First edition. 8vo. pp. [iv], 84; wood-eng. frontis., illusts.; minor staining to lower outer corner of final leaf, else very good in the original cloth, gilt, a little marked. A presentation copy from the author to "Miss Williams, Souvenir of a stay at [?]Dresden, Percy W. Britton" (slightly smudged), subsequently presented by the Estate of Miss Abigail Williams in May 1913 to the Essex Institute with their bookplate and small inkstamp to title-page ("Card Catalogued"). According to his preface (dated London, December 1870), the author had been staying at the Institution Internationale in Vésinet, near Paris, since September 1869, when he was advised to tour some of the French provinces to practice his French. Shortly after this the Franco-Prussian war broke out, and Britton's book records the country during the two months in the immediate aftermath of the declaration. The text is entirely in French, and a small printed slip loosely inserted in the book apologises for errors in accents and punctuation which were due to the author's being away from his printer in London.
A manuscript log, 4to., pp. [84], written in a clear hand, contemporary quarter roan with marbled boards, paper label to upper board, heavily worn, some staining affecting internal leaves but handwriting still legible with, loosely inserted, Wallace's Ordinary Apprentice indenture. William Wallace's journal - titled on the first page 'Some Notes on a voyage from London, towards Newcastle, N.S.W., Australia, barque "Mendoza" of Liverpl, 495 Tons - W. Walllace' - contains almost daily entries from 15 November 1879 to 25 July 1880. The log describes the voyage from Liverpool to New South Wales, the onward journey to Lyttelton, New Zealand, and part of the return journey, with entries varying from a few lines to almost a page. In addition to the usual comments on weather and work, Wallace describes some of the notable experiences during the voyage, adding details for the towns of Newcastle and Lyttelton. "Tuesday 13th [January, 1880] . Any amount of birds kicking around. Having fine sport with them. We got several long pieces of twine fastened a piece of fat pork on one end and a strip of canvas on the other, which we threw overboard. They were not overboard very long before they were seized; then as each flew away with his prize, he was followed by a score of others who would catch hold of the canvas and haul it out of his throat." "Sat. 13th [March, 1880]: . Newcastle is not a bad looking place from the sea, it is interesting also as it is mostly built on the brow & summit of a hill & overlooks the shipping. The outlying land is rather flat & thickly wooded." "Monday 13th [March, 1880] . Newcastle, N.S.W. is 60 miles North of Sydney and is in Lat. 32o 15 S & 151o 15 E. It is not a large place but contains 10,000 inhabitants. The climate is healthy & warm the soil is fertile & productive, but what makes Newcastle what it is, is the extensive coalmines & its safe & accommodating harbour." By April 1880 the Mendoza sails for New Zealand with a shipment of coal. Wallace describes the capture of a porpoise on the 19th, providing blubber "for oil, & his flesh to be eaten". They reach Lyttelton on April 29th, offloading coal and loading grain. On Saturday 8th May "Knocked off at 4pm, dressed myself, & went to Christchurch with the 6pm train along with some other Middies . It is a very decent place, quite different from Lyttelton, it has got some very fair buildings & a splendid park". In June the Mendoza begins her return voyage to London, which is not without incident: on Saturday 19th "at 9pm I was awakened by a fearful boom, followed by a crash & the rushing of water - sprang out of bed & found myself knee deep in water. Orders given the vessel was on her beam ends. All hands on deck ordered. Struck a match - fearful state, chests floating among clothes & boots, buckets & oilskins. The bogie was high & dry on the bunk, smoking & steaming & hissing, enough to frighten anyone out of their wits. Seized the first pair of pants which happened to float by me & pushed on deck. The aft part of the vessel was completely immersed".
First edition. 8vo. pp. [vi], 71; photo. illusts., 2 sketch maps to endpapers; hand-colouring to sea of map on front endpaper, else very good in the original pictorial card wrappers, together with an envelope titled "Thro' China and Japan" containing four b&w Picture Postcards of Japan, postally unused, in fine condition, the envelope slightly frayed, and with the programme for the film, "Thro' China and Japan" A Fascinating Film of the Far East, 8vo. pp. 12, illusts., very good in original printed yellow wrappers, soiled, staples rusted, central horizontal crease. The Missionary Film Committee was a joint project initiated by several British missionary groups, including the Church Missionary Society and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Humfrey, a cinematographer, visited the two countries to provide material for the first missionary film. The booklet records his journey, and the postcards and programme were presumably distributed at screenings.
Oblong 8vo. 24 photos. on 12 leaves, each image approx. 8 x 6" (220 x 153mm), images captioned in the negative and most further captioned by hand at head of photo.; minor discolouration to margins, else very good in contemporary string-tied paper wrappers, worn to edges. The 1st Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, was stationed at Rawalpindi on the North-West Frontier for three years before receiving orders to proceed to Razmak, where they were to keep the peace between the local Mahsuds and Wazirs. Over seven hundred men set off on 16 November 1926 on the 262-mile march, headed by their commander Lieutenant F. G. Willan. This photograph album records their progress, with views of the column crossing bridges, passes and valleys, with camps at Kushalgarh Banda and Dumdil, The final image shows officers taking tea at Duncan's Pt. The Battalion spent a year at Razmak, proceeding to Lucknow in November 1927.
A handbill issued by Thomas W. Clough for a performance using Edison's phonograph, approx. 6 x 11 3/4" (15 x 30cm.), printed to one side only on dark orange paper, minor chips to margins, creased where some time folded, else in very good condition. Edison invented his 'phonograph' in 1877; it later became better known as the gramophone. The present handbill announces a performance of "50 First-Class Selections" on the phonograph by Thomas W. Clough, to include marches, band music, songs, hymns, comic pieces, etc. The handbill lists 'Liberty Bell March', 'Creole Belle March', 'Uncle Josh's Trip to Boston', and other songs as forming part of the evening's performance. Entry to the event was 10 cents.
