Westward Ho!; Hereward The Wake; Hypatia; Two Years Ago; Alton Locke -
Charles Kingsley
1896-1900 - Macmillan and Co., London -
A finely bound five volume set of Kingsley’s best known historic novels, ‘Hypatia’, ‘Hereward the Wake’ and ‘Westward Ho!’, the classic action-packed saga of romance and seafaring adventure set against the dramatic backdrop of Elizabethan England, the battle of the Spanish Armada, and the exploration of North America, illustrated by Charles Brock.
Together with ‘Alton Locke’, the story of a tailor-poet who rebels against the ignominy of sweated labor and becomes a leader of the Chartist movement, and ‘Two Years Ago’ about a doctor named Tom Thurnall and his friends as they deal with the effects of the Crimean War and a cholera epidemic, reflecting on social issues of the time, such as public health, slavery, and social reform.
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Price HK$ 4,000
1896-1900 - Macmillan and Co., London -
A finely bound five volume set of Kingsley’s best known historic novels, ‘Hypatia’, ‘Hereward the Wake’ and ‘Westward Ho!’, the classic action-packed saga of romance and seafaring adventure set against the dramatic backdrop of Elizabethan England, the battle of the Spanish Armada, and the exploration of North America, illustrated by Charles Brock.Together with ‘Alton Locke’, the story of a tailor-poet who rebels against the ignominy of sweated labor and becomes a leader of the Chartist movement, and ‘Two Years Ago’ about a doctor named Tom Thurnall and his friends as they deal with the effects of the Crimean War and a cholera epidemic, reflecting on social issues of the time, such as public health, slavery, and social reform.
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Price HK$ 4,000
Grasses and Pastures of South Africa -
D. Meredith (editor)
1955 - Central News Agency, Johannesburg - First Edition
A large and comprehensive work in two parts - ‘A Guide to the Identification of Grasses in South Africa’ by Lucy Chippindall, and ‘Pasture Management in South Africa’ by J. D. Scott, J. J. Theron, D. Meredith and others.
In a unique and elegant binding, initially ‘J.K. 97’, with what appear to be handmade paper end leaves incorporating wild grasses. Housed in matching bespoke marbled slipcase.
Illustrated throughout with full page colour plates and in-text black and white photographs, folding colour maps bound in at the rear.
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Price HK$ 6,000
1955 - Central News Agency, Johannesburg - First Edition
A large and comprehensive work in two parts - ‘A Guide to the Identification of Grasses in South Africa’ by Lucy Chippindall, and ‘Pasture Management in South Africa’ by J. D. Scott, J. J. Theron, D. Meredith and others.In a unique and elegant binding, initially ‘J.K. 97’, with what appear to be handmade paper end leaves incorporating wild grasses. Housed in matching bespoke marbled slipcase.
Illustrated throughout with full page colour plates and in-text black and white photographs, folding colour maps bound in at the rear.
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Price HK$ 6,000
The Colour of Chivalry -
Harold B. Pereira, Gerald Cobb (illustrator)
1950 - Imperial Chemical Industries, London - First Edition
A finely bound first edition of this wonderful book, describing the history of thirty selected Lords and Ladies from the age of chivalry, which covered the four hundred years from about 1150 to 1550, with the emphasis on the reigns of Edward III and Richard III.
Beautifully illustrated with thirty tipped-in and mounted vivd colour plates showing Knights and Ladies by Gerald Cobb after tomb effigies from the cathedrals in which they were buried.
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Price HK$ 5,000
1950 - Imperial Chemical Industries, London - First Edition
A finely bound first edition of this wonderful book, describing the history of thirty selected Lords and Ladies from the age of chivalry, which covered the four hundred years from about 1150 to 1550, with the emphasis on the reigns of Edward III and Richard III.Beautifully illustrated with thirty tipped-in and mounted vivd colour plates showing Knights and Ladies by Gerald Cobb after tomb effigies from the cathedrals in which they were buried.
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Price HK$ 5,000
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
A Trilogy of Epic Historic Poems - Marmion; The Lady of the Lake; Rokeby -
Sir Walter Scott
1808 - Archibald Constable & John Ballantyne, Edinburgh - Fourth, Twelfth, and Second Editions respectively
An early trilogy of three of Sir Walter Scott’s most popular epic historical poems, uniformly bound in contemporary tan tree-calf.
‘Marmion; A Tale of Flodden Field’ – ‘Marmion was Walter Scott’s second historical romance and one of his most popular epic poems. The chivalric tale of love, betrayal, loyalty and honour ends with the English victory over James IV of Scotland at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.’
‘The Lady of the Lake, A Poem’ – ‘Scott’s Highland poem concerning the struggle between King James V and the powerful clan Douglas. Composed of six cantos, and set in the Trossachs of the Scottish Highlands in the 16th century, it mines Gaelic history to retell a well-known legend of graceful, feudal heroine, Ellen Douglas, and the contest between three young men to win her love.
A huge critical and commercial success at the time of its first publication, breaking all records for the sale of poetry, and cementing Scott’s fame and reputation as a poet in both Britain and the United States.
‘Rokeby; A Poem’ – ‘After the monumental success of his Highland poem The Lady of the Lake (1810), for his next historical epic poem, Walter Scott moved the setting to England, perhaps to appease his increasing English readership. Set in County Durham during the English Civil Wars, in the immediate aftermath of the Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.’
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Price HK$ 5,000
1808 - Archibald Constable & John Ballantyne, Edinburgh - Fourth, Twelfth, and Second Editions respectively
An early trilogy of three of Sir Walter Scott’s most popular epic historical poems, uniformly bound in contemporary tan tree-calf.‘Marmion; A Tale of Flodden Field’ – ‘Marmion was Walter Scott’s second historical romance and one of his most popular epic poems. The chivalric tale of love, betrayal, loyalty and honour ends with the English victory over James IV of Scotland at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.’
‘The Lady of the Lake, A Poem’ – ‘Scott’s Highland poem concerning the struggle between King James V and the powerful clan Douglas. Composed of six cantos, and set in the Trossachs of the Scottish Highlands in the 16th century, it mines Gaelic history to retell a well-known legend of graceful, feudal heroine, Ellen Douglas, and the contest between three young men to win her love.
A huge critical and commercial success at the time of its first publication, breaking all records for the sale of poetry, and cementing Scott’s fame and reputation as a poet in both Britain and the United States.
‘Rokeby; A Poem’ – ‘After the monumental success of his Highland poem The Lady of the Lake (1810), for his next historical epic poem, Walter Scott moved the setting to England, perhaps to appease his increasing English readership. Set in County Durham during the English Civil Wars, in the immediate aftermath of the Parliamentary victory at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644.’
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Price HK$ 5,000
A Ballad Book -
Charles Kirkpatrick Sharpe, Sir Walter Scott, David Laing (editor)
1880 - William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London - First Edition
‘I think you do me much honour by preserving my scribbles’ writes the colourful and eccentric Sharpe in the tipped in letter that accompanies his finely bound Ballad Book, re-edited by David Laing, with additions from Sharpe's manuscripts, and which he first printed only 30 copies in 1823, although according to Henderson, the majority of the added ballads in 1880 were of more or less questionable authenticity (ODNB). The final portion of the book prints Sir Walter Scott’s commentary on the original poems, and is taken from correspondence between Scott and his friend Sharpe.
Scarce. Illustrated with a colour frontispiece portrait, woodblock engraving plate and headpiece (as used for the original 1823 edition).
A speculative note regarding the letter - As stated in the editor’s introduction (ix) ‘Mr Sharpe’s own annotated copy’ was carefully followed to produce this work, a copy that was ‘in the possession of Sir James Gibson-Craig’. Gibson-Craig had one of the finest collection of Scottish works ever assembled, and other correspondence from Sharpe to Gibson-Craig did begin with ‘Signor Mio’, leading us to speculate that this letter accompanied the original and rare 1823 printing of which only 30 were produced, and which in this case was later given by Sharpe to Gibson-Craig.
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Price HK$ 5,000
1880 - William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London - First Edition
‘I think you do me much honour by preserving my scribbles’ writes the colourful and eccentric Sharpe in the tipped in letter that accompanies his finely bound Ballad Book, re-edited by David Laing, with additions from Sharpe's manuscripts, and which he first printed only 30 copies in 1823, although according to Henderson, the majority of the added ballads in 1880 were of more or less questionable authenticity (ODNB). The final portion of the book prints Sir Walter Scott’s commentary on the original poems, and is taken from correspondence between Scott and his friend Sharpe.Scarce. Illustrated with a colour frontispiece portrait, woodblock engraving plate and headpiece (as used for the original 1823 edition).
A speculative note regarding the letter - As stated in the editor’s introduction (ix) ‘Mr Sharpe’s own annotated copy’ was carefully followed to produce this work, a copy that was ‘in the possession of Sir James Gibson-Craig’. Gibson-Craig had one of the finest collection of Scottish works ever assembled, and other correspondence from Sharpe to Gibson-Craig did begin with ‘Signor Mio’, leading us to speculate that this letter accompanied the original and rare 1823 printing of which only 30 were produced, and which in this case was later given by Sharpe to Gibson-Craig.
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Price HK$ 5,000
Ten Thousand A-Year -
Samuel Warren
1889 - Little, Boston - Number 69 of a limited 200 copies
One of the most popular novels of the era and some consider the first to feature a lawyer as the main character.
Featuring a firm of attorneys who discover that Tittlebat Titmouse, a poor draper's clerk, may have a claim to the large estate of Yatton. The attorneys commence an action which results in Titmouse displacing the unbelievably pious John Aubrey as the owner of the estate, and its annual income of £10,000. Titmouse revels in his new found wealth, until a new round of litigation is commenced which returns Aubrey to his place as squire of Yatton. Titmouse is disgraced, and ends his life in a lunatic asylum.
The author, Samuel Warren (1807-77), was an English barrister, Member of Parliament, and his narrator repeatedly tells the reader that the English legal system is close to perfection, but the actual workings of the law in ‘Ten Thousand a-Year’ paint a more negative picture. Dickens seems to have read Warren's fiction and non-fiction, and to have borrowed images and ideas. [ODNB].
In addition to Warren’s knowledge of the law, he was well versed on asylum and the welfare of the mentally ill, occupying the position of ‘Master in Lunacy’ from 1859 to 1877.
A fine and finely bound three volume set, the upper covers blocked in gilt with the crest, coat of arms and motto of ‘Tittlebat Titmouse Esq M.P. according to the description of Sir Gorgeous Tintack, Garter King at Arms.’ Volume I with sepia toned portrait frontispiece on vellum.
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Price HK$ 6,000
1889 - Little, Boston - Number 69 of a limited 200 copies
One of the most popular novels of the era and some consider the first to feature a lawyer as the main character.Featuring a firm of attorneys who discover that Tittlebat Titmouse, a poor draper's clerk, may have a claim to the large estate of Yatton. The attorneys commence an action which results in Titmouse displacing the unbelievably pious John Aubrey as the owner of the estate, and its annual income of £10,000. Titmouse revels in his new found wealth, until a new round of litigation is commenced which returns Aubrey to his place as squire of Yatton. Titmouse is disgraced, and ends his life in a lunatic asylum.
The author, Samuel Warren (1807-77), was an English barrister, Member of Parliament, and his narrator repeatedly tells the reader that the English legal system is close to perfection, but the actual workings of the law in ‘Ten Thousand a-Year’ paint a more negative picture. Dickens seems to have read Warren's fiction and non-fiction, and to have borrowed images and ideas. [ODNB].
In addition to Warren’s knowledge of the law, he was well versed on asylum and the welfare of the mentally ill, occupying the position of ‘Master in Lunacy’ from 1859 to 1877.
A fine and finely bound three volume set, the upper covers blocked in gilt with the crest, coat of arms and motto of ‘Tittlebat Titmouse Esq M.P. according to the description of Sir Gorgeous Tintack, Garter King at Arms.’ Volume I with sepia toned portrait frontispiece on vellum.
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Price HK$ 6,000
The Head of Kay’s -
P. G. Wodehouse
1905 - Adam & Charles Black, London - First Edition
An elegantly bound 120 year old first edition of Wodehouse’s sixth novel, featuring Eckleton boys school and encapsulating Wodehouse’s writing on boarding school life, the sports, camaraderie, Latin teachers, high jinks, and jolly good adventures. Illustrated with eight black and white plates by T.M.R. Whitwell. Housed in a bespoke blue cloth slipcase.
‘It is the general view at Eckleton school that there never was such a house of slackers as Kay's. Fenn, head of house and county cricketer, does his best to impose some discipline but is continually undermined by his house-master, the meddlesome and ineffectual Mr Kay. After the Summer Concert fiasco, Mr Kay resolves to remove Fenn from office and puts his house into special measures, co-opting Kennedy, second prefect of Blackburn's, as reluctant troubleshooter with a brief to turn the place around. But without the backing of Fenn, and the whole house hostile towards him, how can he achieve the impossible ...?’ [Penguin]
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Price HK$ 7,000
1905 - Adam & Charles Black, London - First Edition
An elegantly bound 120 year old first edition of Wodehouse’s sixth novel, featuring Eckleton boys school and encapsulating Wodehouse’s writing on boarding school life, the sports, camaraderie, Latin teachers, high jinks, and jolly good adventures. Illustrated with eight black and white plates by T.M.R. Whitwell. Housed in a bespoke blue cloth slipcase.‘It is the general view at Eckleton school that there never was such a house of slackers as Kay's. Fenn, head of house and county cricketer, does his best to impose some discipline but is continually undermined by his house-master, the meddlesome and ineffectual Mr Kay. After the Summer Concert fiasco, Mr Kay resolves to remove Fenn from office and puts his house into special measures, co-opting Kennedy, second prefect of Blackburn's, as reluctant troubleshooter with a brief to turn the place around. But without the backing of Fenn, and the whole house hostile towards him, how can he achieve the impossible ...?’ [Penguin]
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Price HK$ 7,000