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The Story of Reynard the Fox -
David Vedder, Gustav Canton (illustrator)
1847 - David Bogue, London - Second Edition
Lithographed by David Vedder’s son-in-law Frederick Schenck (Schenck & McFarlane, Edinburgh), and considered on its appearance ‘the best edition of this famous story yet presented in England’ (London Literary Gazette, 1852).
Illustrated by Gustav Canton of Munich and Dusseldorf, with 9 two-tone lithographic plates, 5 colour lithographic plates, 1 in-text engraving, 8 vignettes, and 19 decorated letter pieces.
‘Vedder’s book is splendidly illustrated by the German artist Gustav Canton, but modestly so and in keeping with a text which has been carefully expurgated and made suitable for decent young people... Vedder’s text is based on the 1706 English verse translation of Hartmann Schopper’s 1569 Latin text, this, in turn, is based, via a 1544 High German shortened translation, on that of the 1498 Lübeck Low German, and thence back to the Flemish on which Caxton drew.’ - Kenneth Varty, Reynard the Fox: Cultural Metamorphoses and Social Engagement in the Beast Epic [171].
‘The illustration of Reynard the Fox, will always be a tempting one to artists who possess the gift of humorously indicating human character, passions, follies, and infirmities, in brute form. This power is in the command of Gustav Canton ; whose humour, readiness, and clever combination, are considerable, — marred, however, by an unfortunate vulgarity of artistic style, at any rate as represented in these lithographs.’ - Review of this edition in The Spectator, January 1847.
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Price HK$ 1,200
1847 - David Bogue, London - Second Edition
Lithographed by David Vedder’s son-in-law Frederick Schenck (Schenck & McFarlane, Edinburgh), and considered on its appearance ‘the best edition of this famous story yet presented in England’ (London Literary Gazette, 1852).Illustrated by Gustav Canton of Munich and Dusseldorf, with 9 two-tone lithographic plates, 5 colour lithographic plates, 1 in-text engraving, 8 vignettes, and 19 decorated letter pieces.
‘Vedder’s book is splendidly illustrated by the German artist Gustav Canton, but modestly so and in keeping with a text which has been carefully expurgated and made suitable for decent young people... Vedder’s text is based on the 1706 English verse translation of Hartmann Schopper’s 1569 Latin text, this, in turn, is based, via a 1544 High German shortened translation, on that of the 1498 Lübeck Low German, and thence back to the Flemish on which Caxton drew.’ - Kenneth Varty, Reynard the Fox: Cultural Metamorphoses and Social Engagement in the Beast Epic [171].
‘The illustration of Reynard the Fox, will always be a tempting one to artists who possess the gift of humorously indicating human character, passions, follies, and infirmities, in brute form. This power is in the command of Gustav Canton ; whose humour, readiness, and clever combination, are considerable, — marred, however, by an unfortunate vulgarity of artistic style, at any rate as represented in these lithographs.’ - Review of this edition in The Spectator, January 1847.
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Price HK$ 1,200
A Journey to the Centre of the Earth -
Jules Verne
1876 - Griffith and Farran, London - 4th Printing. [New Edition]
A smart copy with the same pictorial covers and 52 full page monochrome illustrations by Riou as the first English edition of 1871.
Journey to the Centre of the Earth literally plunges the reader into the centre of the earth through vivid description, detailed explanations, and the "eyewitness" accounts of the narrator. On the most basic level, Journey is an adventure story, a tale of the obstacles, encounters, and wonders.
The eccentric scientist Professor Hardwigg finds directions to the centre of the earth in an old book and sets out, along with his nephew Henry and the guide Hans, to Iceland where they find the mountain and the shaft that allows them access to the depths of the earth. On a deeper level the story can be seen as man's journey into himself, always probing deeper for what lies at his centre. [Mitchell]
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Price HK$ 4,500
1876 - Griffith and Farran, London - 4th Printing. [New Edition]
A smart copy with the same pictorial covers and 52 full page monochrome illustrations by Riou as the first English edition of 1871. Journey to the Centre of the Earth literally plunges the reader into the centre of the earth through vivid description, detailed explanations, and the "eyewitness" accounts of the narrator. On the most basic level, Journey is an adventure story, a tale of the obstacles, encounters, and wonders.
The eccentric scientist Professor Hardwigg finds directions to the centre of the earth in an old book and sets out, along with his nephew Henry and the guide Hans, to Iceland where they find the mountain and the shaft that allows them access to the depths of the earth. On a deeper level the story can be seen as man's journey into himself, always probing deeper for what lies at his centre. [Mitchell]
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Price HK$ 4,500
Works of Jules Verne -
Jules Verne, Charles F. Horne (editor)
1911 - Vincent Parke and Company, New York - Prince of Wales Edition, Number 25 of 500 Limited Copies
‘The reason Verne is still read by millions today is simply that he was one of the best storytellers who ever lived’ – Arthur C. Clarke
A superb 15 volume limited edition set of the works of Jules Verne, handsomely bound, each illustrated with full page colour and tinted plates protected by descriptive tissue guards.
This collection features Verne’s most famous stories, including Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, From the Earth to the Moon, Five Weeks in a Balloon, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Mysterious Island, and Around the World in Eighty Days, among many others.
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Price HK$ 38,000
1911 - Vincent Parke and Company, New York - Prince of Wales Edition, Number 25 of 500 Limited Copies
‘The reason Verne is still read by millions today is simply that he was one of the best storytellers who ever lived’ – Arthur C. ClarkeA superb 15 volume limited edition set of the works of Jules Verne, handsomely bound, each illustrated with full page colour and tinted plates protected by descriptive tissue guards.
This collection features Verne’s most famous stories, including Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, From the Earth to the Moon, Five Weeks in a Balloon, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Mysterious Island, and Around the World in Eighty Days, among many others.
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Price HK$ 38,000
The Traveller in Asia -
Priscilla Wakefield
1817 - Darton, London - First Edition
This lovely little book is the final title of Priscilla Wakefield’s fictional travel series, for the purpose of educating children, and based upon the narrative of Arthur Middleton. Illustrated with a colour folding map.
‘In the book Arthur Middleton travels around India and visits China with his impressions and experiences recorded in a journal format. He makes an acquaintance with a Mr Melville who accompanies him on part of the journey and asks Arthur to take charge of his nephew Charles Melville who is fourteen. Arthur and his new companion Charles continue the journey and Priscilla begins to include into the text letters from Charles to his sister Adele. The visit to China at the end of the book is brief in comparison to the volume of information about India. At the end of the book Arthur returns Charles to his uncle and plans his return to England.’ - Priscilla Wakefield., Travels in Juvenile Literature (Blog).
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Price HK$ 3,000
1817 - Darton, London - First Edition
This lovely little book is the final title of Priscilla Wakefield’s fictional travel series, for the purpose of educating children, and based upon the narrative of Arthur Middleton. Illustrated with a colour folding map.‘In the book Arthur Middleton travels around India and visits China with his impressions and experiences recorded in a journal format. He makes an acquaintance with a Mr Melville who accompanies him on part of the journey and asks Arthur to take charge of his nephew Charles Melville who is fourteen. Arthur and his new companion Charles continue the journey and Priscilla begins to include into the text letters from Charles to his sister Adele. The visit to China at the end of the book is brief in comparison to the volume of information about India. At the end of the book Arthur returns Charles to his uncle and plans his return to England.’ - Priscilla Wakefield., Travels in Juvenile Literature (Blog).
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Price HK$ 3,000
The Boy's Book of Pirates and the Great Sea Rovers -
George Alfred Williams
1913 - Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York - First Edition
‘Unlike most of the adventurers, who became buccaneers by force of circumstances, Morgan deliberately selected the prefession, and studied piracy with great deliberation. He was so imbued with the spirit of this life that it was not long before he rose to great prominence...’
A rather scarce book, containing eleven full page illustrations with stunning colour and vitality, this work which was written and illustrated by the great Dicken’s illustrator George Alfred Williams delighted audiences with tales of the exciting, gruesome, and gripping history of piracy, chronicling it’s rise from the birth of circumnavigation to the chaotic heyday of the 19th century.
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Price HK$ 1,500
1913 - Frederick A. Stokes Company, New York - First Edition
‘Unlike most of the adventurers, who became buccaneers by force of circumstances, Morgan deliberately selected the prefession, and studied piracy with great deliberation. He was so imbued with the spirit of this life that it was not long before he rose to great prominence...’A rather scarce book, containing eleven full page illustrations with stunning colour and vitality, this work which was written and illustrated by the great Dicken’s illustrator George Alfred Williams delighted audiences with tales of the exciting, gruesome, and gripping history of piracy, chronicling it’s rise from the birth of circumnavigation to the chaotic heyday of the 19th century.
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Price HK$ 1,500
“Chinese Babies” A Collection of Nursery Rhymes -
Evelyn Young (editor and illustrator), Juliet Bredon, Dr. Isaac Taylor Headland
1932 - Tientsin Press, Tientsin - First Edition
With six full page coloured plates, coloured title page, and charming black and white sketches throughout by Evelyn Young.
The seventeen nursery rhymes are - Little Small-Feet; The Small Storekeeper; The Cake Seller; The Little Girl's Dream; Dreamland; The Magician; Sweeter than Sugar; Little Gold Fish; Little Red Fire; The Dream Junk; Butterflies; Kite Flying; The Old Woman; The Bride; The Blind Man; The Little Bald-Head; Of What Use Is a Girl?; and Chinese Cradle Song.
The little stars in the Bamboo Grove
Are all set up so high
That little hands can never reach
To pull them from the sky.
But you shall ride on a magpie’s wing,
And travel up to see
If they are really precious gems
Worth bringing back to me
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Price HK$ 8,000
1932 - Tientsin Press, Tientsin - First Edition
With six full page coloured plates, coloured title page, and charming black and white sketches throughout by Evelyn Young.The seventeen nursery rhymes are - Little Small-Feet; The Small Storekeeper; The Cake Seller; The Little Girl's Dream; Dreamland; The Magician; Sweeter than Sugar; Little Gold Fish; Little Red Fire; The Dream Junk; Butterflies; Kite Flying; The Old Woman; The Bride; The Blind Man; The Little Bald-Head; Of What Use Is a Girl?; and Chinese Cradle Song.
The little stars in the Bamboo Grove
Are all set up so high
That little hands can never reach
To pull them from the sky.
But you shall ride on a magpie’s wing,
And travel up to see
If they are really precious gems
Worth bringing back to me
More details
Price HK$ 8,000