The Three Voyages of Captain James Cook, with "The Death of Captain Cook" Plate -
James Cook, John Hawkesworth, James King
1773 - Strahan, London - Second Edition, First Edition, Second Edition
A complete set of the best possible editions, superbly bound in full tree calf and with the additional ‘Death of Captain Cook’ drawn by the John Weber who witnessed the dispute and ensuing fight. Eight quarto volumes and the elephant folio volume of plates. Magnificently illustrated with two hundred and five engraved charts and plates, many of which are double page or larger.
There is no greater set of travel works, Cook was the first scientific navigator, these three voyages made great contributions to numerous fields of knowledge,, and did more to clarify the geographical knowledge of the southern hemisphere than his predecessors had done together [Hill].
The first voyage is in its second and best edition, complete with the ‘Directions for placing the cuts’ and the ‘Chart of the Straights of Magellan’, and with the new Preface containing Hawkesworth's virulent eight-page reply to Dalrymple's whining reviews of the first edition, and the whole volume revised by the voyage's astronomer William Wales.
The third voyage is in its second and best edition, with the printing by Hughs (rather than Strahan who printed the first edition) with the text itself entirely re-set. Isaac Smith presenting a set on behalf of Cook's widow in 1821 noted that 'I am desired by Mrs Cook to request your acceptance of the 4 books sent herewith being her Husbands last Voyage round the World, as a mark of her respect the letter press of the second edition being much superior to the first both in paper & letter press' (quoted by Forbes, Hawaiian National Bibliography, 85). King George III's copy of the official account, preserved in the British Library, is also an example of this second edition. This particular set with variant title pages, dated correctly, but without edition statement or vignette of Royal Society medal.
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Price HK$ 430,000
1773 - Strahan, London - Second Edition, First Edition, Second Edition
A complete set of the best possible editions, superbly bound in full tree calf and with the additional ‘Death of Captain Cook’ drawn by the John Weber who witnessed the dispute and ensuing fight. Eight quarto volumes and the elephant folio volume of plates. Magnificently illustrated with two hundred and five engraved charts and plates, many of which are double page or larger.There is no greater set of travel works, Cook was the first scientific navigator, these three voyages made great contributions to numerous fields of knowledge,, and did more to clarify the geographical knowledge of the southern hemisphere than his predecessors had done together [Hill].
The first voyage is in its second and best edition, complete with the ‘Directions for placing the cuts’ and the ‘Chart of the Straights of Magellan’, and with the new Preface containing Hawkesworth's virulent eight-page reply to Dalrymple's whining reviews of the first edition, and the whole volume revised by the voyage's astronomer William Wales.
The third voyage is in its second and best edition, with the printing by Hughs (rather than Strahan who printed the first edition) with the text itself entirely re-set. Isaac Smith presenting a set on behalf of Cook's widow in 1821 noted that 'I am desired by Mrs Cook to request your acceptance of the 4 books sent herewith being her Husbands last Voyage round the World, as a mark of her respect the letter press of the second edition being much superior to the first both in paper & letter press' (quoted by Forbes, Hawaiian National Bibliography, 85). King George III's copy of the official account, preserved in the British Library, is also an example of this second edition. This particular set with variant title pages, dated correctly, but without edition statement or vignette of Royal Society medal.
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Price HK$ 430,000
The Christmas Stories: A Christmas Carol; The Chimes; The Cricket on the Hearth; The Battle of Life; The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain. -
Charles Dickens
1844 to 1848 - Chapman & Hall [or] Bradbury & Evans, London - Mixed first and early editions
A beautifully bound five volume set of Dickens’ Christmas Stories, fine copies housed in a custom made slipcase. With illustrated title pages, full plate and in-text illustrations throughout.
‘After the success attained with A Christmas Carol in 1843 Dickens continued the series throughout the 1840s, maintaining what he called "the Carol philosophy" to "strike a sledgehammer blow" for the poor, uneducated, and repressed. In typical Dickens fashion he drove his message home with a mixture of humor and good cheer’. - David Purdue.
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Price HK$ 35,000
1844 to 1848 - Chapman & Hall [or] Bradbury & Evans, London - Mixed first and early editions
A beautifully bound five volume set of Dickens’ Christmas Stories, fine copies housed in a custom made slipcase. With illustrated title pages, full plate and in-text illustrations throughout.‘After the success attained with A Christmas Carol in 1843 Dickens continued the series throughout the 1840s, maintaining what he called "the Carol philosophy" to "strike a sledgehammer blow" for the poor, uneducated, and repressed. In typical Dickens fashion he drove his message home with a mixture of humor and good cheer’. - David Purdue.
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Price HK$ 35,000
The Parent's Assistant; or, Stories for Children -
Maria Edgeworth
1822 - Printed for R. Hunter, London - A New Edition
‘It has likewise been attempted in these stories to provide antidote against ill humour, the epidemic rage of dissipation, and the fatal propensity to admire and imitate whatever the fashion of the moment may distinguish.’
A complete and thus uncommon little six volume set of Maria Edgeworth’s influential collection of tales for children, first published in 1796 and popular throughout the 19th century. Her stories both amused and instructed, painting memorable moral anecdotes for boys and girls against frequently picturesque landscapes while communicating the important societal values of the period.
Included: Preface, Lazy Lawrence, Tarlton, The False Key; The Birthday Present, Simple Susan; The Bracelets, The Little Merchants; Old Poz, The Mimic, Mademoiselle Panache; The Basket-Woman, The white Pigeon, The Orphans, Waste Not Want Not, Forgive and Forget; Barring Out, Eton Montem.
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Price HK$ 5,600
1822 - Printed for R. Hunter, London - A New Edition
‘It has likewise been attempted in these stories to provide antidote against ill humour, the epidemic rage of dissipation, and the fatal propensity to admire and imitate whatever the fashion of the moment may distinguish.’A complete and thus uncommon little six volume set of Maria Edgeworth’s influential collection of tales for children, first published in 1796 and popular throughout the 19th century. Her stories both amused and instructed, painting memorable moral anecdotes for boys and girls against frequently picturesque landscapes while communicating the important societal values of the period.
Included: Preface, Lazy Lawrence, Tarlton, The False Key; The Birthday Present, Simple Susan; The Bracelets, The Little Merchants; Old Poz, The Mimic, Mademoiselle Panache; The Basket-Woman, The white Pigeon, The Orphans, Waste Not Want Not, Forgive and Forget; Barring Out, Eton Montem.
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Price HK$ 5,600
RESERVED - A Dictionary of Music and Musicians (A.D. 1450-1889) -
George Grove (editor)
1899 - The Macmillan & Co., London
An early printing of the first edition of Grove's monumental biographical dictionary in four magnificent volumes. One of the largest reference works on western music which ‘remains by far the most comprehensive compilation of it’s kind’ [OCEL]
First published in 1879 in this four volume format, the second edition was published as a five volume set. By 2001 Grove’s Dictionary had expanded to a massive 29 volumes.
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Price HK$ 3,000
1899 - The Macmillan & Co., London
An early printing of the first edition of Grove's monumental biographical dictionary in four magnificent volumes. One of the largest reference works on western music which ‘remains by far the most comprehensive compilation of it’s kind’ [OCEL]First published in 1879 in this four volume format, the second edition was published as a five volume set. By 2001 Grove’s Dictionary had expanded to a massive 29 volumes.
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Price HK$ 3,000
Works -
Thomas Jefferson
1853-55 - John C. Riker, New York
‘I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man’
A superb set of the first collected edition of the works of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, who voiced the aspirations of a new America as no other individual of his era. As public official, historian, philosopher, and plantation owner, he served his country for over five decades.
Complete in nine volumes, with folding facsimiles and tables. Published by the Order of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, from the Original Manuscripts deposited in the department of state. With explanatory notes, tables of contents, and a copious index to the whole, by the editor H. A. Washington.
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Price HK$ 29,000
1853-55 - John C. Riker, New York
‘I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man’A superb set of the first collected edition of the works of Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom, who voiced the aspirations of a new America as no other individual of his era. As public official, historian, philosopher, and plantation owner, he served his country for over five decades.
Complete in nine volumes, with folding facsimiles and tables. Published by the Order of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, from the Original Manuscripts deposited in the department of state. With explanatory notes, tables of contents, and a copious index to the whole, by the editor H. A. Washington.
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Price HK$ 29,000
The Idylls and Epigrams of Theocritus Bion and Moschus -
Henry Aiken Metcalf (editor), Theocritus, Bion, Moschus
1905 - The Bibliophile Society, Boston - One of a limited 477 sets printed for members only
Three elegantly bound volumes of works by the three Greek pastoral poets, Theocritus, Bion and Moschus. Finely printed by the De Vinne Press, with the text in Greek with the English translation on the opposing page. Illustrated title pages, and an introduction by William Cranston Lawton.
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Price HK$ 7,500
1905 - The Bibliophile Society, Boston - One of a limited 477 sets printed for members only
Three elegantly bound volumes of works by the three Greek pastoral poets, Theocritus, Bion and Moschus. Finely printed by the De Vinne Press, with the text in Greek with the English translation on the opposing page. Illustrated title pages, and an introduction by William Cranston Lawton.
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Price HK$ 7,500
The Pooh Books - When We Were Very Young; Winnie the Pooh; Now We Are Six; and The House at Pooh Corner -
A. A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard (illustrator)
1924 - 1928 - Methuen & Co. Ltd., London - First Editions
'Pooh looked at his two paws. He knew that one of them was the right, and he knew that when you had decided which one of them was the right, then the other one was the left, but he never could remember how to begin.'
A lovely set of the Pooh books, finely bound to match their respective original published colours, and housed in custom made felt-lined slipcase.
‘I often wish I were a King, And then I could do anything.
If only I were King of Spain, I’d take my hat off in the rain.
If I were King of Norroway, I’d ask an elephant to stay.
If I were King of Timbuctoo, I’d think of lovely things to do.’
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Price HK$ 38,000
1924 - 1928 - Methuen & Co. Ltd., London - First Editions
'Pooh looked at his two paws. He knew that one of them was the right, and he knew that when you had decided which one of them was the right, then the other one was the left, but he never could remember how to begin.'A lovely set of the Pooh books, finely bound to match their respective original published colours, and housed in custom made felt-lined slipcase.
‘I often wish I were a King, And then I could do anything.
If only I were King of Spain, I’d take my hat off in the rain.
If I were King of Norroway, I’d ask an elephant to stay.
If I were King of Timbuctoo, I’d think of lovely things to do.’
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Price HK$ 38,000
Old Burma - Eight Works on Burma in Four Volumes -
U Myo Min, Taw Sein Ko, Ma (Daw) Mya Sein, F. Haskings, U Tun Pe, et al.
1938 - 1949 - Various, Various - Various
Eight works on Burma bound into four charming volumes for Charles Booth, British diplomat who served in Burma three times between 1950 and 1978.
A compilation of memoir, history, and tourist guides to Burma, these books are profusely illustrated with maps, photographic plates, and illustrations, and will provide wonderful material for armchair travellers, and nostalgia to those who have already visited Burma.
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Price HK$ 2,500
1938 - 1949 - Various, Various - Various
Eight works on Burma bound into four charming volumes for Charles Booth, British diplomat who served in Burma three times between 1950 and 1978.A compilation of memoir, history, and tourist guides to Burma, these books are profusely illustrated with maps, photographic plates, and illustrations, and will provide wonderful material for armchair travellers, and nostalgia to those who have already visited Burma.
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Price HK$ 2,500