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Fancy Dresses Described; Or, What to Wear at Fancy Balls -
Arden Holt
1882 - Debenham & Freebody, London - Third and Greatly Enlarged Edition
‘But, what are we to wear?’
A charming, comprehensive guide to late 19th century fancy dress, with detailed descriptions of countless costume ideas, from the abstract, such as ‘Air’, ‘Sleep’, and ‘Five O’clock Tea’ to the more specific like ‘Marie Antoinette’, ‘Gipsy’ and ‘Joan of Arc’, and featuring sixteen wonderful colour plates as well as numerous in-text illustrations.
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Price HK$ 1,200
1882 - Debenham & Freebody, London - Third and Greatly Enlarged Edition
‘But, what are we to wear?’A charming, comprehensive guide to late 19th century fancy dress, with detailed descriptions of countless costume ideas, from the abstract, such as ‘Air’, ‘Sleep’, and ‘Five O’clock Tea’ to the more specific like ‘Marie Antoinette’, ‘Gipsy’ and ‘Joan of Arc’, and featuring sixteen wonderful colour plates as well as numerous in-text illustrations.
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Price HK$ 1,200
Grandeur et Suprematie de Peking -
Alphonse Hubrecht
1928 - Imprimerie des Lazaristes du Pé-t'ang, Peking - First and Limited Edition number XXIII of 50 ‘Exemplaires de Grand Luxe’ printed on ‘Papier de Grand Luxe’
A stunningly silk bound copy of this wonderful work, text in French, illustrated with seventy full page halftone photographic plates [with 140 photographs], 560 woodblock in-text engravings, ten full page woodblock plates, a full page plan comparing Peking through the ages, woodblock initials incorporating monuments of Peking, and 220 zincographic engravings of Chinese art [Zincography was a planographic printing process that used zinc plates].
This copy, in a variant binding of orange pictorial silk, is also one of a hundred copies that contained an additional eight full page hand water-coloured woodblock prints of nine porcelain works from the Louvre Museum [Opposite pages 460, 452, 412 [2], 404, 188, 180, 124, 116], water-coloured illustrated limitation page and extra illustrated title page, thirty water-coloured large initials with floral decoration.
This comprehensive work is divided in two parts, one historical, one descriptive. The historical part begins with the Mongol Empire [13th to 14th Century] and ends at the first decades of the Republic of China [1912]. The descriptive part describes the palaces, temples, Imperial Tombs, and also family life in China, social life, beliefs, etc.’ [Bibliotheca Wittockiana 123]
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Price HK$ 38,000
1928 - Imprimerie des Lazaristes du Pé-t'ang, Peking - First and Limited Edition number XXIII of 50 ‘Exemplaires de Grand Luxe’ printed on ‘Papier de Grand Luxe’
A stunningly silk bound copy of this wonderful work, text in French, illustrated with seventy full page halftone photographic plates [with 140 photographs], 560 woodblock in-text engravings, ten full page woodblock plates, a full page plan comparing Peking through the ages, woodblock initials incorporating monuments of Peking, and 220 zincographic engravings of Chinese art [Zincography was a planographic printing process that used zinc plates].This copy, in a variant binding of orange pictorial silk, is also one of a hundred copies that contained an additional eight full page hand water-coloured woodblock prints of nine porcelain works from the Louvre Museum [Opposite pages 460, 452, 412 [2], 404, 188, 180, 124, 116], water-coloured illustrated limitation page and extra illustrated title page, thirty water-coloured large initials with floral decoration.
This comprehensive work is divided in two parts, one historical, one descriptive. The historical part begins with the Mongol Empire [13th to 14th Century] and ends at the first decades of the Republic of China [1912]. The descriptive part describes the palaces, temples, Imperial Tombs, and also family life in China, social life, beliefs, etc.’ [Bibliotheca Wittockiana 123]
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Price HK$ 38,000
Topographie de Tous les Vignobles Connus -
André Jullien, Charles Édouard Jullien
1866 - Mme Ve. Bouchard-Huzard, Paris - Cinquième Édition, Revue, Corrigée et Augmentée [Fifth Edition, Revised, Corrected and Enlarged]
A finely bound edition of Jullien’s important and encyclopaedic work, half of which is on foreign wines, and considered by Andé Simon as one ‘of the highest interest because most of the information it contains is absolutely original’.
Set in two parts, the second, covering the rest of the world, deals, amongst others, with the vineyards of Portugal, Africa, the Rhine and Moselle, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, America, Africa, Chile, Syria, Hungary, and China.
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Price HK$ 5,000
1866 - Mme Ve. Bouchard-Huzard, Paris - Cinquième Édition, Revue, Corrigée et Augmentée [Fifth Edition, Revised, Corrected and Enlarged]
A finely bound edition of Jullien’s important and encyclopaedic work, half of which is on foreign wines, and considered by Andé Simon as one ‘of the highest interest because most of the information it contains is absolutely original’. Set in two parts, the second, covering the rest of the world, deals, amongst others, with the vineyards of Portugal, Africa, the Rhine and Moselle, Spain, Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, America, Africa, Chile, Syria, Hungary, and China.
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Price HK$ 5,000
Culinary Jottings: A Treatise in Thirty Chapters on Reformed Cookery for Anglo-Indian Exiles -
Colonel Kenney-Herbert “Wyvern”
1885 - Higginbotham & Co., 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]
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Price HK$ 3,800
1885 - Higginbotham & Co., 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]
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Price HK$ 3,800
A Collection of above Three Hundred Receipts -
Mary Kettilby, ’By Several Hands’
1734 - First Part - Printed for Executrix of Mary Kettilby, London - Fifth Edition of Part I, Fourth Edition of Part II
Originally published in 1714, Kettilby's book was a collective effort, with recipes taken from various sources, as indicated in the Preface: ‘a Number of very Curious and Delicate House-wives Clubb'd to furnish out this Collection’.
It contains a wide-range of recipes and home remedies; the second part, with a separate title-page 'A collection of receipts in cookery, physick and surgery’, as well as 'a great Number of Excellent Receipts, for Preserving and Conserving of Sweet-Meats, &c.'
This work is usually credited with having the first recipe for marmalade. Many of the recipes seem irresistible, like ‘The best orange pudding that ever was tasted’. Of course there are other important and wonderful ‘receipts’ included, covering many areas from mad dog bites, in-growing toenails, thicker hair, and apoplectick pain in the head, to scurvy in the teeth.
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Price HK$ 6,200
1734 - First Part - Printed for Executrix of Mary Kettilby, London - Fifth Edition of Part I, Fourth Edition of Part II
Originally published in 1714, Kettilby's book was a collective effort, with recipes taken from various sources, as indicated in the Preface: ‘a Number of very Curious and Delicate House-wives Clubb'd to furnish out this Collection’. It contains a wide-range of recipes and home remedies; the second part, with a separate title-page 'A collection of receipts in cookery, physick and surgery’, as well as 'a great Number of Excellent Receipts, for Preserving and Conserving of Sweet-Meats, &c.'
This work is usually credited with having the first recipe for marmalade. Many of the recipes seem irresistible, like ‘The best orange pudding that ever was tasted’. Of course there are other important and wonderful ‘receipts’ included, covering many areas from mad dog bites, in-growing toenails, thicker hair, and apoplectick pain in the head, to scurvy in the teeth.
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Price HK$ 6,200
Atlas de la France Vinicole - III. Les Vins du Côte du Rhône - with - V. Les Vins des Côteaux de la Loire, Touraine et Centre -
Louis Larmat
1943 - Louis Larmat, Paris - First Editions
Two large folios (49.5x33cm) of this beautifully detailed and produced work, rare to find in the publisher’s original coloured embossed wrappers in such fine condition.
The text is generally in French, with portions also translated into English, German and Italian.
Each folio contains four large folding colour maps, in addition to which Côte du Rhône is illustrated with eight woodblock prints, Côteaux de la Loire is illustrated with twenty five black and white photographs and eleven coats of arms.
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Price HK$ 12,000
1943 - Louis Larmat, Paris - First Editions
Two large folios (49.5x33cm) of this beautifully detailed and produced work, rare to find in the publisher’s original coloured embossed wrappers in such fine condition.The text is generally in French, with portions also translated into English, German and Italian.
Each folio contains four large folding colour maps, in addition to which Côte du Rhône is illustrated with eight woodblock prints, Côteaux de la Loire is illustrated with twenty five black and white photographs and eleven coats of arms.
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Price HK$ 12,000
Atlas de la France Vinicole - Tome IV. Les Vins de Champagne -
Louis Larmat
1944 - Louis Larmat, Paris - First Edition
Beautiful and finely bound large format folio, profusely illustrated with colour maps, chart, photographs and vignettes, with descriptions and history of the Champagne areas, text in French apart from the preface which is also in English, German and Spanish.
Containing seven large colour folding maps of: Champagne (size 100x52cm); Montagne de Reims; Vallée de la Marne; La Cote des Blancs; Vallée de la Marne et L’Aisne (100x42cm); Montagne de Reims & Vallée de L’Ardre; Vignobles du Bar-Séquanais et du Bar-Sur-Aubois (62x40cm).
The large folding chart in colour shows the annual production of Champagne between 1844-1942, colour coded with the quality of each Vintage from Trés Bon to Trés Mauvais. In addiiton to the chart and maps are twelve full page illustrations, some from photographs, and numerous vignettes throughout.
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Price HK$ 10,500
1944 - Louis Larmat, Paris - First Edition
Beautiful and finely bound large format folio, profusely illustrated with colour maps, chart, photographs and vignettes, with descriptions and history of the Champagne areas, text in French apart from the preface which is also in English, German and Spanish.Containing seven large colour folding maps of: Champagne (size 100x52cm); Montagne de Reims; Vallée de la Marne; La Cote des Blancs; Vallée de la Marne et L’Aisne (100x42cm); Montagne de Reims & Vallée de L’Ardre; Vignobles du Bar-Séquanais et du Bar-Sur-Aubois (62x40cm).
The large folding chart in colour shows the annual production of Champagne between 1844-1942, colour coded with the quality of each Vintage from Trés Bon to Trés Mauvais. In addiiton to the chart and maps are twelve full page illustrations, some from photographs, and numerous vignettes throughout.
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Price HK$ 10,500
Whisky - Signed -
Aeneas MacDonald (pseud. George Malcolm Thomson)
1930 - Henry & Longwell, Garden City - First American Edition. Copy number 66 from a limitation of 307, 7 of which are issued ‘for hilarity’
Signed by Christopher Morley (literary adviser) and the publishers Frank Henry and Dan Longwell. The Aeneas MacDonald signature is unlikely to be that of George Malcolm ‘Aeneas MacDonald’ Thomson, which was kindly pointed out to us by Ian Buxton (101 Legendary Whiskies, etc.), Thomson was not in the states at the time and it is signed ‘McDonald’ instead of ‘MacDonald’, hardly a schoolboy error for a Scotsman, even if it was his pseudonym...
This beautiful limited and privately printed ‘Briefcase Breviary’ was published before the full book in the United States and the same year as the Edinburgh edition, as a sort of ‘advance review’. In it is Aeneas MacDonald’s stand alone piece - ‘The Nature of Whisky’ which was incorporated into the later book as the first chapter.
Per the colophon, ‘This is an advance publication for a few connoisseurs of the first chapter of Aeneas MacDonald's wise and witty little treatise on Whisky... The printers have adhered to the Scottish spelling of 'Whisky'...’
MacDonald's ‘Whisky’ is today regarded as perhaps the earliest modern book on whisky and certainly the first to treat the subject from the point of view of the drinker. It provides a passionate and energetic defence of the interests of the consumer against the producers and, well ahead of its time, promotes single malt whisky over blends.
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Price HK$ 5,200
1930 - Henry & Longwell, Garden City - First American Edition. Copy number 66 from a limitation of 307, 7 of which are issued ‘for hilarity’
Signed by Christopher Morley (literary adviser) and the publishers Frank Henry and Dan Longwell. The Aeneas MacDonald signature is unlikely to be that of George Malcolm ‘Aeneas MacDonald’ Thomson, which was kindly pointed out to us by Ian Buxton (101 Legendary Whiskies, etc.), Thomson was not in the states at the time and it is signed ‘McDonald’ instead of ‘MacDonald’, hardly a schoolboy error for a Scotsman, even if it was his pseudonym...This beautiful limited and privately printed ‘Briefcase Breviary’ was published before the full book in the United States and the same year as the Edinburgh edition, as a sort of ‘advance review’. In it is Aeneas MacDonald’s stand alone piece - ‘The Nature of Whisky’ which was incorporated into the later book as the first chapter.
Per the colophon, ‘This is an advance publication for a few connoisseurs of the first chapter of Aeneas MacDonald's wise and witty little treatise on Whisky... The printers have adhered to the Scottish spelling of 'Whisky'...’
MacDonald's ‘Whisky’ is today regarded as perhaps the earliest modern book on whisky and certainly the first to treat the subject from the point of view of the drinker. It provides a passionate and energetic defence of the interests of the consumer against the producers and, well ahead of its time, promotes single malt whisky over blends.
More details
Price HK$ 5,200