The Pooh Books - When We Were Very Young; Winnie the Pooh; Now We Are Six; and The House at Pooh Corner -
A. A. Milne, Ernest H. Shepard (illustrator)
1924 to 1928 - Methuen &, London - First Editions
'Pooh looked at his two paws. He knew that one of them was the right, and he knew that when you had decided which one of them was the right, then the other one was the left, but he never could remember how to begin.'
A lovely set of the Pooh books, finely bound in full morocco leather to match their respective original published colours, and housed in custom made felt-lined slipcase.
‘I often wish I were a King, And then I could do anything.
If only I were King of Spain, I’d take my hat off in the rain.
If I were King of Norroway, I’d ask an elephant to stay.
If I were King of Timbuctoo, I’d think of lovely things to do.’
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Price HK$ 52,000
1924 to 1928 - Methuen &, London - First Editions
'Pooh looked at his two paws. He knew that one of them was the right, and he knew that when you had decided which one of them was the right, then the other one was the left, but he never could remember how to begin.'A lovely set of the Pooh books, finely bound in full morocco leather to match their respective original published colours, and housed in custom made felt-lined slipcase.
‘I often wish I were a King, And then I could do anything.
If only I were King of Spain, I’d take my hat off in the rain.
If I were King of Norroway, I’d ask an elephant to stay.
If I were King of Timbuctoo, I’d think of lovely things to do.’
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Price HK$ 52,000
The Arts of Beauty -
Madame Lola Montez, Countess of Landsfeld
1858 - Dick &, New York - First Edition
‘If Lola Montez’s life was a film script it would be rejected for being too far fetched. With Franz Liszt, Alexandre Dumas and King Ludwig of Bavaria among her many lovers, and shootings, drownings, bigamy and adultery, you just couldn’t make it up.’ - The Irish Times.
The beautiful and fiery Montez had fictional affairs with Harry Flashman,and is reputed to be the inspiration for Irene Adler, in Conan Doyle’s ‘A Scandal In Bohemia’, her infamous ‘Spider Dance’ involved the discovery and removal of numerous spiders amongst her petticoats whilst whirling around in the style of a Spanish gypsy, and the various fatal endings of many lovers was just as spider like.
In this rare little tome she reveals all the secrets required to be, well, Lola Montez. The last fabulous chapter specifically for Gentlemen provides ‘Fifty Rules in the Art of Fascinating’. A superb example, without the use of powders, paints, pomades, embellishment, beautification, or sophistication.
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl... or more appropriately, Like the spider to a fly...
‘She is fatal to any man who dares to love her.’ - Alexandre Dumas.
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Price HK$ 10,000
1858 - Dick &, New York - First Edition
‘If Lola Montez’s life was a film script it would be rejected for being too far fetched. With Franz Liszt, Alexandre Dumas and King Ludwig of Bavaria among her many lovers, and shootings, drownings, bigamy and adultery, you just couldn’t make it up.’ - The Irish Times.The beautiful and fiery Montez had fictional affairs with Harry Flashman,and is reputed to be the inspiration for Irene Adler, in Conan Doyle’s ‘A Scandal In Bohemia’, her infamous ‘Spider Dance’ involved the discovery and removal of numerous spiders amongst her petticoats whilst whirling around in the style of a Spanish gypsy, and the various fatal endings of many lovers was just as spider like.
In this rare little tome she reveals all the secrets required to be, well, Lola Montez. The last fabulous chapter specifically for Gentlemen provides ‘Fifty Rules in the Art of Fascinating’. A superb example, without the use of powders, paints, pomades, embellishment, beautification, or sophistication.
Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl... or more appropriately, Like the spider to a fly...
‘She is fatal to any man who dares to love her.’ - Alexandre Dumas.
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Price HK$ 10,000
Backgammon: Its History and Practice -
George Frederick Pardon, Kenny Meadows (illustrator)
1844 - D. Bogue, London - First Edition
A rare and superior first edition of this wonderfully illustrated little work on Backgammon. Surprisingly for a game that may have originated around 2,500 BC this is one of the earliest English treatise to focus on the game.
Quite comprehensive, the cheeky ‘Punch’ style vignettes enhancing the more humorous anecdotes and quotes. The final chapter ‘Definition of Technicalities’ is not as dull as it sounds, for example -
“Covering your man to make sure of him” – A procedure to prevent your man being hit in the game – to ensure it in a duel.
“Gammon.” – A thing that abounds in many huge, old, smoky chimneys in the country, and in many well-ventilated public apartments in town’.
“High Doublets” – Twinned sixes or cinqs – frequent and highly ridiculous in operas, when melodious ladies enact truculent warriors.’
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Price HK$ 8,000
1844 - D. Bogue, London - First Edition
A rare and superior first edition of this wonderfully illustrated little work on Backgammon. Surprisingly for a game that may have originated around 2,500 BC this is one of the earliest English treatise to focus on the game.Quite comprehensive, the cheeky ‘Punch’ style vignettes enhancing the more humorous anecdotes and quotes. The final chapter ‘Definition of Technicalities’ is not as dull as it sounds, for example -
“Covering your man to make sure of him” – A procedure to prevent your man being hit in the game – to ensure it in a duel.
“Gammon.” – A thing that abounds in many huge, old, smoky chimneys in the country, and in many well-ventilated public apartments in town’.
“High Doublets” – Twinned sixes or cinqs – frequent and highly ridiculous in operas, when melodious ladies enact truculent warriors.’
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Price HK$ 8,000
History of the Royal Residences -
William Henry Pyne
1819 - Printed for A. Dry, London - First Edition
A beautiful and luxurious first edition of one of the most ambitious aquatint books to be published on English interiors. Three finely bound volumes containing one hundred exquisite hand-coloured plates with accompanying text.
This celebrated work was the first to illustrate royal palaces and houses in any detail: volume I is a valuable record of the state rooms of Windsor Castle formed for Charles II, and concludes with the more domestic scenes of Frogmore, purchased by Queen Charlotte as a country retreat in 1793; volume II is devoted to Hampton Court, Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace; volume III's subjects are St James's Palace and Carlton House; the twenty plates devoted to the Prince Regent's residence depict what were regarded as the most spectacular interiors in Regency London.
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Price HK$ 80,000
1819 - Printed for A. Dry, London - First Edition
A beautiful and luxurious first edition of one of the most ambitious aquatint books to be published on English interiors. Three finely bound volumes containing one hundred exquisite hand-coloured plates with accompanying text.This celebrated work was the first to illustrate royal palaces and houses in any detail: volume I is a valuable record of the state rooms of Windsor Castle formed for Charles II, and concludes with the more domestic scenes of Frogmore, purchased by Queen Charlotte as a country retreat in 1793; volume II is devoted to Hampton Court, Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace; volume III's subjects are St James's Palace and Carlton House; the twenty plates devoted to the Prince Regent's residence depict what were regarded as the most spectacular interiors in Regency London.
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Price HK$ 80,000
The Experienced English Housekeeper, for the use and ease of Ladies, Housekeepers, Cooks -
Elizabeth Raffald
1799 - R. Baldwin, London - The Twelfth Edition
Eighteenth century edition in contemporary binding, illustrated with one folding plate of a copper stove, two folding plates of table settings, and engraved frontispiece of the author. Organised into three sections - I: Soups, Fish, Meat, Game... II: Confectionary, Puddings, Directions to set out a Table... III: Pickling, Wines, Catchups, and a Correct List of every Thing in Season for every Month in the Year.
The amazing Elizabeth Raffald [1733-81] of Doncaster, spent fifteen years as housekeeper to Lady Elizabeth Warburton, and married the gardener in 1763, she then opened firstly a confectioner’s shop and then three inns in succession as well as a cookery school. She is said to have had sixteen daughters in eighteen years, founded Salford's first newspaper, established a registry office for servants and compiled Manchester's first Directory which she brought out in 1772, 1773 and 1781.
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Price HK$ 3,500
1799 - R. Baldwin, London - The Twelfth Edition
Eighteenth century edition in contemporary binding, illustrated with one folding plate of a copper stove, two folding plates of table settings, and engraved frontispiece of the author. Organised into three sections - I: Soups, Fish, Meat, Game... II: Confectionary, Puddings, Directions to set out a Table... III: Pickling, Wines, Catchups, and a Correct List of every Thing in Season for every Month in the Year.The amazing Elizabeth Raffald [1733-81] of Doncaster, spent fifteen years as housekeeper to Lady Elizabeth Warburton, and married the gardener in 1763, she then opened firstly a confectioner’s shop and then three inns in succession as well as a cookery school. She is said to have had sixteen daughters in eighteen years, founded Salford's first newspaper, established a registry office for servants and compiled Manchester's first Directory which she brought out in 1772, 1773 and 1781.
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Price HK$ 3,500
The Epicurean -
Charles Ranhofer
1894 - Charles Ranhofer, New York - First Edition
Inscribed by Ranhofer to Monsieur Louis Bouchard as a ‘Souvenir de bonne amitié’.
Rare, majestic, and fine copy of ‘one of the most important books in modern cooking - a treasure trove of culinary information and a fascinating look at elite restaurant cooking from the Civil War to the turn of the last century.’ [Los Angeles Times 2005].
‘The turn-of-the-century Delmonico's chef spills everything he knows about cooking. Ranhofer's work was unprecedented - and was considered high treason by his peers at the time. A fascinating and imposing tome and an important piece of culinary history.’ - Anthony Bourdain.
Delmonico’s was one of the famous restaurant in New York in the 19th century; his clients included the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia, Charles-Louis Napoleon, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, amongst many others. Ranhofer himself ‘was the greatest cook America ever knew, "one who moved among the great chefs of France as peer and equal"’. [O’Connell. Thomas 86].
This massive volume contains over 3,500 recipes, illustrated throughout with more than 800 plates from woodcuts, accompanied by hundreds of menus, a history of table settings and instructions for American, French and Russian service.
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Price HK$ 30,000
1894 - Charles Ranhofer, New York - First Edition
Inscribed by Ranhofer to Monsieur Louis Bouchard as a ‘Souvenir de bonne amitié’.Rare, majestic, and fine copy of ‘one of the most important books in modern cooking - a treasure trove of culinary information and a fascinating look at elite restaurant cooking from the Civil War to the turn of the last century.’ [Los Angeles Times 2005].
‘The turn-of-the-century Delmonico's chef spills everything he knows about cooking. Ranhofer's work was unprecedented - and was considered high treason by his peers at the time. A fascinating and imposing tome and an important piece of culinary history.’ - Anthony Bourdain.
Delmonico’s was one of the famous restaurant in New York in the 19th century; his clients included the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia, Charles-Louis Napoleon, Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, amongst many others. Ranhofer himself ‘was the greatest cook America ever knew, "one who moved among the great chefs of France as peer and equal"’. [O’Connell. Thomas 86].
This massive volume contains over 3,500 recipes, illustrated throughout with more than 800 plates from woodcuts, accompanied by hundreds of menus, a history of table settings and instructions for American, French and Russian service.
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Price HK$ 30,000
The Kingdom of the Pearl -
L Rosenthal, Edmund Dulac (illustrator)
1920 - Nisbet &, London - Limited Edition copy 12 of 100, signed by Dulac
A superb large quarto limited and signed edition of Dulac's illustrated book masterpiece. One of 100 copies, commissioned by famed Parisian jeweller, Léonard Rosenthal.
‘Each one of these plates is a work of art, and the matter of the book itself is an engrossing history of pearls, their culture, their treatment, their myths and legends, and the narratives of famous stones. The book combines romance and instruction.’ - The New York Times (4 December, 1921)
Dulac uses techniques borrowed from Persian manuscripts, such as overwashing the watercolours with silver and gold. Those approaches produced stunning results, contributing to the gem-like quality of the ten exquisite tipped-in plates with captioned tissue guards.
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Price HK$ 14,000
1920 - Nisbet &, London - Limited Edition copy 12 of 100, signed by Dulac
A superb large quarto limited and signed edition of Dulac's illustrated book masterpiece. One of 100 copies, commissioned by famed Parisian jeweller, Léonard Rosenthal.‘Each one of these plates is a work of art, and the matter of the book itself is an engrossing history of pearls, their culture, their treatment, their myths and legends, and the narratives of famous stones. The book combines romance and instruction.’ - The New York Times (4 December, 1921)
Dulac uses techniques borrowed from Persian manuscripts, such as overwashing the watercolours with silver and gold. Those approaches produced stunning results, contributing to the gem-like quality of the ten exquisite tipped-in plates with captioned tissue guards.
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Price HK$ 14,000
The Dramatic Works of William Shakespeare -
William Shakespeare, William Watkiss Lloyd, Samuel Weller Singer
1856 - Bell and Daldy, London
An elegant ten volume mid-nineteenth century set of Shakespeare's works, finely bound by Bayntun-Rivière of Bath.
Illustrated with wood engravings by John Thompson from drawings by Thomas Stothard, and photographs, decorated with headpieces and floriated initials.
The text carefully revised with notes by Samuel Weller Singer, together with a biography and critical essays on the plays by William Watkiss Lloyd.
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Price HK$ 15,000
1856 - Bell and Daldy, London
An elegant ten volume mid-nineteenth century set of Shakespeare's works, finely bound by Bayntun-Rivière of Bath.Illustrated with wood engravings by John Thompson from drawings by Thomas Stothard, and photographs, decorated with headpieces and floriated initials.
The text carefully revised with notes by Samuel Weller Singer, together with a biography and critical essays on the plays by William Watkiss Lloyd.
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Price HK$ 15,000