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Sick Heart River -
John Buchan
1941 - Hodder Stoughton Limited, London - First Edition
A fine first edition of Buchan’s last book, published posthumously.
The review in the April 1941 edition of Punch sums it up nicely:-
‘"If thou hast a woe, tell it not to the weakling, tell it to thy saddle-bow, and ride singing forth." John Buchan took this Proverb of Alfred as text for his book Sick Heart River (Hodder and Stoughton, 8/3) which is as good a sermon to lift the downhearted as has ever been given in the form of a novel. When Sir Edward Leithen, a former British Attorney-General, received his notice of death from a specialist, "his memory sprawled over places he had seen" and he decided to go to Quebec to make his soul and to "die standing". One journey led to another in quest of a famous French-Canadian who, in a mood of mental sickness, had suddenly left his wife and important office in New York; and was "wanted" by American people because of his genius over international affairs. The tale that follows of two white men, their half-breed guides and some "Hare Indians", their fight with and against Nature in a lonely place is soul-stirring in more than one way and makes as brave a book as the late Governor-General of Canada ever gave us.’
The fictional Sick Heart River is in the real region of the Nahanni River in Canada's Northwest Territories. It is in some of the most rugged terrain in Canada. The area was only just being mapped when Buchan, as Governor-General Lord Tweedsmuir, passed nearby during his voyage down the Mackenzie River in the summer of 1937. Having heard much about the mysterious South Nahanni, Buchan was fascinated by it and wanted to go there, but did not make it before he died in February, 1940. [Galbraith, 2001]
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Price HK$ 3,500
1941 - Hodder Stoughton Limited, London - First Edition
A fine first edition of Buchan’s last book, published posthumously. The review in the April 1941 edition of Punch sums it up nicely:-
‘"If thou hast a woe, tell it not to the weakling, tell it to thy saddle-bow, and ride singing forth." John Buchan took this Proverb of Alfred as text for his book Sick Heart River (Hodder and Stoughton, 8/3) which is as good a sermon to lift the downhearted as has ever been given in the form of a novel. When Sir Edward Leithen, a former British Attorney-General, received his notice of death from a specialist, "his memory sprawled over places he had seen" and he decided to go to Quebec to make his soul and to "die standing". One journey led to another in quest of a famous French-Canadian who, in a mood of mental sickness, had suddenly left his wife and important office in New York; and was "wanted" by American people because of his genius over international affairs. The tale that follows of two white men, their half-breed guides and some "Hare Indians", their fight with and against Nature in a lonely place is soul-stirring in more than one way and makes as brave a book as the late Governor-General of Canada ever gave us.’
The fictional Sick Heart River is in the real region of the Nahanni River in Canada's Northwest Territories. It is in some of the most rugged terrain in Canada. The area was only just being mapped when Buchan, as Governor-General Lord Tweedsmuir, passed nearby during his voyage down the Mackenzie River in the summer of 1937. Having heard much about the mysterious South Nahanni, Buchan was fascinated by it and wanted to go there, but did not make it before he died in February, 1940. [Galbraith, 2001]
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Price HK$ 3,500
Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect -
Robert Burns
1787 - Printed for the Author, Edinburgh - Second (first Edinburgh) edition, first issue
In 1786 at the age of 27, although he had never published anything before, Burns decided to publish a volume of his poems. 612 copies were printed for him by John Wilson of Kilmarnock. They sold out within a month. There are estimated to be less than 70 complete Kilmarnock copies in existence today.
Encouraged by this success, and by a letter from an Edinburgh minister, Dr. Blacklock, Burns moved to Edinburgh instead of emigrating to Jamaica. He became a celebrity and in 1787 this new edition of 1500 copies, to be sold by subscription, was agreed upon with an additional 17 poems and five new songs.
Elegantly bound with full untrimmed edges, by Henderson & Bisset of Edinburgh. Illustrated with a stipple engraved frontispiece portrait of Burns by I. Beugo after Alexander Nasmyth.
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Price HK$ 30,000
1787 - Printed for the Author, Edinburgh - Second (first Edinburgh) edition, first issue
In 1786 at the age of 27, although he had never published anything before, Burns decided to publish a volume of his poems. 612 copies were printed for him by John Wilson of Kilmarnock. They sold out within a month. There are estimated to be less than 70 complete Kilmarnock copies in existence today. Encouraged by this success, and by a letter from an Edinburgh minister, Dr. Blacklock, Burns moved to Edinburgh instead of emigrating to Jamaica. He became a celebrity and in 1787 this new edition of 1500 copies, to be sold by subscription, was agreed upon with an additional 17 poems and five new songs.
Elegantly bound with full untrimmed edges, by Henderson & Bisset of Edinburgh. Illustrated with a stipple engraved frontispiece portrait of Burns by I. Beugo after Alexander Nasmyth.
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Price HK$ 30,000
Personal Narrative of a Pilgrimage to Al-Madinah & Meccah -
Sir Richard Francis Burton
1855-56 - Longman, London - First Edition
First edition of ‘one of the greatest works of travel ever published’ [Penzler], by the magnificent Sir Richard Francis Burton who was ‘the first English Christian to enter Mecca of his own free will as a true Mohammedan pilgrim, and not as a convert’.
Finely bound and illustrated throughout with with five colour and eight tinted lithograph plates, one black and white plate, and four maps and plans (three of which are folding).
‘A most remarkable work of the highest value’ – T.E. Lawrence.
‘Neither Koran or Sultan enjoin the death of Jew or Christian intruding within the columns that note the sanctuary limits, nothing could save a European detected by the populace, or one who after pilgrimage declared himself an unbeliever.’
Seven years in India gave Burton a familiarity with the customs and behaviour of Muslims. He planned his journey whilst travelling disguised among Sindhi Muslims, and prepared and studied extensively for the Hajj, even getting circumcised to further prevent discovery.
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Price HK$ 50,000
1855-56 - Longman, London - First Edition
First edition of ‘one of the greatest works of travel ever published’ [Penzler], by the magnificent Sir Richard Francis Burton who was ‘the first English Christian to enter Mecca of his own free will as a true Mohammedan pilgrim, and not as a convert’.Finely bound and illustrated throughout with with five colour and eight tinted lithograph plates, one black and white plate, and four maps and plans (three of which are folding).
‘A most remarkable work of the highest value’ – T.E. Lawrence.
‘Neither Koran or Sultan enjoin the death of Jew or Christian intruding within the columns that note the sanctuary limits, nothing could save a European detected by the populace, or one who after pilgrimage declared himself an unbeliever.’
Seven years in India gave Burton a familiarity with the customs and behaviour of Muslims. He planned his journey whilst travelling disguised among Sindhi Muslims, and prepared and studied extensively for the Hajj, even getting circumcised to further prevent discovery.
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Price HK$ 50,000
Traditions of Edinburgh -
Robert Chambers
1980 - W &, London
A finely bound presentation of this entertaining and large work by brothers Robert and William Chambers, first published in 1824, and printed here in the last revised text of 1868 together with the original drawings of James Riddel and the Notes prepared by Chambers’ grandson for the 1912 edition.
Dedicated to the Old Houses, the Characters, and the Traditions of Edinburgh.
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Price HK$ 2,000
1980 - W &, London
A finely bound presentation of this entertaining and large work by brothers Robert and William Chambers, first published in 1824, and printed here in the last revised text of 1868 together with the original drawings of James Riddel and the Notes prepared by Chambers’ grandson for the 1912 edition.Dedicated to the Old Houses, the Characters, and the Traditions of Edinburgh.
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Price HK$ 2,000
The Riddle of the Sands -
Erskine Childers
1903 - Smith, London - First Edition, First Impression
A crisp, clean and rare first edition, finely bound.
Written after Childers, an accomplished yachtsman, returned injured from action in South Africa. Highlighting the encroaching conflict with Germany, the novel was highly influential and is actually credited with the founding of British naval bases at Invergordon and Scapa Flow; newly regarded as strategically important after examination of the scenarios in Childers' text. Winston Churchill later gave the book the credit for persuading public opinion to fund vital measures against the German naval threat.
Contentiously described as the first modern spy thriller, vying for the title with Kipling's 'Kim', published two years earlier.
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Price HK$ 21,000
1903 - Smith, London - First Edition, First Impression
A crisp, clean and rare first edition, finely bound.Written after Childers, an accomplished yachtsman, returned injured from action in South Africa. Highlighting the encroaching conflict with Germany, the novel was highly influential and is actually credited with the founding of British naval bases at Invergordon and Scapa Flow; newly regarded as strategically important after examination of the scenarios in Childers' text. Winston Churchill later gave the book the credit for persuading public opinion to fund vital measures against the German naval threat.
Contentiously described as the first modern spy thriller, vying for the title with Kipling's 'Kim', published two years earlier.
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Price HK$ 21,000
Savrola. A Tale of the Revolution in Laurania. -
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill
1900 - Longmans, London - First English Edition
A clean, crisp copy in a beautiful recent leather binding.
Written when Churchill was 23 and first appearing in serial form in ‘Macmillan's Magazine’, Savrola was Churchill's only novel. It embodies his early personal philosophy on life, which was to govern his later military and political career.
‘For those who know of his later exploits, it provides an amazing foreshadowing of events in his own life. Though the plot is sometimes clumsy, there are flashes of poignancy in his prose that are deeply insightful for a man of his age.’
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Price HK$ 11,500
1900 - Longmans, London - First English Edition
A clean, crisp copy in a beautiful recent leather binding.Written when Churchill was 23 and first appearing in serial form in ‘Macmillan's Magazine’, Savrola was Churchill's only novel. It embodies his early personal philosophy on life, which was to govern his later military and political career.
‘For those who know of his later exploits, it provides an amazing foreshadowing of events in his own life. Though the plot is sometimes clumsy, there are flashes of poignancy in his prose that are deeply insightful for a man of his age.’
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Price HK$ 11,500
The World Crisis - 1911-14; 1915; 1916-18; The Aftermath; The Eastern Front -
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill
1923 - 1931 - Thornton Butterworth Limited, London - First Editions
As first lord of the admiralty and minister for war and air, Winston Churchill stood resolute at the centre of international affairs.
In this smartly bound six volume first edition set of his classic account, Churchill dramatically details how the tides of despair and triumph flowed and ebbed as the political and military leaders of the time navigated the dangerous currents of world conflict. Illustrated throughout with black and white plates and folding maps.
This comprehensive account of the Great War is both analytical, and on occasions a justification from the author for his part in the proceedings. It is claimed that Churchill considered the work "not history, but a contribution to history". Since its publication both biographers and historians have considered it Churchill's masterpiece, eclipsing his better-known account 'The Second World War'. Indeed, T. E. Lawrence regarded the second volume, '1915', as "far and away the best war-book I've yet read".
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Price HK$ 41,000
1923 - 1931 - Thornton Butterworth Limited, London - First Editions
As first lord of the admiralty and minister for war and air, Winston Churchill stood resolute at the centre of international affairs.In this smartly bound six volume first edition set of his classic account, Churchill dramatically details how the tides of despair and triumph flowed and ebbed as the political and military leaders of the time navigated the dangerous currents of world conflict. Illustrated throughout with black and white plates and folding maps.
This comprehensive account of the Great War is both analytical, and on occasions a justification from the author for his part in the proceedings. It is claimed that Churchill considered the work "not history, but a contribution to history". Since its publication both biographers and historians have considered it Churchill's masterpiece, eclipsing his better-known account 'The Second World War'. Indeed, T. E. Lawrence regarded the second volume, '1915', as "far and away the best war-book I've yet read".
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Price HK$ 41,000
My Early Life: A Roving Commission -
Sir Winston Spencer Churchill
1930 - Thornton Butterworth Limited, London - First Edition
Finely bound first edition, in the earliest state (with eleven Churchill books advertised on the half-title verso).
‘My Early Life’ is unquestionably among Churchill's most popular and most translated works. Written with a light-hearted touch, covering his years as a soldier and correspondent, it set a high standard for the beginning of the literary outpouring of the 'wilderness years’, illustrated with 17 black and white photographs, a folding map, as well as in-text drawings.
With frontispiece portrait of Lady Randolph Churchill, together with several illustrations and maps.
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Price HK$ 13,000
1930 - Thornton Butterworth Limited, London - First Edition
Finely bound first edition, in the earliest state (with eleven Churchill books advertised on the half-title verso).‘My Early Life’ is unquestionably among Churchill's most popular and most translated works. Written with a light-hearted touch, covering his years as a soldier and correspondent, it set a high standard for the beginning of the literary outpouring of the 'wilderness years’, illustrated with 17 black and white photographs, a folding map, as well as in-text drawings.
With frontispiece portrait of Lady Randolph Churchill, together with several illustrations and maps.
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Price HK$ 13,000