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Empire of the Sun -
J. G. Ballard
1984 - Victor Gollancz Ltd, London - First Edition
Based on Jim Graham Ballard’s own childhood, this is the extraordinary account of a boy’s life in Japanese-occupied wartime Shanghai – a mesmerising, hypnotically compelling novel of war, of starvation and survival, of internment camps and death marches. It blends searing honesty with an almost hallucinatory vision of a world thrown utterly out of joint.
‘Remarkable … form, content and style fuse with complete success … one of the great war novels of the 20th century’ - William Boyd.
Includes the publisher’s promotional bookmark.
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Price HK$ 1,900
1984 - Victor Gollancz Ltd, London - First Edition
Based on Jim Graham Ballard’s own childhood, this is the extraordinary account of a boy’s life in Japanese-occupied wartime Shanghai – a mesmerising, hypnotically compelling novel of war, of starvation and survival, of internment camps and death marches. It blends searing honesty with an almost hallucinatory vision of a world thrown utterly out of joint.‘Remarkable … form, content and style fuse with complete success … one of the great war novels of the 20th century’ - William Boyd.
Includes the publisher’s promotional bookmark.
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Price HK$ 1,900
The Coastwise Lights of China -
T. Roger Banister
1932 - Inspectorate General of Customs, Shanghai - First Edition
A detailed history of the Chinese Maritime Customs Lights Service, and the light houses and light ships they constructed from the 1860’s until 1932, illustrated with over 100 full page photographic plates and seven maps outlined in colour.
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Price HK$ 7,000
1932 - Inspectorate General of Customs, Shanghai - First Edition
A detailed history of the Chinese Maritime Customs Lights Service, and the light houses and light ships they constructed from the 1860’s until 1932, illustrated with over 100 full page photographic plates and seven maps outlined in colour.
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Price HK$ 7,000
The Wasp Factory -
Iain Banks
1984 - Macmillan, London - First Edition
A fine copy of the author's important first novel. A twisted story of incidents in the lives of Scottish islanders and one child in particular, highly controversial at the time of it's release:-
‘Brilliant’ - The New York Times.
‘Rubbish’ - The Times.
‘Macabre, bizarre, and impossible to put down’ - The Financial Times.
‘A work of unparalleled depravity’ - The Irish Times.
‘One of the top 100 novels of the century’ - The Independent.
So there you have it, to be read with caution.
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Price HK$ 2,800
1984 - Macmillan, London - First Edition
A fine copy of the author's important first novel. A twisted story of incidents in the lives of Scottish islanders and one child in particular, highly controversial at the time of it's release:-‘Brilliant’ - The New York Times.
‘Rubbish’ - The Times.
‘Macabre, bizarre, and impossible to put down’ - The Financial Times.
‘A work of unparalleled depravity’ - The Irish Times.
‘One of the top 100 novels of the century’ - The Independent.
So there you have it, to be read with caution.
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Price HK$ 2,800
Feersum Endjinn – SIGNED -
Iain M. Banks
1994 - Orbit, London - First Edition
A fine copy of Banks’ science-fiction saga, signed by him on the title page.
As the Encroachment looms not far from the towering walls of Serehfa Fastness, King Asijine goes to war with the Engineers, his chief scientist, Gadfium, receives a mysterious message she has been waiting for from the Plain of Sliding Stones, and Bascule the Teller, in search of an ant, enters the chaos of the crypt...
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Price HK$ 2,000
1994 - Orbit, London - First Edition
A fine copy of Banks’ science-fiction saga, signed by him on the title page.As the Encroachment looms not far from the towering walls of Serehfa Fastness, King Asijine goes to war with the Engineers, his chief scientist, Gadfium, receives a mysterious message she has been waiting for from the Plain of Sliding Stones, and Bascule the Teller, in search of an ant, enters the chaos of the crypt...
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Price HK$ 2,000
The Book of Were-Wolves: Being an Account of a Terrible Superstition -
Sabine Baring-Gould
1865 - Smith, London - First Edition
Nearly as rare as it’s subjects, a superb first edition of the foundation work on shape-shifting, were-wolves, and the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s descriptions of Count Dracula’s wolfish appearance. In original bright pictorial gilt cloth, were-wolf to the front and the dark frontispiece of The Were-Wolves and their prey. Suitably housed in a blood red morocco leather clamshell case, lined with felt, and lettered in gilt.
‘The Book of Were-Wolves takes a rationalistic approach to the subject, the first ten chapters of this book constitute an essential work on the subject; however, starting with Chapter XI, the narrative takes a strange turn into sensationalistic 'true crime' case-studies of cannibals, grave desecrators, and blood fetishists, which have a tenuous connection with lycanthropy. This includes an extended treatment of the case of Giles de Rais, the notorious associate of Joan of Arc, who was convicted and executed for necrosadistic crimes.’
The author, eclectic British scholar, vicar, archaeologist, historian, Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) inspired My Fair Lady, and wrote the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers.
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Price HK$ 46,000
1865 - Smith, London - First Edition
Nearly as rare as it’s subjects, a superb first edition of the foundation work on shape-shifting, were-wolves, and the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s descriptions of Count Dracula’s wolfish appearance. In original bright pictorial gilt cloth, were-wolf to the front and the dark frontispiece of The Were-Wolves and their prey. Suitably housed in a blood red morocco leather clamshell case, lined with felt, and lettered in gilt.‘The Book of Were-Wolves takes a rationalistic approach to the subject, the first ten chapters of this book constitute an essential work on the subject; however, starting with Chapter XI, the narrative takes a strange turn into sensationalistic 'true crime' case-studies of cannibals, grave desecrators, and blood fetishists, which have a tenuous connection with lycanthropy. This includes an extended treatment of the case of Giles de Rais, the notorious associate of Joan of Arc, who was convicted and executed for necrosadistic crimes.’
The author, eclectic British scholar, vicar, archaeologist, historian, Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) inspired My Fair Lady, and wrote the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers.
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Price HK$ 46,000
India and Tiger Hunting. Vol.I. - Tiger-Hunting and Other Adventures. -
Julius Barras
1883 - Rastall & Son, London - First Edition
Inscribed by the author to General Macdonald.
Tiger shooting was my principle amusement, and it is an expensive pastime.
‘Despite the expenses, Julius Barras devoted his sporting interest to hunting tiger and panther, and relates numerous shooting experiences in the Deccan and Nagpur hills, near Ahmedabad in Guzerat and the Terai.
A panther savaged Barras, but fortunately for his readers (and himself) he survived.’ - Czech.
A beautiful first edition, which is rare in any condition. The second volume of Barras’ memoirs was published in 1885 as ‘Series II’, and at the same time volume I was reprinted as ‘Series I’.
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Price HK$ 7,000
1883 - Rastall & Son, London - First Edition
Inscribed by the author to General Macdonald.Tiger shooting was my principle amusement, and it is an expensive pastime.
‘Despite the expenses, Julius Barras devoted his sporting interest to hunting tiger and panther, and relates numerous shooting experiences in the Deccan and Nagpur hills, near Ahmedabad in Guzerat and the Terai.
A panther savaged Barras, but fortunately for his readers (and himself) he survived.’ - Czech.
A beautiful first edition, which is rare in any condition. The second volume of Barras’ memoirs was published in 1885 as ‘Series II’, and at the same time volume I was reprinted as ‘Series I’.
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Price HK$ 7,000
Peter Pan and Wendy -
J.M. Barrie, Gwynedd Hudson (illustrator)
C. 1930 - Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., London
“Do you believe in Fairies?”
The illustrations and attention to detail make this a particularly attractive edition of Peter Pan. Gwynedd M. Hudson brings both the characters and the text to life, with twenty one full page colour illustrations and numerous additional illustrations and decorations throughout. [25.5x20x5cm]
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Price HK$ 5,200
C. 1930 - Hodder & Stoughton Ltd., London
“Do you believe in Fairies?” The illustrations and attention to detail make this a particularly attractive edition of Peter Pan. Gwynedd M. Hudson brings both the characters and the text to life, with twenty one full page colour illustrations and numerous additional illustrations and decorations throughout. [25.5x20x5cm]
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Price HK$ 5,200
An Historical, Physiological and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts, and other Magical Practices -
Jonh (John) Beaumont, Gent.
1705 - Printed for D. Browne, London - First Edition
With engraved frontispiece by Michael Van der Gucht of ‘An Evil Genius’, ‘Two Good Genii’, and ‘Jews going out in the Moonshine to know their Fortune’.
John Beaumont, a British surgeon and geologist, ‘was a man of considerable reading, of excessive credulity, and a firm believer in supernatural agency. His principal and certainly most curious performance, An Historical, Physiological, and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts is written in an amusing, gossiping style, and abounds with grotesque tales and illustrations from little-known authors. His personal experience of spirits, good and bad, was long and varied (pages 91-4, 393-7); but he innocently contrives to lessen the effect of his narration by adding that in their frequent visitations “all would disswade me from drinking too freely”’ - Dictionary of National Bibliography.
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Price HK$ 17,000
1705 - Printed for D. Browne, London - First Edition
With engraved frontispiece by Michael Van der Gucht of ‘An Evil Genius’, ‘Two Good Genii’, and ‘Jews going out in the Moonshine to know their Fortune’.John Beaumont, a British surgeon and geologist, ‘was a man of considerable reading, of excessive credulity, and a firm believer in supernatural agency. His principal and certainly most curious performance, An Historical, Physiological, and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts is written in an amusing, gossiping style, and abounds with grotesque tales and illustrations from little-known authors. His personal experience of spirits, good and bad, was long and varied (pages 91-4, 393-7); but he innocently contrives to lessen the effect of his narration by adding that in their frequent visitations “all would disswade me from drinking too freely”’ - Dictionary of National Bibliography.
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Price HK$ 17,000