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Night Without End -
Alistair MacLean
1960 - Collins, London - First Edition
An airliner crashes in the Polar ice-cap. In temperatures 40 degrees below zero, six men and four women survive. But for the members of a remote research station who rescue them, there are some sinister questions to answer - the first one being, who shot the pilot before the crash?
A stunning copy.
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Price HK$ 1,800
1960 - Collins, London - First Edition
An airliner crashes in the Polar ice-cap. In temperatures 40 degrees below zero, six men and four women survive. But for the members of a remote research station who rescue them, there are some sinister questions to answer - the first one being, who shot the pilot before the crash?A stunning copy.
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Price HK$ 1,800
Kaputt -
Curzio Malaparte
1946 - E. P. Dutton & Co., New York - First Edition in English, Second Printing (one month after the first).
A fine copy in bright dust jacket, scarce as such.
Curzio Malaparte was a disaffected supporter of Mussolini with a taste for danger and high living. Sent by an Italian paper during World War II to cover the fighting on the Eastern Front, Malaparte secretly wrote this terrifying report from the abyss, which became an international best-seller when it was published after the war. Telling of the siege of Leningrad, of glittering dinner parties with Nazi leaders, and of trains disgorging bodies in war-devastated Romania, Malaparte paints a picture of humanity at its most depraved. Kaputt is an insider's dispatch from the world of the enemy that is as hypnotically fascinating as it is disturbing.’ (description from the New York Review Books Classics)
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Price HK$ 1,000
1946 - E. P. Dutton & Co., New York - First Edition in English, Second Printing (one month after the first).
A fine copy in bright dust jacket, scarce as such. Curzio Malaparte was a disaffected supporter of Mussolini with a taste for danger and high living. Sent by an Italian paper during World War II to cover the fighting on the Eastern Front, Malaparte secretly wrote this terrifying report from the abyss, which became an international best-seller when it was published after the war. Telling of the siege of Leningrad, of glittering dinner parties with Nazi leaders, and of trains disgorging bodies in war-devastated Romania, Malaparte paints a picture of humanity at its most depraved. Kaputt is an insider's dispatch from the world of the enemy that is as hypnotically fascinating as it is disturbing.’ (description from the New York Review Books Classics)
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Price HK$ 1,000
The Indian Alps and How We Crossed Them -
Nina Elizabeth Mazuchelli
1876 - Longmans, London - First Edition
A handsome volume of this enduring work on mountaineering, the enthusiastic and irrepressible narrative of Nina Elizabeth Mazuchelli who, together with her Army chaplain husband, Francis, and their friend ‘C’ (the District Officer) traversed the Nepal-Sikkim frontier along the Singalila Ridge – they almost reached the Tibetan border before a blizzard forced them to turn back.
Despite their retreat, Mrs Mazuchelli was the first English woman to travel so far into the eastern Himalayas.
Profusely illustrated with 10 full page chromolithographic plates and numerous in-text drawings and sketches by the author, together with a folding map of Sikkim, the travelling party’s route marked in colour.
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Price HK$ 5,000
1876 - Longmans, London - First Edition
A handsome volume of this enduring work on mountaineering, the enthusiastic and irrepressible narrative of Nina Elizabeth Mazuchelli who, together with her Army chaplain husband, Francis, and their friend ‘C’ (the District Officer) traversed the Nepal-Sikkim frontier along the Singalila Ridge – they almost reached the Tibetan border before a blizzard forced them to turn back. Despite their retreat, Mrs Mazuchelli was the first English woman to travel so far into the eastern Himalayas.
Profusely illustrated with 10 full page chromolithographic plates and numerous in-text drawings and sketches by the author, together with a folding map of Sikkim, the travelling party’s route marked in colour.
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Price HK$ 5,000
Across East African Glaciers -
Hans Meyer
1891 - George Philip & Son, London - First Edition in English
A superb example of the first edition, in the publisher’s original and first state illustrated cover highlighting the snow in white and additional colour to the tents and clearing, described by Neate as ‘a most handsome volume’. With mounted chromolithographed frontispiece, three folding colour maps, eight mounted photographic plates, and twelve photogravures
‘Hans Meyer was a geologist and experienced climber who made four trips to the Kilimanjaro region in 1887-1889 culminating in his successful ascent – the first undisputed summit of Kibo, 19,340 feet, the highest of the mountain's three peaks – in 1889. In an earlier attempt, Meyer and his companion Oscar Baumann had the misfortune to arrive in the midst of an Arab revolt against German traders on the East African coast. They were captured and held hostage until a substantial ransom was paid. Meyer's ultimate success has been attributed to his recognition that the greatest obstacle to achieving the summit was the lack of food in the upper regions. He brought a sizeable and well organized party and established several camps on the mountain, allowing him to make multiple attempts at the summit without descending to the base. His lively and highly readable account of the expedition is arguably the most important work on African mountaineering.’ - Walkabout Books.
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Price HK$ 40,000
1891 - George Philip & Son, London - First Edition in English
A superb example of the first edition, in the publisher’s original and first state illustrated cover highlighting the snow in white and additional colour to the tents and clearing, described by Neate as ‘a most handsome volume’. With mounted chromolithographed frontispiece, three folding colour maps, eight mounted photographic plates, and twelve photogravures‘Hans Meyer was a geologist and experienced climber who made four trips to the Kilimanjaro region in 1887-1889 culminating in his successful ascent – the first undisputed summit of Kibo, 19,340 feet, the highest of the mountain's three peaks – in 1889. In an earlier attempt, Meyer and his companion Oscar Baumann had the misfortune to arrive in the midst of an Arab revolt against German traders on the East African coast. They were captured and held hostage until a substantial ransom was paid. Meyer's ultimate success has been attributed to his recognition that the greatest obstacle to achieving the summit was the lack of food in the upper regions. He brought a sizeable and well organized party and established several camps on the mountain, allowing him to make multiple attempts at the summit without descending to the base. His lively and highly readable account of the expedition is arguably the most important work on African mountaineering.’ - Walkabout Books.
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Price HK$ 40,000
A Literary History of Scotland -
John Hepburn Millar
1903 - T. Fisher Unwin, London - Number 6 of 25 copies.
A finely bound limited edition of this detailed work. Over 700 pages with chapters covering Scottish poetry, prose, reviews, histories and novels.
‘Miller’s scholarly A Literary History of Scotland was for many years the standard work on Scottish Literature and remains a useful work of reference. In it he maintained his attack on the then fashionable Kailyard writers (late 19th-century movement in Scottish fiction characterised by a sentimental idealisation of humble village life), whom he had first criticised in the April 1895 issue of The New Review.’ - Famous Scots
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Price HK$ 3,000
1903 - T. Fisher Unwin, London - Number 6 of 25 copies.
A finely bound limited edition of this detailed work. Over 700 pages with chapters covering Scottish poetry, prose, reviews, histories and novels.‘Miller’s scholarly A Literary History of Scotland was for many years the standard work on Scottish Literature and remains a useful work of reference. In it he maintained his attack on the then fashionable Kailyard writers (late 19th-century movement in Scottish fiction characterised by a sentimental idealisation of humble village life), whom he had first criticised in the April 1895 issue of The New Review.’ - Famous Scots
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Price HK$ 3,000
Hadrian’s Wall -
Jessie Mothersole, F. G Simpson
1924 - John Lane The Bodley Head Limited, London - Third Edition
A nicely bound copy of this descriptive history, with fourteen charming illustrations (six in colour) by the author, and maps and plans.
Jessie Mothersole was ‘a landscape-painter who can claim the rare distinction of having traversed on foot the entire distance from Wallsend to Bowness, as well as spending much time at places on the line. Few antiquaries have repeated the famous journey of Hutton, and Miss Mothersole is an avowed disciple of that genial old gentleman, whose quaintly sententious style - solitary walking fosters a philosophical habit of mind - has left its mark on her own. She resembles her guide both in his enthusiasm and in his comparative ignorance of archaeological detail. For she is no antiquary. She is a pilgrim, with an artist’s eye for the line of the Wall, the country over which it runs, and the character of the people who live about it. All these things she observes lovingly and truthfully and sets down without reserve. Consequently her book goes straight to the heart of all who love the Wall and the Wall country; to read her is to see distant views and to hear the wind again. But though no antiquary, she has taken trouble with this side of her work and made full use of a great opportunity; for Mr. F. G. Simpson has generously supplied her with much information which has never before reached the general public, and this gives the book a real archaeological value. Where Mr. Simpson’s hand is withdrawn, her archaeology wavers or comes abruptly to an end. But taking it all round, the book is to be heartily recommended to all prospective visitors or others who want a readable account of the Wall, and is, for the passages in which the voice is the voice of Mr. Simpson, worthy of notice by those who wish to keep abreast of the latest research. The colour plates are charming and we wish there were more of them.’ - Journal of Roman Studies, 1921.
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Price HK$ 900
1924 - John Lane The Bodley Head Limited, London - Third Edition
A nicely bound copy of this descriptive history, with fourteen charming illustrations (six in colour) by the author, and maps and plans.Jessie Mothersole was ‘a landscape-painter who can claim the rare distinction of having traversed on foot the entire distance from Wallsend to Bowness, as well as spending much time at places on the line. Few antiquaries have repeated the famous journey of Hutton, and Miss Mothersole is an avowed disciple of that genial old gentleman, whose quaintly sententious style - solitary walking fosters a philosophical habit of mind - has left its mark on her own. She resembles her guide both in his enthusiasm and in his comparative ignorance of archaeological detail. For she is no antiquary. She is a pilgrim, with an artist’s eye for the line of the Wall, the country over which it runs, and the character of the people who live about it. All these things she observes lovingly and truthfully and sets down without reserve. Consequently her book goes straight to the heart of all who love the Wall and the Wall country; to read her is to see distant views and to hear the wind again. But though no antiquary, she has taken trouble with this side of her work and made full use of a great opportunity; for Mr. F. G. Simpson has generously supplied her with much information which has never before reached the general public, and this gives the book a real archaeological value. Where Mr. Simpson’s hand is withdrawn, her archaeology wavers or comes abruptly to an end. But taking it all round, the book is to be heartily recommended to all prospective visitors or others who want a readable account of the Wall, and is, for the passages in which the voice is the voice of Mr. Simpson, worthy of notice by those who wish to keep abreast of the latest research. The colour plates are charming and we wish there were more of them.’ - Journal of Roman Studies, 1921.
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Price HK$ 900
The Private Life of Catherine the Great of Russia -
Princess Lucien Murat, Garnett Saffery (translator)
1928 - Louis Carrier & Co, New York - Limited Collectors’ Edition, Number 214 of 500 copies.
A limited edition of this biography by Princess Lucien Murat, and part of the ‘Love Lives of the Great’ series, elegantly bound by Rivière & Son, in contemporary full calf, and printed on Utopian laid paper.
Illustrated with engraved colour frontispiece portrait of Catherine the Great.
Bound for Anna Eugenia Clark and then gifted to her daughter, Huguette Marcelle Clark (1906-2011). Huguette inherited the vast wealth built up by her father William A. Clark, she became well known again late in life as a recluse, living in a hospital for more than 20 years while her mansions remained empty. She was an accomplished artist and musician, having studied under famous portrait painter Tadeusz Styka, and her paintings were exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery, Washington in 1925.
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Price HK$ 6,000
1928 - Louis Carrier & Co, New York - Limited Collectors’ Edition, Number 214 of 500 copies.
A limited edition of this biography by Princess Lucien Murat, and part of the ‘Love Lives of the Great’ series, elegantly bound by Rivière & Son, in contemporary full calf, and printed on Utopian laid paper.Illustrated with engraved colour frontispiece portrait of Catherine the Great.
Bound for Anna Eugenia Clark and then gifted to her daughter, Huguette Marcelle Clark (1906-2011). Huguette inherited the vast wealth built up by her father William A. Clark, she became well known again late in life as a recluse, living in a hospital for more than 20 years while her mansions remained empty. She was an accomplished artist and musician, having studied under famous portrait painter Tadeusz Styka, and her paintings were exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery, Washington in 1925.
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Price HK$ 6,000
Around the United States by Bicycle -
Claude C. Murphey
1906 - Raynor & Taylor, Detroit - First Edition
An near fine and extremely rare copy of this wonderful book, profusely illustrated with drawings by Eustace Paul Ziegler, and by photograph plates from photographs taken by Clarence M. Darling.
The story of how a pair of young men, Clarence M. Darling and Claude C. Murphy, bicycled across the United States on a wager. The terms were that the entire journey was to be completed in 1 year and 6 months time, and without a penny to their name, any funds used had to be raised from the sale of an aluminum card-receiver or ash-tray, they were not allowed to beg, work, borrow, nor steal.
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Price HK$ 7,000
1906 - Raynor & Taylor, Detroit - First Edition
An near fine and extremely rare copy of this wonderful book, profusely illustrated with drawings by Eustace Paul Ziegler, and by photograph plates from photographs taken by Clarence M. Darling.The story of how a pair of young men, Clarence M. Darling and Claude C. Murphy, bicycled across the United States on a wager. The terms were that the entire journey was to be completed in 1 year and 6 months time, and without a penny to their name, any funds used had to be raised from the sale of an aluminum card-receiver or ash-tray, they were not allowed to beg, work, borrow, nor steal.
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Price HK$ 7,000