Traite sur les Vins du Medoc -
Wm. Franck
1853 - P. Chaumas, Bordeaux - Third and enlarged edition.
A finely bound third and enlarged edition of ‘the first major book dealing solely with the wines of Bordeaux’ (Jancis Robinson - Oxford Companion to Wine.), and one of the first Bordeaux classifications.
Beautifully illustrated throughout, with three engraved title pages by Pauquet, and twenty full-page illustrations including five lithographs and fifteen woodblocks, nineteen of which show the principle Châteaux and one shows the harvest in Medoc. In addition to the illustrations are numerous tables (five folding).
Bound in are the original illustrated wrappers, and as with many examples of the third edition, this copy does not have the large folding colour map.
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Price HK$ 4,500
1853 - P. Chaumas, Bordeaux - Third and enlarged edition.
A finely bound third and enlarged edition of ‘the first major book dealing solely with the wines of Bordeaux’ (Jancis Robinson - Oxford Companion to Wine.), and one of the first Bordeaux classifications.Beautifully illustrated throughout, with three engraved title pages by Pauquet, and twenty full-page illustrations including five lithographs and fifteen woodblocks, nineteen of which show the principle Châteaux and one shows the harvest in Medoc. In addition to the illustrations are numerous tables (five folding).
Bound in are the original illustrated wrappers, and as with many examples of the third edition, this copy does not have the large folding colour map.
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Price HK$ 4,500
Omensetter's Luck -
William Gass
1966 - The New American Library, New York - First Edition
‘Only talent has such nerve… Gass's stagecraft is cunning.’ – The New York Times
A fine and thus scarce first edition of Gass’ powerful debut novel, set in the 1890s.
The story of Brackett Omensetter, who drives into Gilean – a fictional, backwater town in Ohio – with his pregnant wife and children hoping to settle down. But others in Gilean, including the local priest, Jethro Furber, soon become wary of Brackett’s natural magnetism and good fortune. When Omensetter’s landlord disappears inexorably into the woods, and he is maliciously accused of a mysterious death, his luck begins to change and he is forced to abandon Gilean, leaving the town to once more resume its gossip, and the daily entanglements of ulterior motives.
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Price HK$ 3,300
1966 - The New American Library, New York - First Edition
‘Only talent has such nerve… Gass's stagecraft is cunning.’ – The New York TimesA fine and thus scarce first edition of Gass’ powerful debut novel, set in the 1890s.
The story of Brackett Omensetter, who drives into Gilean – a fictional, backwater town in Ohio – with his pregnant wife and children hoping to settle down. But others in Gilean, including the local priest, Jethro Furber, soon become wary of Brackett’s natural magnetism and good fortune. When Omensetter’s landlord disappears inexorably into the woods, and he is maliciously accused of a mysterious death, his luck begins to change and he is forced to abandon Gilean, leaving the town to once more resume its gossip, and the daily entanglements of ulterior motives.
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Price HK$ 3,300
The Hoods -
Harry Grey (Pseud. Herschel Goldberg)
1952 - Crown Publishers, New York - First Edition
A rare first edition in unfaded dust jacket. The first novel by Harry Grey (Herschel Goldberg) later to become Sergio Leone’s epic ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ (1984) starring Robert DeNiro loosely playing Harry's life as David ‘Noodles’ Aaronson.
A partly autobiographical account of Goldberg, a Ukrainian born Jewish gangster in New York's Lower East Side between 1910 and 1933, legend has it that this was written whilst incarcerated in the notorious Sing-Sing prison, using the pseudonym Harry Grey to protect his family.
Housed in a bespoke black clamshell case with red morocco spine label lettered in gilt.
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Price HK$ 17,000
1952 - Crown Publishers, New York - First Edition
A rare first edition in unfaded dust jacket. The first novel by Harry Grey (Herschel Goldberg) later to become Sergio Leone’s epic ‘Once Upon a Time in America’ (1984) starring Robert DeNiro loosely playing Harry's life as David ‘Noodles’ Aaronson.A partly autobiographical account of Goldberg, a Ukrainian born Jewish gangster in New York's Lower East Side between 1910 and 1933, legend has it that this was written whilst incarcerated in the notorious Sing-Sing prison, using the pseudonym Harry Grey to protect his family.
Housed in a bespoke black clamshell case with red morocco spine label lettered in gilt.
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Price HK$ 17,000
Narrative of the Voyages and Services of The Nemesis -
Commander W. H. Hall, W.D. Bernard ESQ., A.M., Oxon.
1844 - Henry Colburn, London - First Edition
A finely bound first edition first hand account of a pivotal time in Anglo-Chinese relations, the first opium war, and the formation of Hong Kong.
‘Considered to be the best account of the Opium War (1839-1842)’ – Bibliotheca Wittockiana, Western Travellers in China.
Illustrated with three folding maps (chart of the Nemesis voyage, Canton, and Hong Kong), six engraved plates and eight in-text woodcuts.
Referred to as the ‘devil ship’ by the Chinese, the Nemesis was the first British iron-clad warship, designed with a light draft and sliding keel for coastal and estuarine operations. Launched in 1839 for the East India Company, the British used her to great effect in the First Anglo-Chinese War under Hall.
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Price HK$ 22,000
1844 - Henry Colburn, London - First Edition
A finely bound first edition first hand account of a pivotal time in Anglo-Chinese relations, the first opium war, and the formation of Hong Kong.‘Considered to be the best account of the Opium War (1839-1842)’ – Bibliotheca Wittockiana, Western Travellers in China.
Illustrated with three folding maps (chart of the Nemesis voyage, Canton, and Hong Kong), six engraved plates and eight in-text woodcuts.
Referred to as the ‘devil ship’ by the Chinese, the Nemesis was the first British iron-clad warship, designed with a light draft and sliding keel for coastal and estuarine operations. Launched in 1839 for the East India Company, the British used her to great effect in the First Anglo-Chinese War under Hall.
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Price HK$ 22,000
History of the Jews. From the Earliest Times to the Present Day -
Graetz Heinrich von, Bella L
1891-2 - David Nutt, London - First Edition in English
A fine five volume set of the first edition, with frontispiece portrait of Heinrich von Graetz in final volume.
Originally published in 11 volumes in German from 1853 to 1870. It was then translated by Bella Loewy and published in this the first edition in English in 1891.
‘One of the first comprehensive popular histories of the Jews written by a Jew, and the work became very popular and influential in its time. Although the book has many shortcomings, they "are outbalanced by the facts that the work of presenting the whole of Jewish history [up to 1848] was undertaken, that it was executed in a readable form, and that the author enriched Jewish history by the discovery of many an important detail." ‘
With exceptional provenance, from the library of Lord Swaythling, Louis Samuel Montagu (1869-1927), head of the banking firm of Samuel Montagu & Company of London, and one of the outstanding leaders of Anglo-Jewry and President of the Federation of Synagogues and Initiation Society. With his signature to volumes II and III.
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Price HK$ 6,000
1891-2 - David Nutt, London - First Edition in English
A fine five volume set of the first edition, with frontispiece portrait of Heinrich von Graetz in final volume.Originally published in 11 volumes in German from 1853 to 1870. It was then translated by Bella Loewy and published in this the first edition in English in 1891.
‘One of the first comprehensive popular histories of the Jews written by a Jew, and the work became very popular and influential in its time. Although the book has many shortcomings, they "are outbalanced by the facts that the work of presenting the whole of Jewish history [up to 1848] was undertaken, that it was executed in a readable form, and that the author enriched Jewish history by the discovery of many an important detail." ‘
With exceptional provenance, from the library of Lord Swaythling, Louis Samuel Montagu (1869-1927), head of the banking firm of Samuel Montagu & Company of London, and one of the outstanding leaders of Anglo-Jewry and President of the Federation of Synagogues and Initiation Society. With his signature to volumes II and III.
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Price HK$ 6,000
Golf - The Badminton Library of Sports and Pastimes. With contributions by Lord Wellwood, Sir Walter Simpson, Bart., Right Hon. A. J. Balfour M.P., Andrew Lang, H.F.C. Everard and others -
Horace G. Hutchinson (Duke of Beaufort, editor), Assisted by Alfred E.T. Watson
1890 - Longmans, London - First Edition
‘One of the great books of the sport and deserves an honoured spot in every golf library.’ - Joseph Murdoch, The Library of Golf.
An unusually bright and fine first edition. Covering the history of golf, celebrated golfers and celebrated links, styles, etiquette, giving odds, and, I assume, relevant for the day - ‘hints to cricketers who are taking up golf’. Illustrated by Thomas Hodge and Harry Furniss with 22 plates, several woodcuts in text, and many further illustrations.
Hutchinson, one of the best sports writers and editors of his era, was also an accomplished golfer, captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, winner of the first two official British Amateur Championships in 1886 and 1887, and known for his comment that ‘if profanity had an influence on the flight of the ball, the game of golf would be played far better than it is.’
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Price HK$ 3,500
1890 - Longmans, London - First Edition
‘One of the great books of the sport and deserves an honoured spot in every golf library.’ - Joseph Murdoch, The Library of Golf.An unusually bright and fine first edition. Covering the history of golf, celebrated golfers and celebrated links, styles, etiquette, giving odds, and, I assume, relevant for the day - ‘hints to cricketers who are taking up golf’. Illustrated by Thomas Hodge and Harry Furniss with 22 plates, several woodcuts in text, and many further illustrations.
Hutchinson, one of the best sports writers and editors of his era, was also an accomplished golfer, captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, winner of the first two official British Amateur Championships in 1886 and 1887, and known for his comment that ‘if profanity had an influence on the flight of the ball, the game of golf would be played far better than it is.’
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Price HK$ 3,500
The Preparation of Westminster Abbey for the Royal Coronation of Their Most Excellent Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth -
Sydney R. Jones
1937 - John Mowlem &, London - Only Edition. One of 100 Privately Printed Copies
‘A Series of Drawings by Sydney R. Jones, shewing the Progress and Completion of the work’.
Rare example of this beautiful and large celebration of the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, number 51 of 100 privately printed folios signed by the artist Sydney R. Jones, and containing eleven stunning full page plates by Jones, preceded by an introduction. Printed on handmade Whatman paper watermarked 1937.
Produced for John Mowlam and Company, one of the largest British construction and civil engineering companies of the time, which was awarded a Royal Warrant in 1902. After WW2 they carried out the reconstruction works on both Buckingham Palace and the House of Commons, as well as Downing Street (1963), and a new altar for Westminster Abbey (1966). Among their more well know projects are Billingsgate Fish Market (1874), Smithfield Fruit Market (1882), Liverpool Street Station and the Great Eastern Hotel (1891), Battersea Power Station (1933), London bridge (1972), and even the Docklands Light Railway (1987).
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Price HK$ 5,000
1937 - John Mowlem &, London - Only Edition. One of 100 Privately Printed Copies
‘A Series of Drawings by Sydney R. Jones, shewing the Progress and Completion of the work’.Rare example of this beautiful and large celebration of the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, number 51 of 100 privately printed folios signed by the artist Sydney R. Jones, and containing eleven stunning full page plates by Jones, preceded by an introduction. Printed on handmade Whatman paper watermarked 1937.
Produced for John Mowlam and Company, one of the largest British construction and civil engineering companies of the time, which was awarded a Royal Warrant in 1902. After WW2 they carried out the reconstruction works on both Buckingham Palace and the House of Commons, as well as Downing Street (1963), and a new altar for Westminster Abbey (1966). Among their more well know projects are Billingsgate Fish Market (1874), Smithfield Fruit Market (1882), Liverpool Street Station and the Great Eastern Hotel (1891), Battersea Power Station (1933), London bridge (1972), and even the Docklands Light Railway (1987).
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Price HK$ 5,000
Corpse Guards Parade -
Milward Kennedy (Pseud. Milward Burge)
1929 - Victor Gollancz Ltd, London - First Edition
A fine first edition of Milward Kennedy’s second solo novel after ‘The Corpse on the Mat’, and featuring John Meriman and Inspector Cornford.
‘Mr. Kennedy has one characteristic which distinguishes him from his rivals in bloodshed. He is acquainted with the English language and has apparently met (and can remember) actual living men and women. The result is that his murders have almost the thrill of local news. They happen, if not to somebody you know, at any rate in company which you might have frequented. Nor does this odd distinction rob Mr. Kennedy of an ability to invent a mystery so tortuous as to be soluble only by a woman, and yet intelligible when solved. Mr. Kennedy indeed runs a risk of burgeoning into a detective best-seller.’ – Contemporary review from the Observer newspaper.
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Price HK$ 3,200
1929 - Victor Gollancz Ltd, London - First Edition
A fine first edition of Milward Kennedy’s second solo novel after ‘The Corpse on the Mat’, and featuring John Meriman and Inspector Cornford.‘Mr. Kennedy has one characteristic which distinguishes him from his rivals in bloodshed. He is acquainted with the English language and has apparently met (and can remember) actual living men and women. The result is that his murders have almost the thrill of local news. They happen, if not to somebody you know, at any rate in company which you might have frequented. Nor does this odd distinction rob Mr. Kennedy of an ability to invent a mystery so tortuous as to be soluble only by a woman, and yet intelligible when solved. Mr. Kennedy indeed runs a risk of burgeoning into a detective best-seller.’ – Contemporary review from the Observer newspaper.
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Price HK$ 3,200