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A Treatise on Cyder-Making -
Hugh Stafford, Anonymous
1753 - Printed for E. Cave, London - First Edition
Legendary and rare first edition of this anonymous work, all of which is generally but erroneously attributed to Hugh Stafford who contributed the sixteen page ‘Dissertation on Cyder and Cyder-Fruit’ at the beginning.
Covering the entire process from identifying and growing the best cider apples, collection, pressing, fermentation, racking, preserving and remedial action for a variety of issues ‘which are incident to Cyder’. With fold-out engraving of cider press (opp. p.32), in-text wood-cut diagrams to pages 43 and 68 (‘One side of the framed Press...’.) and wood-cut decorations to pages v, 47, and 61.
‘As Cyder therefore is generally allowed to be an wholesome drink, and as it is the natural product of our own country, he will surely be thought to contribute something towards the good of the public, who gives infallible directions for making it universally agreeable by varrying it so as to suit every palate, and by improving the flavour and the quality, both of the rough and the smooth, divesting it of its tendency to produce cholics, and giving it the sparkle of Champaign, without an eager and windy fermentation, and rendering it more spirituous than a small wine tho' less inflaming’. [Preface]
An influential work, Benjamin Franklin, who was partial to a drop himself, ordered three copies to be reprinted as pamphlets and distributed amongst the New England farmers after failing with their vineyards. It was plagiarised into various publications including encyclopaedias, cookbooks and later reference works related to cider.
More details
Price HK$ 42,000
1753 - Printed for E. Cave, London - First Edition
Legendary and rare first edition of this anonymous work, all of which is generally but erroneously attributed to Hugh Stafford who contributed the sixteen page ‘Dissertation on Cyder and Cyder-Fruit’ at the beginning.Covering the entire process from identifying and growing the best cider apples, collection, pressing, fermentation, racking, preserving and remedial action for a variety of issues ‘which are incident to Cyder’. With fold-out engraving of cider press (opp. p.32), in-text wood-cut diagrams to pages 43 and 68 (‘One side of the framed Press...’.) and wood-cut decorations to pages v, 47, and 61.
‘As Cyder therefore is generally allowed to be an wholesome drink, and as it is the natural product of our own country, he will surely be thought to contribute something towards the good of the public, who gives infallible directions for making it universally agreeable by varrying it so as to suit every palate, and by improving the flavour and the quality, both of the rough and the smooth, divesting it of its tendency to produce cholics, and giving it the sparkle of Champaign, without an eager and windy fermentation, and rendering it more spirituous than a small wine tho' less inflaming’. [Preface]
An influential work, Benjamin Franklin, who was partial to a drop himself, ordered three copies to be reprinted as pamphlets and distributed amongst the New England farmers after failing with their vineyards. It was plagiarised into various publications including encyclopaedias, cookbooks and later reference works related to cider.
More details
Price HK$ 42,000
Cricket of To-Day and Yesterday. With Special Articles by Famous Cricketers -
Percy Cross Standing
1902 - Blackwood, London - First Issue of the Subscription Illustrated Edition
A clean and sharp example of this large, wonderful and comprehensive two volume set on Cricket at the turn of the 20th century, illustrated throughout with colour, black and white, and sepia toned illustrations.
The extra articles listed in the title were only included with this subscription edition and are placed at the front of each volume.
Much coverage of international cricket, such as ‘Our Tropical Cricket Match’, a chapter covering a match in Bangkok in 1893 during the Franco-Siamese dispute of 1893, amongst other chapter headings are - ‘English Teams in Australia’; ‘Australian Teams in England’; and ‘Tours in America and South Africa’.
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Price HK$ 3,500
1902 - Blackwood, London - First Issue of the Subscription Illustrated Edition
A clean and sharp example of this large, wonderful and comprehensive two volume set on Cricket at the turn of the 20th century, illustrated throughout with colour, black and white, and sepia toned illustrations.The extra articles listed in the title were only included with this subscription edition and are placed at the front of each volume.
Much coverage of international cricket, such as ‘Our Tropical Cricket Match’, a chapter covering a match in Bangkok in 1893 during the Franco-Siamese dispute of 1893, amongst other chapter headings are - ‘English Teams in Australia’; ‘Australian Teams in England’; and ‘Tours in America and South Africa’.
More details
Price HK$ 3,500
The Gentleman's Stable Directory or Modern System of Farriery -
William Taplin
1791 - G. G. J. and J. Robinsons, London - The Tenth Edition, Considerably Enlarged and Carefully Corrected.
Two volumes in fine contemporary bindings, volume I with an engraved portrait of Taplin. The second volume contains "Experimental Remarks upon Breeding, Breaking, Shoeing, Stabling, Exercise, and Rowelling. To which are added, particular Instructions for the General Management of Hunters and Road Horses; with Concluding Observations upon the present State of the Turf".
During the latter part of the eighteenth century there appears to have been a considerable demand for veterinary knowledge, and William Taplin (d.1807), part of a group of British surgeons who switched to become veterinarians, sailed on this tide into a fortune by selling medicine for horses by agencies all over the kingdom and advertising them by means of his books.
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Price HK$ 7,500
1791 - G. G. J. and J. Robinsons, London - The Tenth Edition, Considerably Enlarged and Carefully Corrected.
Two volumes in fine contemporary bindings, volume I with an engraved portrait of Taplin. The second volume contains "Experimental Remarks upon Breeding, Breaking, Shoeing, Stabling, Exercise, and Rowelling. To which are added, particular Instructions for the General Management of Hunters and Road Horses; with Concluding Observations upon the present State of the Turf".During the latter part of the eighteenth century there appears to have been a considerable demand for veterinary knowledge, and William Taplin (d.1807), part of a group of British surgeons who switched to become veterinarians, sailed on this tide into a fortune by selling medicine for horses by agencies all over the kingdom and advertising them by means of his books.
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Price HK$ 7,500
Casey at the Bat -
Phineas Thayer, Dan Sayre Groesbeck (illustrator)
1912 - A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago - First Hardback Edition
‘But there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out.’
First stand alone hard back and fully illustrated edition of this classic Baseball poem.
‘Casey at the Bat’ first appeared in a San Francisco newspaper in 1888 as a featured piece of humorous doggerel by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. Its ascension to immortal status was due primarily to actor and toastmaster DeWolf Hopper, who began reciting it at dinners and other functions, as well as on the vaudeville stage. It was then published alone in soft covers 1901, and finally in 1912 it was published as a book, and fully illustrated with thirteen full page offset lithographs printed in orange and black, each facing a corresponding verse with accompanying vignette.
A fine example of a particularly delicate book, usually found in poorer state with chipped, restored or replaced spine.
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Price HK$ 8,000
1912 - A.C. McClurg & Co., Chicago - First Hardback Edition
‘But there is no joy in Mudville — mighty Casey has struck out.’First stand alone hard back and fully illustrated edition of this classic Baseball poem.
‘Casey at the Bat’ first appeared in a San Francisco newspaper in 1888 as a featured piece of humorous doggerel by Ernest Lawrence Thayer. Its ascension to immortal status was due primarily to actor and toastmaster DeWolf Hopper, who began reciting it at dinners and other functions, as well as on the vaudeville stage. It was then published alone in soft covers 1901, and finally in 1912 it was published as a book, and fully illustrated with thirteen full page offset lithographs printed in orange and black, each facing a corresponding verse with accompanying vignette.
A fine example of a particularly delicate book, usually found in poorer state with chipped, restored or replaced spine.
More details
Price HK$ 8,000
The Lawson History of the America's Cup. A Record of Fifty Years -
Winfield. M. Thompson, Thomas W. Lawson
1902 - Privately Printed, Boston - First and Limited Edition, of which this is number 1033
A handsomely bound example of this large and splendid work, over 400 pages illustrated with eighty-nine full page plates of which sixteen are colour and two are maps outlined in colour.
Detailing the history of the America’s Cup from 1851 to 1902, its challenges, yachts, protests, characters and an appendix of press articles. There is nothing finer.
Privately printed for private distribution only, and limited to 3,000 copies most of which were presented to prominent members of the yachting community and to rather special libraries this particular copy was presented to ‘The Cumberland Mills Library’ which was founded in 1879 and was based in Westbrook, Maine.
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Price HK$ 18,000
1902 - Privately Printed, Boston - First and Limited Edition, of which this is number 1033
A handsomely bound example of this large and splendid work, over 400 pages illustrated with eighty-nine full page plates of which sixteen are colour and two are maps outlined in colour.Detailing the history of the America’s Cup from 1851 to 1902, its challenges, yachts, protests, characters and an appendix of press articles. There is nothing finer.
Privately printed for private distribution only, and limited to 3,000 copies most of which were presented to prominent members of the yachting community and to rather special libraries this particular copy was presented to ‘The Cumberland Mills Library’ which was founded in 1879 and was based in Westbrook, Maine.
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Price HK$ 18,000
Travers' Golf Book -
Jerome D. Travers
1913 - The Macmillan Company, New York - First Edition
A fine first edition of the first book by this golfing legend, illustrated with a colour frontispiece and 46 black and white photographic plates. A combination of autobiography and instructional.
‘Although he was of slight stature, Travers dominated golf in the decade before World War I with his stunning iron shots and expert putting. He won many tournaments because of his calm temperament, patience, and ability to make precise shots. He won the United States Amateur in 1907, 1908, 1912, and 1913, and was runner-up in 1914. His victory in 1913 set a record for that tournament – not broken until Bobby Jones won it five times. He was among the first members of the Golf Hall of Fame established by the United States Golf Association’. [DAB]
‘Some of the words used to describe Jerry Travers have not been kind – cold, somber, ruthless – yet these were the qualities that made him the most feared golfer of his time. In a nine-year stretch from 1906-1915, Travers won four U.S. Amateurs, five Metropolitan Amateurs and a U.S. Open. Only Bob Jones won more amateur titles and Travers was one of only five amateurs to win the Open. And his battles with Walter Travis, in the words of Herbert Warren Wind, “formed the crucible in which a talented young golfer was made into the greatest match player of his decade”‘. [World Golf Hall of Fame]
And in 1915 at the age of 28, Travers ended his championship career.
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Price HK$ 7,000
1913 - The Macmillan Company, New York - First Edition
A fine first edition of the first book by this golfing legend, illustrated with a colour frontispiece and 46 black and white photographic plates. A combination of autobiography and instructional.‘Although he was of slight stature, Travers dominated golf in the decade before World War I with his stunning iron shots and expert putting. He won many tournaments because of his calm temperament, patience, and ability to make precise shots. He won the United States Amateur in 1907, 1908, 1912, and 1913, and was runner-up in 1914. His victory in 1913 set a record for that tournament – not broken until Bobby Jones won it five times. He was among the first members of the Golf Hall of Fame established by the United States Golf Association’. [DAB]
‘Some of the words used to describe Jerry Travers have not been kind – cold, somber, ruthless – yet these were the qualities that made him the most feared golfer of his time. In a nine-year stretch from 1906-1915, Travers won four U.S. Amateurs, five Metropolitan Amateurs and a U.S. Open. Only Bob Jones won more amateur titles and Travers was one of only five amateurs to win the Open. And his battles with Walter Travis, in the words of Herbert Warren Wind, “formed the crucible in which a talented young golfer was made into the greatest match player of his decade”‘. [World Golf Hall of Fame]
And in 1915 at the age of 28, Travers ended his championship career.
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Price HK$ 7,000
Modern Cycles. A Practical Handbook on their Construction and Repair -
A. J. Wallis-Tayler
1897 - Crosby Lockwood and Son, London - First Edition
A fine and rare first edition of one of the earliest works on cycling to feature such technical details, including the machinery required to produce various bicycle designs.
Including a history of the cycle, and chapters on ‘Modern Safety Bycicles or Dicycles’ and ‘Modern Tricycles or Three-Wheeled Cycles’.
Profusely illustrated throughout with 304 in-text drawings and lithographs, and one folding plate to the rear.
The author, Alexander James Wallis-Tayler, was an engineer, who ran an inspection and technical drawing company with two offices in London, he was also a prolific author of engineering and design related works.
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Price HK$ 5,000
1897 - Crosby Lockwood and Son, London - First Edition
A fine and rare first edition of one of the earliest works on cycling to feature such technical details, including the machinery required to produce various bicycle designs. Including a history of the cycle, and chapters on ‘Modern Safety Bycicles or Dicycles’ and ‘Modern Tricycles or Three-Wheeled Cycles’.
Profusely illustrated throughout with 304 in-text drawings and lithographs, and one folding plate to the rear.
The author, Alexander James Wallis-Tayler, was an engineer, who ran an inspection and technical drawing company with two offices in London, he was also a prolific author of engineering and design related works.
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Price HK$ 5,000
The Complete Angler -
Izaak Walton, Charles Cotton, Edward Jesse (editor)
1861 - Henry G. Bohn, London - The Second Jesse Edition
A finely bound copy of one of the most profusely illustrated editions, the second to be edited by Edward Jesse. According to Oliver, ‘this edition has been criticized as having been somewhat too fully annotated and illustrated, but the illustrations, in our opinion, add as much to the charm of the book, as the notes do to its interest’.
‘Indeed, my good scholar, we may say of angling, as Dr. Boteler said of strawberries,
" Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did ";
and so, if I might be judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling.’
The most enduring distinction of the Complete Angler is the one cast off by its subtitle The Contemplative Man's Recreation with its graceful evocations of a life free from hurly-burly in the company of friends intent on physical and moral sustenance. The range of perspectives that Walton brings to bear on his rural descriptions embrace literature, poetry, music and anecdote.
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Price HK$ 9,500
1861 - Henry G. Bohn, London - The Second Jesse Edition
A finely bound copy of one of the most profusely illustrated editions, the second to be edited by Edward Jesse. According to Oliver, ‘this edition has been criticized as having been somewhat too fully annotated and illustrated, but the illustrations, in our opinion, add as much to the charm of the book, as the notes do to its interest’.‘Indeed, my good scholar, we may say of angling, as Dr. Boteler said of strawberries,
" Doubtless God could have made a better berry, but doubtless God never did ";
and so, if I might be judge, God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling.’
The most enduring distinction of the Complete Angler is the one cast off by its subtitle The Contemplative Man's Recreation with its graceful evocations of a life free from hurly-burly in the company of friends intent on physical and moral sustenance. The range of perspectives that Walton brings to bear on his rural descriptions embrace literature, poetry, music and anecdote.
More details
Price HK$ 9,500