Scottish and Irish Diaries: From the Sixteenth to the Nineteenth Century -
Baron Arthur Ponsonby
1927 - Methuen & Co. Ltd., London - First Edition
A finely bound work. In addition to notes and extracts for the major diarists, Ponsonby provides a detailed introduction, and notes on minor Scottish and Irish Diarists, chronological lists of both. Those he considers major diarists include Sir Walter Scott, Lord Cockburn, Jane Welsh Carlyle, Richard Boyle, John Wilson Crocker, Swift, Wolfe Tone, Daniel O'Connell, Tom Moore, and John Mitchel, among others.
Arthur Ponsonby, first Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede (1871-1946), was an English politician, writer and peace campaigner. He was born in Windsor Castle, the youngest son of Queen Victoria's private secretary. - Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
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Price HK$ 1,000
1927 - Methuen & Co. Ltd., London - First Edition
A finely bound work. In addition to notes and extracts for the major diarists, Ponsonby provides a detailed introduction, and notes on minor Scottish and Irish Diarists, chronological lists of both. Those he considers major diarists include Sir Walter Scott, Lord Cockburn, Jane Welsh Carlyle, Richard Boyle, John Wilson Crocker, Swift, Wolfe Tone, Daniel O'Connell, Tom Moore, and John Mitchel, among others.Arthur Ponsonby, first Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede (1871-1946), was an English politician, writer and peace campaigner. He was born in Windsor Castle, the youngest son of Queen Victoria's private secretary. - Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.
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Price HK$ 1,000
The Works of Alexander Pope - with a Memoir of the Author, Notes, and Critical Notices on each Poem, by the Rev, G. Croly, LL.D. -
Alexander Pope
1835 - A.J. Valpy, London - First Edition
In four small finely bound volumes, with engraved frontispiece and engraved title to each volume.
English essayist, critic, satirist, and one of the greatest poets of Enlightenment, also known for his translation of Homer. Alexander Pope [1688-1744] wrote his first verses at the age of 12. His breakthrough work, An Essay on Criticism appeared when he was twenty-three. It included the famous line ‘a little learning is a dangerous thing’. Pope's physical defects made him an easy target for heartless mockery, but he was also considered a leading literary critic and the epitome of English Neoclassicism. His translation of Homer is still considered
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Price HK$ 8,000
1835 - A.J. Valpy, London - First Edition
In four small finely bound volumes, with engraved frontispiece and engraved title to each volume.English essayist, critic, satirist, and one of the greatest poets of Enlightenment, also known for his translation of Homer. Alexander Pope [1688-1744] wrote his first verses at the age of 12. His breakthrough work, An Essay on Criticism appeared when he was twenty-three. It included the famous line ‘a little learning is a dangerous thing’. Pope's physical defects made him an easy target for heartless mockery, but he was also considered a leading literary critic and the epitome of English Neoclassicism. His translation of Homer is still considered
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Price HK$ 8,000
The Land of Enchantment -
Arthur Rackham, A. E. Bonser, B. Sidney Woolf, E. S. Buchheim
1907 - Cassell and Company, London - First Trade Edition
Uniquely and finely bound by Bayntun-Rivière in full brown morocco. Five stories magically illustrated throughout by Arthur Rackham. With coloured frontispiece, twelve full-page half-tone illustrations, and 24 in-text illustrations.
‘The stories and illustrations in this book originally appeared in "Little Folks" between 1896 and 1902’. The stories are: The Maker of Ghosts and the Maker of Shadows; The Mines of Experience; Harry and Herodotus; The Stories of Ben the Sailorman; and Stories from the Edda.
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Price HK$ 18,000
1907 - Cassell and Company, London - First Trade Edition
Uniquely and finely bound by Bayntun-Rivière in full brown morocco. Five stories magically illustrated throughout by Arthur Rackham. With coloured frontispiece, twelve full-page half-tone illustrations, and 24 in-text illustrations.‘The stories and illustrations in this book originally appeared in "Little Folks" between 1896 and 1902’. The stories are: The Maker of Ghosts and the Maker of Shadows; The Mines of Experience; Harry and Herodotus; The Stories of Ben the Sailorman; and Stories from the Edda.
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Price HK$ 18,000
Reminiscences of Scottish Life and Character -
Edward B. Ramsay
1871 - Edmonston and Douglas, Edinburgh - Twentieth Edition
A fine and magnificently bound edition. Important association copy, inscribed by Ramsay to Doctor Robert Carruthers of Inverness, with Ramsay’s hand written note going on to say that this ‘is the 20th edition and I suppose to be my last - the concluding part from page 316, on the subject of a “closer union amongst Christians is entirely new in the Edition’. Dr. Carruthers is also thanked by Ramsay in the introduction (see page X). This work actually went through a further two editions before Ramsay’s death in 1872.
First published in 1857, and extended throughout Ramsay’s life, it consists of his personal recollections, anecdotes and opinions. In addition to the entertaining preface, chapters cover Scottish Religious Feelings, Old Scottish Conviviality, The Old Scottish Domestic Servant, Humour Proceeding from Scottish Expressions Including Scottish Proverbs, and Scottish Stories of Wit and Humour.
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Price HK$ 5,500
1871 - Edmonston and Douglas, Edinburgh - Twentieth Edition
A fine and magnificently bound edition. Important association copy, inscribed by Ramsay to Doctor Robert Carruthers of Inverness, with Ramsay’s hand written note going on to say that this ‘is the 20th edition and I suppose to be my last - the concluding part from page 316, on the subject of a “closer union amongst Christians is entirely new in the Edition’. Dr. Carruthers is also thanked by Ramsay in the introduction (see page X). This work actually went through a further two editions before Ramsay’s death in 1872.First published in 1857, and extended throughout Ramsay’s life, it consists of his personal recollections, anecdotes and opinions. In addition to the entertaining preface, chapters cover Scottish Religious Feelings, Old Scottish Conviviality, The Old Scottish Domestic Servant, Humour Proceeding from Scottish Expressions Including Scottish Proverbs, and Scottish Stories of Wit and Humour.
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Price HK$ 5,500
Swallows & Amazons -
Arthur Ransome
1930 - Jonathan Cape, London - First Edition
Beautifully bound by Bayntun-Rivière.
‘I can see it being read aloud on a thousand sandy beaches and as a special treat in bed to inspire further ideas for the morrow's adventures. Mr. Ransome's delightful children show how easy it is with a touch of the right sort of imagination to capture all the thrills of "Treasure Island" and "Robinson Crusoe" without going further afield than the next cove. All you need is a boat, a parrot, a black spot, a sea-chest (preferably covered with foreign labels), molasses, a smattering of seamanship and nautical language, a thunderstorm, and an enemy. The enemy is most important. Mix these ingredients judiciously and you get as fine a setting for voyages of discovery as ever inspired a Jason or a Raleigh.’ - S.P.B. Mais, Daily Telegraph, August 1930.
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Price HK$ 17,000
1930 - Jonathan Cape, London - First Edition
Beautifully bound by Bayntun-Rivière.‘I can see it being read aloud on a thousand sandy beaches and as a special treat in bed to inspire further ideas for the morrow's adventures. Mr. Ransome's delightful children show how easy it is with a touch of the right sort of imagination to capture all the thrills of "Treasure Island" and "Robinson Crusoe" without going further afield than the next cove. All you need is a boat, a parrot, a black spot, a sea-chest (preferably covered with foreign labels), molasses, a smattering of seamanship and nautical language, a thunderstorm, and an enemy. The enemy is most important. Mix these ingredients judiciously and you get as fine a setting for voyages of discovery as ever inspired a Jason or a Raleigh.’ - S.P.B. Mais, Daily Telegraph, August 1930.
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Price HK$ 17,000
Social and Diplomatic Memories 1884-1893 -
Sir James Rennell Rodd G.C.B.
1922 - Edward Arnold & Co., London - Second Impression
The autobiography of 1st Bron Rennell (1858-1941), British diplomat, poet (Oscar Wilde assisted in publishing Rodd’s first book of poems), politician, and scholar of ancient Greece and Rome.
Covering the early years from his childhood, the ‘Balliol set’, and young Bohemian adulthood, to his first posting in Berlin from 1884 to 1888, where he became an intimate friend of the Empress Frederick, and recounts his memories of Bismark and other major figures during that tumultuous time, after this he moves on to Greece, Italy, France, and finally Zanzibar and East Africa at the end of the 19th century.
Finely bound and with a four page hand-written letter from his wife to an ‘unknown friend’, composed at the British Legation, Athens in February 1928.
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Price HK$ 2,000
1922 - Edward Arnold & Co., London - Second Impression
The autobiography of 1st Bron Rennell (1858-1941), British diplomat, poet (Oscar Wilde assisted in publishing Rodd’s first book of poems), politician, and scholar of ancient Greece and Rome.Covering the early years from his childhood, the ‘Balliol set’, and young Bohemian adulthood, to his first posting in Berlin from 1884 to 1888, where he became an intimate friend of the Empress Frederick, and recounts his memories of Bismark and other major figures during that tumultuous time, after this he moves on to Greece, Italy, France, and finally Zanzibar and East Africa at the end of the 19th century.
Finely bound and with a four page hand-written letter from his wife to an ‘unknown friend’, composed at the British Legation, Athens in February 1928.
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Price HK$ 2,000
Baronagium Genealogicum: or the Pedigrees of the English Peers -
Sir William Segar, Joseph Edmondson
1764-84 - Engraved and printed for the author, London - First Editions
The most beautifully illustrated and comprehensive record of 18th century Heraldry. A magnificent and extremely rare complete set of six large uncut folio volumes, with 658 copperplate engravings (104 of which are double page) many by the master engraver Francesco Bartolozzi a founder member of the Royal Academy. The plates consist of 279 coats-of-arms (3 double-page), 364 genealogical tables (101 double-page), six titles, six dedication pages, and three specific family dedication pages.
Ranked to begin with Royalty, this massive work took 20 years to produce, making it necessary to publish a supplement with new peerages. Provenance - Sir John Smith, Bart., F.R.S. of Sydling St.Nicholas, Dorset, whose initials JS are gilt-stamped to the morocco spine labels and engraved bookplates to the front pastedowns.
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Price HK$ 150,000
1764-84 - Engraved and printed for the author, London - First Editions
The most beautifully illustrated and comprehensive record of 18th century Heraldry. A magnificent and extremely rare complete set of six large uncut folio volumes, with 658 copperplate engravings (104 of which are double page) many by the master engraver Francesco Bartolozzi a founder member of the Royal Academy. The plates consist of 279 coats-of-arms (3 double-page), 364 genealogical tables (101 double-page), six titles, six dedication pages, and three specific family dedication pages.Ranked to begin with Royalty, this massive work took 20 years to produce, making it necessary to publish a supplement with new peerages. Provenance - Sir John Smith, Bart., F.R.S. of Sydling St.Nicholas, Dorset, whose initials JS are gilt-stamped to the morocco spine labels and engraved bookplates to the front pastedowns.
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Price HK$ 150,000
The Plays. From the corrected text of Johnson and Steevens. Embellished with plates -
William Shakespeare
1807 - John Stockdale, London - First Heath Edition
Magnificent large quarto six volume set of Shakespeare’s plays, with 22 copperplates engraved by James Heath after Thomas Stothard, William Hamilton and Henry Fuseli.
James Heath (1757–1834) was the London-born son of a bookbinder. The family originated in Nottingham where James Heath’s grandfather Joseph Heath was a bookseller and writing-master. James was apprenticed to the engraver Joseph Collyer the younger in 1771 and became established as one of the leading line engravers of his time. His first major success was in engraving plates for Bell’s edition of The Poets of Great Britain. He was employed by the Robinson family of booksellers from 1779 to 1804. He became one of the most widely-employed engravers of the age, producing illustrations for many celebrated works including Lavater’s Essays on Physiognomy; Vancouver’s A voyage of discovery to the north Pacific Ocean, and round the world; Bruce’s Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile; and the frontispiece portrait to Boswell’s Life of Johnson. He engraved some plates for Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery, and in 1807 published this six-volume set of Shakespeare illustrated with engravings after works by Stothard and Henry Fuseli on his own account, a substantial demonstration of his huge popularity.
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Price HK$ 35,000
1807 - John Stockdale, London - First Heath Edition
Magnificent large quarto six volume set of Shakespeare’s plays, with 22 copperplates engraved by James Heath after Thomas Stothard, William Hamilton and Henry Fuseli.James Heath (1757–1834) was the London-born son of a bookbinder. The family originated in Nottingham where James Heath’s grandfather Joseph Heath was a bookseller and writing-master. James was apprenticed to the engraver Joseph Collyer the younger in 1771 and became established as one of the leading line engravers of his time. His first major success was in engraving plates for Bell’s edition of The Poets of Great Britain. He was employed by the Robinson family of booksellers from 1779 to 1804. He became one of the most widely-employed engravers of the age, producing illustrations for many celebrated works including Lavater’s Essays on Physiognomy; Vancouver’s A voyage of discovery to the north Pacific Ocean, and round the world; Bruce’s Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile; and the frontispiece portrait to Boswell’s Life of Johnson. He engraved some plates for Boydell’s Shakespeare Gallery, and in 1807 published this six-volume set of Shakespeare illustrated with engravings after works by Stothard and Henry Fuseli on his own account, a substantial demonstration of his huge popularity.
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Price HK$ 35,000