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Whisky - Signed -
Aeneas MacDonald (pseud. George Malcolm Thomson)
1930 - Henry &, Garden City - First American Edition. Copy number 66 from a limitation of 307, 7 of which are issued &lsquo
Signed by Christopher Morley (literary adviser) and the publishers Frank Henry and Dan Longwell. The Aeneas MacDonald signature is unlikely to be that of George Malcolm ‘Aeneas MacDonald’ Thomson, which was kindly pointed out to us by Ian Buxton (101 Legendary Whiskies, etc.), Thomson was not in the states at the time and it is signed ‘McDonald’ instead of ‘MacDonald’, hardly a schoolboy error for a Scotsman, even if it was his pseudonym...
This beautiful limited and privately printed ‘Briefcase Breviary’ was published before the full book in the United States and the same year as the Edinburgh edition, as a sort of ‘advance review’. In it is Aeneas MacDonald’s stand alone piece - ‘The Nature of Whisky’ which was incorporated into the later book as the first chapter.
Per the colophon, ‘This is an advance publication for a few connoisseurs of the first chapter of Aeneas MacDonald's wise and witty little treatise on Whisky... The printers have adhered to the Scottish spelling of 'Whisky'...’
MacDonald's ‘Whisky’ is today regarded as perhaps the earliest modern book on whisky and certainly the first to treat the subject from the point of view of the drinker. It provides a passionate and energetic defence of the interests of the consumer against the producers and, well ahead of its time, promotes single malt whisky over blends.
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Price HK$ 5,200
1930 - Henry &, Garden City - First American Edition. Copy number 66 from a limitation of 307, 7 of which are issued &lsquo
Signed by Christopher Morley (literary adviser) and the publishers Frank Henry and Dan Longwell. The Aeneas MacDonald signature is unlikely to be that of George Malcolm ‘Aeneas MacDonald’ Thomson, which was kindly pointed out to us by Ian Buxton (101 Legendary Whiskies, etc.), Thomson was not in the states at the time and it is signed ‘McDonald’ instead of ‘MacDonald’, hardly a schoolboy error for a Scotsman, even if it was his pseudonym...This beautiful limited and privately printed ‘Briefcase Breviary’ was published before the full book in the United States and the same year as the Edinburgh edition, as a sort of ‘advance review’. In it is Aeneas MacDonald’s stand alone piece - ‘The Nature of Whisky’ which was incorporated into the later book as the first chapter.
Per the colophon, ‘This is an advance publication for a few connoisseurs of the first chapter of Aeneas MacDonald's wise and witty little treatise on Whisky... The printers have adhered to the Scottish spelling of 'Whisky'...’
MacDonald's ‘Whisky’ is today regarded as perhaps the earliest modern book on whisky and certainly the first to treat the subject from the point of view of the drinker. It provides a passionate and energetic defence of the interests of the consumer against the producers and, well ahead of its time, promotes single malt whisky over blends.
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Price HK$ 5,200
The Lady's Assistant for Regulating and Supplying her Table, Being a Complete System of Cookery -
Charlotte Mason
1777 - J. Walter, London - Third Edition
A particularly clean copy of this important but much neglected eighteenth century cookery book. Unusually, the table settings show layouts for more ordinary households as well as affluent ones, and the recipes follow this pattern. Scarce in any early editions.
‘Mrs Mason's lucidly composed English makes her delightful recipes as easy to follow today as they were in the eighteenth century, enabling the adventurous modern cook to re-create the extraordinary food of the Age of George III without a great deal of difficulty. Her fascinating bills of fare are invaluable to historians of food and dining for the insight they afford into the mores of Georgian table service.'
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Price HK$ 8,000
1777 - J. Walter, London - Third Edition
A particularly clean copy of this important but much neglected eighteenth century cookery book. Unusually, the table settings show layouts for more ordinary households as well as affluent ones, and the recipes follow this pattern. Scarce in any early editions.‘Mrs Mason's lucidly composed English makes her delightful recipes as easy to follow today as they were in the eighteenth century, enabling the adventurous modern cook to re-create the extraordinary food of the Age of George III without a great deal of difficulty. Her fascinating bills of fare are invaluable to historians of food and dining for the insight they afford into the mores of Georgian table service.'
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Price HK$ 8,000
Love Night, A Laotian Gallantry -
Powys Mathers, John Buckland Wright (engraver)
1936 - The Golden Cockerel Press, London - First Edition - Number 112 of 195 copies.
Number 112 of 120 copies on English vellum-paper, out of a total printing of 200. Exquisitely illustrated with fifteen wood engravings, consisting of ten full page engravings, four half page engravings, and the illustrated title page. In the publisher’s fine binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe.
Powys Mathers’ play about a festival night in a Laotian village. John Buckland Wright’s first work for the Golden Cockerel Press.
Although less explicit than the Paris based John Buckland Wright would have liked, ‘when ‘Love Night’ appeared in Autumn of 1936, it was warm, but not too warm. The production was superbly successful. Printed on a smooth-surfaced Japon vellum, the presswork was immaculate, and the book’s effect was what both publisher’ and artist had hoped for.’ [Cave & Manson].
Powys Mathers’ ‘Love Nights’ was considered for publication in 1934, but postponed because the partners wished to find the right illustrator, two years later it became John Buckland Wright’s first commission for the press.
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Price HK$ 8,000
1936 - The Golden Cockerel Press, London - First Edition - Number 112 of 195 copies.
Number 112 of 120 copies on English vellum-paper, out of a total printing of 200. Exquisitely illustrated with fifteen wood engravings, consisting of ten full page engravings, four half page engravings, and the illustrated title page. In the publisher’s fine binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe.Powys Mathers’ play about a festival night in a Laotian village. John Buckland Wright’s first work for the Golden Cockerel Press.
Although less explicit than the Paris based John Buckland Wright would have liked, ‘when ‘Love Night’ appeared in Autumn of 1936, it was warm, but not too warm. The production was superbly successful. Printed on a smooth-surfaced Japon vellum, the presswork was immaculate, and the book’s effect was what both publisher’ and artist had hoped for.’ [Cave & Manson].
Powys Mathers’ ‘Love Nights’ was considered for publication in 1934, but postponed because the partners wished to find the right illustrator, two years later it became John Buckland Wright’s first commission for the press.
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Price HK$ 8,000
Traite Theorique et Pratique du Travail des Vins. Leurs proprietes, leur fabrication, leurs maladies. Fabrication des Vins Mousseux -
Edme-Jules Maumene
1874 - G. Masson, Paris - Deuxieme Edition, Entierement Refondue.
An influential and fundamental work in the history of Champagne production, with text in French, by a pioneering industry chemist and Professor at Reims. In addition to the production of sparkling wines, and a lengthy study on the affects of sugar, this work deals with the properties of wine, manufacture, and their diseases. Also included are descriptions of the efforts made by other chemists, and a bibliography. This work appeared for the first time in 1858 under the title ‘Indications Théoriques et Pratiques sur le Travail des Vins’.
An internally fine unopened and uncut copy with illustrations and tables throughout.
Maumene was intrigued by the large number of exploding bottles, a problem that in some years affected over 60% of bottles in the mid-nineteenth century as Champagne houses battled to produce sufficient mousse to produce a good champagne. It had been supposed that the excess CO2 produced by the addition of too much sugar was the culprit, however Maumene, evaluating this ‘mousse-power’ by measuring the pressure of the CO2 inside the bottle, discovered that different wines produced different amounts of CO2 despite having the same amounts of sugar added.
Building on this work, by the end of the 19th century, Emile Manceau of Moet et Chandon, successfully reduced the breakage of 8-10 percent to 1 percent, and produced some pretty good Champagne to boot.
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Price HK$ 3,500
1874 - G. Masson, Paris - Deuxieme Edition, Entierement Refondue.
An influential and fundamental work in the history of Champagne production, with text in French, by a pioneering industry chemist and Professor at Reims. In addition to the production of sparkling wines, and a lengthy study on the affects of sugar, this work deals with the properties of wine, manufacture, and their diseases. Also included are descriptions of the efforts made by other chemists, and a bibliography. This work appeared for the first time in 1858 under the title ‘Indications Théoriques et Pratiques sur le Travail des Vins’.An internally fine unopened and uncut copy with illustrations and tables throughout.
Maumene was intrigued by the large number of exploding bottles, a problem that in some years affected over 60% of bottles in the mid-nineteenth century as Champagne houses battled to produce sufficient mousse to produce a good champagne. It had been supposed that the excess CO2 produced by the addition of too much sugar was the culprit, however Maumene, evaluating this ‘mousse-power’ by measuring the pressure of the CO2 inside the bottle, discovered that different wines produced different amounts of CO2 despite having the same amounts of sugar added.
Building on this work, by the end of the 19th century, Emile Manceau of Moet et Chandon, successfully reduced the breakage of 8-10 percent to 1 percent, and produced some pretty good Champagne to boot.
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Price HK$ 3,500
What Shall I Wear? The What, Where, When and How Much of Fashion -
Claire McCardell, Annabrita (illustrator)
1956 - Simon and Schuster, New York - First Edition, Second Printing
A lovely copy with wonderfully 1950’s illustrations and line-drawings throughout by Annabrita, and a fold-out glossary of “McCardellisms”.
“Don’t try to live up to Fashion. First of all, stay firmly you. And if Fashion seems to be saying something that isn’t right for you, ignore it.”
The revolutionary fashion designer credited with originating "The American Look," Claire McCardell designed for the emerging active lifestyle of women in the 1940s and '50s. She was the originator of mix-and-match separates, open-backed sundresses, and feminine denim fashion; she started the trend for ballet flats as a wartime leather-rationing measure. Spaghetti straps, brass hooks and eyes as fasteners, rivets, menswear details and fabrics: they were all started by McCardell. Her Monastic and Pop-over dresses achieved cult status, and her fashions were taken up by working women, the suburban set, and high society alike.
‘What Shall I Wear?’ is a distillation of McCardell's democratic fashion philosophy and a chattily vivacious guide to looking effortlessly stylish. Mostly eschewing Paris, although she studied there and was influenced by Vionnet and Madame Gres, McCardell preferred an unadorned aesthetic; modern and minimalist, elegant and relaxed, even for evening, with wool jersey and tweed among her favorite fabrics. [From a later edition].
“Fashion does not demand a submissive spirit—in fact it asks for a certain independence…The more of yourself in your clothes the better. Your imagination, your thought, your time, your energy.”
Claire McCardell (1905-58) pioneered a style of clothing both casual and chic. In 1990, Life magazine named her one of the 100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century. She attended Parsons, learning to construct clothing by taking apart Vionnet samples. As head designer of Townley Frocks, she was one of the first American designers to have name recognition, as the company began to sell its fashions branded as “Claire McCardell Clothes by Townley.” Her work is in museums across the country and has been the subject of retrospectives at the Smithsonian and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
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Price HK$ 1,400
1956 - Simon and Schuster, New York - First Edition, Second Printing
A lovely copy with wonderfully 1950’s illustrations and line-drawings throughout by Annabrita, and a fold-out glossary of “McCardellisms”.“Don’t try to live up to Fashion. First of all, stay firmly you. And if Fashion seems to be saying something that isn’t right for you, ignore it.”
The revolutionary fashion designer credited with originating "The American Look," Claire McCardell designed for the emerging active lifestyle of women in the 1940s and '50s. She was the originator of mix-and-match separates, open-backed sundresses, and feminine denim fashion; she started the trend for ballet flats as a wartime leather-rationing measure. Spaghetti straps, brass hooks and eyes as fasteners, rivets, menswear details and fabrics: they were all started by McCardell. Her Monastic and Pop-over dresses achieved cult status, and her fashions were taken up by working women, the suburban set, and high society alike.
‘What Shall I Wear?’ is a distillation of McCardell's democratic fashion philosophy and a chattily vivacious guide to looking effortlessly stylish. Mostly eschewing Paris, although she studied there and was influenced by Vionnet and Madame Gres, McCardell preferred an unadorned aesthetic; modern and minimalist, elegant and relaxed, even for evening, with wool jersey and tweed among her favorite fabrics. [From a later edition].
“Fashion does not demand a submissive spirit—in fact it asks for a certain independence…The more of yourself in your clothes the better. Your imagination, your thought, your time, your energy.”
Claire McCardell (1905-58) pioneered a style of clothing both casual and chic. In 1990, Life magazine named her one of the 100 Most Important Americans of the 20th Century. She attended Parsons, learning to construct clothing by taking apart Vionnet samples. As head designer of Townley Frocks, she was one of the first American designers to have name recognition, as the company began to sell its fashions branded as “Claire McCardell Clothes by Townley.” Her work is in museums across the country and has been the subject of retrospectives at the Smithsonian and the Fashion Institute of Technology.
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Price HK$ 1,400
Haraszthy at the Mint - Famous Californian Trials, Volume 10 -
Brian McGinty
1975 - Printed by Richard J. Hoffman, Los Angeles - First Edition, limited to 300 copies
Agoston Haraszthy, the ‘father of Californian wine’, best known for his pioneering work in the vineyards of Sonoma, was indicted in 1857 for alleged embezzlement of gold from the San Francisco Mint. He was acquitted of all charges after a four year trial. This is the story of this early adventure in Haraszthy’s colourful and fascinating life.
One of only 300 copies printed, a lovely private press presentation with ten illustrations, and the original advertisement/flier loosely inserted.
‘Decorated initials went out of fashion in the late 18th century as book design became more austere. They returned in modern times with the fine printing renaissance. Brian McGinty’s Haraszthy at the Mint (Los Angeles: Dawson’s Book Shop, 1975), also from the “Law Books Bright and Beautiful” exhibit, is an example.’ – Yale Law School, Lillian Goldman Law Library.
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Price HK$ 2,000
1975 - Printed by Richard J. Hoffman, Los Angeles - First Edition, limited to 300 copies
Agoston Haraszthy, the ‘father of Californian wine’, best known for his pioneering work in the vineyards of Sonoma, was indicted in 1857 for alleged embezzlement of gold from the San Francisco Mint. He was acquitted of all charges after a four year trial. This is the story of this early adventure in Haraszthy’s colourful and fascinating life.One of only 300 copies printed, a lovely private press presentation with ten illustrations, and the original advertisement/flier loosely inserted.
‘Decorated initials went out of fashion in the late 18th century as book design became more austere. They returned in modern times with the fine printing renaissance. Brian McGinty’s Haraszthy at the Mint (Los Angeles: Dawson’s Book Shop, 1975), also from the “Law Books Bright and Beautiful” exhibit, is an example.’ – Yale Law School, Lillian Goldman Law Library.
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Price HK$ 2,000
A Series of Picturesque Views of Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland with Descriptive and Historical Letterpress. -
The Rev. F. O. Morris (editor)
Circa 1890 - William Mackenzie, London - First Edition
Exquisitely illustrated six large quarto volumes in publishers ornately gilt decorated bindings.
Containing 240 beautiful full page colour chromolithograph plates of country houses printed by Benjamin Fawcett from coloured wood blocks from drawings by Alexander Lydon.
Each illustration is accompanied by a fascinating description and history of the house and its owners.
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Price HK$ 9,000
Circa 1890 - William Mackenzie, London - First Edition
Exquisitely illustrated six large quarto volumes in publishers ornately gilt decorated bindings.Containing 240 beautiful full page colour chromolithograph plates of country houses printed by Benjamin Fawcett from coloured wood blocks from drawings by Alexander Lydon.
Each illustration is accompanied by a fascinating description and history of the house and its owners.
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Price HK$ 9,000
A Treatise of Gauging: Or, the Modern Practical Gauger. Illustrated with necessary Examples -
Thomas Moss
1779 - Printed for G. Robinson, London - The Third Edition, Greatly Enlarged and Improved by the Author
Illustrated with large folding plate to the rear, and numerous in-text diagrams and tables. All editions of this work are scarce.
The complexities of measuring the amount of a liquid when in a cask led to many advancements in practical mathematics including the use of the slide-rule.
Obviously without accurate measurements an excise officer would have found life rather difficult having to rely on the distilleries creative measurements...
A "gauger" was an officer whose business it was to ascertain the contents of casks, mainly to assist in the prevention of illicit shipments of alcohol. In so doing it was necessary to apply and in some cases adapt mathematical formulae which were considered extremely advanced at the time.
Thomas Moss, an exciseman and gauger, was also a well known mathematician, publishing the ‘Mathematical Magazine’ together with George Witchell (1738-85), and being referenced for his clear and concise early descriptions of a number of geometrical properties.
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Price HK$ 4,000
1779 - Printed for G. Robinson, London - The Third Edition, Greatly Enlarged and Improved by the Author
Illustrated with large folding plate to the rear, and numerous in-text diagrams and tables. All editions of this work are scarce.The complexities of measuring the amount of a liquid when in a cask led to many advancements in practical mathematics including the use of the slide-rule.
Obviously without accurate measurements an excise officer would have found life rather difficult having to rely on the distilleries creative measurements...
A "gauger" was an officer whose business it was to ascertain the contents of casks, mainly to assist in the prevention of illicit shipments of alcohol. In so doing it was necessary to apply and in some cases adapt mathematical formulae which were considered extremely advanced at the time.
Thomas Moss, an exciseman and gauger, was also a well known mathematician, publishing the ‘Mathematical Magazine’ together with George Witchell (1738-85), and being referenced for his clear and concise early descriptions of a number of geometrical properties.
More details
Price HK$ 4,000