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Rare Books, Manuscripts and Prints

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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  • A fine mezzotint of Robert Dodd's depicition of the wreck of HMS Guardian on an iceberg twelve days out of Cape Town.

    DODD, Robert.
    Part of the Crew of His Majesty's Ship Guardian endeavouring to escape in the Boats. July 1st, 1790.
    £2,750.00

  • This part of de Bry's Petit Voyages includes the discovery of Hudson's Bay, the voyages of Linschoten, an account of de Quiros's voyage to Terra Australis.
    This part of de Bry's Petit Voyages includes the discovery of Hudson's Bay, the voyages of Linschoten, an account of de Quiros's voyage to Terra Australis.

    DE BRY, Theodor.
    [Petit Voyages]. Indiae Orientalis Pars X. 1613.
    £25,000.00

  • Exceedingly rare. This was intended as a supplement to Coxe's Account of the Russian Discoveries published in 1780.
    Exceedingly rare. This was intended as a supplement to Coxe's Account of the Russian Discoveries published in 1780.

    COXE, William.
    A Comparative View of the Russian Discoveries with those made by Captain Cook and Clerke. 1787.
    £25,000.00

  • A particularly fine copy of Webber's view of one of the ceremonial burial grounds on the island of Tongatapu, Tonga.

    WEBBER, John; THORNTON, John (engraver).
    View of a Fiatooka or Burying Place in Tongataboo. [1784].
    £1,750.00

  • One of the most well-known images from the earlier issue of Webber's Views in the South Seas. The chief lies in state on the island of Tahiti.

    WEBBER, John.
    Waheiadooa. Chief of Oheitepha lying in State. July 1st, 1789.
    £2,000.00

  • A beautiful print from the earlier issue of Webber's Views in the South Seas, showing the island of Krakatoa

    WEBBER, John.
    View in the Island of Cracatoa. July 1st, 1789.
    £2,000.00

  • Four proof plates before letters. Early states of images from Cook's last voyage, showing scenes in Hawai'i, Tahiti, New Zealand and Alaska.
    Four proof plates before letters. Early states of images from Cook's last voyage, showing scenes in Hawai'i, Tahiti, New Zealand and Alaska.

    WEBBER, John; POUNCY, B.T. (etching) & WOOLLETT, W. (aquatinting).
    The Inside of a Hippah in New Zealand; A Human Sacrifice in a Morai in Otaheite; Tereoboo, King of Owyhee, bringing presents to Captn. Cook; Inhabitants of Norton Sound and their Habitations. c.1794]
    £9,500.00

  • Rare oval variant of the well-known engraving of Cook's death, after an original oil painting of the scene by John Webber.

    WEBBER, John (after); BARTOLOZZI, Francesco (engraver) & BYRNE, William (engraver).
    Death of Captain Cook in February 1779, [1784].
    £6,750.00

  • The rare silver issue of the Royal Society's Cook Medal. One of only 322.
    The rare silver issue of the Royal Society's Cook Medal. One of only 322.

    [COOK]. PINGO, Lewis.
    Royal Society Cook Medal. 1784.
    £2,750.00

  • A fine engraved portrait of Sydney Parkinson, the artist who travelled on Cook's first voyage as part of Sir Joseph Bank's team.

    NEWTON, James (engraver).
    Sydney Parkinson. 1784].
    £350.00

  • After plate 60 in the official account of Cook's second voyage.

    [HODGES, W.] (after); BERNARD, [Robert] (engraver).
    Débarquement à Mallicolo l'une des Nouvelles Hébrides. c.1785].
    £1,500.00

  • The definitive edition. These early Dutch voyages rank amongst the most important mercantile adventures in the history of European expansion.
    The definitive edition. These early Dutch voyages rank amongst the most important mercantile adventures in the history of European expansion.

    COMMELIN, Isaac (editor).
    Begin ende Voortgangh van de Vereenighde Nederlantsche Geoctroyeerde Oost-Indische Compagnie. 1646 & 1645.
    £30,000.00

  • One of the rarest items concerning Captain Cook's second voyage.
    One of the rarest items concerning Captain Cook's second voyage.

    WALES, William.
    Remarks on Mr. Forster's Account of Captain Cook's Last Voyage round the World, 1778.
    £20,000.00

  • First French edition of Zimmerman's account of Cook's third voyage which appeared three years before the official version.
    First French edition of Zimmerman's account of Cook's third voyage which appeared three years before the official version.

    ZIMMERMANN, Heinrich.
    Dernier voyage du Capitaine Cook autour du Monde, 1782.
    £10,000.00

  • A work of huge importance for the inclusion of Captain Cook's paper on the prevention of scurvy.
    A work of huge importance for the inclusion of Captain Cook's paper on the prevention of scurvy.

    PRINGLE, Sir John.
    A Discourse upon some late Improvements of the Means for Preserving the Health of Mariners. 1776.
    £15,000.00

  • A rare poetic outburst occasioned by the return of Captain Cook from his first voyage.
    A rare poetic outburst occasioned by the return of Captain Cook from his first voyage.

    [COATES, Rev. Charles?]
    Otaheite: a Poem. 1774.
    £9,000.00

  • The Courage and Perseverance medal was struck soon after word of Capt. Cook's death reached England in 1780.
    The Courage and Perseverance medal was struck soon after word of Capt. Cook's death reached England in 1780.

    [COOK, Capt. James].
    The Courage and Perseverance Medal. [1780].
    £9,500.00

  • First edition of Brindesi's Souvenirs de Constantinople in excellent condition and in the original cloth, an important set of views of the Ottoman Empire.
    First edition of Brindesi's Souvenirs de Constantinople in excellent condition and in the original cloth, an important set of views of the Ottoman Empire.

    BRINDESI, Jean.
    Souvenirs de Constantinople. [1855].
    £12,500.00

  • First edition of the official record of Hyacinthe de Bougainville's voyage round the world, with superb illustrations.
    First edition of the official record of Hyacinthe de Bougainville's voyage round the world, with superb illustrations.

    BOUGAINVILLE, Hyacinthe Yves Philippe Potentien (Baron de).
    Journal de la navigation autour du globe 1837.
    £15,000.00

  • First edition of The Beautiful Scenery and Chief Places of Interest throughout the Crimea by Carlo Bossoli, containing 51 views of Crimea and the Ukraine.
    First edition of The Beautiful Scenery and Chief Places of Interest throughout the Crimea by Carlo Bossoli, containing 51 views of Crimea and the Ukraine.

    [UKRAINE]. BOSSOLI, Carlo (illustrator).
    The Beautiful Scenery and Chief Places of Interest throughout the Crimea. 1856.
    £5,000.00

  • Excessively rare. There are only a handful of known copies of the special advance issue of Bligh's narrative of his voyage in the Bounty.
    Excessively rare. There are only a handful of known copies of the special advance issue of Bligh's narrative of his voyage in the Bounty.

    BLIGH, William.
    A Voyage to the South Sea; 1792.
    £25,000.00

  • Ferdinand Bauer recorded not only botanical but also zoological specimens on the voyage to Australia of Matthew Flinders.
    Ferdinand Bauer recorded not only botanical but also zoological specimens on the voyage to Australia of Matthew Flinders.

    BAUER, Ferdinand.
    Illustrationes Florae Novae Hollandiae 1813.
    £40,000.00

  • The account of the sensational trail of the Bounty mutineers. A legendary Pacific rarity, the Appendix by Fletcher Christian's brother.
    The account of the sensational trail of the Bounty mutineers. A legendary Pacific rarity, the Appendix by Fletcher Christian's brother.

    [BLIGH]. BARNEY, Stephen & CHRISTIAN, Edward.
    Minutes of the Proceedings of the Court-Martial 1794.
    £40,000.00

  • Containing 40 finely coloured plates, mostly hand signed by Hayes himself.
    Containing 40 finely coloured plates, mostly hand signed by Hayes himself.

    HAYES, William.
    Birds. [1773].
    £16,500.00

  • The Tale of Pigling Bland, by Beatrix Potter, first edition, with 15 colour illustrations, near fine condition, one of her most endearing tales, 1913
    The Tale of Pigling Bland, by Beatrix Potter, first edition, with 15 colour illustrations, near fine condition, one of her most endearing tales, 1913

    POTTER, Beatrix.
    The Tale of Pigling Bland. 1913.
    £675.00

  • First English edition of The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot, one of 460 copies handprinted by Leonard and Virginia Woolf
    First English edition of The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot, one of 460 copies handprinted by Leonard and Virginia Woolf

    ELIOT, T.S.
    The Waste Land. 1923.
    £15,000.00

  • First edition of The Collected Poetry of W.H. Auden, inscribed by the author to James and Tania Stern
    First edition of The Collected Poetry of W.H. Auden, inscribed by the author to James and Tania Stern

    AUDEN, W.H.
    The Collected Poetry of W.H. Auden. 1945.
    £4,500.00

  • First English edition of The Intimate Journals by Charles Baudelaire, one of 50 copies signed by T.S. Eliot.
    First English edition of The Intimate Journals by Charles Baudelaire, one of 50 copies signed by T.S. Eliot.

    ELIOT T.S. (introduction); BAUDELAIRE, Charles.
    The Intimate Journals. 1930.
    £2,250.00

  • First edition of Flash and Filigree by Terry Southern, the author's first novel.
    First edition of Flash and Filigree by Terry Southern, the author's first novel.

    SOUTHERN, Terry.
    Flash and Filigree. 1958.
    £275.00

  • James Stern's copy of A Legacy by Sybille Bedford, first edition signed by the author.
    James Stern's copy of A Legacy by Sybille Bedford, first edition signed by the author.

    BEDFORD, Sybille.
    A Legacy. 1956.
    £350.00

  • Pirated edition of The North Ship by Philip Larkin, signed by the author.
    Pirated edition of The North Ship by Philip Larkin, signed by the author.

    LARKIN, Philip.
    The North Ship. 1945 [but 1965].
    £2,500.00

  • First edition of High Windows by Philip Larkin, inscribed by the author to his editor Brian Cox
    First edition of High Windows by Philip Larkin, inscribed by the author to his editor Brian Cox

    LARKIN, Philip.
    High Windows. 1974.
    £7,500.00

  • First edition of First Childhood by Lord Berners, inscribed by the author.
    First edition of First Childhood by Lord Berners, inscribed by the author.

    BERNERS, [Gerald] Lord.
    First Childhood. 1934.
    £500.00

  • First UK edition of Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut, the author's first book.
    First UK edition of Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut, the author's first book.

    VONNEGUT, Kurt, Jr.
    Player Piano. 1953.
    £375.00

  • Later printing of Eloise by Kay Thompson, inscribed to Oliver Sacks by the illustrator Hilary Knight.
    Later printing of Eloise by Kay Thompson, inscribed to Oliver Sacks by the illustrator Hilary Knight.

    THOMPSON, Kay; KNIGHT, Hilary (illustrator).
    Eloise: 1983.
    £3,750.00

  • First English edition of Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse, in the exceptionally rare dustjacket
    First English edition of Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse, in the exceptionally rare dustjacket

    HESSE, Hermann; CREIGHTON, Basil (translator).
    Steppenwolf. 1929.
    £6,750.00

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