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Explore our fine illustrated books from the 15th to the 20th century, travel & voyages, natural history, modern firsts, rare children’s books, guidebooks, Hebraica & Judaica, works of Russian interest, and Islamica.

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  • First edition, first printing of Claudia Cranston's round-the-world travelogue I've Been Around, in the scarce dust jacket.
    First edition, first printing of Claudia Cranston's round-the-world travelogue I've Been Around, in the scarce dust jacket.

    CRANSTON, Claudia.
    I've Been Around. 1937.
    £250.00

  • Scarce colourful guide of the 1960's Hong Kong.
    Scarce colourful guide of the 1960's Hong Kong.

    PAPINEAU, Aristide J.G. (editor)
    Papineau's Guide to Hong Kong 1969
    £375.00

  • Walker Evans produced this remarkable series of clandestine portraits of passengers on the New York City subway between 1938 and 1941. He dedicates Many are Called to James Agee.
    Walker Evans produced this remarkable series of clandestine portraits of passengers on the New York City subway between 1938 and 1941. He dedicates Many are Called to James Agee.

    EVANS, Walker.
    Many are Called with an introduction by James Agee. 1966.
    £450.00

  • First edition of this account of the deeds of Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, Captain General of Peru and from 1590-1596 Viceroy of Peru.
    First edition of this account of the deeds of Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, Captain General of Peru and from 1590-1596 Viceroy of Peru.

    SUAREZ DE FIGUEROA, Cristobal.
    Hechos de Don Garcia Hurtado de Mendoza, quarto margues de cañete. 1613.
    £16,000.00

  • The scarce first edition of Przhevalsky's third expedition.
    The scarce first edition of Przhevalsky's third expedition.

    PRZHEVALSKY, Nikolay.
    Iz Zaisana cherez Khami v Tibet i na verkhoviia Zheltoi reki. 1883.
    £4,750.00

  • Helen Levitt's A Way of Seeing is a key 'New York' photography book. It was born in 1945 when she and James Agee worked together on In the Street, a documentary film shot in Harlem
    Helen Levitt's A Way of Seeing is a key 'New York' photography book. It was born in 1945 when she and James Agee worked together on In the Street, a documentary film shot in Harlem

    LEVITT, Helen.
    A Way of Seeing. 1965.
    £750.00

  • One of the first great accounts of European overseas exploration and colonisation. Part one refers to Columbus, the discovery of the Americas and Brazils.
    One of the first great accounts of European overseas exploration and colonisation. Part one refers to Columbus, the discovery of the Americas and Brazils.

    BARROS, João de; ULLOA, Alfonso(translator).
    L'Asia [– Dell'Asia, la seconda deca] 1562.
    £2,850.00

  • An attractively bound first edition set of Cook's voyages in Swedish
    An attractively bound first edition set of Cook's voyages in Swedish

    [COOK]. FRÉVILLE, Anne François Joachim de.
    [The three voyages of Captain Cook]. 1776, 1783, 1787.
    £3,250.00

  • The first French edition of Kippis's life of Captain Cook.
    The first French edition of Kippis's life of Captain Cook.

    [KIPPIS, Andrew;] J.H. CASTERA (translator).
    Vie du Capitaine Cook... 1789.
    £750.00

  • The edition deluxe of Birds of Arabia by Meinerthagen, one of ten specially bound copies with a unique bird of prey design to the front cover.
    The edition deluxe of Birds of Arabia by Meinerthagen, one of ten specially bound copies with a unique bird of prey design to the front cover.

    MEINERTZHAGEN, Colonel R.
    Birds of Arabia. 1980.
    £5,000.00

  • A fine engraving after a drawing by Webber which comes from the official account of Cook's third voyage, published in 1784.

    WEBBER, John (after); HALL, [John] & MIDDIMAN, [Samuel] (engravers).
    An Offering before Capt. Cook, in the Sandwich Islands. 1784].
    £1,500.00

  • A neat Spanish-language pocket edition of Thomas à Kempis' famous devotional work, embellished with four fine copper engravings.
    A neat Spanish-language pocket edition of Thomas à Kempis' famous devotional work, embellished with four fine copper engravings.

    KEMPIS, Thomas à.
    De la Imitacion de Christo, 1777.
    £180.00

  • A book of primary importance. The first Latin edition of the first circumnavigation to have the official support of the Dutch government.
    A book of primary importance. The first Latin edition of the first circumnavigation to have the official support of the Dutch government.

    SPILBERGEN, Joris Van.
    Speculum Orientalis Occidentalisque Indiae Navigationum; 1619.
    £20,000.00

  • James Cook Suirveyor of Newfoundland edited by R.A. Skelton, Reproduced in facsimile from the copy in the library at UCLA.
    James Cook Suirveyor of Newfoundland edited by R.A. Skelton, Reproduced in facsimile from the copy in the library at UCLA.

    SKELTON, R.A. (editor).
    James Cook Surveyor of Newfoundland 1965.
    £250.00

  • A rare Bulaq press edition of the most comprehensive and authentic collections of Hadith in Sunni Islam.
    A rare Bulaq press edition of the most comprehensive and authentic collections of Hadith in Sunni Islam.

    AL-BUKHARI, Muhammad ibn Isma'il [known as 'Imam AL-BUKHARI'].
    Sahih al-Bukhari, 1289 AH (1872 AD).
    £10,000.00

  • Early issue of Sceniche Decorazioni and Raccolta by Alessandro Sanquirico, the pioneering set designer, containing 75 plates of operas, ballets, and plays performed in La Scala in Milan between 1817 and 1832.
    Early issue of Sceniche Decorazioni and Raccolta by Alessandro Sanquirico, the pioneering set designer, containing 75 plates of operas, ballets, and plays performed in La Scala in Milan between 1817 and 1832.

    SANQUIRICO, Alessandro.
    Sceniche Decorazioni, Inventate ed Eseguite [c.1835]; [c.1832].
    £65,000.00

  • A handsome set in a contemporary Venetian binding. One of the earliest and most important collections of Voyages and Travels of the 16th century (Church).
    A handsome set in a contemporary Venetian binding. One of the earliest and most important collections of Voyages and Travels of the 16th century (Church).

    RAMUSIO, Giovanni Battista.
    Delle Navigationi et Viaggi... 1613, 1606, 1606.
    £48,000.00

  • One of 100 numbered copies, complete with a colour giclée print, and 51 original illustrations of readers.
    One of 100 numbered copies, complete with a colour giclée print, and 51 original illustrations of readers.

    BLAKE, Quentin.
    An Anthology of Readers. 2019.
    £295.00

  • Original Quentin Blake print, signed by the artist.

    BLAKE, Quentin.
    An Anthology of Readers Oversize Artwork #3. Print. From an edition of 25. 2019.
    £195.00

  • The bronze issue of the Royal Society's Cook Medal. Fellows of the Royal Society were entitled to a bronze medal, of which 577 were struck.
    The bronze issue of the Royal Society's Cook Medal. Fellows of the Royal Society were entitled to a bronze medal, of which 577 were struck.

    [COOK]. PINGO, Lewis.
    Royal Society Cook Medal. 1784.
    £1,500.00

  • Du Petit-Thouars voage was one of the most important of all the Grands Voyages, with some of the finest lithographs of the 19th century.
    Du Petit-Thouars voage was one of the most important of all the Grands Voyages, with some of the finest lithographs of the 19th century.

    DU PETIT-THOUARS, Abel.
    Voyage autour du monde sur la Frégate La Vénus 1840-1855.
    £65,000.00

  • An original Quiros presentation memorial. Alexander Dalrymple stated that the discovery of the Southern Continent (Australia) was due to de Quiros.
    An original Quiros presentation memorial. Alexander Dalrymple stated that the discovery of the Southern Continent (Australia) was due to de Quiros.

    QUIROS (Pedro Fernandes de).
    [Memorial 11]. 7 December, 1611.
    £125,000.00

  • This accont preceded the publication of the offical account of Lord Anson's voyage by three years.
    This accont preceded the publication of the offical account of Lord Anson's voyage by three years.

    [ANSON'S VOYAGE]. THOMAS, Pascoe.
    A true and impartial Journal of a Voyage to the South-Seas, 1745.
    £1,750.00

  • Orchot Tzadikim is a mid-15th century book on Jewish Ethics by an unknown author, based on the works of other authors, written in Germany. Its first printed edition was published in Prague in 1581.
    Orchot Tzadikim is a mid-15th century book on Jewish Ethics by an unknown author, based on the works of other authors, written in Germany. Its first printed edition was published in Prague in 1581.

    [ANON.]
    Orchot Tzadikim. 1735.
    £650.00

  • Third edition of this Ashkenazi Passover Haggadah publishe din London with a special translation of 'Adir hu' to Yiddish, all three editions of which were published on the same year, the third edition 'with copious explanatory notes'.
    Third edition of this Ashkenazi Passover Haggadah publishe din London with a special translation of 'Adir hu' to Yiddish, all three editions of which were published on the same year, the third edition 'with copious explanatory notes'.

    [HAGGADAH]. MENDES, A.P. (translator).
    Seder Haggadah... Service for the First Nights of Passover. 1862.
    £700.00

  • A superb copy of Ferer Maldonado's account of a spurious 1588 voyage, during which the Spanish navigator claimed to have discovered the Northwest Passage.
    A superb copy of Ferer Maldonado's account of a spurious 1588 voyage, during which the Spanish navigator claimed to have discovered the Northwest Passage.

    FERRER MALDONADO, Lorenzo.
    Viaggio dal mare Atlantico al Pacifico per la via del nord-ouest fatto 1811.
    £5,000.00

  • First latin edition of this important account of Houtman's voyage, the first Dutch voyage ot the East Indies. With detailed descriptions of Java and Bali.
    First latin edition of this important account of Houtman's voyage, the first Dutch voyage ot the East Indies. With detailed descriptions of Java and Bali.

    [LODEWYCKSZOON, Willem].
    Prima pars descriptionis itineris in Indiam Orientalem, 1598.
    £20,000.00

  • First edition of Pierre Simon Laplace's Traité de Mécanique Céleste (Treatise on Celestial Mechanics), published between 1799 and 1825.
    First edition of Pierre Simon Laplace's Traité de Mécanique Céleste (Treatise on Celestial Mechanics), published between 1799 and 1825.

    LAPLACE, Pierre Simon, Marquis de.
    Traité de Mécanique Céleste. AN VII [1799] - AN XI 1802; Courcier, AN XIII, 1805; Huzard-Courcier, AN XIII 1805; Bachelier, 1825.
    £15,000.00

  • The first editin of one of the most important scientific explorations to the Pacific and Northwest Coast of America. From a princely library.
    The first editin of one of the most important scientific explorations to the Pacific and Northwest Coast of America. From a princely library.

    LA PÉROUSE, Jean-François de Galaup (Comte de).
    Voyage de la Pérouse An V [1797].
    £20,000.00

  • The first English edition of the first Russian circumnavigation, providing detailed information on Japan, the Northwest coast of America and Hawai'i.
    The first English edition of the first Russian circumnavigation, providing detailed information on Japan, the Northwest coast of America and Hawai'i.

    KRUSENSTERN, Capt. A.J. von.
    Voyage round the World 1813.
    £13,500.00

  • A very attractive example of the French edition of the first Russian circumnavigation, complete with the rare and beautiful atlas.
    A very attractive example of the French edition of the first Russian circumnavigation, complete with the rare and beautiful atlas.

    KRUSENSTERN, Johann Adam von.
    Voyage autour du monde, fait dans les années 1803, 1804, 1805 et 1806, 1821.
    £20,000.00

  • Order of some New Year's and Yom Kippur prayers.
    Order of some New Year's and Yom Kippur prayers.

    [PRAYER BOOK].
    Order of Supplication. [Late 19th century].
    £150.00

  • An anonymous account of Houtman's expedition which demonstrated to the Dutch that they could circumvent the Portuguese monopoly on trade in the East.
    An anonymous account of Houtman's expedition which demonstrated to the Dutch that they could circumvent the Portuguese monopoly on trade in the East.

    [HOUTMAN'S VOYAGE].
    Diarium nauticum 1598.
    £25,000.00

  • The second Spanish edition of a highly important collectin of Spanish narratives of exploration and conquest, drawing on some sources no longer extant.
    The second Spanish edition of a highly important collectin of Spanish narratives of exploration and conquest, drawing on some sources no longer extant.

    HERRERA TORDESILLAS, Antonio de.
    Historia general de los hechos de los Castellanos 1730, 1729, 1726, 1725, 1728, 1730.
    £25,000.00

  • First edition of Scenes in Kafirland by Lumley Graham and Hugh Robinson, containing 21 hand-coloured lithograph plates of views and scenes in the Cape Colony in South Africa.
    First edition of Scenes in Kafirland by Lumley Graham and Hugh Robinson, containing 21 hand-coloured lithograph plates of views and scenes in the Cape Colony in South Africa.

    GRAHAM, Lieut. Lumley; ROBINSON, Lieut. Hugh.
    Scenes in Kafirland, 1854.
    £6,500.00

  • The complete set of eighty etchings with burnished aquatint, drypoint and engraving that make up Los Caprichos by Goya.
    The complete set of eighty etchings with burnished aquatint, drypoint and engraving that make up Los Caprichos by Goya.

    GOYA Y LUCIENTES, Francisco de.
    Los Caprichos. 1799.
    £200,000.00

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