"The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
— Mark Twain
The Arts & Sciences
Abbott's American Watchmaker and Jeweller. An Encyclopaedia for the horologist, jeweller, gold and silversmith.
Chicago. Geo. K. Hazlitt and co. 1894. FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp.354, 14 of adverts. Illustrated with 288 in text engravings. Publisher's pale blue cloth. Some marking to cloth, inner hinges starting, lower inner hinge split. Good. More about Abbott's American Watchmaker and Jeweller. An Encyclopaedia for the horologist, jeweller, gold...
A Collection of the Published Writings of the Late Thomas Addison, M.D., Physician to Guy's Hospital.
London: The New Sydenham Society, 1868. [Medical Essays]. FIRST THUS. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.xxxii; 242. With a frontispiece engraving of the author and seven lithographic plates, including three hand-coloured. Publisher's brown blind-decorated cloth with gilt titles to spine and gilt bust of the author to upper board. All edges... More about A Collection of the Published Writings of the Late Thomas Addison, M.D., Physician to Guy's Hospital
British Bats.
London: Harper Collins Publishers, 2003. [Chiropterology] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (23 x 16cm), pp.218. Publisher's green cloth, gilt titles to spine, pictorial dust-jacket designed by Robert Gillmor, showing the printed price of £35. Illustrated with eight plates in colour and over 120 black and white photographic reproductions and line drawings. Fine... More about British Bats
Ski-ing on Water.
London: Frederick Muller, 1956. FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp. 143. Blue cloth with gilt titles to spine in pictorial dustjacket. Some occasional spotting to the textblock and marking to the edges, slight wear to the cloth. A couple of closed tears to the front panel of the dustwrapper, small loss at... More about Ski-ing on Water
The Half: Photographs of Actors Preparing for the Stage.
London: Faber and Faber, 2010. [Photography] FIRST SOFTCOVER EDITION. Quarto (28 x 21cm), pp.xii; 308. Black and white photographs throughout. With the black and white soft covers, priced at £20.00. A fine as-new copy. From the library of the writer, media and film executive Edward Milward-Oliver. More about The Half: Photographs of Actors Preparing for the Stage
The Golfer's Manual. Being an Historical and Descriptive Account of the National Game of Scotland by 'A Keen Hand' and originally Published in 1857 and now Reprinted with an Introduction by Bernard Darwin.
London: The Dropmore Press, 1947. Private Press. Limited to 750 numbered copies. Pps. xi, 84, (1). Publisher's original green cloth spine lettered in gilt, printed paper boards, top edge tinted green, original illustrated dust-jacket and card slip-case with numbered label to spine. Text printed on hand made paper with wood... More about The Golfer's Manual. Being an Historical and Descriptive Account of the National Game of Scotland...
The Botanical Pocket-Book. With Observations on Some of the Rare Plants Growing in the Neighbourhood of Tunbridge Wells.
Tunbridge Wells: J. Clifford, 1840. [Botany]. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (18 x 11cm), pp.v; [1]; 179; [1]; [one of publisher's advertisements]; [1]. Publisher's green textured cloth with paper labels to spine and upper board. Hand-coloured folding plate of Dentaria Bulbifera facing title page. Bookplate of W. H. Hills to pastedown, some... More about The Botanical Pocket-Book. With Observations on Some of the Rare Plants Growing in the...
Neues Panorama Des Rheins Von Mannheim Bis Coln; and, The Rhine From Maynece To Cologne.
Mainz: Verlag von D Kapp, and Mainz: Joseph Halenza, n.d. [c.1880]. Leporello, or concertina map, in tall octavo boards (30 x 17.5cm; map extends to 242cm). In stiff paperboards with recent red cloth spine, decorative foliate border with titles in black to front board, reproduced to rear board with alternative... More about Neues Panorama Des Rheins Von Mannheim Bis Coln; and, The Rhine From Maynece To Cologne
The Rocky Horror Show: Mask of Columbia.
Los Angeles: Michael White Productions, n.d. [1974]. EPHEMERA FROM ROCKY HORROR SHOW U.S. OPENING. Card cut out mask of Columbia, approximately 26cm x 19cm with removable eyes and mouth, printed with production notes printed on the rear. Produced as a promotional item for the U.S. opening at the Roxy Theatre..... More about The Rocky Horror Show: Mask of Columbia
The Ruhleben Bye-Election - July 1915.
Ruhleben, 1915. FIRST EDITION. Octavo pamphlet, pp. 32. Blue pictorial wraps. Some toning to paper, wraps have detached along the spine and have some nicks along the edges. Very good, a fascinating survival. Campaign book for the election of an M.P. representing Ruhleben internment camp, just west of Berlin, which... More about The Ruhleben Bye-Election - July 1915
Archdale Machine Tools 1868-1948.
Birmingham: James Archdale and Co., 1948. [Industrial History] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.[6]; 100. Illustrated throughout in black and white. Publisher's cream cloth, decorated in blue and brown. With the matching dust-jacket. Some spotting to edges and preliminaries. Chipping and closed tears to jacket edges, with a larger... More about Archdale Machine Tools 1868-1948
Larkin Housewives' Cook Book. Good Things to Eat and How to Prepare Them. Containing over six hundred recipes and helpful hints selected by the Larkin Kitchen from many thousands of tested, favorite recipies submitted by practical housekeepers and culinary experts and compiled especially for customer-friends of Larkin Co Inc.
Buffalo, NY: Larkin Co. Inc., 1923. [Cookery] FOURTH EDITION. Octavo (21 x 15cm), pp.140. With occasional in-text illustrations. Publisher's brown cloth with black titles to front cover. Neat inscription to flyleaf, textblock toned and a little shaken. Some marks and wear to boards, heavily rubbed and worn to spine. Very good. More about Larkin Housewives' Cook Book. Good Things to Eat and How to Prepare Them. Containing over six...
[A Sample Book of Snuff Boxes 1820-1830].
[Private Compilation]. n.d. [c.1830's]. ORIGINAL ENGRAVED DESIGNS. 157x217mm. 16 thick card leaves featuring 104 individual engraved designs for snuff boxes printed on india paper and pasted to leaves. In contemporary dark brown mottled calf boards, re-backed in later tan calf. Held together by two strong brass clasps. Title neatly added..... More about A Sample Book of Snuff Boxes 1820-1830
Russian Ballet. Camera Studies by Gordon Anthony. With an Introduction by Arnold Haskell.
London: Geoffrey Bles, 1939. First Edition. Large Quarto, pp.[28]; 96. Illustrated with 96 tipped-in black and white photographs of Russian ballet stars, including frontispiece. Bound in recent dark blue half morocco with gilt titles and raised bands to spine, blue cloth boards, fore-edge deckled. Internally clean but for a few... More about Russian Ballet. Camera Studies by Gordon Anthony. With an Introduction by Arnold Haskell
The Autobiography of Francis Arago. The Traveller's Library 78.
London: Longman, Brown, and Longmans, 1855. FIRST EDITION, with rare original covers. Crown octavo, pp.[6], 122. In publisher's original cream paper wraps with black titles printed to spine and covers. Covers lightly browned; more heavily to spine. Some loss to tail of spine. Very good indeed, especially considering the rarity... More about The Autobiography of Francis Arago. The Traveller's Library 78
A Practical Treatise on the Diseases Peculiar to Women, Illustrated by Cases, Derived from Hospital and Private Practice.
London: Samuel Highley, 1845. [Medicine] FIRST UK EDITION, a later issue. Octavo (23 x 15cm), pp.xvi; 737 [5]. Publisher's brown blind-decorated cloth, recently re-backed with the original gilt titled spine cloth laid over. Yellow coated endpapers; all edges untrimmed. Armorial bookplate of Atkin-Roberts of Glassenbury, Kent, to front pastedown, with... More about A Practical Treatise on the Diseases Peculiar to Women, Illustrated by Cases, Derived from...
Astley's System of Equestrian Education, Exhibiting the Beauties and Defects of the Horse; With Serious and Important Observations on his General Excellence, Preserving him in Health, Grooming, etc., with plates.
Dublin: Thomas Burnside, 1802. [Equestrian] IRISH IMPRINT, FINELY BOUND. The Eighth edition. Octavo (22 x 14cm), pp.xvi; 197; [1]. In an elegant twentieth century binding by Sangorski and Sutcliffe. Green half morocco over green cloth boards, gilt titles to spine, top edge gilt. Illustrated with a frontispiece silhouette of Astley... More about Astley's System of Equestrian Education, Exhibiting the Beauties and Defects of the Horse; With...
Isotopes.
London: Edward Arnold and Co., 1922. [Chemistry] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.viii; 152. Publisher's blue cloth, titles in gilt to spine. Ownership stamp to pastedown and neat inscription to title page of Danish engineer and physicist P.O. Pedersen. Occasional discreet pencil annotation else internally fine. Cloth very slightly... More about Isotopes
The Scripture Chronology Demonstrated by Astronomical Calculations: and also by the Year of Jubilee, and the Sabbatical Year among the Jews: or, An Account of Time from the Creation of the World, to the Destruction of Jerusalem... Illustrated with a Great Variety of Tables, Maps, and Copper Plates. By Arthur Bedford, M.A. Rector of Newton St. Loe in the County of Somerset, and Chaplain to the Haberdashers-Hospital at Hoxton near London.
London: Printed for James and John Knapton etc., 1730. Folio pp. Title, [2 list of subscribers], vi, [2], 774, [44], [4 index], [17 index and errata], [1 ads.]. Full 18th Century calf, rebacked and recornered with original spine laid on, gilt rule and blindstamping to boards and gilt rules, raised... More about The Scripture Chronology Demonstrated by Astronomical Calculations: and also by the Year of...
A Companion to the Almanack, containing an Explanation of the Saints' Days and Holidays, with Biographical Sketches of the Persons, and Historical Accounts of the Events, on which the Festivals are founded. To which is prefixed, and Introduction, Explaining the Chronological and Astronomical Terms, and the general Contents of Modern Almanacks; with a brief inquiry into their origin.
London: Printed for J. Mawman, 1808. [Calendars] CONTEMPORARY BINDING, the Third Edition. Duodecimo (16 x 11cm), pp.151; [7]. Contemporary brown full calf with gilt titles and decoration to spine. Light browning and spotting to preliminaries. Contemporary black ink ownership to flyleaf. Joints rubbed and starting, but holding well. Corners bumped... More about A Companion to the Almanack, containing an Explanation of the Saints' Days and Holidays, with...
Practical Observations on the Nature and Treatment of Marasmus, and of those Disorders allied to it, which may be strictly denominated Bilious.
London: Printed for Baldwin, Cradock and Joy, 1818. First Edition. Small 4to; pp. x, (2), 256. Publisher's blue paper covered boards, a little stained and rubbed; grey paper spine chipped and frayed; original paper title label chipped and rubbed; edges untrimmed. Internally sound and clean. A very good copy of... More about Practical Observations on the Nature and Treatment of Marasmus, and of those Disorders allied to...
Raphael, Mozart, The Renaissance. A Lecture Delivered in the Freemasons' Hall, Edinburgh, on Saturday, June 24, 1882.
Edinburgh: William Blackwood and sons. 1882. A rare publication, 'Printed strictly for Private Circulation.' Octavo. pp. 58. In publisher's maroon cloth with gilt titles and dark green endpapers. Author of the more widely circulated 'On Musical Education and Vocal Culture', Bach was a professional singer based in Edinburgh. More about Raphael, Mozart, The Renaissance. A Lecture Delivered in the Freemasons' Hall, Edinburgh, on...
Birds And Beasts In Africa, and The Angler In South Africa.
London: Macmillan and Co, and Johannesburg: Hortors Ltd, 1938 and 1923. Pair of Baden-Powell association copies, with a letter of authenticity from the scout association: 1) The Angler In South Africa. Inscribed "To The Chief Scout" by H.V. Marsh, the Assistant Commissioner of Natal during Baden-Powell's trip to South Africa... More about Birds And Beasts In Africa, and The Angler In South Africa
Skating.
London: Longmans Green and Co., 1892. FIRST EDITION. Octavo. Illustrated throughout. Elegantly hand-bound (for Denny of The Strand) in half brown calf with twin labels, gilt to spine, cloth sides. Internally clean but for a neat library stamp to title and verso, bookplate to pastedown. Binding a little rubbed, some... More about Skating
Cricket. With 52 Illustrations.
London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1920. FIRST APPEARANCE OF THIS TEXT. Octavo, pp.348. Includes a large number of illustrations. Publisher's original pictorial brown cloth blocked in gilt and colours, plain endpapers. A little edge-spotting, gift inscription to flyleaf; bing clean and fresh. A particularly sharp-looking copy. Stated as 'A New... More about Cricket. With 52 Illustrations