A Plain and Easy Account of British Fungi -
M.C. Cooke
1898 - W. H. Allen and Co., London - Sixth Edition, Revised
An informative Victorian-era reference to British fungi, wonderfully illustrated with 20 full page colour plates of thirty-four species and numerous woodcuts throughout the text.
Mordecai Cubitt Cooke (1825-1914) was an English botanist and mycologist. From 1872 to 1894, he edited Grevillea, a monthly periodical devoted to the study of mushrooms.
The word ‘esculent’ means ‘edible’.
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Price HK$ 700
1898 - W. H. Allen and Co., London - Sixth Edition, Revised
An informative Victorian-era reference to British fungi, wonderfully illustrated with 20 full page colour plates of thirty-four species and numerous woodcuts throughout the text.Mordecai Cubitt Cooke (1825-1914) was an English botanist and mycologist. From 1872 to 1894, he edited Grevillea, a monthly periodical devoted to the study of mushrooms.
The word ‘esculent’ means ‘edible’.
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Price HK$ 700
The Wild Life of Scotland -
James Hunter Crawford
1896 - John Macqueen, London - First Edition
A beautiful copy, illustrated throughout by John Williamson.
Including chapters on bird life, the moors, marine mammals and fish, the stag, lochs and the Shetlands.
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Price HK$ 1,200
1896 - John Macqueen, London - First Edition
A beautiful copy, illustrated throughout by John Williamson.Including chapters on bird life, the moors, marine mammals and fish, the stag, lochs and the Shetlands.
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Price HK$ 1,200
The Origin of Species -
Charles Darwin
1891 - John Murray, London - Sixth Edition, with Additions and Corrections (Forty-First Thousand).
‘It is now fully recognized that the publication of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species brought about a revolution in man’s attitude toward life and his own place in the universe. This work is rightly regarded as one of the most important books ever published, and a knowledge of it should be part of the intellectual equipment of every educated person. The book remains surprisingly modern in its assertions and is also remarkably accessible to the layman, much more so than recent treatises necessarily encumbered with technical language and professional jargon’. - Harvard University Press.
A near fine example of the sixth edition, considered the last significant edition, and to which Darwin made his final and extensive revisions, this was also the first edition in which he used the word evolution which had commonly been associated with embryological development [though all editions concluded with the word evolved ], Darwin also added a new chapter VII, Miscellaneous Objections, to address George Jackson Mivart's detailed arguments against natural selection in On the Genesis of Species published in 1871.
In Origin of Species Darwin ‘not only drew an entirely new picture of the workings of organic nature; he revolutionized our methods of thinking and our outlook on the natural order of things. The recognition that constant change is the order of the universe had been finally established and a vast step forward in the uniformity of nature had been taken.’ – Printing and the Mind of Man.
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Price HK$ 7,000
1891 - John Murray, London - Sixth Edition, with Additions and Corrections (Forty-First Thousand).
‘It is now fully recognized that the publication of Charles Darwin’s Origin of Species brought about a revolution in man’s attitude toward life and his own place in the universe. This work is rightly regarded as one of the most important books ever published, and a knowledge of it should be part of the intellectual equipment of every educated person. The book remains surprisingly modern in its assertions and is also remarkably accessible to the layman, much more so than recent treatises necessarily encumbered with technical language and professional jargon’. - Harvard University Press.A near fine example of the sixth edition, considered the last significant edition, and to which Darwin made his final and extensive revisions, this was also the first edition in which he used the word evolution which had commonly been associated with embryological development [though all editions concluded with the word evolved ], Darwin also added a new chapter VII, Miscellaneous Objections, to address George Jackson Mivart's detailed arguments against natural selection in On the Genesis of Species published in 1871.
In Origin of Species Darwin ‘not only drew an entirely new picture of the workings of organic nature; he revolutionized our methods of thinking and our outlook on the natural order of things. The recognition that constant change is the order of the universe had been finally established and a vast step forward in the uniformity of nature had been taken.’ – Printing and the Mind of Man.
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Price HK$ 7,000
Highland Sport -
A Grimble
1894 - Chapman and Hall Ltd., London - First Edition
A large and beautifully bound work Illustrated with eleven full page plates by Archibald Thorburn.
Personal recollections and views on fishing and shooting in the highlands of Scotland. Grimble was the first to call for a close time to the Salmon fishing season in Scotland after witnessing the alarming drop in catch, and rise in netting technology and quantity. He was successful.
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Price HK$ 4,200
1894 - Chapman and Hall Ltd., London - First Edition
A large and beautifully bound work Illustrated with eleven full page plates by Archibald Thorburn. Personal recollections and views on fishing and shooting in the highlands of Scotland. Grimble was the first to call for a close time to the Salmon fishing season in Scotland after witnessing the alarming drop in catch, and rise in netting technology and quantity. He was successful.
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Price HK$ 4,200
The Lady and the Panda: An Adventure -
Ruth Harkness
1938 - Carrick & Evans, New York - First Edition
A bright copy – in the rare original dust jacket – of this uncommon book, American socialite Ruth Harkness’ account of her panda-hunting expedition to China in 1936. Successfully – and unexpectedly – capturing an infant panda, which she named Su-Lin,
Harkness brazenly side-stepped Chinese bureaucracy, and garbed in fur with a cigarette dangling from her lipsticked mouth and a baby bottle propped in hand, she waged a savvy public battle to extricate Su-Lin from his native land, eventually finding a home for him at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, where he attracted record crowds: 53,000 visitors the first day, a number yet to be matched.
Wonderfully illustrated throughout with 16 pages of black and white photographs taken during Harkness’ journey and of panda, Su-Lin.
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Price HK$ 9,000
1938 - Carrick & Evans, New York - First Edition
A bright copy – in the rare original dust jacket – of this uncommon book, American socialite Ruth Harkness’ account of her panda-hunting expedition to China in 1936. Successfully – and unexpectedly – capturing an infant panda, which she named Su-Lin, Harkness brazenly side-stepped Chinese bureaucracy, and garbed in fur with a cigarette dangling from her lipsticked mouth and a baby bottle propped in hand, she waged a savvy public battle to extricate Su-Lin from his native land, eventually finding a home for him at the Brookfield Zoo in Chicago, where he attracted record crowds: 53,000 visitors the first day, a number yet to be matched.
Wonderfully illustrated throughout with 16 pages of black and white photographs taken during Harkness’ journey and of panda, Su-Lin.
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Price HK$ 9,000
The Riddle Of The Tsangpo Gorges -
Captain F. Kingdon-Ward
1926 - Edward Arnold & Co., London - First Edition
A near fine example of this important work, describing the period spanning 1924-25, during which Kingdon-Ward made what was probably his most famous and successful expedition, in the company of Lord Cawdor, to Bhutan and south-east Tibet, during which, in addition to ‘The Riddle’, related to the existence, or not, of the ‘Falls of Brahmaputra’, he collected ninety-seven varieties of rhododendron, and the first viable blue poppy seed.
The Brooke-Hitching copy, housed in custom slipcase. Illustrated with a folding coloured map, and 21 photographs on 16 plates.
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Price HK$ 16,000
1926 - Edward Arnold & Co., London - First Edition
A near fine example of this important work, describing the period spanning 1924-25, during which Kingdon-Ward made what was probably his most famous and successful expedition, in the company of Lord Cawdor, to Bhutan and south-east Tibet, during which, in addition to ‘The Riddle’, related to the existence, or not, of the ‘Falls of Brahmaputra’, he collected ninety-seven varieties of rhododendron, and the first viable blue poppy seed.The Brooke-Hitching copy, housed in custom slipcase. Illustrated with a folding coloured map, and 21 photographs on 16 plates.
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Price HK$ 16,000
The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life, by Food, Clothes, Air, Exercise, Wine, Sleep, &c. -
William Kitchiner
1822 - Hurst, London - Third Edition, Enlarged
A scarce and fascinating little work in contemporary binding.
Following a ‘Cure for Tooth-Ach’ is the section entitled ‘The Pleasure of Making a Will’, presumably many ‘Tooth-Achs’ were terminal in 1822.
Words of wisdom include:-
‘The Siesta is not only advisable, but indispensable.’
‘No man should habitually take Wine as Food until he is past 30 years of age’.
‘Take as much exercise as you can in the open air’.
‘Nothing is so restorative to the nerves, as sound and uninterrupted Sleep; which is the chief source of both Bodily and Mental Strength’.
‘The clearness of the Complexion is considered the best criterion of a Man’s being in good condition’.
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Price HK$ 2,800
1822 - Hurst, London - Third Edition, Enlarged
A scarce and fascinating little work in contemporary binding.Following a ‘Cure for Tooth-Ach’ is the section entitled ‘The Pleasure of Making a Will’, presumably many ‘Tooth-Achs’ were terminal in 1822.
Words of wisdom include:-
‘The Siesta is not only advisable, but indispensable.’
‘No man should habitually take Wine as Food until he is past 30 years of age’.
‘Take as much exercise as you can in the open air’.
‘Nothing is so restorative to the nerves, as sound and uninterrupted Sleep; which is the chief source of both Bodily and Mental Strength’.
‘The clearness of the Complexion is considered the best criterion of a Man’s being in good condition’.
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Price HK$ 2,800
Voyage dans les Mers de l'Inde -
Guillaume Joseph Le Gentil de la Galaisière
1779 - Imprimerie Royale, Paris - First Editions
‘Two monumental volumes... crammed with details on astronomy, navigation, and natural history... His descriptions of life in Manila, Pondicherry, and Madagascar are invaluable’ (Dunmore).
A stunning set In contemporary bindings and illustrated with twenty seven folding copper engravings showing two world maps, maps charts and plans of Eastern and Western Philippines, Bay of Manila, Philippine Harbours, Manilla, Madagascar and it’s coastline, Isle de France (Mauritius), Isle de Bourbon (Réunion), Quartier S. Denis on Réunion, Eastern and Western Straits of Malacca, and Pondicherry. Together with engraved plates of animals and plant life, the ruins of Pondicherry, pagodas, Indian deities, and charts of comets and constellations.
‘In addition to the scientific details for which the voyage was undertaken, the first volume treats of the manners, customs, and religion or the people of the Malabar Coast and of the astronomy of the Brahmins. The second volume contains elaborate accounts of the Philippine Islands, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Bourbon and their inhabitants, including views and charts of the Philippines. Le Gentil gives details of the Islands, their climate, volcanoes, fertility, fruits, birds, animals, peoples, language, history, and description of Manila, the government, ecclesiastical and civil, commerce, &c.’ (Edwards).
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Price HK$ 37,000
1779 - Imprimerie Royale, Paris - First Editions
‘Two monumental volumes... crammed with details on astronomy, navigation, and natural history... His descriptions of life in Manila, Pondicherry, and Madagascar are invaluable’ (Dunmore). A stunning set In contemporary bindings and illustrated with twenty seven folding copper engravings showing two world maps, maps charts and plans of Eastern and Western Philippines, Bay of Manila, Philippine Harbours, Manilla, Madagascar and it’s coastline, Isle de France (Mauritius), Isle de Bourbon (Réunion), Quartier S. Denis on Réunion, Eastern and Western Straits of Malacca, and Pondicherry. Together with engraved plates of animals and plant life, the ruins of Pondicherry, pagodas, Indian deities, and charts of comets and constellations.
‘In addition to the scientific details for which the voyage was undertaken, the first volume treats of the manners, customs, and religion or the people of the Malabar Coast and of the astronomy of the Brahmins. The second volume contains elaborate accounts of the Philippine Islands, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Bourbon and their inhabitants, including views and charts of the Philippines. Le Gentil gives details of the Islands, their climate, volcanoes, fertility, fruits, birds, animals, peoples, language, history, and description of Manila, the government, ecclesiastical and civil, commerce, &c.’ (Edwards).
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Price HK$ 37,000