The Three Lieutenants, or, Naval Life in the Nineteenth Century - W. H. G. Kingston

1897 - Griffith Farran Browne &, London
Illustrations by Charles J. de Lacy. From the Boys’ Own Favourite Library series. The second novel in Kingstons series which began with ‘The Midshipmen’. A lovely copy in pictorial boardsand gilt edges.

Kingston's reputation was made by these books, that first appeared about 1860, and dealt with an officer's life in the Navy at about that time. By an extraordinary coincidence, the three young men who had met as midshipmen, get postings that enable them to keep their friendships alive when they are lieutenants. Another old friend is Admiral Triton, who, though retired, takes a great interest in their careers.
 
More details

Price HK$ 900



The Boat Club; Or, The Bunkers of Rippleton - Oliver Optic (pseud. William Taylor Adams)

1855 - Brown, Boston - First Edition
The book follows a group of young boys and their rowing boat named ‘Zephyr’ [not eight but twelve oars!] on their summer explorations of a river and lake as they discover an island, a bunker and a plot to rob a bank.

A fine and rare first edition of the first book in this six-part series, in publisher’s original cloth showing the entire rowing boat in gilt along the spine, housed in a bespoke leather and cloth case and chemise. Illustrated with four full page plates and a schematic of the boat house.

The son of a barman who became a teacher and later a Massachusetts Representative, author William Taylor Adams never finished college yet still managed to visit Asia and Africa more than twenty times and read German, Italian, Spanish and French. He wrote more than 100 books, primarily for boys. The Boat Club series was his first major success. Adams primarily wrote under pseudonyms. Oliver Optic was inspired by the lead character in a Boston burlesque show. Louisa May Alcott had a go at Adams for his coarse language and characters; he returned the criticism.
 
More details

Price HK$ 8,000