The Book of Were-Wolves: Being an Account of a Terrible Superstition -
Sabine Baring-Gould
1865 - Smith, London - First Edition
Nearly as rare as it’s subjects, a superb first edition of the foundation work on shape-shifting, were-wolves, and the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s descriptions of Count Dracula’s wolfish appearance. In original bright pictorial gilt cloth, were-wolf to the front and the dark frontispiece of The Were-Wolves and their prey. Suitably housed in a blood red morocco leather clamshell case, lined with felt, and lettered in gilt.
‘The Book of Were-Wolves takes a rationalistic approach to the subject, the first ten chapters of this book constitute an essential work on the subject; however, starting with Chapter XI, the narrative takes a strange turn into sensationalistic 'true crime' case-studies of cannibals, grave desecrators, and blood fetishists, which have a tenuous connection with lycanthropy. This includes an extended treatment of the case of Giles de Rais, the notorious associate of Joan of Arc, who was convicted and executed for necrosadistic crimes.’
The author, eclectic British scholar, vicar, archaeologist, historian, Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) inspired My Fair Lady, and wrote the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers.
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Price HK$ 46,000
1865 - Smith, London - First Edition
Nearly as rare as it’s subjects, a superb first edition of the foundation work on shape-shifting, were-wolves, and the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s descriptions of Count Dracula’s wolfish appearance. In original bright pictorial gilt cloth, were-wolf to the front and the dark frontispiece of The Were-Wolves and their prey. Suitably housed in a blood red morocco leather clamshell case, lined with felt, and lettered in gilt.‘The Book of Were-Wolves takes a rationalistic approach to the subject, the first ten chapters of this book constitute an essential work on the subject; however, starting with Chapter XI, the narrative takes a strange turn into sensationalistic 'true crime' case-studies of cannibals, grave desecrators, and blood fetishists, which have a tenuous connection with lycanthropy. This includes an extended treatment of the case of Giles de Rais, the notorious associate of Joan of Arc, who was convicted and executed for necrosadistic crimes.’
The author, eclectic British scholar, vicar, archaeologist, historian, Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924) inspired My Fair Lady, and wrote the hymn Onward Christian Soldiers.
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Price HK$ 46,000
An Historical, Physiological and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts, and other Magical Practices -
Jonh (John) Beaumont, Gent.
1705 - Printed for D. Browne, London - First Edition
With engraved frontispiece by Michael Van der Gucht of ‘An Evil Genius’, ‘Two Good Genii’, and ‘Jews going out in the Moonshine to know their Fortune’.
John Beaumont, a British surgeon and geologist, ‘was a man of considerable reading, of excessive credulity, and a firm believer in supernatural agency. His principal and certainly most curious performance, An Historical, Physiological, and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts is written in an amusing, gossiping style, and abounds with grotesque tales and illustrations from little-known authors. His personal experience of spirits, good and bad, was long and varied (pages 91-4, 393-7); but he innocently contrives to lessen the effect of his narration by adding that in their frequent visitations “all would disswade me from drinking too freely”’ - Dictionary of National Bibliography.
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Price HK$ 17,000
1705 - Printed for D. Browne, London - First Edition
With engraved frontispiece by Michael Van der Gucht of ‘An Evil Genius’, ‘Two Good Genii’, and ‘Jews going out in the Moonshine to know their Fortune’.John Beaumont, a British surgeon and geologist, ‘was a man of considerable reading, of excessive credulity, and a firm believer in supernatural agency. His principal and certainly most curious performance, An Historical, Physiological, and Theological Treatise of Spirits, Apparitions, Witchcrafts is written in an amusing, gossiping style, and abounds with grotesque tales and illustrations from little-known authors. His personal experience of spirits, good and bad, was long and varied (pages 91-4, 393-7); but he innocently contrives to lessen the effect of his narration by adding that in their frequent visitations “all would disswade me from drinking too freely”’ - Dictionary of National Bibliography.
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Price HK$ 17,000
Selections from the Popular Poetry of The Hindoos -
Thomas Duer Broughton [Editor Translator]
1814 - Printed by Whittingham and Rowland for John Martin, London - First Edition
A pretty and scarce first edition of the the first published anthology of Hindi Poets. Internally fine and unopened.
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Price HK$ 5,000
1814 - Printed by Whittingham and Rowland for John Martin, London - First Edition
A pretty and scarce first edition of the the first published anthology of Hindi Poets. Internally fine and unopened.
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Price HK$ 5,000
The Morals of Confucius -
Confucius
Circa 1760 -1780 - Printed for Randal Taylor, London - First Thus
A later 18th century reprint of this work and the first to include the folding frontispiece engraving of Confucius (often missing). First published in 1691 and scarce in any early edition, more so this edition with the engraving. In contemporary binding, and with decorations to title page, six headpieces, and three tailpieces.
Beginning with a ‘Preface’ introducing this translation and its sources, followed by ‘Part First’ titled ‘Of the Antiquity and Philosophy of the Chinese’, then ‘Part II’ which offers selected translations from the three books, and ends with 80 ‘Maxims’.
‘The great Chinese teacher Confucius (551 BC–479 BC) articulated a philosophy based on the concepts of ren (‘benevolence’ or ‘compassion’) and li (‘ritual’ or ‘propriety’). He hoped to create the ideal, superior man (junzi) and thereby facilitate a just society.
Confucius’s teachings were highly influential across China and large areas of east Asia for almost two millennia before this 1691 work offered English readers their first introduction to his philosophical approach. It provides an account of Confucius’s life and times, as well as 80 of his maxims.
This English-language text is based on a French-language edition published in 1688, which in turn relied on a Latin work of 1687 published in Paris.’ - Marsh’s Library, Dublin.
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Price HK$ 21,000
Circa 1760 -1780 - Printed for Randal Taylor, London - First Thus
A later 18th century reprint of this work and the first to include the folding frontispiece engraving of Confucius (often missing). First published in 1691 and scarce in any early edition, more so this edition with the engraving. In contemporary binding, and with decorations to title page, six headpieces, and three tailpieces.Beginning with a ‘Preface’ introducing this translation and its sources, followed by ‘Part First’ titled ‘Of the Antiquity and Philosophy of the Chinese’, then ‘Part II’ which offers selected translations from the three books, and ends with 80 ‘Maxims’.
‘The great Chinese teacher Confucius (551 BC–479 BC) articulated a philosophy based on the concepts of ren (‘benevolence’ or ‘compassion’) and li (‘ritual’ or ‘propriety’). He hoped to create the ideal, superior man (junzi) and thereby facilitate a just society.
Confucius’s teachings were highly influential across China and large areas of east Asia for almost two millennia before this 1691 work offered English readers their first introduction to his philosophical approach. It provides an account of Confucius’s life and times, as well as 80 of his maxims.
This English-language text is based on a French-language edition published in 1688, which in turn relied on a Latin work of 1687 published in Paris.’ - Marsh’s Library, Dublin.
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Price HK$ 21,000
Robertson of Irvine - Poet-Preacher -
Arthur Guthrie
1890 - Ardrossan, London - Second Edition
A finely bound copy, illustrated with engraved frontispiece portrait and calotype plate of Trinity Church, Irvine from a photograph.
‘William Irvine (1863-1947) was a Presbyterian evangelist. Born in Kilsyth (North Lanarkshire), the third of eleven children of a miner, Irvine was educated at Kilsyth Academy. He worked as a miner but gave up employment to spend two years at John Anderson's Bible Training College in Glasgow (1893-5).
In 1897, while travelling in Ireland, Irvine founded the mysterious two-by-two itinerant ministry. This evangelical organisation, also known as the 'tramp mission' or 'the church without a name', attracted crowds to open-air missions held across the country. Workers were sent to America and Irvine himself travelled regularly around the globe in the early years of the 20th Century.
Irvine was convinced that the Book of Revelations should be taken literally and that the world was about to come to an end. In 1914, this brought about a schism in the church and Irvine left, along with a few hundred loyal supporters. They became known as the Message People, the Witnesses, or Irvinites. Irvine went on to declare himself a prophet and continued to urge his followers to prepare for the end of the world.
Having suffered from throat cancer, Irvine died in Jerusalem. The church he founded continues today, with up to 500,000 members world-wide.’ - bio provided by The Gazetteer for Scotland, supported by School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
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Price HK$ 1,500
1890 - Ardrossan, London - Second Edition
A finely bound copy, illustrated with engraved frontispiece portrait and calotype plate of Trinity Church, Irvine from a photograph.‘William Irvine (1863-1947) was a Presbyterian evangelist. Born in Kilsyth (North Lanarkshire), the third of eleven children of a miner, Irvine was educated at Kilsyth Academy. He worked as a miner but gave up employment to spend two years at John Anderson's Bible Training College in Glasgow (1893-5).
In 1897, while travelling in Ireland, Irvine founded the mysterious two-by-two itinerant ministry. This evangelical organisation, also known as the 'tramp mission' or 'the church without a name', attracted crowds to open-air missions held across the country. Workers were sent to America and Irvine himself travelled regularly around the globe in the early years of the 20th Century.
Irvine was convinced that the Book of Revelations should be taken literally and that the world was about to come to an end. In 1914, this brought about a schism in the church and Irvine left, along with a few hundred loyal supporters. They became known as the Message People, the Witnesses, or Irvinites. Irvine went on to declare himself a prophet and continued to urge his followers to prepare for the end of the world.
Having suffered from throat cancer, Irvine died in Jerusalem. The church he founded continues today, with up to 500,000 members world-wide.’ - bio provided by The Gazetteer for Scotland, supported by School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society.
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Price HK$ 1,500
The Monuments of Egypt; or, Egypt a witness for the Bible, - with - Notes of a Voyage up the Nile by an American. -
Francis L. Hawks (editor), John L. Stephens
1850 - Geo P. Putnam, New York - First Edition
Striking copy of this comprehensive description of Egypt intwo parts, the first compiled from various well known works, and illustrated throughout with colour and tinted lithographs, and black and white in-text sketches and drawings. Uncommon in original publisher’s gilt illustrated cloth, without restoration or rebinding.
The second part titled ‘Journal of a Voyage up the Nile, made between November, 1848, and April, 1849’ is an entertaining travelogue commonly attributed to John Lloyd Stephens, the renowned American archaeologist, famed for his exploration of the Maya runs in Central America, and an acquaintance Hawks met in London.
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Price HK$ 3,000
1850 - Geo P. Putnam, New York - First Edition
Striking copy of this comprehensive description of Egypt intwo parts, the first compiled from various well known works, and illustrated throughout with colour and tinted lithographs, and black and white in-text sketches and drawings. Uncommon in original publisher’s gilt illustrated cloth, without restoration or rebinding.The second part titled ‘Journal of a Voyage up the Nile, made between November, 1848, and April, 1849’ is an entertaining travelogue commonly attributed to John Lloyd Stephens, the renowned American archaeologist, famed for his exploration of the Maya runs in Central America, and an acquaintance Hawks met in London.
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Price HK$ 3,000
Mikrokosmos, A Little Description of the Great World -
Peter Heylyn [Heylin]
1636 - Printed by William Turner, Oxford - Seventh Edition
In this groundbreaking work, Heylyn attempted to describe in meticulous detail every aspect of the known world in 1621, the geography, climate, customs, achievements, politics, and belief systems. Heylyn had combed through an impressive range of ancient and Renaissance geographical and historical scholarship to construct an ordered description of the globe. Because of the topics it covered, Microcosmus could not but intervene in debates about Church and State’, and Heylyn’s work is ‘notable for his strident anti-Catholicism and attachment to the Protestant cause,’, he condemns the Spanish Inquisition as ‘the greatest tyrannie & severest kind of persecution under heaven’ and the pope described as the Antichrist.’
Heylyn’s work was an enormous success, and went through some nine editions between 1652 and 1639.
[Withers, Lorimer - Geographers V.28; Milton - Laudian and Royalist Polemic in Seventeenth-Century England]
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Price HK$ 9,000
1636 - Printed by William Turner, Oxford - Seventh Edition
In this groundbreaking work, Heylyn attempted to describe in meticulous detail every aspect of the known world in 1621, the geography, climate, customs, achievements, politics, and belief systems. Heylyn had combed through an impressive range of ancient and Renaissance geographical and historical scholarship to construct an ordered description of the globe. Because of the topics it covered, Microcosmus could not but intervene in debates about Church and State’, and Heylyn’s work is ‘notable for his strident anti-Catholicism and attachment to the Protestant cause,’, he condemns the Spanish Inquisition as ‘the greatest tyrannie & severest kind of persecution under heaven’ and the pope described as the Antichrist.’Heylyn’s work was an enormous success, and went through some nine editions between 1652 and 1639.
[Withers, Lorimer - Geographers V.28; Milton - Laudian and Royalist Polemic in Seventeenth-Century England]
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Price HK$ 9,000
Illustrations of the Literature and Religion of the Buddhists -
Brian Houghton Hodgson
1841 - Self-published – Bound at the Baptist Mission Press, Serampore - First Edition in Book Form
Hodgson’s rare and important work – the first collected edition of papers on the literature and religion of Buddhism – fifteen in total, originally published in Transactions and Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and London, and which for the first time revealed to the West the Sanskrit literature of northern, or Mahayana, Buddhism, which had been preserved in Nepal. For the collection Hodgson adds a preface and many footnotes.
Features two folding lithographed alphabet tables. Interestingly, Hodgson published this book in Serampore, at the time a Danish colony, it would have been printed at the former Serampore Mission Press, set up by the Baptist missionary William Carey, which closed in 1837 merging with the Baptist Mission Press, where this copy was also bound (see small bookplate to front pastedown).
Hodgson later reprinted 12 of the 15 papers as part one of Essays on the Languages, Literature and Religion of Nepal and Tibet (1874), the second part being on the tribes and geography of Nepal and Tibet, and in 1880 he published Miscellaneous Essays Relating to Indian Subjects (2 volumes, 1880), containing his papers on Indian languages and ethnology.
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Price HK$ 16,500
1841 - Self-published – Bound at the Baptist Mission Press, Serampore - First Edition in Book Form
Hodgson’s rare and important work – the first collected edition of papers on the literature and religion of Buddhism – fifteen in total, originally published in Transactions and Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and London, and which for the first time revealed to the West the Sanskrit literature of northern, or Mahayana, Buddhism, which had been preserved in Nepal. For the collection Hodgson adds a preface and many footnotes.Features two folding lithographed alphabet tables. Interestingly, Hodgson published this book in Serampore, at the time a Danish colony, it would have been printed at the former Serampore Mission Press, set up by the Baptist missionary William Carey, which closed in 1837 merging with the Baptist Mission Press, where this copy was also bound (see small bookplate to front pastedown).
Hodgson later reprinted 12 of the 15 papers as part one of Essays on the Languages, Literature and Religion of Nepal and Tibet (1874), the second part being on the tribes and geography of Nepal and Tibet, and in 1880 he published Miscellaneous Essays Relating to Indian Subjects (2 volumes, 1880), containing his papers on Indian languages and ethnology.
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Price HK$ 16,500