled board slip-case, 8vo (binding 188 x 129mm.), Paris, Charpentier, 1877.⁂ Beautiful mosaic binding by Noulhac on a first edition of these three short stories - Un Coeur Simple, La Legende de Saint Julien l'Hospitalier and Herodias - by Flaubert.
Malfilatre (Jacques-Charles-Louis Clinchamps de) Narcisse dans l'Isle de Venus, Poeme en quatre chants, first edition, engraved title by de Ghendt after Eisen and 4 plates by Massard after St. Aubin, later engraved portrait on India paper bound in at beginning and 2 vignettes by Eisen at end, minor foxing, later dark green morocco by Blanchetiere with overall decoration of flowers round a central oval and decorative corner designs within dotted and ruled borders, g.e., inner gilt dentelles and decorative floral green silk endpapers, morocco-edged marbled board slip-case, 8vo (binding 215 x 144mm.), [Cohen-de Ricci 671], Paris, Chez Lejay, [1769].
Feynman (Richard P.) "Space-Time Approach to Non-Relativistic Quantum Mechanics", in Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 20, no. 2, modern cloth, original wrappers bound in, label to upper wrapper "Feynman April 1948", light vertical crease, 4to, Lancaster, PA and New York, American Physical Society, 1948.⁂ First edition of this key paper by Feynman in which he introduced his path-integral method of solving the fundamental equations of quantum mechanics. Now regarded as a cornerstone paper in the study of theoretical physics.
Abbey copy.- Repton (Humphry) Fragments on the Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening, first edition, half-title, 43 plates, comprising: one wood-engraved and letterpress plan, 21 hand-coloured aquatints (of which 2 double-page, 8 with overslips), 6 tinted aquatints (one with overslip), 13 aquatints (2 with overslips), 27 text illustrations, comprising: 9 aquatints (2 with overslips), 18 wood-engravings, occasional light offsetting, contemporary russia, stamped in gilt and blind, g.e., [Abbey, Scenery 391; Tooley 398], 4to, Printed by T. Bensley and Son...for J. Taylor, 1816.⁂ An excellent copy of Repton's last great work on landscape gardening, which he calls "the pleasing combination of Art and Nature adapted to the use of Man."Provenance: [Major] John Roland Abbey (bookplate).
[Barleti (Marin)] The Historie of George Castriot, surnamed Scanderbeg, King of Albanie, first and only edition in English, translated by Zachary Jones, engraved portrait frontispiece inserted from another work, previous owner's ink signature to title, lacking initial blank and free endpapers, trimmed, occasionally affecting head-lines, K6 with small marginal paper defect not affecting text, 2RG with marginal paper defect affecting odd letter, S1 with small marginal hole affecting odd letter, small marginal loss to last few leaves, one or two marginal notes in varying hands, scattered spotting and staining, near contemporary calf, crudely rebacked, slight bumping to corners and extremities, [STC 15318], folio, for William Ponsonby, 1596.⁂ Although not called for, other copies at auction have also had engraved portraits inserted as frontispieces. The work includes a prefatory sonnet by Edmund Spenser ('Upon the historie of George Castriot.')
Balkans.- Hobhouse (John Cam, 1st Baron Broughton) A Journey through Albania, and other provinces of Turkey in Europe and Asia to Constantinople, first edition, engraved frontispiece, 2 folding double-page maps, 1 plan, 2 facsimiles, 2 plates of sheet music, 17 hand-coloured aquatints, 7 folding, scattered faint spotting, one or two pencil notes, 3N1 with tiny hole affecting odd letter, short tear to title, faint marginal damp-staining to frontispiece, scattered spotting, bookplate, contemporary straight-grain morocco, gilt, g.e., a little rubbed, slight bumping to corners and extremities, 4to, 1813.
Balkans.- Smart (Rev. Thomas Smart) Travels in Sicily Greece and Albania, 2 vol., first edition, 12 aquatint and engraved plates, 3 engraved maps and plans, 2 folding, illustrations, occasional spotting and off-setting, previous owner's ink inscription, contemporary half-calf, vol. 1 upper cover detached, a little rubbed, bumping to corners and extremities, [Blackmer 842], 4to, 1820.
Americas.- Martyr d'Anghiera (Peter) De rebus oceanicis et novo orbe...et item de rebus aethiopicis Indicis, Lusitanicis & Hispanicis..., woodcut initials, title with small repaired hole to fore-edge, not affecting text, occasional slight browning, light water-staining to lower margin and last few leaves, the odd spot or mark but a clean copy overall, later vellum-backed boards, worn at corners, rubbed, title in manuscript to lower fore-edge, [Adams M755; Sabin 1558], 8vo, Cologne, Gervinus Calenius & heirs of Quentel, 1574.⁂ An early authoritative history of the discovery of the New World by Peter Matyr, King Ferdinand's councillor for Spain's affairs in the New World. The work was expanded over time, this 1574 edition covering the first three decades of Spanish conquest from 1492 to 1516, together with Cortes' expedition to Mexico and Martyr's diplomatic mission to Egypt in 1501-02. Also included are miscellaneous writings by Damiao de Goes, Portuguese historian and statesman, among them a description of Lapland and an account of the religion and customs of the Ethiopians.
America.- Crockett (David) A Narrative of the Life of David Crockett, of the State of Tennessee, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to front free endpaper, staining where tape is removed to pastedown and front free endpaper, occasional light foxing, later blue ink staining to pp.25-60 top margin (not affecting text body), tape staining pp.106-109, 22pp. advertisements at end, original cloth, rebacked preserving original spine with paper label (worn), corners bumped, covers marked and scuffed, discoloured, 8vo, Philadelphia, E. L. Carey and A. Hart, 1834.⁂ A rare inscribed copy with Crockett's authorial certification: "Being Called on by Mr William Allen to certify whether this book is or is not the true history of my life written by myself - I certify with pleasure that this is the true history written by myself and that this other is a counterfeit and was written without any authority from me, David Crockett of Tennessee, new Member of Congress". We cannot trace any other copy of this work inscribed by the author at auction. David "Davy" Crockett (1786-1836) was a frontiersman, soldier, later congressman, and prolific story-teller. Known as the 'King of the Wild Frontier', his exploits remain a legacy of the all-American frontiersman of 18th century America. Growing up in East Tennessee, he was later elected to U.S. Congress where he vehemently opposed the policies of Present Andrew Jackson, especially in the Indian Removal Act, and after his death he was continually credited with acts of fabled proportion. His adventures - both mythical and real - have since awarded him the status of an American folk hero.
America.- Encounters with Native Americans.- Ashe (Captain Thomas) Travels in America, Performed in 1806, 3 vol., first edition, without half-titles, some light even browning, contemporary calf, red and green morocco spine labels, 'Pakenham Hall' blind stamped in gilt to upper covers, joints weak and splitting though holding firm, together in custom-made morocco-backed box, (lightly rubbed), 8vo, 1808.⁂ Rare set of Ashe's musings and observations on his travels around eastern states of America. His route took him overland to Pittsburgh and thence down to Ohio, where he made many stops to open Indian mounds and collect fossil bones. On landing back England he unsuccessfully attempted to sell to the British Museum with issues at customs on arrival in Bristol, and was forced to sell his extensive collection cheaply to a local small museum.
South America.- Conquest of Peru.- Cieza De León (Pedro de) Parte primera de la chronica del Peru. Que tracta la demarcacion de sus provincias: la descripcion dellas. Las fundaciones de las nuevas ciudades. Los ritos y costumbres de los indios, y otras cosas estrañas dignas de ser sabidas, first edition, collation: ✠6 2✠4 a-q8 r6, largely double-column, title with large woodcut royal arms within woodcut border, 42 woodcuts in the text (some repetitions), and woodcut initials, author's signature to r6 verso, the odd ink note to margin in an early hand, title upper and inner margins restored and repaired tear to foot, title and first 2 gathering with repair and restorations to fore-margins and upper corner, a few other small marginal repairs and 1 or 2 neat repairs to text, light foxing and marginal damp-staining towards end, the odd patch of light staining and some light soiling or browning, but a crisp copy generally, contemporary vellum with manuscript lettering to spine, remains of ink inscriptions to lower cover, endpapers renewed, folio (292 x 200mm.), Seville, Martín de Montesdoca, 1553.⁂ The first edition of this excessively rare chronicle. We can trace only three copies offered either at auction or in dealer's catalogues, and no copy other than this since 1951."One of the most remarkable literary productions of the age of the Spanish Conquest in America. It is, in fact, the only book which exhibits the 'physical aspect of the country as it existed under the elaborate culture of the Incas'." - Sabin.The author of this history was one of the greatest authorities on Peru, where he spent 16 years. He started the work at Popayan in 1541 and finished it in Lima in 1550; the full chronicle consisted of four volumes, of which only the first was published, and deals with the geography, history and ethnology of Peru. Apart from the famous woodcut and description of the silver mines of Potosi, engraved after an original drawing made by the author, the woodcuts depict the everyday life of the conquistadors with the Indians, boats on Lake Titicaca, the building of a city, Quechua Indians dealing with the devil, a human sacrifice, a Spanish and an Indian in front of the city of Cuzco etc... It also contains the first extended description of the Peruvian guanaco, or llama, and of the pepper-tree, or mollé, and the commercial and medicinal uses of its fruits.Literature: Sabin, 13044; Medina (BHA), 157; Escudero (Séville), 555; Streit, II, 644; JCB (3) I:175; Field, 314;Johnson, The Book in the Americas, 32; Delgado-Gomez, Spanish Historical Writing about the New World, 26;Alden, 553/20; Maggs, Bibliotheca Americana (1926), p. 59, n° 3967; Quoted by Salvá, n° 3293, but never seen by him.
Asia.- Mandeville (Sir John) Tractato bellissimo delle piu maravigliose cose & piu motabile che sitrovino nelle parte delmondo, collation: a-k8, double column, 80ff., 39 lines, Gothic type, woodcut to title depicting a group of horsemen meeting Mandeville (holding a book) at the edge of a wood, 3 woodcut printer's devices at foot of final verso, lightly washed, traces of dust-soiling to title, one minute wormhole, a few marginal repaired tears, later red morocco, gilt, by Bedford, g.e., 8vo (199 x 129mm.), Florence, [Lorenzo Morgiani], [c.1496-99].⁂ A superb, clean and complete copy of this fundamental Renaissance travel book in the Italian vernacular. ISTC records only four copies (2 Florence, Perugia (defective) and BL, to which we add a copy in Paris). The work influenced much of the travel and exploration undertaken in the late middle ages and beyond and was one of the most popular books of its kind at the time, encompassing the Holy Land, Levant, Persia, India and Far East. In 1625 Samuel Purchas thought Mandeville 'was the greatest Asian Traveller that ever the World had', next - 'if next' - to Marco Polo (Pilgrimes III/i p. 65). Little is known of Sir John Mandeville himself. He tells us that he was an English knight, that he travelled from 1322 to 1356, and he served with the Sultan of Egypt and the Great Khan. This is one of seven Italian incunable editions - the first being Milan 1480. It would undoubtedly have influenced Columbus (himself an Italian) and other travellers from northern Italy heading both east and west. "When Leonardo da Vinci moved from Milan in 1499, the inventory of his books included a number on natural history, the sphere, the heavens - indicators of some of the prime interests of that unparalleled mind. But out of the multitude of travel accounts that Leonardo could have had, in MS or from the new printing presses, there is only the one: Mandeville's Travels. At about the same time... Columbus was perusing Mandeville for information on China preparatory to his voyage; and in 1576 a copy of the Travels was with Frobisher as he lay off Baffin Bay. The huge number of people who relied on the Travels for hard, practical geographical information in the two centuries after the book first appeared demands that we give it serious attention if we want to understand the mental picture of the world of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance" (C. Moseley, ed., The Travels of Sir John Mandeville, 1983, p. 9).Literature: GW M20444; ISTC im00176500 (; Howgego M39; IGI, 6109; Lach Asia in the Making of Europe, I, pp. 77-80; Lowendahl China Illustrata Nova, 2 (1480 edition).
China.- Morrison (John Robert) A Chinese Commercial Guide. Consisting of a Collection of Details Respecting Foreign Trade with China, second edition, lacking folding plate, title with light soiling and 2 repairs to head, occasional light toning and the odd pencil note to margin, ink ownership inscription "C. Ryder, Canton" to head of title along with gift inscription in another hand "C. Francis Ryder in remembrance of Charles Ryder - August 1930", 19th century half calf, rubbed, [Goldsmiths 33727], 8vo, Macao, S. Williams, 1844.⁂ Rare, we can trace no examples of any edition at auction. Library Hub lists three copies of the first edition and four of the much-expanded second (Leeds, Manchester, Senate House and Warwick). Includes a lengthy section on the costal navigation on China followed by a discussion of the best articles of import and export for China. The section on opium provides a figure of $14 million for the annual trade with China at the point of publication, this figure has been updated by a pencil note to margin date 1856 to $30 million. Names are given in Chinese characters and even full import forms are supplied to be copied out.
Egypt.- Hieroglyphs.- Champollion (Jean Francois) Grammaire Égyptienne, first edition, lithographed hieroglyphs throughout, some printed in red, a few in colours, occasional offsetting, original printed wrappers, upper and lower covers backed with a few repairs and some restoration to extremities, rebacked, some marking and toning to covers, folio, Paris, Firmin Didot Fréres, 1836[-1841].⁂ This monumental work of Champollion (1790-1832), known above all as the decipherer of the Rosetta stone, is the grand summation of his work in cracking Egyptian hieroglyphs and laid the foundations for all subsequent discoveries in Egyptology. It contains the first printed list of hieroglyphs; 260 in all. The printing, from Champollion's meticulous manuscript, was a complex process. It required a special combination of all the standard alphabetic languages (French, Latin, Greek, Coptic, etc.) to be set in the usual way in type, leaving blank spaces for the hieroglyphs. The typesetting was then transferred to lithographic plates where the hieroglyphs were engraved and then each page, including type and hieroglyphs, was reprinted lithographically. This was the first time such a technique was used in France. Rare in the original printed wrappers.
India.- Briggs (Henry George) The Cities of Gujarashtra: their Topography and History. Illustrated in the Journal of a Recent Tour, first edition, title with fore-edge repaired, occasional light spotting or damp-staining, some slight browning, small marginal worm holes throughout, heavier worming at beginning and end, affecting only a letter of the imprint "Bombay", final few leaves chipped and torn with repairs and restoration, affecting text with loss to a few words, later half calf, spine gilt, rubbed, lower joint starting, lge 4to, Bombay, for the Author, [1849].⁂ A rare account of "Gujarashtra" or present day Gujarat, covering the major cities of Surat, Ahmedabad, Bharuch etc, as well as the history of the Western colonial presence in the area.
Gould (John) The Birds of Great Britain, 3 vol. (of 5), first edition, 191 hand-coloured lithograph plates, most heightened with gum arabic, by Gould, H. C. Richter, Joseph Wolf and William Hart, bookplates to vol.2 & 3 pastedowns, Goshawk text page with portion of loss to lower margin (not affecting text), few tears to text leaves or very occasionally to plate margins (though not affecting text or image, of which some repaired neatly with tape verso), vol.3 hinge broken to final plate but contents holding firm, even foxing and browning to some endpapers or preliminary pages, occasional scattered spots to plates, but in general clean and bright copies, vol.1 contemporary dark green morocco, ornate gilt border panelling with inner gilt dentelles, upper cover joint cracking but holding firm, extremities rather rubbed, vol.2 & 3 uniformly bound in dark brown morocco, covers lightly marked, extremities rubbed, spines faded, [Ayer & Zimmer p.261; Fine Bird Books, p.78; Wood p.365; Nissen 372], folio, [1862-] 1873.
Middle East.- Arab authors.- Bodoni.- De Rossi (Giovanni Bernardo) Dizionario storico degli autori arabi più celebri e delle loro principali opere, first edition, double column, final f. with list of works by this author, spotted, contemporary marbled wrappers, lacking backstrip, text block broken, [Brooks 1036], scarce, 8vo, Parma, Stamperia Imperiale [Bodoni], 1807.⁂ A wide-margined copy of the first edition of this biographical dictionary of Arab authors, printed by Bodoni, as were many of the author's other works.
Middle East.- Stark (Freya) The Southern Gates of Arabia, first edition, folding maps, plates, modern red half morocco, gilt, t.e.g., John Murray, 1936; and 21 other first editions by Stark, uniformly bound (though three with horizontal spine lettering of title), a few with very slightly different colour of red, many with dust-jackets bound in, 8vo and 4to (22)⁂ A substantial collection of Freya Stark's travel writings, autobiography (4 vol.) handsomely and uniformly bound. From the library of Michael Matantos with his bookplate.
Tibet.- Turner (Captain Samuel) An Account of an Embassy to the Court of the Teshoo Lama, in Tibet, first edition, 13 engraved plates, 1 double-page, engraved illustrations, folding engraved map, shot marginal tear, off-setting as usual, Z1 with tiny hole affecting odd letter, 2S3 with small marginal holes, scattered spotting and marginal damp-staining, one or two corrections inserted by hand, previous ownership inscription to title, modern calf-backed boards, 4to, 1800.⁂ Provenance: Lord Beresford's copy, with the inscription "This Book belong to Lord Beresford's Library at Bedgebury Park."
Voyages.- Morisot (Claude Barthélemy de) Orbis maritimi sive Rerum in mari et littoribus gestarum generalis historia, first edition, additional engraved title, title printed in red and black, additional printed dedication to Pierre Séguier (leaf â) inserted at end of preliminaries, folding engraved plate, 44 engraved illustrations, 23 of which maps, additional title with small marginal loss to fore-edge (repaired), folding plate lightly creased, some subtle damp-staining to lower margin, the odd spot or patch of soiling but an excellent clean copy overall, near contemporary vellum, yapp edges, spine with title in ink, rubbed and lightly soiled, [Borba de Moraes II, pp.597-8; Sabin 50723], folio, Dijon, Pierre Palliot, 1643.⁂ One of the first comprehensive books on naval history. The work is dedicated to Louis XIII, with the preface dated January 1643. This copy also has a printed dedication to Chancelier Séguier, dated April 1643, inserted before the start of the text (and interrupting the catchwords), indicating that this is the second issue. The folding plate depicts a staged naval battle in a Roman arena, with illustrations of coins, types of native vessel, and maps of Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Cambridge.- Ackermann (Rudolph, publisher) A History of the University of Cambridge, 2 vol., first edition, half-titles, engraved portrait of the Duke of Gloucester, 95 plates without the 16 portraits of Founders (as usual with early issues), all fine hand-coloured aquatints or stipple-engravings by Stadler, Havell, Agar, Bluck, Hill and Reeve after Pugin, Westall, Mackenzie, Uwins and Pyne, plates bright and clean but offset, very occasional spotting or finger marking, contemporary crimson straight-grain morocco, intricately blind-stamped with ornate gilt border, inner gilt dentelles, spines lightly rubbed and discoloured and covers with one or two marks but overall distinctively bright and very handsome copies, g.e., [Abbey, Scenery 80; Tooley 4], 4to, 1815.
Oxford.- Ackermann (Rudolph, publisher) A History of the University of Oxford, 2 vol., first edition, large paper copies, engraved portrait of the Chancellor Lord Grenville (laid down and foxed), 81 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, without the 33 hand-coloured portraits of the Founders (as usual with early issues), plates bright and clean but offset, light finger-soiling marks to vol.2 half-title, very occasional spotting, contemporary red crushed morocco by Zaehnsdorf, panelled in gilt, wide inner gilt dentelles, t.e.g., others uncut, rebacked and neatly recornered, spines gilt in compartments, some rubbing or chipping to extremities but overall handsome copies, [Abbey, Scenery 280; Tooley 5], 4to, 1814.⁂ A very attractive set of one of the finest illustrated works on Oxford. Plates 1, 15, 39, 50, 78, 84, and 94 in first state, plate 74 in second state with overslips.
Pokémon TCG - Complete Team Rocket Expansion 1st Edition & Unlimited. This lot contains a complete Team Rocket expansion, the fourth Pokémon trading card set released early 2000. This collection has a number of 1st edition cards including Dark Dragonite, Dark Gyarados & Rainbow Energy. The set comes complete in the official Pokémon TCG vintage ring binder and includes the games first ever 'secret rare' Dark Raichu. Condition Report: The overall condition of this collection is Excellent to Good.
Pokémon TCG - Complete Gym Hero's set with four PG graded cards - 1st edition and unlimited. This lot contains a complete Gym Hero's expansion, a set released in mid 2000. The set features Pokémon belonging to the gym leaders from the first generation. This lot contains four cards graded by Pokégrade, a UK based grading company, the cards and their grades are: Sabrina's Gengar 7, LT. Surges Magneton 6, LT. Surges Fearow & Erika's Clefable 6. This lot also contains a number of 1st edition cards such as LT. Surge's Raichu, Misty's Poliwrath, Blaine's Kangaskhan, and a number of other common and uncommons. Condition Report: The overall condition of this set is Near Mint to Excellent.
Pokémon TCG - Gym Hero's & Gym Challenge partial Complete Sets with five PG graded cards - 1st edition and unlimited. This lot contains a partial complete Gym Hero's & Gym Challenge expansion, sets released in mid & late 2000. The set features Pokémon belonging to the gym leaders from the first generation. This lot contains five cards graded by Pokégrade, a UK based grading company, the cards and their grades are: Erka's Venusaur 6, Rocket's Mewtwo 7, Giovanni's Nidoking 7, Koga's Ditto 7 & Rocket's Zapdos 6. This lot also contains a number of 1st edition cards, specifically from Gym Challenge. The unlimited holos in this set are Blaine's Arcanine, Koga's Beedrill, Blaine, Brock's Rhydon, Rocket's Moltres, Lt Surges Fearow & Magneton Condition Report: The overall condition of this set is Near Mint to Excellent.
Pokémon TCG Sealed Base Set Promotional Boxset. This item is one of the rarest Pokémon items out there that pre-dates the first release. This boxset was given to local game stores/specialist trading card stores before The first Pokémon set was released as a way to showcase the game. The box contains three sealed Base Set booster packs of each artwork (Charizard, Blastoise and Venusaur), these are typically 'long crimp' packs but it is unknown if they are 1st edition or unlimited packs. It also contains the first learn how to play structure deck that has the 1st edition Machamp in. The boxset also includes a bunch of promotional items designed to be given out or displayed in store such as a players guide and window stickers. Condition Report: This item is sealed but has a very minor tear in the seal at the front. The item was authenticated and comes from a former Hasbro/Wizards of the Coast employee.
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Vintage Collection 1600+ Cards. This lot contains four official Yu-Gi-Oh! tins jam-packed with over 1600 cards ranging from the very first set up to the Yu-Gi-Oh! GX era. This lot primarily contains commons but there is a possibility you will find Super rare or regular rare cards. This lot also comes with an official Yu-Gi-Oh! 9-pocket binder to store your cards in. One tin in particular has a bunch of cards in 1st edition from Ancient Sanctuary, Invasion of Chaos and other sets from that year. This is a great lot for anyone who wants to collect older cards or play older formats of the card game. Condition Report: The condition of the cards range from every condition - Near Mint all the way to Poor but the majority of these cards have been played with.
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Vintage Collection 1900+ Cards. This lot contains four official Yu-Gi-Oh! tins jam-packed with over 1900 cards ranging from cards from very first sets of the game. This lot also contains an open box of Ancient Sanctuary filled with cards from Legend of Blue-eyes White Dragon, the first set released in 2001. This lot primarily contains commons but you may find other rarities such as regular Rare. This lot also contains an official Yu-Gi-Oh! folder also full of cards. This is a great lot for anyone who wants to collect older cards or play older formats of the card game. This lot contains a mixture of 1st edition and unlimited cards. Condition Report: The condition of the cards range from every condition - Near Mint all the way to Poor but the majority of these cards have been played with.
Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG Vintage & Modern Collection 1500+ Cards. This lot contains four Yu-Gi-Oh! tins/boxes jam-packed with over 1500 cards ranging from cards from very first sets of the game all the way up to the most recent set. This lot primarily contains commons but you may find other rarities such as regular Rare, in fact his collection has over 80 rares from the most recent set, Tactical Masters. This lot also contains a 4-Pocket binder full of OCG Japanese and Korean cards including the original SDK Kaiba Structure deck. This is a great lot for anyone who wants to collect older cards or play older formats of the card game. This lot contains a mixture of 1st edition and unlimited cards. Condition Report: The condition of the cards range from every condition - Near Mint all the way to Poor, newer cards will be Near Mint but a lot of the older cards have been played with.
A RARE AND MASSIVE MOTTLED JADE CONG, LIANGZHU CULTUREChina, late Neolithic period, c. 3300-2200 BC. The thick-walled cong is of short square section with rounded sides and a cylindrical interior, each corner carved with a stylized human and animal mask design. The eyes and noses as well as the raised bands above the human mask and recesses in between are finely incised with line and scroll designs. The faces are divided with a gently recessed vertical band to the center of each side.Provenance: From the private collection of Irene and Wolfgang Zacke (1942-2022). The couple has been active in the art trade for well over half a century and were one of the first in Austria to offer Asian works of art in their gallery, starting in 1968. Since the late 1980s, they have been collecting ancient Chinese jades, building an extensive and multiply published collection over the decades.Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age. Some wear, weathering, and minor alterations, as well as small nicks and nibbling to edges, the stone with natural inclusions and fissures, some of which have developed into small hairline cracks over time.Weight: 1,349 g Dimensions: Diameter 10 cmThe partly translucent stone is of an olive-green and russet-brown tone with russet veins and inclusions as well as patches of cream tone and areas of opaque ivory-white calcification.The present cong displays the distinctive characteristic of Liangzhu culture cong vessels, with a square outer section around a circular inner part and decorated with stylized masks neatly arranged on each of the four corners. The exceptional craftsmanship is particularly notable in the very delicate and precise quality of the carving and incised decoration, enhanced by the lustrous patina formed on the surface over time.Literature comparison: Compare a similar jade cong, Liangzhu culture, also carved with two registers of stylized human and animal masks excavated in 1984 from Fuquanshan in Qingpu County, Shanghai, now in the Shanghai Administrative Committee of Culture Heritage, illustrated in Liangzhu wenhua yuqi, Hong Kong, 1989, p. 17, pl. 19. See another related example of a jade cong, included in the Min Chiu Society Thirtieth Anniversary Exhibition: Selected Treasures of Chinese Art, Hong Kong, 1990, no. 195. For several other examples of two-tiered cong, see F. Salviati, 4000 Years of Chinese Archaic Jades, Edition Zacke, Vienna 2017, nos. 51, 53, and 54.Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Christie's New York, 19 March 2015, lot 470 Price: USD 60,000 or approx. EUR 75,500 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A mottled olive-green, russet-brown and ivory-colored opaque jade cong, China, Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture, 3rd millennium BC Expert remark: Compare the closely related two-tiered form, animal masks, and olive-green and russet-brown color of the jade with similar opaque ivory-white calcification. Note the thinner walls and smaller size (6.5 cm).Auction result comparison: Type: Closely related Auction: Bonhams Hong Kong, 5 April 2016, lot 1 Price: HKD 375,000 or approx. EUR 52,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing Description: A mottled green jade vessel, cong, Neolithic period, Liangzhu culture Expert remark: Compare the closely related two-tiered form, animal masks, and olive-green and russet-brown color of the jade with similar opaque ivory-white calcification. Note the thinner walls and smaller size (7.5 cm).良渚文化玉琮中國 ，新石器時代末期，公元前約3300-2200年。器呈外方內圓的筒形，兩端琢成圓口，上下穿透，四角各有不同人面紋。 來源：Irene與 Wolfgang Zacke (1942-2022)。自1968 年起，這對夫婦活躍在藝術貿易界，並且是奧地利最早在其畫廊中提供亞洲藝術品的人之一。1980年代後期，他們一直在收集中國古代玉器，幾十年來建立了極富多樣性的收藏。 品相：品相良好，一些磨損、風化、細微變化、刻痕，邊緣有一些小磕損，玉料帶有天然的內沁和裂縫，隨著時間的推移，其中一些已經發展成細小的裂縫。 重量：1,349 克 尺寸：直徑10 厘米這件玉琮展現了良渚文化的鮮明特色，外方內圓，均以四角為中軸線，雕琢神人獸面紋，雕琢精細。玉質精良，玉色深綠，局部得見黃白沁斑，不透明的象牙白色鈣化區域。表面包漿細膩。由於字數限制，完整中文敘述請至www.zacke.at查看。
CATRIONA MILLAR,BIBAoil on canvas, signed and titled versoimage size 40cm x 28cm, overall size 60cm x 48cm Framed and under glass.Note: Catriona Millar's work takes its inspiration from the stories that lie at the heart of the human condition, and the sparkle of a narrative behind the eyes of her subjects hints at everything from longing to melancholy. Her work often juxtaposes human characters with a variety of animal confidants, with some seeming physically present in the composition while others take on a talismanic quality. Born in Glasgow, Catriona Millar studied at Harrogate School of Art and Grays School of Art, Aberdeen. Since the success of her sell-out 2005 degree show she has exhibited across the UK including the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh. In October 2006 she came to the attention of Charles Saatchi with her first solo exhibition at the Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh. Catriona Millar now lives and paints in the southeast of England. Catriona Millar is listed in the 2012 edition of Who's Who in Scotland. Catriona Millar's work takes its inspiration from the stories that lie at the heart of the human condition, and the sparkle of a narrative behind the eyes of her subjects hints at everything from longing to melancholy. Her work often juxtaposes human characters with a variety of animal confidants, with some seeming physically present in the composition while others take on a talismanic quality. In the Scottish Contemporary Art Auction of 3rd May 2015 lot 2138 "The Agency" by Millar sold for £2800 (hammer).
CATRIONA MILLAR,JOOLSoil on canvas, signed and titled versooverall size 31cm x 23cm Unframed.Note: Catriona Millar's work takes its inspiration from the stories that lie at the heart of the human condition, and the sparkle of a narrative behind the eyes of her subjects hints at everything from longing to melancholy. Her work often juxtaposes human characters with a variety of animal confidants, with some seeming physically present in the composition while others take on a talismanic quality. Born in Glasgow, Catriona Millar studied at Harrogate School of Art and Grays School of Art, Aberdeen. Since the success of her sell-out 2005 degree show she has exhibited across the UK including the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh. In October 2006 she came to the attention of Charles Saatchi with her first solo exhibition at the Dundas Street Gallery, Edinburgh. Catriona Millar now lives and paints in the southeast of England. Catriona Millar is listed in the 2012 edition of Who's Who in Scotland. Catriona Millar's work takes its inspiration from the stories that lie at the heart of the human condition, and the sparkle of a narrative behind the eyes of her subjects hints at everything from longing to melancholy. Her work often juxtaposes human characters with a variety of animal confidants, with some seeming physically present in the composition while others take on a talismanic quality. In the Scottish Contemporary Art Auction of 3rd May 2015 lot 2138 "The Agency" by Millar sold for £2800 (hammer).
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