Crooked House -
Agatha Christie
1949 - Published for The Crime Club by Collins, London - First English Edition
‘Curious thing, rooms. Tell you quite a lot about the people who live in them’ – Chief Inspector Taverner.
Three generations of the Leonides family have live under the same roof of Three Gables, a large household over which the very old and very rich Aristide Leonides has long presided. However he was murdered by a poisoner, perhaps a member of his own family?
Agatha Christie once said ‘Writing Crooked House was pure pleasure and I feel justified in my belief that it is one of my best.’
More details
Price HK$ 5,000
1949 - Published for The Crime Club by Collins, London - First English Edition
‘Curious thing, rooms. Tell you quite a lot about the people who live in them’ – Chief Inspector Taverner.Three generations of the Leonides family have live under the same roof of Three Gables, a large household over which the very old and very rich Aristide Leonides has long presided. However he was murdered by a poisoner, perhaps a member of his own family?
Agatha Christie once said ‘Writing Crooked House was pure pleasure and I feel justified in my belief that it is one of my best.’

Price HK$ 5,000
The Savoy Cocktail Book -
Harry Craddock
1930 - Richard R. Smith Inc., New York - First American Edition
A mint and thus reassuringly rare example of the Mixologist’s Bible. Featuring 750 cocktails, with marvellous art-deco colour illustrations and decorations throughout by Gilbert Rumbold, in original art-deco illustrated covers, using a shiny gold foil transfer which on this copy is bright and sharp and untouched. Suitably house in a custom clamshell case of black morocco leather, spine lettered in gilt and interior lined with velvet.
‘The way to drink a cocktail is quickly, while it's still laughing at you.’
Harry Craddock left the United States during Prohibition and came to the Savoy in 1920. He became the star of the American Bar and is credited with inventing the White Lady and popularised classics such as the Dry Martini.
With the Pegu Club Cocktail on page 120, ‘The Favourite Cocktail of the Pegu club, Burma,and one that has travelled, and is asked for, round the world.'
More details
Price HK$ 30,000
1930 - Richard R. Smith Inc., New York - First American Edition
A mint and thus reassuringly rare example of the Mixologist’s Bible. Featuring 750 cocktails, with marvellous art-deco colour illustrations and decorations throughout by Gilbert Rumbold, in original art-deco illustrated covers, using a shiny gold foil transfer which on this copy is bright and sharp and untouched. Suitably house in a custom clamshell case of black morocco leather, spine lettered in gilt and interior lined with velvet.‘The way to drink a cocktail is quickly, while it's still laughing at you.’
Harry Craddock left the United States during Prohibition and came to the Savoy in 1920. He became the star of the American Bar and is credited with inventing the White Lady and popularised classics such as the Dry Martini.
With the Pegu Club Cocktail on page 120, ‘The Favourite Cocktail of the Pegu club, Burma,and one that has travelled, and is asked for, round the world.'

Price HK$ 30,000
Les Grand Crus Bordelais -
Alfred Danflou
1867 - Librairie Goudin &, Bordeaux - First Edition in this format (a smaller work was published in 1866 with only 19 photographs of the 1st and 2nd growths)
A rare and remarkable work on Bordeaux, in beautiful condition, two large volumes bound in one, containing fifty-five 19th century photographs of the great Châteaux of Bordeaux, together with their history, vintages and other contributions, text in French.
Of superb quality, the plates of the Châteaux include Lafite, Latour, Mouton, all accompanied by a history and contemporary description of the Châteaux and wine vintages. With a long and interesting commentary on the classifications of first and second Crû, strongly in favour of reclassifying to Premier Cru, Branne-Mouton (purchased and renamed Mouton-Rothschild in 1853 by Baron Rothschild but herein referred to by it’s former name), for which they would have to wait a further century until 1973, and referring to both the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, and London’s Great Exhibition in 1851. There are additional chapters on ‘La Système Féodal Appliqué Aux Vins du Médoc’ and ‘Les Grand Vins de Saint-Émilion’.
A truly important and visually imposing work on Bordeaux and a vital part of any wine book or photographic collection.
More details
Price HK$ 100,000
1867 - Librairie Goudin &, Bordeaux - First Edition in this format (a smaller work was published in 1866 with only 19 photographs of the 1st and 2nd growths)
A rare and remarkable work on Bordeaux, in beautiful condition, two large volumes bound in one, containing fifty-five 19th century photographs of the great Châteaux of Bordeaux, together with their history, vintages and other contributions, text in French.Of superb quality, the plates of the Châteaux include Lafite, Latour, Mouton, all accompanied by a history and contemporary description of the Châteaux and wine vintages. With a long and interesting commentary on the classifications of first and second Crû, strongly in favour of reclassifying to Premier Cru, Branne-Mouton (purchased and renamed Mouton-Rothschild in 1853 by Baron Rothschild but herein referred to by it’s former name), for which they would have to wait a further century until 1973, and referring to both the 1855 Exposition Universelle de Paris, and London’s Great Exhibition in 1851. There are additional chapters on ‘La Système Féodal Appliqué Aux Vins du Médoc’ and ‘Les Grand Vins de Saint-Émilion’.
A truly important and visually imposing work on Bordeaux and a vital part of any wine book or photographic collection.

Price HK$ 100,000
This 'N That - A Memoir - Signed -
Bette Davis, Michael Herskowitz
1987 - Sidgwick &, London - First English Edition
A signed copy of Bette Davis’ second autobiographical work, which begins in 1983 with her mastectomy and stroke, and is considered the more personal and powerful of the two.
‘A woman of strong appetites and opinions, Bette Davis minces no words. In frank, no nonsense terms she talks about the stroke that nearly killed her, and inspires us with the story of her subsequent recovery from cancer–a lively and encouraging account shot through with the star’s unique blend of spunk and wit.
Davis was famous for being as unsparing of herself as she was of others. Among the “others” of this book are President Ronald Reagan, who was a contract player at Warner Bros. when she was; Joan Crawford, her costar in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?; Humphrey Bogart; Marilyn Monroe; Elizabeth Taylor; and Helen Hayes, Bette’s costar in her first film after her illness, Murder with Mirrors. She also talks about her deep friendship with her long-time assistant, Kathryn Sermak, who nursed Davis back to health after her stroke and ushered her back into acting when Davis’s doctors thought all hope was lost.
As Davis says, “If everyone likes you, you’re doing your job wrong.” This is a unique and controversial book by one of the most incandescent and unconventional acting talents of all time, as magnetic and supremely talented as the lady herself.’
More details
Price HK$ 2,000
1987 - Sidgwick &, London - First English Edition
A signed copy of Bette Davis’ second autobiographical work, which begins in 1983 with her mastectomy and stroke, and is considered the more personal and powerful of the two.‘A woman of strong appetites and opinions, Bette Davis minces no words. In frank, no nonsense terms she talks about the stroke that nearly killed her, and inspires us with the story of her subsequent recovery from cancer–a lively and encouraging account shot through with the star’s unique blend of spunk and wit.
Davis was famous for being as unsparing of herself as she was of others. Among the “others” of this book are President Ronald Reagan, who was a contract player at Warner Bros. when she was; Joan Crawford, her costar in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?; Humphrey Bogart; Marilyn Monroe; Elizabeth Taylor; and Helen Hayes, Bette’s costar in her first film after her illness, Murder with Mirrors. She also talks about her deep friendship with her long-time assistant, Kathryn Sermak, who nursed Davis back to health after her stroke and ushered her back into acting when Davis’s doctors thought all hope was lost.
As Davis says, “If everyone likes you, you’re doing your job wrong.” This is a unique and controversial book by one of the most incandescent and unconventional acting talents of all time, as magnetic and supremely talented as the lady herself.’

Price HK$ 2,000
Snickerty Nick & the Giant - Inscribed -
Julia Ellsworth Ford, Arthur Rackham (illustrator), Witter Bynner
1933 - Suttonhouse, Los Angeles - Second Edition
A wonderful association copy of this children’s play inspired by Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Selfish Giant’, inscribed from the author to the legendary stage actress, producer, director, translator and author ‘Eva Le Gallienne, A brave woman who dared to carry out her ideals. In admiration from Julia Emsworth Ford. March 8th 1934, Hollywood Calif.’
Additionally with Eva Le Galliene’s fabulous engraved bookplate designed by the influential set and costume designer Waslav Richard Rychtarik (1894-1982), with a quote from her favourite Ibsen character, Hedda Gabler.
Illustrated by Arthur Rackham with three monochrome plates, and eight full page line drawings.
More details
Price HK$ 5,000
1933 - Suttonhouse, Los Angeles - Second Edition
A wonderful association copy of this children’s play inspired by Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Selfish Giant’, inscribed from the author to the legendary stage actress, producer, director, translator and author ‘Eva Le Gallienne, A brave woman who dared to carry out her ideals. In admiration from Julia Emsworth Ford. March 8th 1934, Hollywood Calif.’Additionally with Eva Le Galliene’s fabulous engraved bookplate designed by the influential set and costume designer Waslav Richard Rychtarik (1894-1982), with a quote from her favourite Ibsen character, Hedda Gabler.
Illustrated by Arthur Rackham with three monochrome plates, and eight full page line drawings.

Price HK$ 5,000
Green Willow and other Japanese Fairy Tales -
Grace James, Warwick Goble (illustrator)
1910 - Macmillan and Co., London - Edition de Luxe, one of 500 copies.
The deluxe edition of this lovely collection of tales and legends, many of them sourced from the Ko-ji-ki, or Record of Ancient Matters, which contains the mythology of Japan, selected and translated by the Japanese born Grace James (1882-1965) and beautifully illustrated with forty tipped-in colour plates by Warwick Goble, each one laid on brown card and with a descriptive tissue guard.
Stories include ‘Flower of the Peony’, ‘Green Willow’, ‘Tamamo, ‘The Fox Maiden’, ‘The Flute’, ‘The Moon Maiden’, and ‘The Wind in the Pine Tree’, among many others.
A superior example, housed in custom made two part tan morocco slipcase, with twin gilt labels.
More details
Price HK$ 20,000
1910 - Macmillan and Co., London - Edition de Luxe, one of 500 copies.
The deluxe edition of this lovely collection of tales and legends, many of them sourced from the Ko-ji-ki, or Record of Ancient Matters, which contains the mythology of Japan, selected and translated by the Japanese born Grace James (1882-1965) and beautifully illustrated with forty tipped-in colour plates by Warwick Goble, each one laid on brown card and with a descriptive tissue guard.Stories include ‘Flower of the Peony’, ‘Green Willow’, ‘Tamamo, ‘The Fox Maiden’, ‘The Flute’, ‘The Moon Maiden’, and ‘The Wind in the Pine Tree’, among many others.
A superior example, housed in custom made two part tan morocco slipcase, with twin gilt labels.

Price HK$ 20,000
Culinary Jottings: A Treatise in Thirty Chapters on Reformed Cookery for Anglo-Indian Exiles -
Colonel Kenney-Herbert Wyvern
1885 - Higginbotham &, Madras - Fifth Edition
A scarce example of this popular cook book by ‘Wyvern’, expanded and revised from the first edition (’Culinary Jottings for Madras) published seven years earlier. All early editions are scarce because being a working cook book it is prone to all the usual issues that modern cookbooks are also in danger of, combined with the original cheap paper and glues used for its production in Madras.
With numerous chapters including two on ‘Our Curries’ and ‘Curries and Mulligatunny’, as well as ‘Camp Cookery’, ending with a fascinating essay about the British kitchens of India.
Recipes include helpful hints and advice, for example ‘Potted Prawns ought to be oftener seen at Madras than they are’ and suggestions on where to purchase the best potted meats, anecdotes (see ‘Mulligatunny’), a complete chapter titled ‘Notes on Curing of Meat’.
Published by legendary Indian book sellers Higginbotham’s, this work and other titles by ‘Wyvern’ ‘swept Higginbotham’s from being just a book establishment into becoming a part of India’s print and publishing history’ [Bangalore Mirror]
More details
Price HK$ 3,000
1885 - Higginbotham &, Madras - Fifth Edition
A scarce example of this popular cook book by ‘Wyvern’, expanded and revised from the first edition (’Culinary Jottings for Madras) published seven years earlier. All early editions are scarce because being a working cook book it is prone to all the usual issues that modern cookbooks are also in danger of, combined with the original cheap paper and glues used for its production in Madras.With numerous chapters including two on ‘Our Curries’ and ‘Curries and Mulligatunny’, as well as ‘Camp Cookery’, ending with a fascinating essay about the British kitchens of India.
Recipes include helpful hints and advice, for example ‘Potted Prawns ought to be oftener seen at Madras than they are’ and suggestions on where to purchase the best potted meats, anecdotes (see ‘Mulligatunny’), a complete chapter titled ‘Notes on Curing of Meat’.
Published by legendary Indian book sellers Higginbotham’s, this work and other titles by ‘Wyvern’ ‘swept Higginbotham’s from being just a book establishment into becoming a part of India’s print and publishing history’ [Bangalore Mirror]

Price HK$ 3,000
Collins Schoolgirls Annual -
Katherine L. Oldmeadow, Frances Cowen, V.M. Methley, S. G. Hedges and others.
Circa 1934 - Collins&rsquo, London and Glasgow
A bright copy in the rare dust jacket, with 38 stories for modern girls, memorable titles include The Cowgirl of Roaring Bull Ranch, Stella and the Stockings, What is Wrong with your Tennis?, and The Girls Do A Good Turn.
Profusely illustrated with five coloured and eight half-tone full page plates, together with colour and black and white vignettes throughout.
More details
Price HK$ 1,100
Circa 1934 - Collins&rsquo, London and Glasgow
A bright copy in the rare dust jacket, with 38 stories for modern girls, memorable titles include The Cowgirl of Roaring Bull Ranch, Stella and the Stockings, What is Wrong with your Tennis?, and The Girls Do A Good Turn.Profusely illustrated with five coloured and eight half-tone full page plates, together with colour and black and white vignettes throughout.

Price HK$ 1,100