Thesiger, Wilfred
First American edition. Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and maps, with one fold-out map affixed to rear pastedown endpaper. xvi, 326 pp. 1 vols. 8vo. Arabian Sands is Thesiger's first and most important work, recounting his dual crossings of the Empty Quarter, the first under the aegis of the Middle East Anti-Locust Unit in 1946-7. Although brief reports of the journey were published in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society in the late 1940s, it was only through the efforts of his friend Graham Watson and the publisher Mark Longman that Thesiger was persuaded to write a book-length account. This is the First American edition, published in the same year as the British first. For a decade, Thesiger had longed to explore the Empty Quarter, and seized the opportunity presented by Owen Bevan Lean to accompany the Anti-Locust unit. This was a 2000 mile journey that began and ended at Salala on the south coast, and then Thesiger left again, almost immediately, in 1947, departing Manwakh well in Yemen and visiting Liwa Oasis and Abu Dhabi. This latter trip also included a brief imprisonment in Saudi Arabia. Thesiger, who had a revulsion to modern life, immersed himself in the country, made friends with the Arabs, and travelled on foot and by camel. He states boldly in the introduction to this work, whatever their results "[future explorers] will never know the spirit of the land nor the greatness of the Arabs." Arabian Sands includes accounts of both these crossings and is illustrated with Thesiger's own dramatic photographs. It was received enthusiastically in the press, and Thesiger himself thought it "his finest book" (ODNB). The Daily Telegraph stated: "Following worthily in the tradition of Burton, Lawrence, Philby and Thomas, [Arabian Sands] is, very likely, the book about Arabia to end all books about Arabia." Indeed, St John Philby described Thesiger as "probably the greatest of all explorers" (Maitland, 380) and Sir John Glubb regarded him "the last, and certainly one of the greatest, of the British travellers among the Arabs" (ibid.). Quarter bound blue cloth and paper boards, stamped in gilt and white on front and spine, photographic color dust jacket with some shelf wear to edges and corners Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and maps, with one fold-out map affixed to rear pastedown endpaper. xvi, 326 pp. 1 vols. 8vo
Thesiger, Wilfred
First edition. Illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs and images, plus two color maps. 214 pp. 8vo. Signed by the Author. An expansive, chronologically-organized recounting of Thesiger's experiences in Abyssinia during the early 1930s, beginning with the coronation of Haile Selassie I in November 1930, and ending with his return to Europe in May 1934. Thesiger was born in Addis Ababa, where his father, then the British Consul-General in Ethiopia (1909-1919), had become "a cherished friend of His Majesty." Signed by the Thesiger on the title page, with an ownership inscription by John Adams on the first blank. Burgundy cloth with stamped in gilt on spine, photographic black-and-white dust-jacket in fine condition Illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs and images, plus two color maps. 214 pp. 8vo
Shakespeare, William
A New edition. Illustrated, vol. 1 frontispiece portrait of the author. 10 vols. 12mo. Reprints Mr. Rowe's Account of the Life and Writings of Shakspeare and Samuel Johnson's Preface to his 1765 edition of Shakespeare, his "short Strictures" at the conclusion of each play "containing a general censure of faults, or praise of excellence," as well as a glossary and footnotes. Photo Three-quarter calf and marbled paper boards, all edges marbled, red spine titles with minimal gilt, some general rubbing around the edges, some offsetting from plates Illustrated, vol. 1 frontispiece portrait of the author. 10 vols. 12mo
Mundy, Captain [Godfrey Charles] (1804-1860)
Second edition. Frontispieces in each volume, map. 16 engraved plates after the author and 9 woodcuts. 2 vols. 8vo. "Traveling throughout India, the author hunted tiger near the Ganges and in the Dehra Dun. He spent time among the Mahrattas, observed wild elephants, and participated in antelope hunting with cheetahs and falcons. He also hunted lion between Pewur and Hansi, and though none were obtained, Mundy includes a discussion of the lion hunting exploits of Col. James Skinner and William Fraser. The plates of tiger hunting from elephant back are quite striking" (Czech). Czech, Asia, p. 145 Bound in full contemporary green morocco gilt extra, all edges gilt, with With armorial bookplates bearing the motto "Mens conscia recti." Some foxing , very handsome Frontispieces in each volume, map. 16 engraved plates after the author and 9 woodcuts. 2 vols. 8vo
(Ireland)
Original oil painting on canvas, unsigned, with caricatures of Asquith, John Redmond and Lloyd George, 19 1/2 x 30 inches, framed in gilt to 22 1/2 x 32 1/2 inches overall. 1 vols. British Political Caricatures in Oil. A British political comment on the issue of Home Rule for Ireland. Amid celestial clouds a Union Jack-garbed figure of H.H. Asquith turns a grindstone on which a gleeful John Redmond in satanic wings sharpens a sword lettered "HOME RULE" as an angelic David Lloyd George flies away carrying by the coattails a small Irishman, shillelagh in hand. Prime Minister Asquith introduced the Third Home Rule for Ireland Bill to the Commons in 1912, in part to oblige the Irish, on which his Liberal ministry depended. Redmond, leader of the Irish Nationalists, established a balance of power favorable to the Irish and passage of the bill seemed assured. Lloyd George, (then Chancellor of the Exchequer), aware of the heavily pro-English sentiment of Northern Ireland, and of the political dangers of forcing unwilling Protestants under Catholic rule, induced the parties to exempt Ulster from the provisions of the bill, which finally passed in this form. This painting reflects the situation in early 1914: Redmond, with the aid of Asquith, prepares to sever Ireland from the mother country, while Lloyd George symbolically carries the pugnacious Catholic faithful away from the Protestant sanctuary of the North. It is, possibly, the original of a Conservative Party political poster. A UNIQUE PIECE OF POLITICAL PROPAGANDA IN THE HIGHLY UNUSUAL MEDIUM OF OILS. Roy Jenkins, Asquith, pp. 174-5, et seq Original oil painting on canvas, unsigned, with caricatures of Asquith, John Redmond and Lloyd George, 19 1/2 x 30 inches, framed in gilt to 22 1/2 x 32 1/2 inches overall. 1 vols
Vallée, Henri
First edition. xxxvi, 230, [1] pp. 1 vols. 12mo. Presentation Copy to a Pillar of French Fencing. Inscribed by the author "A M. Hebrard de Villeneuve ave mes meilleurs remerciements et toute mon amitié 8 mai 1879 Henri Vallée" Hebrard de Villeneuve (1848-1925), French soldier, politician, and fencer, was founder of the Société d'encouragement à l'escrime and later the French national fencing association. Thimm, p. 319 Vellum spine, red morocco label, marbled boards. Some light soilign. Near fine. Inscribed by the author on the half title xxxvi, 230, [1] pp. 1 vols. 12mo
One of 350 copies printed by Bruce Rogers at the Printing House of William Edwin Rudge, 1923. Text and illustrations printed within red rules. 39, [1, imprint] pp. 1 vols. 12mo. The designs were printed by Bruce Rogers from blocks prepared by Emery Walker based on the first edition of Dürer's treatise on geometry, Unterweysung (1525), where they appear in book III. The Work of Bruce Rogers 332 Black boards, marbled endpapers, printed spine label. Label toned. Unopened. Fine Text and illustrations printed within red rules. 39, [1, imprint] pp. 1 vols. 12mo One of 350 copies printed by Bruce Rogers at the Printing House of William Edwin Rudge, 1923.
Reprinted from the Cumberland Edition of 1826, with Notes and Appendix for William Dodge by Jno. F. Uhlhorn, Steam Job Printer, 58 West 3d St. 158pp. 4to. A defense of colonial frontiersman Captain Cresap (1742-1775), whom Jefferson, echoing others, blamed for the murder of the family of the Mingo war chief James Logan during Lord Dunmore's War. Cresap has since been exonerated and the Virginian Daniel Greathouse is now blamed for the massacre of Logan's family. "This biography of Cresap was written to refute Jefferson's account in NOTES ON VIRGINIA. Howes J32 Publisher's cloth, spine repalcerd. Very Good Reprinted from the Cumberland Edition of 1826, with Notes and Appendix for William Dodge by Jno. F. Uhlhorn, Steam Job Printer, 58 West 3d St.
La Paglia, Anthony. First edition, deluxe issue, no. 77 of 100 copies signed by the author, further inscribed by him on the limitation page. Illustrated with photographs and color reproductions of paintings by Courtenay Brandreth. With an original etching by Anthony La Paglia (no. 77/100 signed by the artist in pencil beneath the print). xxix, 494, [1, colophon] pp. 1 vols. Thick 4to. Chapters on dogs and guns and their relationship to grouse, quail, pheasant, woodcock, snipe and rail. Biscotti p. 385; Heller 2:749 Original brown morocco, t.e.g. Fine Illustrated with photographs and color reproductions of paintings by Courtenay Brandreth. With an original etching by Anthony La Paglia (no. 77/100 signed by the artist in pencil beneath the print). xxix, 494, [1, colophon] pp. 1 vols. Thick 4to First edition, deluxe issue, no. 77 of 100 copies signed by the author, further inscribed by him on the limitation page.
Third edition, considerably Enlarged and Improved. Folding table frontispiece (fore-edge chipped), 3 folding maps (offsetting), large folding handcolored map at back (11 1/2 x 15 3/4 inches; creased, some tears along folds, offsetting). 1 vols. Sm. 8vo. Kress Catalogue of Economic Literature 28937 Recent grey paper-backed blue cloth, morocco label. Some light wear, stamps on title, else a very good copy Folding table frontispiece (fore-edge chipped), 3 folding maps (offsetting), large folding handcolored map at back (11 1/2 x 15 3/4 inches; creased, some tears along folds, offsetting). 1 vols. Sm. 8vo Third edition, considerably Enlarged and Improved.
First edition. Illustrated; folding map. Pp. xii, 1-285, [286], [2, blank] + 24 [catalogue]. 1 vols. 8vo. Nice Copy. "An excellent work of high mountain sport" (Czech). Czech (Asia) pp. 3-4 Tan cloth stamped in black and green, upper board with gilt pictorial vignette, snakeskin textured endsheets. Some wear to extremities, endpapers browned and brittle with some chipping. Bookplate of Duncan Harris to front pastedown, contemporary ownership inscription to half-title, booksellers ticket to rear pastedown. Very good Illustrated; folding map. Pp. xii, 1-285, [286], [2, blank] + 24 [catalogue]. 1 vols. 8vo