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The Book of the Sword - with the original Prospectus -
Sir Richard Francis Burton
1884 - Chatto and Windus, London - First Edition
A magnificent work on edged weapons by Burton, who was a very skilled swordsman, and published an earlier practical work on military exercises for infantry in 1876. Profusely illustrated throughout.
Rarely encountered in such nice condition, and with the bonus of the original prospectus which clearly announces that this is to be the first of three parts. This, the first, ‘treats of the birth, parentage and early career of the sword. It begins with the very beginning, in pre-historic times and amongst proto-historic peoples; and it ends with the full growth of the Sword at the epoch of the early Roman Empire.’ Parts two and three are also described in the prospectus, but despite Lady Burton’s efforts to find someone to complete the two volumes after Burton’s death, the haphazard collection of notes, partial manuscripts, and the commercial failure of the first volume, were enough to put off any publisher.
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Price HK$ 18,000
1884 - Chatto and Windus, London - First Edition
A magnificent work on edged weapons by Burton, who was a very skilled swordsman, and published an earlier practical work on military exercises for infantry in 1876. Profusely illustrated throughout.Rarely encountered in such nice condition, and with the bonus of the original prospectus which clearly announces that this is to be the first of three parts. This, the first, ‘treats of the birth, parentage and early career of the sword. It begins with the very beginning, in pre-historic times and amongst proto-historic peoples; and it ends with the full growth of the Sword at the epoch of the early Roman Empire.’ Parts two and three are also described in the prospectus, but despite Lady Burton’s efforts to find someone to complete the two volumes after Burton’s death, the haphazard collection of notes, partial manuscripts, and the commercial failure of the first volume, were enough to put off any publisher.
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Price HK$ 18,000
Death in the Making -
Robert Capa, Gerda Taro
1938 - Covici Friede, New York - First Edition
'If the photo isn't good enough, it's because you're not close enough.' – Robert Capa
A stunning copy of Robert Capa’s first published monograph – a landmark of 20th century war photography – in the rare dust jacket depicting a Loyalist soldier falling to his death, gun in hand, after being shot – a now iconic image of the Spanish Civil War Featuring 145 photographs by Robert Capa and Gerda Taro, captions by Robert Capa, translated and with a preface by Jay Allen, and arranged by André Kertesz. Housed in a custom clamshell case of fine black morocco leather over matching cloth, velvet lined, and lettered in gilt to the spine.
From 1936 onwards, Capa's coverage of the Spanish Civil War appeared regularly. His picture of a Loyalist soldier who had just been fatally wounded earned him his international reputation and became a powerful symbol of war. After his companion, Gerda Taro, was killed in Spain, Capa travelled to China in 1938 and emigrated to New York a year later. As a correspondent in Europe, he photographed the Second World War, covering the landing of American troops on Omaha beach on D-Day, the liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulge
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Price HK$ 60,000
1938 - Covici Friede, New York - First Edition
'If the photo isn't good enough, it's because you're not close enough.' – Robert CapaA stunning copy of Robert Capa’s first published monograph – a landmark of 20th century war photography – in the rare dust jacket depicting a Loyalist soldier falling to his death, gun in hand, after being shot – a now iconic image of the Spanish Civil War Featuring 145 photographs by Robert Capa and Gerda Taro, captions by Robert Capa, translated and with a preface by Jay Allen, and arranged by André Kertesz. Housed in a custom clamshell case of fine black morocco leather over matching cloth, velvet lined, and lettered in gilt to the spine.
From 1936 onwards, Capa's coverage of the Spanish Civil War appeared regularly. His picture of a Loyalist soldier who had just been fatally wounded earned him his international reputation and became a powerful symbol of war. After his companion, Gerda Taro, was killed in Spain, Capa travelled to China in 1938 and emigrated to New York a year later. As a correspondent in Europe, he photographed the Second World War, covering the landing of American troops on Omaha beach on D-Day, the liberation of Paris and the Battle of the Bulge
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Price HK$ 60,000
The London Cyclist Battalion -
A. S. Clark [Editor]
1932 - Published for The 25th London (Cyclist) Old Comrades' Association by Forster Groom & Co., London - First Edition
The thirty-three years from 1887 to 1920 witnessed the conception, birth, growth, adolescence, and premature death of military cycling (as distinct from mere despatch riding) in the British Army. This scarce work provides a history of military bicycling in the British Army, chronicling the events of the 26th corp., and it’s successor the 25th battalion, including their campaigns in Waziristan, India in 1917, the third Afghan War of 1919, the Amiritsar uprising in 1919, and in Mesopotamia.
Illustrated throughout with photographic plates.
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Price HK$ 2,500
1932 - Published for The 25th London (Cyclist) Old Comrades' Association by Forster Groom & Co., London - First Edition
The thirty-three years from 1887 to 1920 witnessed the conception, birth, growth, adolescence, and premature death of military cycling (as distinct from mere despatch riding) in the British Army. This scarce work provides a history of military bicycling in the British Army, chronicling the events of the 26th corp., and it’s successor the 25th battalion, including their campaigns in Waziristan, India in 1917, the third Afghan War of 1919, the Amiritsar uprising in 1919, and in Mesopotamia.Illustrated throughout with photographic plates.
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Price HK$ 2,500
The Military Operations at Cabul -
Lieut. Vincent Eyre
1843 - John Murray, London - Fifth Edition
A substantial part of Eyre’s narratives where written whilst actually imprisoned by the Afghans. Eyre, seriously wounded, and his family were captured by Akbar Khan and held for nine months until rescued by General Pollock’s forces. Some of the manuscript was smuggled out of his cell while he remained a captive and on its arrival in England it was published. At the time, Eyre’s account and that recounting similar experiences by Lady Florentia Sale were considered companion pieces that would enable the British public to understand the Afghan debacle, the disaster that had there befallen the army under Elphinstone and the resulting annihilation of the army in the Afghan passes as it struggled to retreat into India. Eyre provides a detailed and moving description of the misfortunes of the British forces and the indiscriminate slaughter of their retreating column by their enemies, as well as a unique account of the harrowing conditions and distressing treatment that were inflicted on the British hostages by their Afghan captors.
Illustrated with folding lithographed ‘ Plan of the Cantonment and Surrounding Country’ of Cabul. The edition, published the same year as the first, includes corrections and additions by Edward Eyre not found in earlier issues, including an Appendix with copies of various previously unpublished dispatches.
From the library of Colonel Reynolds (1863-1931), the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, a regiment that over time has been amalgamated into the Royal Irish Regiment, and who, despite the disastrous military campaign of 1841-2, were deployed to Afghanistan 150 years later, serving with distinction.
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Price HK$ 1,800
1843 - John Murray, London - Fifth Edition
A substantial part of Eyre’s narratives where written whilst actually imprisoned by the Afghans. Eyre, seriously wounded, and his family were captured by Akbar Khan and held for nine months until rescued by General Pollock’s forces. Some of the manuscript was smuggled out of his cell while he remained a captive and on its arrival in England it was published. At the time, Eyre’s account and that recounting similar experiences by Lady Florentia Sale were considered companion pieces that would enable the British public to understand the Afghan debacle, the disaster that had there befallen the army under Elphinstone and the resulting annihilation of the army in the Afghan passes as it struggled to retreat into India. Eyre provides a detailed and moving description of the misfortunes of the British forces and the indiscriminate slaughter of their retreating column by their enemies, as well as a unique account of the harrowing conditions and distressing treatment that were inflicted on the British hostages by their Afghan captors.Illustrated with folding lithographed ‘ Plan of the Cantonment and Surrounding Country’ of Cabul. The edition, published the same year as the first, includes corrections and additions by Edward Eyre not found in earlier issues, including an Appendix with copies of various previously unpublished dispatches.
From the library of Colonel Reynolds (1863-1931), the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, a regiment that over time has been amalgamated into the Royal Irish Regiment, and who, despite the disastrous military campaign of 1841-2, were deployed to Afghanistan 150 years later, serving with distinction.
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Price HK$ 1,800
Flashman and the Redskins - From The Flashman Papers 1849-50 and 1875-76 -
George MacDonald Fraser
1982 - Collins, London - First Edition
What was Harry Flashman doing on the slopes of Little Bighorn, caught between the gallant remnant of Custer’s 7th Cavalry and the attack of Sitting Bull’s braves? He was trying to get out of the line of fire and escape yet again with his life (if not his honour) intact.
Here is the legendary and authentic West of Mangas Colorado’s Apaches, of Kit Carson, Custer and Spotted Tail, of Crazy Horse and the Deadwood stage, gunfighters and gamblers, scoundrels and Indian belles, enthusiastic widows and mysterious adventuresses.
The seventh volume of the "Flashman Papers" records the arch-cad's adventures in America during Gold Rush of 1849 and the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, and his acquaintance with famous Indian chiefs, American soldiers, frontiersmen and statesmen.
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Price HK$ 900
1982 - Collins, London - First Edition
What was Harry Flashman doing on the slopes of Little Bighorn, caught between the gallant remnant of Custer’s 7th Cavalry and the attack of Sitting Bull’s braves? He was trying to get out of the line of fire and escape yet again with his life (if not his honour) intact.Here is the legendary and authentic West of Mangas Colorado’s Apaches, of Kit Carson, Custer and Spotted Tail, of Crazy Horse and the Deadwood stage, gunfighters and gamblers, scoundrels and Indian belles, enthusiastic widows and mysterious adventuresses.
The seventh volume of the "Flashman Papers" records the arch-cad's adventures in America during Gold Rush of 1849 and the Battle of the Little Bighorn in 1876, and his acquaintance with famous Indian chiefs, American soldiers, frontiersmen and statesmen.
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Price HK$ 900
Flashman and the Mountain of Light - From the Flashman Papers 1845-46 - SIGNED -
George MacDonald Fraser
1990 - Collins Harvill, London - First Edition
The ninth packet of the Flashman papers, spanning 1845-46, with the mighty Sikh Khalsa, the finest army ever seen in Asia, poised to invade India and sweep Britannia’s ill-guarded empire into the sea, every able-bodied man was needed to defend the frontier – and one at least had his answer ready when the Call of Duty came: ‘I’ll swim in blood first!’
Alas, though, for poor Flashman, there was no avoiding the terrors of secret service in the debauched and intrigue-ridden Court of the Punjab, the attentions of its beautiful nymphomaniac Maharani (not that he minded that, really), the horrors of its torture chambers or the baleful influence of the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, the Mountain of Light.
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Price HK$ 2,000
1990 - Collins Harvill, London - First Edition
The ninth packet of the Flashman papers, spanning 1845-46, with the mighty Sikh Khalsa, the finest army ever seen in Asia, poised to invade India and sweep Britannia’s ill-guarded empire into the sea, every able-bodied man was needed to defend the frontier – and one at least had his answer ready when the Call of Duty came: ‘I’ll swim in blood first!’Alas, though, for poor Flashman, there was no avoiding the terrors of secret service in the debauched and intrigue-ridden Court of the Punjab, the attentions of its beautiful nymphomaniac Maharani (not that he minded that, really), the horrors of its torture chambers or the baleful influence of the famous Koh-i-Noor diamond, the Mountain of Light.
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Price HK$ 2,000
Flashman at the Charge - From The Flashman Papers 1854-1855 -
George MacDonald Fraser
1973 - Barrie & Jenkins, London - First Edition
The fourth packet of Flashman papers, regaling us with further episodes in the life of Harry Flashman, the caddish bully of Tom Brown's School days who was expelled in drunken disgrace from Rugby school in the late 1830's.
This instalment is set during the Battle of Balaclava. Quite amazingly, our dashing, and reluctant leader is at the head of the light brigade.....
As with his previous adventures, Flashman at the Charge is rich in those qualities which one him honour and fame in his own time and have endeared him to hosts of loyal admirer since - cowardice, treachery, lechery and an unfailing instinct for survival, coupled with his own caustic humour and unsparing honesty as a historian.
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Price HK$ 2,000
1973 - Barrie & Jenkins, London - First Edition
The fourth packet of Flashman papers, regaling us with further episodes in the life of Harry Flashman, the caddish bully of Tom Brown's School days who was expelled in drunken disgrace from Rugby school in the late 1830's. This instalment is set during the Battle of Balaclava. Quite amazingly, our dashing, and reluctant leader is at the head of the light brigade.....
As with his previous adventures, Flashman at the Charge is rich in those qualities which one him honour and fame in his own time and have endeared him to hosts of loyal admirer since - cowardice, treachery, lechery and an unfailing instinct for survival, coupled with his own caustic humour and unsparing honesty as a historian.
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Price HK$ 2,000
Architectura Navalis - bound with - Architectura Civilis, Nova & Antiqua -
Josephum Furttenbach, Georg Andreas Böckler [Boeckler]
1629 - Johan Saurn, Ulm - First Editions
A stunning, clean and complete copy of Joseph Furttenbach’s famous treaty on shipbuilding, Architectura Navalis with double-page engraved title, title in red and black, twenty stunning double-page engraved plates showing boat design, and various types of boats many engaged in action with other boats and monsters of the sea. Furttenbach was a highly influential German architect, who attempted to cover all fields of architecture in his writings. Böckler corresponded with Furttenbach and his works on architecture were intended to contribute to the rebuilding of Germany after the devastation of the Thirty Years War, his Architectura Civilis, Nova & Antiqua presents a comparative treatment of the Orders [Architectural Styles] and is illustrated with forty engraved plates, woodcut printer’s device and red and black text to title page, woodcut head pieces, and initials.
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Price HK$ 95,000
1629 - Johan Saurn, Ulm - First Editions
A stunning, clean and complete copy of Joseph Furttenbach’s famous treaty on shipbuilding, Architectura Navalis with double-page engraved title, title in red and black, twenty stunning double-page engraved plates showing boat design, and various types of boats many engaged in action with other boats and monsters of the sea. Furttenbach was a highly influential German architect, who attempted to cover all fields of architecture in his writings. Böckler corresponded with Furttenbach and his works on architecture were intended to contribute to the rebuilding of Germany after the devastation of the Thirty Years War, his Architectura Civilis, Nova & Antiqua presents a comparative treatment of the Orders [Architectural Styles] and is illustrated with forty engraved plates, woodcut printer’s device and red and black text to title page, woodcut head pieces, and initials.
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Price HK$ 95,000