You searched for:
The Decisive Moment -
Henri Cartier-Bresson
1952 - Simon and Schuster in collaboration with É, New York - First Edition in English
One of the most important photography books of the 20th century, containing 126 full or double page heliogravures, considered ‘unique in providing an international portrait or impression of humanity covering the two decades prior to its publication’. Divided into two chronological and geographical sections: the first spans the years 1932 to 1947 and is made up of photographs taken in the west; the second spans 1947 to 1952 and was shot mostly in the east.
Prefaced by Cartier-Bresson’s 4,500-word philosophical essay, whose keynote ‘There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment.’ was taken from the 17th century Cardinal de Reitz.
‘The idea of the 'decisive moment' is one of the most enduring in photographic literature, and no one has articulated it better than its coiner, in his preface to this book: 'To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms which give that event its proper expression.’’ - David Levi Strauss.
An elusively fine copy, the book without the commonly found chips to spine, in a superior example of the delicate dust jacket, both showing the striking illustration provided by Cartier-Bresson’s friend Henri Matisse. The original 12 leaf ‘Captions’ pamphlet laid in, as published.
More details
Price HK$ 19,000
1952 - Simon and Schuster in collaboration with É, New York - First Edition in English
One of the most important photography books of the 20th century, containing 126 full or double page heliogravures, considered ‘unique in providing an international portrait or impression of humanity covering the two decades prior to its publication’. Divided into two chronological and geographical sections: the first spans the years 1932 to 1947 and is made up of photographs taken in the west; the second spans 1947 to 1952 and was shot mostly in the east.Prefaced by Cartier-Bresson’s 4,500-word philosophical essay, whose keynote ‘There is nothing in this world that does not have a decisive moment.’ was taken from the 17th century Cardinal de Reitz.
‘The idea of the 'decisive moment' is one of the most enduring in photographic literature, and no one has articulated it better than its coiner, in his preface to this book: 'To me, photography is the simultaneous recognition, in a fraction of a second, of the significance of an event as well as of a precise organization of forms which give that event its proper expression.’’ - David Levi Strauss.
An elusively fine copy, the book without the commonly found chips to spine, in a superior example of the delicate dust jacket, both showing the striking illustration provided by Cartier-Bresson’s friend Henri Matisse. The original 12 leaf ‘Captions’ pamphlet laid in, as published.

Price HK$ 19,000
Peking Studies -
Ellen Catleen (Thorbecke), Friedrich Schiff (illustrator)
1934 - Kelly &, Shanghai - First Edition
Describing the visit of Mr.Pim to Peking, where he meets with his colleague Mr Wu, and together they tour the wonderful city that is 1930’s Peking. As a gift to someone who is moving to China or has recently visited this is hard to beat. Things may have changed slightly though.
A clean, bright and thus scarce first edition of this charming large format book (38x27cm) beautifully illustrated throughout by Friedrich Schiff with a mixture of black and white or colour sketches, combined with photographs taken by Catleen on her Roliflex camera, with colour applied and a full page hand sketched colour map.
More details
Price HK$ 10,000
1934 - Kelly &, Shanghai - First Edition
Describing the visit of Mr.Pim to Peking, where he meets with his colleague Mr Wu, and together they tour the wonderful city that is 1930’s Peking. As a gift to someone who is moving to China or has recently visited this is hard to beat. Things may have changed slightly though.A clean, bright and thus scarce first edition of this charming large format book (38x27cm) beautifully illustrated throughout by Friedrich Schiff with a mixture of black and white or colour sketches, combined with photographs taken by Catleen on her Roliflex camera, with colour applied and a full page hand sketched colour map.

Price HK$ 10,000
Murphy s War -
Max Catto
1969 - Heinemann, London - First Edition
Basis for the movie starring Peter O’Toole and Siân Phillips. Set on the coast of equatorial Africa towards the end of WWII, Murphy is an Australian knockabout sailor from the Royal Navy, and the quarry is a U-boat that he pursues up a vile river from his base...
More details
Price HK$ 1,500
1969 - Heinemann, London - First Edition
Basis for the movie starring Peter O’Toole and Siân Phillips. Set on the coast of equatorial Africa towards the end of WWII, Murphy is an Australian knockabout sailor from the Royal Navy, and the quarry is a U-boat that he pursues up a vile river from his base...

Price HK$ 1,500
The Borders and Beyond -
Abel Chapman
1924 - Gurney and Jackson, London - First Edition
A bright copy of this informative work of field exploration and natural history in Northumberland and the Anglo-Scottish borderlands.
Hunter-naturalist Chapman includes chapters on the British red grouse, the wildfowl of the north east coast, a search for the ‘moorland nymph’, salmonology, seagulls, woodcocks and herons, ravens, and the otter, together with a commentary on ‘modern zoology’, and extensive particulars on the migrations and plumage-phases in certain waders, to which he gave the name ‘Globe-Spanners’.
Profusely illustrated throughout with seventeen wonderful colour illustrations (on fourteen plates) by W.H. Riddell, twenty one black and white plates, two folding maps, and 170 sketches by the author.
More details
Price HK$ 1,000
1924 - Gurney and Jackson, London - First Edition
A bright copy of this informative work of field exploration and natural history in Northumberland and the Anglo-Scottish borderlands. Hunter-naturalist Chapman includes chapters on the British red grouse, the wildfowl of the north east coast, a search for the ‘moorland nymph’, salmonology, seagulls, woodcocks and herons, ravens, and the otter, together with a commentary on ‘modern zoology’, and extensive particulars on the migrations and plumage-phases in certain waders, to which he gave the name ‘Globe-Spanners’.
Profusely illustrated throughout with seventeen wonderful colour illustrations (on fourteen plates) by W.H. Riddell, twenty one black and white plates, two folding maps, and 170 sketches by the author.

Price HK$ 1,000
The First Saint Omnibus. An Anthology of Saintly Adventures -
Leslie Charteris
1939 - Hodder &, London - First Edition of this Collection
A finely bound selection of thirteen short stories featuring 'The Robin Hood of Modern Crime'.
Simon Templar, ‘The Saint’, ‘is a rambunctious adventurer who believes in old-fashioned romantic ideals, alter-ego perhaps of his Singaporean born creator Leslie Charles Bowyer Yin Charteris. Templar is prepared to lay down his life for these ideals, using considerable wit and intelligence, the Saint has a preference for avenging innocent victims.
More details
Price HK$ 4,000
1939 - Hodder &, London - First Edition of this Collection
A finely bound selection of thirteen short stories featuring 'The Robin Hood of Modern Crime'.Simon Templar, ‘The Saint’, ‘is a rambunctious adventurer who believes in old-fashioned romantic ideals, alter-ego perhaps of his Singaporean born creator Leslie Charles Bowyer Yin Charteris. Templar is prepared to lay down his life for these ideals, using considerable wit and intelligence, the Saint has a preference for avenging innocent victims.

Price HK$ 4,000
Sea Spy. A Naval Novel -
E. Keble Chatterton
1937 - Hurst &, London - First Edition
First edition in the rare and evocative dust jacket. Chatterton was one of Britain's best-known yachtsmen and maritime writers in the early part of the century.
‘Mr. Keble Chatterton has the art of the sea story at his finger tips and in “Sea Spy” he has combined a fast moving plot with plenty of thrills and action. John Trevenna, late of His Majesty’s Navy, is persuaded by his old chief, now the head of a new department of the Secret Service to give up a pleasure cruise in his one-man yacht, and use it instead to follow the activities of one Zouleki and his henchman Ptemnoff round the coasts of France... a vivid and fascinating tale.” – The Straits Times, Singapore 1937.
More details
Price HK$ 3,500
1937 - Hurst &, London - First Edition
First edition in the rare and evocative dust jacket. Chatterton was one of Britain's best-known yachtsmen and maritime writers in the early part of the century.‘Mr. Keble Chatterton has the art of the sea story at his finger tips and in “Sea Spy” he has combined a fast moving plot with plenty of thrills and action. John Trevenna, late of His Majesty’s Navy, is persuaded by his old chief, now the head of a new department of the Secret Service to give up a pleasure cruise in his one-man yacht, and use it instead to follow the activities of one Zouleki and his henchman Ptemnoff round the coasts of France... a vivid and fascinating tale.” – The Straits Times, Singapore 1937.

Price HK$ 3,500
The Urgent Hangman - Inscribed to Dennis Wheatley -
Peter Cheyney
1938 - Collins, London - First Edition
Dennis Wheatley’s copy, inscribed by Peter Cheyney ‘To my good friend Dennis’ and dated ‘14. 6. 38’. With Wheatley’s illustrated bookplate.
A near fine copy of the first ‘Slim Callaghan’ novel, in fine and thus rare dust jacket.
Cheyney’s action-filled and action filled plots ran counter to the comfortable murder mysteries of the time, and Slim Callaghan was, like his American hard-boiled cousins, cynical tough and marginally mannered.
More details
Price HK$ 15,000
1938 - Collins, London - First Edition
Dennis Wheatley’s copy, inscribed by Peter Cheyney ‘To my good friend Dennis’ and dated ‘14. 6. 38’. With Wheatley’s illustrated bookplate.A near fine copy of the first ‘Slim Callaghan’ novel, in fine and thus rare dust jacket.
Cheyney’s action-filled and action filled plots ran counter to the comfortable murder mysteries of the time, and Slim Callaghan was, like his American hard-boiled cousins, cynical tough and marginally mannered.

Price HK$ 15,000
Don t Get Me Wrong - Inscribed to Dennis Wheatley -
Peter Cheyney
1939 - Collins, London - First Edition
First edition of Peter Cheyney’s fifth Lemmy Caution novel. In fine and thus scarce dust jacket.
From the library of Cheyney’s friend and fellow author Dennis Wheatley with his wonderfully illustrated bookplate, and inscribed on the title page ‘ToTo Dennis, from Peter Cheyney.’ On the back flap of the dust jacket is a review from Wheatley “Peter Cheyney is now becoming a definite menace to all other thriller writers; for who will read any other thriller writer but Cheyney if they can get a chance?”
Wheatley described Cheyney as ‘the greatest liar unhung but a magnificent story teller’.
More details
Price HK$ 9,000
1939 - Collins, London - First Edition
First edition of Peter Cheyney’s fifth Lemmy Caution novel. In fine and thus scarce dust jacket.From the library of Cheyney’s friend and fellow author Dennis Wheatley with his wonderfully illustrated bookplate, and inscribed on the title page ‘ToTo Dennis, from Peter Cheyney.’ On the back flap of the dust jacket is a review from Wheatley “Peter Cheyney is now becoming a definite menace to all other thriller writers; for who will read any other thriller writer but Cheyney if they can get a chance?”
Wheatley described Cheyney as ‘the greatest liar unhung but a magnificent story teller’.

Price HK$ 9,000