Pride and Prejudice -
Jane Austen, Philip Gough (illustrator)
1951 - Macdonald and Co.(Publishers) Ltd., London - First Edition Thus
'I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.'
An elegantly bound copy of one of the most loved and admired English novels of all time, enhanced by seven full paged colour plates from drawings by Philip Gough.
‘In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.’
Austen’s unmistakably witty satire of a country squire marrying off his five spirited, daughters is a wonderful tale of humour and romance.
‘Affectation of candour is common enough — one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design — to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad — belongs to you alone.’
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Price HK$ 3,200
1951 - Macdonald and Co.(Publishers) Ltd., London - First Edition Thus
'I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book! When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.'An elegantly bound copy of one of the most loved and admired English novels of all time, enhanced by seven full paged colour plates from drawings by Philip Gough.
‘In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.’
Austen’s unmistakably witty satire of a country squire marrying off his five spirited, daughters is a wonderful tale of humour and romance.
‘Affectation of candour is common enough — one meets with it everywhere. But to be candid without ostentation or design — to take the good of everybody's character and make it still better, and say nothing of the bad — belongs to you alone.’
More details
Price HK$ 3,200
Wanderings in Burma -
George W. Bird, Felice Beato (photographer)
1897 - F. J. Bright & Son / Simpkin, Bournemouth / London - First Edition
A beautiful copy of this large and detailed work, mostly unopened, scarce in any condition.
Essentially the first ‘guidebook’ to Burma, profusely illustrated throughout with 68 black and white plates many from photographs by Felice Beato, together with a large folding colour map in the pocket at the rear, and 19 further maps and plans, three of which are folding.
George W. Bird was an educational service official with twenty years residence in Burma. This work is arranged in two parts: the first giving a general introduction to Burma, and the second describing twenty-four ‘routes’ or excursion tours throughout Burma with a description of the main sights and practical travel advice - ‘the best way to get expeditiously to May Myo from Mandalay is to ride. With two ponies, and a bullock-cart for servants and kit, the journey up can be comfortably made in two days’.
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Price HK$ 22,000
1897 - F. J. Bright & Son / Simpkin, Bournemouth / London - First Edition
A beautiful copy of this large and detailed work, mostly unopened, scarce in any condition.Essentially the first ‘guidebook’ to Burma, profusely illustrated throughout with 68 black and white plates many from photographs by Felice Beato, together with a large folding colour map in the pocket at the rear, and 19 further maps and plans, three of which are folding.
George W. Bird was an educational service official with twenty years residence in Burma. This work is arranged in two parts: the first giving a general introduction to Burma, and the second describing twenty-four ‘routes’ or excursion tours throughout Burma with a description of the main sights and practical travel advice - ‘the best way to get expeditiously to May Myo from Mandalay is to ride. With two ponies, and a bullock-cart for servants and kit, the journey up can be comfortably made in two days’.
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Price HK$ 22,000
Limehouse Nights. Tales of Chinatown - Signed by ‘Barnaby Ross’ and ‘Ellery Queen’ -
Thomas Burke
1916 - Grant Richards, London - First Edition, First Issue
A superb copy of this collection of short stories, with fine provenance, not only signed by ‘Barnaby Ross’ and ‘Ellery Queen’, but described by them in Queen’s Quorum as a work of high literary art’, ‘the tales of subtle murder and Oriental passion’, which ‘became a classic overnight.’ Housed in a custom made leather slipcase and cloth chemise.
‘A London native, Burke knew the city intimately and brought it to life in essays, mood pieces, and short stories, most of which had a melodramatic atmosphere of crime. His first and best crime book was Limehouse Nights (1916), a series of violent tales that rely on authentic background and Oriental flavour for their readability. Subtle passion and sinister murders abound.’ – Stenbrunner & Penzler.
Burke’s best friend ‘was the original model for the character of Quong Lee, the Chinatown philosopher in Limehouse Nights... Several years later, when his aged friend was deported for having operated an opium den, Burke was inspired to write the first of his collection of short stores about Limehouse. To Burke, whose literary credo was “to tell a story as ably as Ambrose Bierce and to see and write as clearly as Stephen Crane,” Limehouse Nights was “admittedly violent stuff written hastily,” as a means of “simply telling tales”. But it firmly established his literary reputation in Britain, and the film adaptation of the first tale in the collection under the title Broken Blossoms extended the boundaries of his reputation internationally.’ – Reilly
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Price HK$ 18,000
1916 - Grant Richards, London - First Edition, First Issue
A superb copy of this collection of short stories, with fine provenance, not only signed by ‘Barnaby Ross’ and ‘Ellery Queen’, but described by them in Queen’s Quorum as a work of high literary art’, ‘the tales of subtle murder and Oriental passion’, which ‘became a classic overnight.’ Housed in a custom made leather slipcase and cloth chemise.‘A London native, Burke knew the city intimately and brought it to life in essays, mood pieces, and short stories, most of which had a melodramatic atmosphere of crime. His first and best crime book was Limehouse Nights (1916), a series of violent tales that rely on authentic background and Oriental flavour for their readability. Subtle passion and sinister murders abound.’ – Stenbrunner & Penzler.
Burke’s best friend ‘was the original model for the character of Quong Lee, the Chinatown philosopher in Limehouse Nights... Several years later, when his aged friend was deported for having operated an opium den, Burke was inspired to write the first of his collection of short stores about Limehouse. To Burke, whose literary credo was “to tell a story as ably as Ambrose Bierce and to see and write as clearly as Stephen Crane,” Limehouse Nights was “admittedly violent stuff written hastily,” as a means of “simply telling tales”. But it firmly established his literary reputation in Britain, and the film adaptation of the first tale in the collection under the title Broken Blossoms extended the boundaries of his reputation internationally.’ – Reilly
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Price HK$ 18,000
The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night - with - Supplemental Nights -
Richard Burton
1903 - Printed by the Burton Club for Private Subscribers OnlyIllustrated Benares Edition limited to 1, 000 sets
A finely bound and complete seventeen volume set of Burton’s controversial translations which could only be printed privately due to the strict Victorian laws on obscene material. The first of the ‘Burton Club’ editions, profusely illustrated with 114 full page plates on vellum with tissue guards, of which 70 were by Albert Letchford.
‘...But when it was midnight Shahrázád awoke and signalled to her sister Dunyázád who sat up and said, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, recite to us some new story, delightsome and delectable wherewith to while away the waking hours of our latter night." "With joy and goodly gree," answered Shahrázád, "if this pious and auspicious King permit me." "Tell on," quoth the King who chanced to be sleepless and restless and therefore was pleased with the prospect of hearing her story.’
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Price HK$ 38,000
1903 - Printed by the Burton Club for Private Subscribers OnlyIllustrated Benares Edition limited to 1, 000 sets
A finely bound and complete seventeen volume set of Burton’s controversial translations which could only be printed privately due to the strict Victorian laws on obscene material. The first of the ‘Burton Club’ editions, profusely illustrated with 114 full page plates on vellum with tissue guards, of which 70 were by Albert Letchford.‘...But when it was midnight Shahrázád awoke and signalled to her sister Dunyázád who sat up and said, "Allah upon thee, O my sister, recite to us some new story, delightsome and delectable wherewith to while away the waking hours of our latter night." "With joy and goodly gree," answered Shahrázád, "if this pious and auspicious King permit me." "Tell on," quoth the King who chanced to be sleepless and restless and therefore was pleased with the prospect of hearing her story.’
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Price HK$ 38,000
Letters -
Anton Chekhov, Constance Garnett (translator, editor)
1920 - Chatto & Windus, London - First English Edition
‘Of the eighteen hundred and ninety letters published by Chekhov’s family I have chosen for translation these letters and passages from letters which best to illustrate Chekhov’s life, character and opinions. The brief memoir is abridged and adapted from the biographical sketch by his brother Mihail’ - from the introduction.
The letters in this volume illustrate the charming blend of narration and wit that comprise Chekhov's signature style. Ranging from love letters, discussions of literature with publishers and directors, and descriptions of the landscapes, people and preoccupations of his daily life.
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Price HK$ 3,800
1920 - Chatto & Windus, London - First English Edition
‘Of the eighteen hundred and ninety letters published by Chekhov’s family I have chosen for translation these letters and passages from letters which best to illustrate Chekhov’s life, character and opinions. The brief memoir is abridged and adapted from the biographical sketch by his brother Mihail’ - from the introduction.The letters in this volume illustrate the charming blend of narration and wit that comprise Chekhov's signature style. Ranging from love letters, discussions of literature with publishers and directors, and descriptions of the landscapes, people and preoccupations of his daily life.
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Price HK$ 3,800
The Morals of Confucius -
Confucius
Circa 1760 -1780 - Printed for Randal Taylor, London - First Thus
A later 18th century reprint of this work and the first to include the folding frontispiece engraving of Confucius (often missing). First published in 1691 and scarce in any early edition, more so this edition with the engraving. In contemporary binding, and with decorations to title page, six headpieces, and three tailpieces.
Beginning with a ‘Preface’ introducing this translation and its sources, followed by ‘Part First’ titled ‘Of the Antiquity and Philosophy of the Chinese’, then ‘Part II’ which offers selected translations from the three books, and ends with 80 ‘Maxims’.
‘The great Chinese teacher Confucius (551 BC–479 BC) articulated a philosophy based on the concepts of ren (‘benevolence’ or ‘compassion’) and li (‘ritual’ or ‘propriety’). He hoped to create the ideal, superior man (junzi) and thereby facilitate a just society.
Confucius’s teachings were highly influential across China and large areas of east Asia for almost two millennia before this 1691 work offered English readers their first introduction to his philosophical approach. It provides an account of Confucius’s life and times, as well as 80 of his maxims.
This English-language text is based on a French-language edition published in 1688, which in turn relied on a Latin work of 1687 published in Paris.’ - Marsh’s Library, Dublin.
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Price HK$ 21,000
Circa 1760 -1780 - Printed for Randal Taylor, London - First Thus
A later 18th century reprint of this work and the first to include the folding frontispiece engraving of Confucius (often missing). First published in 1691 and scarce in any early edition, more so this edition with the engraving. In contemporary binding, and with decorations to title page, six headpieces, and three tailpieces.Beginning with a ‘Preface’ introducing this translation and its sources, followed by ‘Part First’ titled ‘Of the Antiquity and Philosophy of the Chinese’, then ‘Part II’ which offers selected translations from the three books, and ends with 80 ‘Maxims’.
‘The great Chinese teacher Confucius (551 BC–479 BC) articulated a philosophy based on the concepts of ren (‘benevolence’ or ‘compassion’) and li (‘ritual’ or ‘propriety’). He hoped to create the ideal, superior man (junzi) and thereby facilitate a just society.
Confucius’s teachings were highly influential across China and large areas of east Asia for almost two millennia before this 1691 work offered English readers their first introduction to his philosophical approach. It provides an account of Confucius’s life and times, as well as 80 of his maxims.
This English-language text is based on a French-language edition published in 1688, which in turn relied on a Latin work of 1687 published in Paris.’ - Marsh’s Library, Dublin.
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Price HK$ 21,000
Yachts and Yachting -
Fred. S. Cozzens
1888 - Cassell and Company, New York - Revised Edition with additional illustrations
A beautiful copy, strikingly illustrated throughout with over 140 mostly line drawings by Cozzens [1846-1928] who was considered to be one of the best marine illustrators of the nineteenth century. This revised edition was issued a year after the first, but added more illustrations and five further chapters.
Containing a detailed history of American yachting from the early days of the New York Yacht Club to 1885 by Captain R. F. Coffin; extensive coverage of the America’s cup races of 1886 between the Mayflower and Galatea by Charles E. Clay; American Steam Yachting, by Edward Jaffray; British Yachting, by C.J.C. McAlster; and additional chapters on American Yachting in 1886 and 1887, Ocean Racing of the same period, and the The Famous Ocean Race of 1887 between the Coronet and the Dauntless, from Sandy Hook, Connecticut, to Roche’s Point Queenstown, County Cork.
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Price HK$ 4,500
1888 - Cassell and Company, New York - Revised Edition with additional illustrations
A beautiful copy, strikingly illustrated throughout with over 140 mostly line drawings by Cozzens [1846-1928] who was considered to be one of the best marine illustrators of the nineteenth century. This revised edition was issued a year after the first, but added more illustrations and five further chapters.Containing a detailed history of American yachting from the early days of the New York Yacht Club to 1885 by Captain R. F. Coffin; extensive coverage of the America’s cup races of 1886 between the Mayflower and Galatea by Charles E. Clay; American Steam Yachting, by Edward Jaffray; British Yachting, by C.J.C. McAlster; and additional chapters on American Yachting in 1886 and 1887, Ocean Racing of the same period, and the The Famous Ocean Race of 1887 between the Coronet and the Dauntless, from Sandy Hook, Connecticut, to Roche’s Point Queenstown, County Cork.
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Price HK$ 4,500
The Eastern Seas -
George Windsor Earl
1837 - Wm. H. Allen and Co., London - First Edition
A very important association copy, with the signature of Margaret, Lady Brooke. Earl was a strong admirer of Raffles, who had died in 1826’ and Earl’s book ‘greatly impressed James Brooke, who was also an admirer of Raffles and his writings’. Brooke’s prospectus for his voyage to Singapore and then Borneo (published in October 1938), reflected the influence of Earl’s book.
An entertaining and insightful work, with extensive chapters on Indonesia, Borneo, Malaysia, and Singapore, as well as a lengthy treatise in the Appendix titled ‘Observations on the Commercial Resources of the Indian Archipelago’. Illustrated with four folding maps.
Brooke encouraged the work of Wallace, whose ‘Wallace Line’, showing the boundary between Asian and Australian faunal regions, was critical to Wallace and Darwin’s evolutionary theory. But the ‘Line’ had been earlier presented to the Royal Geographical Society by Earl in 1845, and Wallace acknowledged that ‘Earl believed that there had been a former connection between Asia and Australia’. Darwin also wrote to Wallace, after reading a draft of his paper on Malay zoogeography, to ask: ‘Are you aware that Mr. W. Earl published several years ago the view of distribution of animals in Malay Archipelago in relation to the depth of the sea between the islands?’.
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Price HK$ 9,000
1837 - Wm. H. Allen and Co., London - First Edition
A very important association copy, with the signature of Margaret, Lady Brooke. Earl was a strong admirer of Raffles, who had died in 1826’ and Earl’s book ‘greatly impressed James Brooke, who was also an admirer of Raffles and his writings’. Brooke’s prospectus for his voyage to Singapore and then Borneo (published in October 1938), reflected the influence of Earl’s book.An entertaining and insightful work, with extensive chapters on Indonesia, Borneo, Malaysia, and Singapore, as well as a lengthy treatise in the Appendix titled ‘Observations on the Commercial Resources of the Indian Archipelago’. Illustrated with four folding maps.
Brooke encouraged the work of Wallace, whose ‘Wallace Line’, showing the boundary between Asian and Australian faunal regions, was critical to Wallace and Darwin’s evolutionary theory. But the ‘Line’ had been earlier presented to the Royal Geographical Society by Earl in 1845, and Wallace acknowledged that ‘Earl believed that there had been a former connection between Asia and Australia’. Darwin also wrote to Wallace, after reading a draft of his paper on Malay zoogeography, to ask: ‘Are you aware that Mr. W. Earl published several years ago the view of distribution of animals in Malay Archipelago in relation to the depth of the sea between the islands?’.
More details
Price HK$ 9,000