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Underwoods -
Robert Louis Stevenson
1887 - Chatto and Windus, London - First Edition
A fine copy of this collection of Stevenson’s poems, containing the first publication of his whisky drenched poem 'The Scotsman's Return From Abroad' (p.118)
‘But maistly thee, the bluid o’ Scots,
Frae Maidenkirk to John o’ Grots,
The king o' drinks, as I conceive it,
Talisker, Isla, or Glenlivet !’
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Price HK$ 2,000
1887 - Chatto and Windus, London - First Edition
A fine copy of this collection of Stevenson’s poems, containing the first publication of his whisky drenched poem 'The Scotsman's Return From Abroad' (p.118)‘But maistly thee, the bluid o’ Scots,
Frae Maidenkirk to John o’ Grots,
The king o' drinks, as I conceive it,
Talisker, Isla, or Glenlivet !’
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Price HK$ 2,000
The Chest of Cigars - From the Wagstaff Papers in the New Monthly Magazine of July, 1845 -
William Makepeace Thackeray
Christmas 1918 - Privately Printed, San Francisco - One of 250 copies
One of 250 copies privately printed by John Henry Nash of San Francisco, for Thomas Nast Fairbanks.
With an introduction by Thomas’ father Charles Mason Fairbanks (1855-1920).
Containing a Cigar related short story by Thackeray related to Mr Wagstaff by General Sir Goliah Gahagan H.E.I.C.S.
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Price HK$ 2,000
Christmas 1918 - Privately Printed, San Francisco - One of 250 copies
One of 250 copies privately printed by John Henry Nash of San Francisco, for Thomas Nast Fairbanks.With an introduction by Thomas’ father Charles Mason Fairbanks (1855-1920).
Containing a Cigar related short story by Thackeray related to Mr Wagstaff by General Sir Goliah Gahagan H.E.I.C.S.
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Price HK$ 2,000
People in China. Thirty-two photographic studies from life -
Ellen Thorbecke, Friedrich Schiff (illustrator)
1935 - George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., London - First Edition
A lovely copy, in the scarce original dust jacket. With an introduction by W. J. R. Thorbecke. Illustrated with one colour plate by F. H. Schiff and 32 mounted photographic plates by Ellen Thorbecke.
‘In the 1930's, Dutch photographer Ellen Thorbecke took a series of photos in China with the use of many experimental techniques. Her portraits covered a wide range of people, including an industrialist, a peddler, a student, a country woman, a soldier and so on. Accompanied with every portrait, there was a brief biography about the person. Like her photos, those "micro stories" composed a "macro view" of the Chinese society. While most Westerners were interested in “typical scenes” of China, Thorbecke went beyond producing stock photography by telling the story behind each photo and thus depicting the deeper layer of the Chinese society.’ [Dr. Chong-ho Yu]
Illustrated by Friederich Schiff, an Austrian artist, prolific cartoonist whose work appeared in books, newspapers, magazines and advertisements throughout China and the Far East. They had previously collaborated in 1934 on Peking Studies and on a similar guide book Shanghai in 1938.
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Price HK$ 6,000
1935 - George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., London - First Edition
A lovely copy, in the scarce original dust jacket. With an introduction by W. J. R. Thorbecke. Illustrated with one colour plate by F. H. Schiff and 32 mounted photographic plates by Ellen Thorbecke.‘In the 1930's, Dutch photographer Ellen Thorbecke took a series of photos in China with the use of many experimental techniques. Her portraits covered a wide range of people, including an industrialist, a peddler, a student, a country woman, a soldier and so on. Accompanied with every portrait, there was a brief biography about the person. Like her photos, those "micro stories" composed a "macro view" of the Chinese society. While most Westerners were interested in “typical scenes” of China, Thorbecke went beyond producing stock photography by telling the story behind each photo and thus depicting the deeper layer of the Chinese society.’ [Dr. Chong-ho Yu]
Illustrated by Friederich Schiff, an Austrian artist, prolific cartoonist whose work appeared in books, newspapers, magazines and advertisements throughout China and the Far East. They had previously collaborated in 1934 on Peking Studies and on a similar guide book Shanghai in 1938.
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Price HK$ 6,000
The Honours of the Table -
John Trusler, John Bewick (illustrator)
1791 - for the author, London - Second Edition
Of all the graceful accomplishments, and of every branch of polite education, it has long been admitted, that a gentleman and a lady never shew themselves to more advantage, than in acquitting themselves well in the honours of their table; that is to say, in serving their guests and treating their friends agreeable to their rank and situation in life.
A scarce copy of this wonderful little work, first published in 1788, in the original marbled paper boards and illustrated with twenty-seven woodcuts by John Bewick, including wood-engraved Trusler coat-of-arms. Bound with the complete 12 page ‘List of Books by the Rev. Dr, Trusler, At the Literary-Press, No. 62, Wardour Street, Soho. 1792’’.
Reverend Trusler was a prolific author whose eclectic output included everything from tips on gardening to commentaries on Hogarth engravings.
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Price HK$ 10,000
1791 - for the author, London - Second Edition
Of all the graceful accomplishments, and of every branch of polite education, it has long been admitted, that a gentleman and a lady never shew themselves to more advantage, than in acquitting themselves well in the honours of their table; that is to say, in serving their guests and treating their friends agreeable to their rank and situation in life.A scarce copy of this wonderful little work, first published in 1788, in the original marbled paper boards and illustrated with twenty-seven woodcuts by John Bewick, including wood-engraved Trusler coat-of-arms. Bound with the complete 12 page ‘List of Books by the Rev. Dr, Trusler, At the Literary-Press, No. 62, Wardour Street, Soho. 1792’’.
Reverend Trusler was a prolific author whose eclectic output included everything from tips on gardening to commentaries on Hogarth engravings.
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Price HK$ 10,000
Le Bon Bock -
Various
1886 to 1906 - Privately Printed by Glyptographie Silvestre [1886-91] and then by E. Bernard [1892-1906] , Paris
An incredibly rare collection of nearly 300 original illustrated letterpress dinner invitations from Le Bon Bock society, whose soirees on the second Tuesday of each month in near Montmartre were frequented by Paris’ most flamboyant and original writers and artists of the La Belle Époque.
The artists competed to have their work used for the next invitation, and together with their work each invitation provides an account of the previous dinners activities, beginning with opening speeches, notices and announcements, and then other activities, which usually include poems, prose, texts, songs, instrumental pieces.
The invitations are dated from April 7th 1886 to October 5th 1906, with the first thirty or so addressed to Monsieur Régnier, one of the founders of the association. Individually rare, a collection of this size and association provides one of the most important associations of the Belle Époque in Paris.
Inspired by Edouard Manet’s painting Le Bon Bock (The Good Pint), and the democratic, nationalistic ideals that it symbolised, Emile Bellot (the printmaker and model for Manet’s beer drinker) established the Bon Bock Society in 1875. Consisting mainly of artists, writers and performers, the society sought to re-define France’s national spirit by delving into the country’s cultural past. The inseparable ideals of freedom and humour within their community created opportunities for artistic experimentation; the Bon Bockers and their carefree attitude would go on to inspire generations of Montmartre natives for years to come.
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Price HK$ 50,000
1886 to 1906 - Privately Printed by Glyptographie Silvestre [1886-91] and then by E. Bernard [1892-1906] , Paris
An incredibly rare collection of nearly 300 original illustrated letterpress dinner invitations from Le Bon Bock society, whose soirees on the second Tuesday of each month in near Montmartre were frequented by Paris’ most flamboyant and original writers and artists of the La Belle Époque. The artists competed to have their work used for the next invitation, and together with their work each invitation provides an account of the previous dinners activities, beginning with opening speeches, notices and announcements, and then other activities, which usually include poems, prose, texts, songs, instrumental pieces.
The invitations are dated from April 7th 1886 to October 5th 1906, with the first thirty or so addressed to Monsieur Régnier, one of the founders of the association. Individually rare, a collection of this size and association provides one of the most important associations of the Belle Époque in Paris.
Inspired by Edouard Manet’s painting Le Bon Bock (The Good Pint), and the democratic, nationalistic ideals that it symbolised, Emile Bellot (the printmaker and model for Manet’s beer drinker) established the Bon Bock Society in 1875. Consisting mainly of artists, writers and performers, the society sought to re-define France’s national spirit by delving into the country’s cultural past. The inseparable ideals of freedom and humour within their community created opportunities for artistic experimentation; the Bon Bockers and their carefree attitude would go on to inspire generations of Montmartre natives for years to come.
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Price HK$ 50,000
A Vanished World - Signed -
Roman Vishniac, Elie Wiesel
1983 - Farrar, New York - First Edition
‘One picture is worth a thousand words – or is it? In most cases, I would say: no, a poet’s word is worth at least a thousand pictures. But then I would have to admit that Roman Vishniac is a special case.
This astonishing man’s eyes seem to pierce our memory, to sift its shadows. We are afraid to follow him, but we do, even so. Who can resist the lure of the past?’ – Elie Wiesel, from the foreword.
A fine first edition, signed with a large flourish to the front ‘Roman / Edith Vishniac 1985’ Produced for the exhibition of the same name, in large format with 180 photographs, many of which had never been published before.
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Price HK$ 4,000
1983 - Farrar, New York - First Edition
‘One picture is worth a thousand words – or is it? In most cases, I would say: no, a poet’s word is worth at least a thousand pictures. But then I would have to admit that Roman Vishniac is a special case.This astonishing man’s eyes seem to pierce our memory, to sift its shadows. We are afraid to follow him, but we do, even so. Who can resist the lure of the past?’ – Elie Wiesel, from the foreword.
A fine first edition, signed with a large flourish to the front ‘Roman / Edith Vishniac 1985’ Produced for the exhibition of the same name, in large format with 180 photographs, many of which had never been published before.
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Price HK$ 4,000
Antiquitates Culinariae -
Rev. Richard Warner
1791 - Printed for R. Blamire, London - First Edition
First edition of this large and important work, ‘one of the first signs of scholarship being applied to the history of early English cookery, a development which occurred in the last three decades of the Eighteenth century’ [Maclean].
Illustrated with an engraved title-page, the magnificent double-page terracotta aquatint plate of 'A Peacock Feast', a single-page terracotta aquatint plate of 'A Saxon Entertainment', and an engraved tailpiece on page lvii.
The double-page plate present here was removed from unsold copies after Warner lost the case to Carter over copyright infringement [Maclean].
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Price HK$ 3,200
1791 - Printed for R. Blamire, London - First Edition
First edition of this large and important work, ‘one of the first signs of scholarship being applied to the history of early English cookery, a development which occurred in the last three decades of the Eighteenth century’ [Maclean].Illustrated with an engraved title-page, the magnificent double-page terracotta aquatint plate of 'A Peacock Feast', a single-page terracotta aquatint plate of 'A Saxon Entertainment', and an engraved tailpiece on page lvii.
The double-page plate present here was removed from unsold copies after Warner lost the case to Carter over copyright infringement [Maclean].
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Price HK$ 3,200
Noctes Ambrosianae by Professor Wilson. A New Edition Edited by his Son-in-Law Professor Ferrier -
John Wilson, John Gibson Lockhart, James Hogg
1876 - William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London - First Edition Thus
‘North. The jug is a most excellent one, James. Edinburgh is supplied with very fine water.
Shepherd. Gie me the real Glenleevit – such as Awmrose aye has in the hoose – and I weel believe that I could mak drinkable toddy out o’ seawater. The human mind never tires o’ Glenleevit, ony mair than o’ cauler (fresh) air. If a body could just find out the exac proper proportion o’ quantity that ought to be drank every day, and keep to that, I verily trow that he micht leeve for ever, without dying at a’, and that doctors and kirkyards would go out of fashion.’
This sentiment about the virtue of Glenlivet, the classic pot-still malt whisky, is put into the mouth of the poet James Hogg (1770-1835), whom Wilson called the Ettrick Shepherd, as Hogg really had begun life as a shepherd and was widely regarded as a self-taught rustic genius. Wilson built up his character in the Noctes with condescending affection as a loquacious, sentimental, heavy-drinking, romantic loved of nature.’ - David Daiches, A Wee Dram.
John Wilson (1785-1854), who wrote under the pen-name of Christopher North, was the principal author of this series of invented conversations, conducted by real people under assumed names, that appeared in Blackwood’s Magazine between 1822 and 1835 under the title Noctes Ambrosianae (Ambrosian Nights): Ambrose’s was the name of the Edinburgh tavern where the conversations took place, in a highly convivial atmosphere.
Four finely bound volumes, each with engraved frontispiece.
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Price HK$ 5,000
1876 - William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London - First Edition Thus
‘North. The jug is a most excellent one, James. Edinburgh is supplied with very fine water.Shepherd. Gie me the real Glenleevit – such as Awmrose aye has in the hoose – and I weel believe that I could mak drinkable toddy out o’ seawater. The human mind never tires o’ Glenleevit, ony mair than o’ cauler (fresh) air. If a body could just find out the exac proper proportion o’ quantity that ought to be drank every day, and keep to that, I verily trow that he micht leeve for ever, without dying at a’, and that doctors and kirkyards would go out of fashion.’
This sentiment about the virtue of Glenlivet, the classic pot-still malt whisky, is put into the mouth of the poet James Hogg (1770-1835), whom Wilson called the Ettrick Shepherd, as Hogg really had begun life as a shepherd and was widely regarded as a self-taught rustic genius. Wilson built up his character in the Noctes with condescending affection as a loquacious, sentimental, heavy-drinking, romantic loved of nature.’ - David Daiches, A Wee Dram.
John Wilson (1785-1854), who wrote under the pen-name of Christopher North, was the principal author of this series of invented conversations, conducted by real people under assumed names, that appeared in Blackwood’s Magazine between 1822 and 1835 under the title Noctes Ambrosianae (Ambrosian Nights): Ambrose’s was the name of the Edinburgh tavern where the conversations took place, in a highly convivial atmosphere.
Four finely bound volumes, each with engraved frontispiece.
More details
Price HK$ 5,000