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The Game Birds of India, Burmah, and Ceylon -
Allan Octavian Hume, Charles H. T. Marshall
1879-81 - Hume and Marshall, Calcutta - First Editions
A superb and thus rare example of this three volume work, in the original gilt decorated bindings, and containing the complete set of 144 colour plates. All three illustrated title pages are also present.
Hume, ‘the Father of Indian Ornithology’, put together this work using contributions and notes from a network of 200 or more correspondents. Hume delegated the task of getting the plates made to Marshall. The chromolithographs of the birds were drawn by W. Foster, E. Neale, (Miss) M. Herbert, Stanley Wilson and others and the plates were produced by F. Waller in London. Hume had sent specific notes on colours of soft parts and instructions to the artists. He was unsatisfied with many of the plates and included additional notes on the plates in the book. This book was started at the point when the government demoted Hume and only the need to finance the publication of this book prevented him from retiring from service. He had estimated that it would cost £4,000 to publish it and he retired from service on 1 January 1882 after the publication.
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Price HK$ 18,000
1879-81 - Hume and Marshall, Calcutta - First Editions
A superb and thus rare example of this three volume work, in the original gilt decorated bindings, and containing the complete set of 144 colour plates. All three illustrated title pages are also present.Hume, ‘the Father of Indian Ornithology’, put together this work using contributions and notes from a network of 200 or more correspondents. Hume delegated the task of getting the plates made to Marshall. The chromolithographs of the birds were drawn by W. Foster, E. Neale, (Miss) M. Herbert, Stanley Wilson and others and the plates were produced by F. Waller in London. Hume had sent specific notes on colours of soft parts and instructions to the artists. He was unsatisfied with many of the plates and included additional notes on the plates in the book. This book was started at the point when the government demoted Hume and only the need to finance the publication of this book prevented him from retiring from service. He had estimated that it would cost £4,000 to publish it and he retired from service on 1 January 1882 after the publication.
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Price HK$ 18,000
Bird Notes in Angus and in the Far North -
Douglas G. Hunter
1934 - By the Editor, Arbroath - First Edition
Edited by Rev. John Adams, B.D. Illustrated with many full page black and white plates, as well as in text drawings.
Inscribed by the daughter of Douglas G. Hunter. Nice bookplate.
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Price HK$ 1,200
1934 - By the Editor, Arbroath - First Edition
Edited by Rev. John Adams, B.D. Illustrated with many full page black and white plates, as well as in text drawings. Inscribed by the daughter of Douglas G. Hunter. Nice bookplate.
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Price HK$ 1,200
An Account of the Kingdom of Nepaul -
William J. Kirkpatrick
1811 - Printed for William Miller by Bulmer &, London - First Edition
A beautiful first edition of the first major work on Nepal in English, illustrated with a large engraved folding map and fourteen engraved plates, including the hand-coloured plate of a Nepal ‘Khalidge’ Pheasant.
At the request of the Nepalese, Kirkpatrick was sent by the British to mediate between the Chinese and the Nepalese when the former attacked across Tibet and lay at the outskirts of Kathmandu. Kirkpatrick, the British officers who accompanied him, and his fellow officials were the first British to set foot in the secluded valley of Nepal.
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Price HK$ 24,000
1811 - Printed for William Miller by Bulmer &, London - First Edition
A beautiful first edition of the first major work on Nepal in English, illustrated with a large engraved folding map and fourteen engraved plates, including the hand-coloured plate of a Nepal ‘Khalidge’ Pheasant.At the request of the Nepalese, Kirkpatrick was sent by the British to mediate between the Chinese and the Nepalese when the former attacked across Tibet and lay at the outskirts of Kathmandu. Kirkpatrick, the British officers who accompanied him, and his fellow officials were the first British to set foot in the secluded valley of Nepal.
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Price HK$ 24,000
Voyage dans les Mers de l'Inde -
Guillaume Joseph Le Gentil de la Galaisiere
1779 - Imprimerie Royale, Paris - First Editions
‘Two monumental volumes... crammed with details on astronomy, navigation, and natural history... His descriptions of life in Manila, Pondicherry, and Madagascar are invaluable’ (Dunmore).
A stunning set In contemporary bindings and illustrated with twenty seven folding copper engravings showing two world maps, maps charts and plans of Eastern and Western Philippines, Bay of Manila, Philippine Harbours, Manilla, Madagascar and it’s coastline, Isle de France (Mauritius), Isle de Bourbon (Réunion), Quartier S. Denis on Réunion, Eastern and Western Straits of Malacca, and Pondicherry. Together with engraved plates of animals and plant life, the ruins of Pondicherry, pagodas, Indian deities, and charts of comets and constellations.
‘In addition to the scientific details for which the voyage was undertaken, the first volume treats of the manners, customs, and religion or the people of the Malabar Coast and of the astronomy of the Brahmins. The second volume contains elaborate accounts of the Philippine Islands, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Bourbon and their inhabitants, including views and charts of the Philippines. Le Gentil gives details of the Islands, their climate, volcanoes, fertility, fruits, birds, animals, peoples, language, history, and description of Manila, the government, ecclesiastical and civil, commerce, &c.’ (Edwards).
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Price HK$ 51,000
1779 - Imprimerie Royale, Paris - First Editions
‘Two monumental volumes... crammed with details on astronomy, navigation, and natural history... His descriptions of life in Manila, Pondicherry, and Madagascar are invaluable’ (Dunmore). A stunning set In contemporary bindings and illustrated with twenty seven folding copper engravings showing two world maps, maps charts and plans of Eastern and Western Philippines, Bay of Manila, Philippine Harbours, Manilla, Madagascar and it’s coastline, Isle de France (Mauritius), Isle de Bourbon (Réunion), Quartier S. Denis on Réunion, Eastern and Western Straits of Malacca, and Pondicherry. Together with engraved plates of animals and plant life, the ruins of Pondicherry, pagodas, Indian deities, and charts of comets and constellations.
‘In addition to the scientific details for which the voyage was undertaken, the first volume treats of the manners, customs, and religion or the people of the Malabar Coast and of the astronomy of the Brahmins. The second volume contains elaborate accounts of the Philippine Islands, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Bourbon and their inhabitants, including views and charts of the Philippines. Le Gentil gives details of the Islands, their climate, volcanoes, fertility, fruits, birds, animals, peoples, language, history, and description of Manila, the government, ecclesiastical and civil, commerce, &c.’ (Edwards).
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Price HK$ 51,000
The Lorette System of Pruning -
Louis Lorette, W. R. Dykes (translator)
1925 - Martin Hopkinson &, London - First Edition in English
A rare first edition of this classic work which revolutionised the pruning of fruit trees, profusely illustrated throughout with a total of 129 photographs and diagrams. First published in French in 1914, and then into this First Edition in English in 1925.
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Price HK$ 2,200
1925 - Martin Hopkinson &, London - First Edition in English
A rare first edition of this classic work which revolutionised the pruning of fruit trees, profusely illustrated throughout with a total of 129 photographs and diagrams. First published in French in 1914, and then into this First Edition in English in 1925.
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Price HK$ 2,200
The Life of the Bee -
Maurice Maeterlinck, Edward J. Detmold (illustrator), Alfred Sutro (translator)
1912 - George Allen &, London - Early Illustrated Edition
A large and beautifully illustrated volume. With thirteen mounted coloured plates by Edward Julius Detmold, whose love of natural history and talent (exhibiting works at the Royal Academy when he was 13 years old), have combined perfectly with Maeterlinck’s exuberantly poetic work, in which he expresses his philosophy of the human condition.
The renowned Belgian poet and dramatist offers brilliant proof in this, his most popular work, that ‘no living creature, not even man, has achieved in the centre of his sphere, what the bee has achieved.’ From their amazingly intricate feats of architecture to their intrinsic sense of self-sacrifice, Maeterlinck takes a ‘bee's-eye view’ of the most orderly society on Earth.
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Price HK$ 4,500
1912 - George Allen &, London - Early Illustrated Edition
A large and beautifully illustrated volume. With thirteen mounted coloured plates by Edward Julius Detmold, whose love of natural history and talent (exhibiting works at the Royal Academy when he was 13 years old), have combined perfectly with Maeterlinck’s exuberantly poetic work, in which he expresses his philosophy of the human condition.The renowned Belgian poet and dramatist offers brilliant proof in this, his most popular work, that ‘no living creature, not even man, has achieved in the centre of his sphere, what the bee has achieved.’ From their amazingly intricate feats of architecture to their intrinsic sense of self-sacrifice, Maeterlinck takes a ‘bee's-eye view’ of the most orderly society on Earth.
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Price HK$ 4,500
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
A History of British Birds -
Rev. F. O. Morris
1870 - George Bell and Sons, London - Second Edition
An exceptional six volume set of this milestone in ornithological illustration containing 365 fine full page hand coloured plates, each one supported by a detailed description. The artwork is by A.F. and C. Lydon, plates engraved and printed by Benjamin Fawcett, arguably the most accomplished of nineteenth century woodblock colour printers.
The preferred second edition with the plates no longer featuring the background colour, in the original gilt pictorial bindings which are particularly bright.
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Price HK$ 12,000
1870 - George Bell and Sons, London - Second Edition
An exceptional six volume set of this milestone in ornithological illustration containing 365 fine full page hand coloured plates, each one supported by a detailed description. The artwork is by A.F. and C. Lydon, plates engraved and printed by Benjamin Fawcett, arguably the most accomplished of nineteenth century woodblock colour printers.The preferred second edition with the plates no longer featuring the background colour, in the original gilt pictorial bindings which are particularly bright.
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Price HK$ 12,000