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Billiards -
Major William Broadfoot, A. H. Boyd, Sydenham Dixon, W. J. Ford, Dudley D. Pontifex, Russell D Walker, & Reginald
1896 - Longmans, London and Bombay - Number 193 of 250 Large Paper Deluxe Edition
A handsome and thus rare first edition of this large and comprehensive work, an informative history and guide to the game of billiards. One of only 250 numbered large paper copies in the publisher’s deluxe binding.
Illustrated with eleven full page black and white plates by artist Lucien Davies, and numerous drawings and diagrams throughout the text.
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Price HK$ 2,800
1896 - Longmans, London and Bombay - Number 193 of 250 Large Paper Deluxe Edition
A handsome and thus rare first edition of this large and comprehensive work, an informative history and guide to the game of billiards. One of only 250 numbered large paper copies in the publisher’s deluxe binding.Illustrated with eleven full page black and white plates by artist Lucien Davies, and numerous drawings and diagrams throughout the text.
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Price HK$ 2,800
Velocipedes, Bicycles and Tricycles -
Tom Burgess
May 1869 - George Routledge and Sons, London - First Edition
First edition of one of the first books in English to be dedicated to the bicycle, with thirty six charming woodcut illustrations.
‘Whether velocipedes are only the 'toy of the hour,' or are destined to become a permanent adjunct to our civilization and every-day life or not, no one can doubt their extending popularity’.
‘A treasure trove of information with illustrations from the early inventions in 1819, right through to the so-called French, Parisian and American models available at the time. A summary of the scene in 1869 includes a report that the 52 miles from London to Brighton had been covered in 7½ hours on a bicycle, shaving two hours of the previous fastest time.’ – Pelotome.
Chapters include ‘Advantages of Velocipedes’, ‘Velocipedes of the Past’, ‘Velocipedes of the Day’, ‘Art of Velocipede Management’, ‘How to Manage a Bicycle’, ‘How to Construct a Bicycle’, ‘Velocipedum Variorium’ and ‘Progress of the Velocipede’.
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Price HK$ 2,500
May 1869 - George Routledge and Sons, London - First Edition
First edition of one of the first books in English to be dedicated to the bicycle, with thirty six charming woodcut illustrations.‘Whether velocipedes are only the 'toy of the hour,' or are destined to become a permanent adjunct to our civilization and every-day life or not, no one can doubt their extending popularity’.
‘A treasure trove of information with illustrations from the early inventions in 1819, right through to the so-called French, Parisian and American models available at the time. A summary of the scene in 1869 includes a report that the 52 miles from London to Brighton had been covered in 7½ hours on a bicycle, shaving two hours of the previous fastest time.’ – Pelotome.
Chapters include ‘Advantages of Velocipedes’, ‘Velocipedes of the Past’, ‘Velocipedes of the Day’, ‘Art of Velocipede Management’, ‘How to Manage a Bicycle’, ‘How to Construct a Bicycle’, ‘Velocipedum Variorium’ and ‘Progress of the Velocipede’.
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Price HK$ 2,500
The Borders and Beyond -
Abel Chapman
1924 - Gurney and Jackson, London - First Edition
A bright copy of this informative work of field exploration and natural history in Northumberland and the Anglo-Scottish borderlands.
Hunter-naturalist Chapman includes chapters on the British red grouse, the wildfowl of the north east coast, a search for the ‘moorland nymph’, salmonology, seagulls, woodcocks and herons, ravens, and the otter, together with a commentary on ‘modern zoology’, and extensive particulars on the migrations and plumage-phases in certain waders, to which he gave the name ‘Globe-Spanners’.
Profusely illustrated throughout with seventeen wonderful colour illustrations (on fourteen plates) by W.H. Riddell, twenty one black and white plates, two folding maps, and 170 sketches by the author.
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Price HK$ 1,000
1924 - Gurney and Jackson, London - First Edition
A bright copy of this informative work of field exploration and natural history in Northumberland and the Anglo-Scottish borderlands. Hunter-naturalist Chapman includes chapters on the British red grouse, the wildfowl of the north east coast, a search for the ‘moorland nymph’, salmonology, seagulls, woodcocks and herons, ravens, and the otter, together with a commentary on ‘modern zoology’, and extensive particulars on the migrations and plumage-phases in certain waders, to which he gave the name ‘Globe-Spanners’.
Profusely illustrated throughout with seventeen wonderful colour illustrations (on fourteen plates) by W.H. Riddell, twenty one black and white plates, two folding maps, and 170 sketches by the author.
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Price HK$ 1,000
The Riddle of the Sands -
Erskine Childers
1903 - Smith, London - First Edition, First Impression
A crisp, clean and rare first edition, finely bound.
Written after Childers, an accomplished yachtsman, returned injured from action in South Africa. Highlighting the encroaching conflict with Germany, the novel was highly influential and is actually credited with the founding of British naval bases at Invergordon and Scapa Flow; newly regarded as strategically important after examination of the scenarios in Childers' text. Winston Churchill later gave the book the credit for persuading public opinion to fund vital measures against the German naval threat.
Contentiously described as the first modern spy thriller, vying for the title with Kipling's 'Kim', published two years earlier.
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Price HK$ 21,000
1903 - Smith, London - First Edition, First Impression
A crisp, clean and rare first edition, finely bound.Written after Childers, an accomplished yachtsman, returned injured from action in South Africa. Highlighting the encroaching conflict with Germany, the novel was highly influential and is actually credited with the founding of British naval bases at Invergordon and Scapa Flow; newly regarded as strategically important after examination of the scenarios in Childers' text. Winston Churchill later gave the book the credit for persuading public opinion to fund vital measures against the German naval threat.
Contentiously described as the first modern spy thriller, vying for the title with Kipling's 'Kim', published two years earlier.
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Price HK$ 21,000
Architectura Navalis - bound with - Architectura Civilis, Nova & Antiqua -
Josephum Furttenbach, Georg Andreas Böckler [Boeckler]
1629 - Johan Saurn, Ulm - First Editions
A stunning, clean and complete copy of Joseph Furttenbach’s famous treaty on shipbuilding, Architectura Navalis with double-page engraved title, title in red and black, twenty stunning double-page engraved plates showing boat design, and various types of boats many engaged in action with other boats and monsters of the sea. Furttenbach was a highly influential German architect, who attempted to cover all fields of architecture in his writings. Böckler corresponded with Furttenbach and his works on architecture were intended to contribute to the rebuilding of Germany after the devastation of the Thirty Years War, his Architectura Civilis, Nova & Antiqua presents a comparative treatment of the Orders [Architectural Styles] and is illustrated with forty engraved plates, woodcut printer’s device and red and black text to title page, woodcut head pieces, and initials.
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Price HK$ 95,000
1629 - Johan Saurn, Ulm - First Editions
A stunning, clean and complete copy of Joseph Furttenbach’s famous treaty on shipbuilding, Architectura Navalis with double-page engraved title, title in red and black, twenty stunning double-page engraved plates showing boat design, and various types of boats many engaged in action with other boats and monsters of the sea. Furttenbach was a highly influential German architect, who attempted to cover all fields of architecture in his writings. Böckler corresponded with Furttenbach and his works on architecture were intended to contribute to the rebuilding of Germany after the devastation of the Thirty Years War, his Architectura Civilis, Nova & Antiqua presents a comparative treatment of the Orders [Architectural Styles] and is illustrated with forty engraved plates, woodcut printer’s device and red and black text to title page, woodcut head pieces, and initials.
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Price HK$ 95,000
The Herball or Generall Historie of Plantes -
John Gerarde, Thomas Johnson
1633 - Printed by: Adam Islip, London - Second Edition, Enlarged and Amended
A superb and rare complete folio of Gerarde’s monumental work on the history of plants, the most circulated and influential botanical work of the 17th century. This is the first edition to be enlarged by Thomas Johnson.
Describing over 2,800 of plants, and profusely illustrated with engraved title page by John Payne and a new set of 2,766 woodblock illustrations by Plantin, which were commissioned for this new edition. Thomas Johnson added several hundred new plants to this enlarged and amended edition which he significantly revised and edited, correcting many errors in the original text by Gerarde of whom he notes that ‘Our author here (as in many other places) knit knots somewhat intricate to loose.’ [1114]. Passages which Johnson substantially emended were marked with a dagger, and completely new ones with a double cross. Contributions by his friends John Parkinson, George Bowles, John Goodyear, and others are acknowledged by name. Many of the additions are based on Johnson’s own journeys. Another excellent addition by Johnson to Gerarde is a survey of the history of botany, the first such in English.
See page 1617 for two tups of ginger, which Johnson calls ‘True China’ and ‘Bastard China’ with details of how the Portuguese brought it back to Europe.
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Price HK$ 40,000
1633 - Printed by: Adam Islip, London - Second Edition, Enlarged and Amended
A superb and rare complete folio of Gerarde’s monumental work on the history of plants, the most circulated and influential botanical work of the 17th century. This is the first edition to be enlarged by Thomas Johnson.Describing over 2,800 of plants, and profusely illustrated with engraved title page by John Payne and a new set of 2,766 woodblock illustrations by Plantin, which were commissioned for this new edition. Thomas Johnson added several hundred new plants to this enlarged and amended edition which he significantly revised and edited, correcting many errors in the original text by Gerarde of whom he notes that ‘Our author here (as in many other places) knit knots somewhat intricate to loose.’ [1114]. Passages which Johnson substantially emended were marked with a dagger, and completely new ones with a double cross. Contributions by his friends John Parkinson, George Bowles, John Goodyear, and others are acknowledged by name. Many of the additions are based on Johnson’s own journeys. Another excellent addition by Johnson to Gerarde is a survey of the history of botany, the first such in English.
See page 1617 for two tups of ginger, which Johnson calls ‘True China’ and ‘Bastard China’ with details of how the Portuguese brought it back to Europe.
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Price HK$ 40,000
Athletics. With Illustrations -
H. Hewitt Griffin, London Athletic Club, Ranelagh Harriers, A.A.A.
1891 - George Bell & Sons, London - First Edition
A stunning bright first edition of this rare work.
‘We live in an Athletic age, and the man who is not an athlete in some shape or form is pretty sure to be not only written down as a nincompoop, but to prove himself one, even in the more serious battle of life; for, unless a man has the pluck and determination to succeed in whatever branch of sport he adopts, he is not likely to win his way to fame and fortune in whatever occupation or profession may fall to his lot in his buffet with the world’ – H. Hewitt Griffin (introduction).
With contributions by E.H. Pelling (Sprinting); H.C.L. Tindall (Quarter and Half Miles), J.L. Grieg (Long Jump); T. Jennings (High Jump); C.F. Daft (Hurdles or ‘Topping the Timber’); J. Kibblewhite (Mile and Distance Running); Tom Ray (Pole Jump); Sid Thomas (Cross Country); and Rev.W. Pollock-Hill (Middle Distances).
Seventeen illustrations and full page plates including plans of sports grounds and fields; A Chronograph for Timing; photographs of events and sketches of athletes in action, and wonderfully illustrated period advertisements to the front and rear.
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Price HK$ 2,000
1891 - George Bell & Sons, London - First Edition
A stunning bright first edition of this rare work.‘We live in an Athletic age, and the man who is not an athlete in some shape or form is pretty sure to be not only written down as a nincompoop, but to prove himself one, even in the more serious battle of life; for, unless a man has the pluck and determination to succeed in whatever branch of sport he adopts, he is not likely to win his way to fame and fortune in whatever occupation or profession may fall to his lot in his buffet with the world’ – H. Hewitt Griffin (introduction).
With contributions by E.H. Pelling (Sprinting); H.C.L. Tindall (Quarter and Half Miles), J.L. Grieg (Long Jump); T. Jennings (High Jump); C.F. Daft (Hurdles or ‘Topping the Timber’); J. Kibblewhite (Mile and Distance Running); Tom Ray (Pole Jump); Sid Thomas (Cross Country); and Rev.W. Pollock-Hill (Middle Distances).
Seventeen illustrations and full page plates including plans of sports grounds and fields; A Chronograph for Timing; photographs of events and sketches of athletes in action, and wonderfully illustrated period advertisements to the front and rear.
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Price HK$ 2,000
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