The Second World War -
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill
1948 to 1954 - Cassell and Co. Ltd., London - First Editions
‘I will leave judgements on this matter to history – but I will be one of the historians.’ - Winston Churchill.
A finely bound first edition set of Churchill’s complete six volume classic history on World War II - The Gathering Storm, Their Finest Hour, The Grant Alliance, The Hinge of Fate, Closing the Ring and Triumph and Tragedy. With numerous maps and plans, some folding.
Not since Julius Caesar and his Gallic Wars has there been a case of a great leader in war also being an able writer.
Churchill's most famous work continuing on from his earlier history of the First World War, 'The World Crisis'. The two together form, in Churchill's opinion, a comprehensive history of a second Thirty Years War.
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Price HK$ 25,000
1948 to 1954 - Cassell and Co. Ltd., London - First Editions
‘I will leave judgements on this matter to history – but I will be one of the historians.’ - Winston Churchill. A finely bound first edition set of Churchill’s complete six volume classic history on World War II - The Gathering Storm, Their Finest Hour, The Grant Alliance, The Hinge of Fate, Closing the Ring and Triumph and Tragedy. With numerous maps and plans, some folding.
Not since Julius Caesar and his Gallic Wars has there been a case of a great leader in war also being an able writer.
Churchill's most famous work continuing on from his earlier history of the First World War, 'The World Crisis'. The two together form, in Churchill's opinion, a comprehensive history of a second Thirty Years War.
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Price HK$ 25,000
The War Speeches -
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, Charles Eade (editor)
1951 - Cassell & Company Ltd, London - First Collected Editions
A finely bound three volume set of the definitive edition of the War Speeches, compiled by Churchill's literary assistant Charles Eade, (1903-1964), editor of the Daily Sketch and the Sunday Dispatch, and editor of Churchill's wartime speeches, speaking notes and the collected volume 'Churchill by His Contemporaries'.
Includes occasional facsimile manuscripts, typescripts and documents. Eade's Papers, diaries and biographical material on Sir Winston were gifted to the Churchill Archives Centre in 1998, and are owned by Churchill College, Cambridge. Together with four additional speeches that were not included in the original seven volume set published during the war.
Housed in a custom blue felt-lined slipcase with silk pull.
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Price HK$ 15,000
1951 - Cassell & Company Ltd, London - First Collected Editions
A finely bound three volume set of the definitive edition of the War Speeches, compiled by Churchill's literary assistant Charles Eade, (1903-1964), editor of the Daily Sketch and the Sunday Dispatch, and editor of Churchill's wartime speeches, speaking notes and the collected volume 'Churchill by His Contemporaries'.Includes occasional facsimile manuscripts, typescripts and documents. Eade's Papers, diaries and biographical material on Sir Winston were gifted to the Churchill Archives Centre in 1998, and are owned by Churchill College, Cambridge. Together with four additional speeches that were not included in the original seven volume set published during the war.
Housed in a custom blue felt-lined slipcase with silk pull.
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Price HK$ 15,000
The Collected Essays of Sir Winston Churchill -
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill, Michael Wolff - General Editor
1976 - Library of Imperial History, London - First Editions
A finely bound four volume first collected edition of Churchill's essays and articles, beginning with his reports on the Cuban struggle for independence in the Daily Graphic, at only 20 years of age. Published to accompany the 34 volume Centenary Edition and not available in any other form.
‘On behalf of my family I wish to express my gratitude to the Library of Imperial History for having undertaken the major task of bringing together in book form my grandfather’s entire journalistic output. These articles are spread over more than half a century and, unlike his books which have always been readily available, have hitherto been unavailable to no one, bar a handful of research scholars. These lively and varied articles and essays illuminate another facet of his character, which I hope the reader of these volumes will find stimulating and enjoyable.’ - Winston S. Churchill.
Each volume has the publisher's presentation certificate to pastedown, noting that this set is number 163 of a limited edition (an uncommon extra). Together with the four page insert and short summary of Winston’s life up to his appointment as Prime Minister in 1940.
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Price HK$ 15,000
1976 - Library of Imperial History, London - First Editions
A finely bound four volume first collected edition of Churchill's essays and articles, beginning with his reports on the Cuban struggle for independence in the Daily Graphic, at only 20 years of age. Published to accompany the 34 volume Centenary Edition and not available in any other form.‘On behalf of my family I wish to express my gratitude to the Library of Imperial History for having undertaken the major task of bringing together in book form my grandfather’s entire journalistic output. These articles are spread over more than half a century and, unlike his books which have always been readily available, have hitherto been unavailable to no one, bar a handful of research scholars. These lively and varied articles and essays illuminate another facet of his character, which I hope the reader of these volumes will find stimulating and enjoyable.’ - Winston S. Churchill.
Each volume has the publisher's presentation certificate to pastedown, noting that this set is number 163 of a limited edition (an uncommon extra). Together with the four page insert and short summary of Winston’s life up to his appointment as Prime Minister in 1940.
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Price HK$ 15,000
The Works of Joseph Conrad in 20 Volumes -
Joseph Conrad
1925 - John Grant, Edinburgh
A finely bound twenty volume set of Conrad’s works. Illustrated with a frontispiece photogravure to each volume, and facsimile signatures of the author printed to first and final leaves. Each work preceded by the ‘Author’s Notes’.
Comprising: Lord Jim, Youth (which includes Heart of Darkness), The Secret Agent, Typhoon, Almayer’s Folly, The Arrow of Gold, The Nigger of the “Narcissus”, Victory, Nostromo, The Rover, Under Western Eyes, ‘Twixt Land and Sea, A Set of Six, A Personal Record, The Rescue, Within the Tides, Tales of Unrest, An Outcast of The Islands, The Shadow Line, The Mirror of The Sea, The Inheritors, Chance, Notes on Life and Letters, and Romance.
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Price HK$ 38,000
1925 - John Grant, Edinburgh
A finely bound twenty volume set of Conrad’s works. Illustrated with a frontispiece photogravure to each volume, and facsimile signatures of the author printed to first and final leaves. Each work preceded by the ‘Author’s Notes’.Comprising: Lord Jim, Youth (which includes Heart of Darkness), The Secret Agent, Typhoon, Almayer’s Folly, The Arrow of Gold, The Nigger of the “Narcissus”, Victory, Nostromo, The Rover, Under Western Eyes, ‘Twixt Land and Sea, A Set of Six, A Personal Record, The Rescue, Within the Tides, Tales of Unrest, An Outcast of The Islands, The Shadow Line, The Mirror of The Sea, The Inheritors, Chance, Notes on Life and Letters, and Romance.
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Price HK$ 38,000
The Three Voyages of Captain James Cook, with "The Death of Captain Cook" Plate -
James Cook, John Hawkesworth, James King
1773 - Strahan, London - Second Edition, First Edition, Second Edition
A complete set of the best possible editions, superbly bound in full tree calf and with the additional ‘Death of Captain Cook’ drawn by the John Weber who witnessed the dispute and ensuing fight. Eight quarto volumes and the elephant folio volume of plates. Magnificently illustrated with two hundred and five engraved charts and plates, many of which are double page or larger.
There is no greater set of travel works, Cook was the first scientific navigator, these three voyages made great contributions to numerous fields of knowledge,, and did more to clarify the geographical knowledge of the southern hemisphere than his predecessors had done together [Hill].
The first voyage is in its second and best edition, complete with the ‘Directions for placing the cuts’ and the ‘Chart of the Straights of Magellan’, and with the new Preface containing Hawkesworth's virulent eight-page reply to Dalrymple's whining reviews of the first edition, and the whole volume revised by the voyage's astronomer William Wales.
The third voyage is in its second and best edition, with the printing by Hughs (rather than Strahan who printed the first edition) with the text itself entirely re-set. Isaac Smith presenting a set on behalf of Cook's widow in 1821 noted that 'I am desired by Mrs Cook to request your acceptance of the 4 books sent herewith being her Husbands last Voyage round the World, as a mark of her respect the letter press of the second edition being much superior to the first both in paper & letter press' (quoted by Forbes, Hawaiian National Bibliography, 85). King George III's copy of the official account, preserved in the British Library, is also an example of this second edition. This particular set with variant title pages, dated correctly, but without edition statement or vignette of Royal Society medal.
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Price HK$ 430,000
1773 - Strahan, London - Second Edition, First Edition, Second Edition
A complete set of the best possible editions, superbly bound in full tree calf and with the additional ‘Death of Captain Cook’ drawn by the John Weber who witnessed the dispute and ensuing fight. Eight quarto volumes and the elephant folio volume of plates. Magnificently illustrated with two hundred and five engraved charts and plates, many of which are double page or larger.There is no greater set of travel works, Cook was the first scientific navigator, these three voyages made great contributions to numerous fields of knowledge,, and did more to clarify the geographical knowledge of the southern hemisphere than his predecessors had done together [Hill].
The first voyage is in its second and best edition, complete with the ‘Directions for placing the cuts’ and the ‘Chart of the Straights of Magellan’, and with the new Preface containing Hawkesworth's virulent eight-page reply to Dalrymple's whining reviews of the first edition, and the whole volume revised by the voyage's astronomer William Wales.
The third voyage is in its second and best edition, with the printing by Hughs (rather than Strahan who printed the first edition) with the text itself entirely re-set. Isaac Smith presenting a set on behalf of Cook's widow in 1821 noted that 'I am desired by Mrs Cook to request your acceptance of the 4 books sent herewith being her Husbands last Voyage round the World, as a mark of her respect the letter press of the second edition being much superior to the first both in paper & letter press' (quoted by Forbes, Hawaiian National Bibliography, 85). King George III's copy of the official account, preserved in the British Library, is also an example of this second edition. This particular set with variant title pages, dated correctly, but without edition statement or vignette of Royal Society medal.
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Price HK$ 430,000
The Leather Stocking Series - The Deerslayer; The Last of the Mohicans; The Pathfinder or The Inland Sea; The Pioneers or The Sources of the Susquehanna; The Prairie -
James Fenimore Cooper, C. E. Brock (illustrator)
1900 - Macmillan & Co., London - First Brock Illustrated Editions
A finely bound complete set of James Fenimore Cooper’s epic Leather Stocking series, the great saga of American frontiersman Natty Bumppo. Housed in a bespoke cloth slipcase.
Illustrated throughout by Charles Brock, each volume with twenty-five line drawing plates.
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Price HK$ 14,000
1900 - Macmillan & Co., London - First Brock Illustrated Editions
A finely bound complete set of James Fenimore Cooper’s epic Leather Stocking series, the great saga of American frontiersman Natty Bumppo. Housed in a bespoke cloth slipcase.Illustrated throughout by Charles Brock, each volume with twenty-five line drawing plates.
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Price HK$ 14,000
Opera Sesta -
Arcangelo Corelli da Fusignano
1711 to Circa 1745 - Walsh, London - Opus 5 - First English Edition, Opuses 1-4 & 6 early English ediitons
A complete set of the great Arcangelo Corelli’s works, Opuses 1-6, including ‘La Folia’. Opuses 1-5 finely bound in five later tan calf volumes, Opus 6 in seven 18th century volumes. Total twelve volumes.
Arcangelo Corelli da Fusignano (1653–1713) was one of the most sought-after violin teachers in Italy and his pupils included Castrucci, Gasparini, Geminiani, Bonporti and Locatelli. ‘Despite the modest size of his output, comprising six collections of instrumental music and a handful of other authentic works, and its virtual restriction to three genres – solo sonata, trio sonata and concerto – Corelli exercised an unparalleled influence during his lifetime and for a long time afterwards. This influence, which affected form, style and instrumental technique in equal measure, was most closely felt in Italy, and in particular in Rome, where he settled in early manhood, but soon spread beyond local and national confines to become a European phenomenon. As a violinist, teacher of the violin and director of instrumental ensembles Corelli imposed standards of discipline that were unusually strict for their period and helped to lay the groundwork for further progress along the same lines during the 18th century. To Corelli belong equally the distinctions of being the first composer to derive his fame exclusively from instrumental composition, the first to owe his reputation in large part to the activity of music publishers, and the first to produce 'classic' instrumental works which were admired and studied long after their idiom became outmoded.’ – Michael Talbot, Grove (online).
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Price HK$ 50,000
1711 to Circa 1745 - Walsh, London - Opus 5 - First English Edition, Opuses 1-4 & 6 early English ediitons
A complete set of the great Arcangelo Corelli’s works, Opuses 1-6, including ‘La Folia’. Opuses 1-5 finely bound in five later tan calf volumes, Opus 6 in seven 18th century volumes. Total twelve volumes.Arcangelo Corelli da Fusignano (1653–1713) was one of the most sought-after violin teachers in Italy and his pupils included Castrucci, Gasparini, Geminiani, Bonporti and Locatelli. ‘Despite the modest size of his output, comprising six collections of instrumental music and a handful of other authentic works, and its virtual restriction to three genres – solo sonata, trio sonata and concerto – Corelli exercised an unparalleled influence during his lifetime and for a long time afterwards. This influence, which affected form, style and instrumental technique in equal measure, was most closely felt in Italy, and in particular in Rome, where he settled in early manhood, but soon spread beyond local and national confines to become a European phenomenon. As a violinist, teacher of the violin and director of instrumental ensembles Corelli imposed standards of discipline that were unusually strict for their period and helped to lay the groundwork for further progress along the same lines during the 18th century. To Corelli belong equally the distinctions of being the first composer to derive his fame exclusively from instrumental composition, the first to owe his reputation in large part to the activity of music publishers, and the first to produce 'classic' instrumental works which were admired and studied long after their idiom became outmoded.’ – Michael Talbot, Grove (online).
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Price HK$ 50,000
The Christmas Books. Being; A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man -
Charles Dickens, Charles Brock (illustrator)
1905-1907 - J.M. Dent and Co., London - First Editions to be Illustrated by Charles Brock in Colour
An attractive set of these classic seasonal tales, splendidly illustrated and presented in festive green and cranberry red bindings, all housed in a bespoke fleece-lined cloth slipcase with ribbon pull.
Beginning with A Christmas Carol when old, surly Ebenezer Scrooge receives a visit from the ghost of Marley, his late business partner, on Christmas eve, and he beholds a series of visions of the past, present, and future that make him decide to amend his ways…
‘After the success attained with A Christmas Carol in 1843 Dickens continued the series throughout the 1840s, maintaining what he called "the Carol philosophy" to "strike a sledgehammer blow" for the poor, uneducated, and repressed. In typical Dickens fashion he drove his message home with a mixture of humour and good cheer’. [David Purdue].
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Price HK$ 22,000
1905-1907 - J.M. Dent and Co., London - First Editions to be Illustrated by Charles Brock in Colour
An attractive set of these classic seasonal tales, splendidly illustrated and presented in festive green and cranberry red bindings, all housed in a bespoke fleece-lined cloth slipcase with ribbon pull.Beginning with A Christmas Carol when old, surly Ebenezer Scrooge receives a visit from the ghost of Marley, his late business partner, on Christmas eve, and he beholds a series of visions of the past, present, and future that make him decide to amend his ways…
‘After the success attained with A Christmas Carol in 1843 Dickens continued the series throughout the 1840s, maintaining what he called "the Carol philosophy" to "strike a sledgehammer blow" for the poor, uneducated, and repressed. In typical Dickens fashion he drove his message home with a mixture of humour and good cheer’. [David Purdue].
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Price HK$ 22,000