Travel and Exploration
Rare Travel and Exploration Books for Sale Online
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"The owner of these volumes will possess an exact reproduction of the original South Polar Times which appeared month by month during the winters of 1902-03": First Limited edition of The South Polar Times; With a Signed page From Ernest Shackleton and Rudolph Blakenburg
SCOTT, Robert Falcon. Edited by Ernest Henry Shackleton.
The South Polar Times.
London: Smith, Elder, & Co, 1907-1914.
First limited edition of the complete collection of the South Polar Times, a periodical created by Scott’s crew during his two polar expeditions on the ships Discovery and Terra Nova, with a slip signed by Ernest Shackleton and Rudolph Blakenburg Quarto, three volumes, publisher’s gilt decorated cloth, all edges gilt, frontispiece to each volume, elaborately illustrated with engravings after the expedition members’ original drawings, many in color. Volumes I and II are number 177 of only 250 copies, volume III is number 256 of 350 copies. From the Adventure and Exploration collection of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown of each volume. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes and set records for both the Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon and Fastest Balloon Flight Around the World. Fossett was also one of sailing’s most prolific distance record holders set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships with a Zeppelin NT in 2004. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career including aviation’s highest award, the Gold Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which he was awarded in 2002. Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007 while flying a light aircraft over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California. Additional bookplates from the libraries of Dr. Edward Bramley and polar scientist Anthony Michaels. In near fine condition. Laid in is an scarce autograph album page boldly signed by Ernest Shackleton and American businessman and former mayor of Philadelphia Rudolph Blakenburg. An exceptional set.
Price: $20,000.00 Item Number: 95157
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First editions in English of each volume in Humboldt's Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent; from the library of Steve Fossett
HUMBOLDT, Alexander von and Aime Bonpland.
Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of the New Continent, During the Years 1799-1804.
London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, 1814-1829.
First editions in English of each volume in Humboldt’s narrative of his studies during his 21 year journey throughout the Americas which laid the foundation for the field of biogeography. Octavo, 11 volumes, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, morocco spine label, top edge gilt, folding map. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown of each volume. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes and set records for both the Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon and Fastest Balloon Flight Around the World. Fossett was also one of sailing’s most prolific distance record holders set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships with a Zeppelin NT in 2004. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career including aviation’s highest award, the Gold Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which he was awarded in 2002. Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007 while flying a light aircraft over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California. In near fine condition. A stunning set, most rare and desirable.
Price: $16,000.00 Item Number: 95171
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“Wherever I live, I shall feel homesick for Tibet": First American Edition of Seven Years in Tibet; Lengthily Inscribed by Heinrich Harrer and By His Holiness the Dalai Lama
HARRER, Heinrich [His Holiness The Dalai Lama].
Seven Years in Tibet.
New York: E.P. Dutton & Company, 1954.
First American edition of Harrer’s classic account, signed by Harrer and The Dalai Lama. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with over 40 photographs. Presentation copy, lengthily inscribed by Heinrich Harrer in both English and Tibetan on the half-title page, “To Mrs. Rosser with best wishes in remembrance of my lecture in Philadelphia from H. Harrer Jan. 1955.” Additionally signed by His Holiness The Dalai Lama, who was tutored by Harrer while he living in Tibet. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Translated by Richard Graves. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Rare and desirable signed by both Harrer and The Dalai Lama.
Price: $9,800.00 Item Number: 112165
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First British Edition of Isak Dinesen's Out of Africa; King Edward VIII's Copy with his ownership inscription
DINESEN, Isak [Karen Blixen] [King Edward VIII].
Out of Africa.
London: Putnam, 1937.
First British edition of the author’s masterpiece, a lyrical meditation of the years she lived in Kenya, from the library of King Edward VIII. Octavo, original cloth. With numerous original photographs and newspaper clippings affixed to the front few pages. Originally from the collection of the author’s brother Thomas Fasti Dinesen with two original black and white photographs of him hunting affixed to the verso of the front free endpaper and half-title page above which he has annotated, “My first lion April 6th 1922” and “Shot from boma April 11th 1922 The boma only five feet from the hill on account of my alias Thomas Dinesen.” In 1918, Thomas Dinesen moved to British East Africa to help his sister manage her coffee farm in the Ngong hills southwest of Nairobi where he designed a largely built the farm’s coffee roasting plant. Subsequently, from the library of Edward VIII with his ownership inscription to the front free endpaper, “‘The son of the sultan’ Edward Duke of Windsor.” Edward VIII was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire, and Emperor of India, from January 1936 until his abdication in December of the same year, after which he became the Duke of Windsor. And finally, inscribed on the title page, “To Hubert Gough with best wishes from Maj ‘one’ Sotheby March.” The recipient, Sir Hubert de la Poer Gough was a senior officer in the British Army in the First World War. Also affixed throughout are numerous clippings related to the Duke of Windsor and Blixen including a clipping with a photograph of her with Marilyn Monroe and original black and white photographs of her in 1921, later in life, and views of the plantation farmers and Ngong Hills. In very good condition. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A unique example.
Price: $8,800.00 Item Number: 110991
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First British Edition of Isak Dinesen's Out of Africa
DINESEN, Isak [Karen Blixen] .
Out of Africa.
London: Putnam, 1937.
First British edition of the author’s masterpiece, a lyrical meditation of the years she lived in Kenya, from the library of King Edward VIII. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of rubbing. An exceptional example, uncommon in this condition.
Price: $6,000.00 Item Number: 118446
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First Editions of each volume of Lewis' Narrative of Various Journeys in Balochistan, Afghanistan, The Panjab, & Kalat; from the library of Adventurer and Aviator Steve Fossett with his bookplate to each volume
MASSON, Charles [James Lewis].
Narrative of Various Journeys in Balochistan, Afghanistan, The Panjab, & Kalat, During a Residence in those Countries.
London: Richard Bentley, 1842.
First edition of this narrative of Lewis’ travels between 1826 and 1838 through Balochistan, Sind, the Hazara, Afghanistan and the Punjab. Octavo, four volumes. Bound in full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels, gilt ruled, marbled endpapers, illustrated with engravings, folding map. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown of each volume. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person to fly solo nonstop around the world in 2002 in his 10-story high balloon Spirit of Freedom. He completed the 2002 trip in 13 days, 8 hours, and 33 minutes and set records for both the Longest Distance Flown Solo in a Balloon and Fastest Balloon Flight Around the World. Fossett was also one of sailing’s most prolific distance record holders set the Absolute World Speed Record for airships with a Zeppelin NT in 2004. He received numerous awards and honors throughout his career including aviation’s highest award, the Gold Medal of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), which he was awarded in 2002. Fossett disappeared on September 3, 2007 while flying a light aircraft over the Great Basin Desert, between Nevada and California. Provenance: from the library of John Archibald Shaw Stewart with a gift inscription to him on the front free endpaper of volume one, “from his sincere friends William Thomas Markham and Charles Henry Mills on his leaving Eton, Xmas 1845.” An exceptional association with noted provenance.
Price: $5,500.00 Item Number: 95145
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John Muir's The Mountains of California; Lengthily inscribed by him
MUIR, John.
The Mountains of California.
New York: The Century Co, 1904.
Early printing of John Muir’s classic work. Octavo, original illustrated cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Mr. H. H. Smith, with best wishes & many pleasant memories, John Muir, August 1906.” In near fine condition. Rare and desirable signed.
Price: $4,500.00 Item Number: 92812
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"That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind": Rare Original July 21st 1969 Delaware Evening Journal Front Page; Signed by legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong
ARMSTRONG, Neil.
Neil Armstrong Signed Delaware Evening Journal.
Wilmington: Delaware Evening Journal, July 21, 1969.
Rare original Delaware Evening Journal featuring the headline “Eagle Jets Safely Off Moon; In Orbit for Rendezvous”, a front page article on the Apollo 11 moon landing, and large photograph of Neil Armstrong collecting dirt on the lunar surface. Boldly signed by Neil Armstrong on his photograph. Below the headline is Armstrong’s famous quote, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Articles featured on the front page include, “Neil, Buzz Leave Prints on Moon”, “Kennedy Charged in Crash”, and “Luna 15 Lands On Moon, 500 Miles from LM.” In very good condition. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 29 inches by 21 inches. Rare a desirable signed by Armstrong.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 100158
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First edition of Gallery of the Celebrated Landscapes of Switzerland; lengthily inscribed by Queen Victoria to a lady of her bedchamber
QUEEN VICTORIA,.
Gallery of the Celebrated Landscapes of Switzerland.
J.A. Preuss, and London: H. Rothe: Zurich, n.d. (ca. 1880).
First edition of this extensive gallery of photographs of Switzerland. Quarto, original publisher’s full decorative vellum with gilt titles to the spine and elaborate gilt central motif to the front panel depicting an alpine postal carriage, all edges gilt, gilt patterned endpapers, illustrated with one hundred collotypes displaying views of Switzerland. Presentation copy, with a full page inscription from Queen Victoria to Horatia Stopford, a Lady of her Bedchamber, “To dear Horatia Stopford from her affec. & grateful friend Victoria R Christmas 1885.” In near fine condition.
Price: $4,000.00 Item Number: 109082
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Mercury Seven Signed Sheet of Stamps; Signed by All of the Mercury Seven
SCOTT CARPENTER, Gordon Cooper.
Mercury Seven Signed Sheet of Project Mercury Stamps.
Single sheet of fifty four-cent stamps signed by all of the Mercury Seven, as follows: Malcolm Scott Carpenter; Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr.; John Herschel Glenn, Jr.; Virgil Ivan “Gus” Grissom; Walter “Wally” Schirra, Jr.; Alan B. Shepard, Jr.; Donald “Deke” Slayton. The signatures of Shepard and Grissom are faded. Matted and framed opposite a copy of Life magazine featuring the Mercury Seven. Entire piece measures 20 inches by 26 inches. An attractive and desirable piece, signed by all of the Mercury Seven astronauts.
Price: $3,800.00 Item Number: 19052
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"Out of England's harbor, sailed a vessel proud on day, she was bound for New York City, so many miles away": Exceptionally Rare Collection of First Editions, Booklets, and Sheet Music dedicated to the ill-fated passengers of the RMS Titanic
PRATT, E. J..
Rare Titanic Collection.
Toronto: Various Publishers, 1912-1935.
Rare collection of first editions, pamphlets, and sheet music related to the sinking of the RMS Titanic, with a rare limited edition O.B.R. Kentucky Straight Bourbon 86-proof Whiskey 4/5 quart ceramic Titanic replica. The collections includes a first edition of E.J. Pratt’s ‘The Titanic’ (Toronto: The Macmillan Co. of Canada, 1935) which is in near fine condition; a first edition of Mrs. Alma White’s ‘The Titanic Tragedy- God Speaking to the Nations’ (New Jersey: The Pentecostal Union, 1913) which is in near fine condition; a later printing booklet of Caroline Bancroft’s ‘The Unsinkable Mrs. Brown’ (Boulder: Johnson Publishing Co., 1963); three sheet music folios including Will Kirkpatrick and M.C. Hanford’s ‘The Wreck of the Titanic’ (Washington, D.C.: H. Kirkus Dugdale Co., 1912), Mrs. William Euler and Jack Stanley’s ‘Wreck of Titanic Song’ (Washington, D.C.: H. Kirkus Dugdale Co., 1912), and Paul Pelham and Lawrence Wright’s ‘Be British! Descriptive Song and Recitation Dedicated to the Gallant Ill-Fated Crew of the Titanic’ (London: Lawrence Wright Music Co, 1912); a rare printing of John J. Friend’s ‘The Loss of the Steamship Titanic: In Loving Remembrance of Those Who Lost Their Lives On Board the Steamship Titanic’; an original 1911 White Star First Class Passenger Ship per the S.S. Romanic which departed from Boston for Genoa on Saturday, April 20, 1911; and a rare limited edition O.B.R. Kentucky Straight Bourbon 86-proof Whiskey 4/5 quart ceramic Titanic replica which measures 17 inches in height and is housed in the original illustrated cardboard clamshell box. An exceptional collection of works, many produced in the same year of the fateful tragedy.
Price: $2,800.00 Item Number: 104582
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First Edition of Life in Ireland, elaborately bound in full scarlet morocco by Rivière & Son
EGAN, Pierce.
Real Life in Ireland.
London: B. Beasley for Jones & Co, 1821.
First edition of Real Life in Ireland, or, the Day and Night Scenes, Rovings, Rambles, and Sprees, Bulls, Blunders, Bodderation and Blarney of Brian Boru, Esq. and his Elegant Friend Sir Shawn O’Doughtery. Octavo, bound in full scarlet morocco by Rivière & Son, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, gilt spine compartments, all edges gilt, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers. Illustrated with 19 hand-colored plates including frontispiece with tissue guard present. In near fine condition. A bright, attractive piece.
Price: $1,100.00 Item Number: 82399
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Rare Complete First Edition Set of Barthelemy's Travels of Anacharsis the younger with the rare octavo atlas volume
BARTHELEMY, Jean-Jacques.
Travels of Anacharsis the Younger in Greece: During the Middle of the Fourth Century Before the Christian Era.
London: Printed For G. G. and J. Robinson, Pater-Noster Row, .
First edition in English of of Jean-Jacques Barthelemy’s masterful work on the history and customs of ancient Greece. Octavos, five volumes including the octavo atlas volume with thirty-one folding maps, plans, views and coins, some hand-colored. Plates include maps and views of Athens, the Parthenon, Delphi, Corinthia, Olympia, the Cyclades, Sparta, and Arcadia. Bound in three quarters contemporary calf over marbled boards, gilt tiles and tooling to the spine, black spine labels, marbled endpapers. In very good condition. An exceptional and complete example.
Price: $1,100.00 Item Number: 89078
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Rare Antique Postcard Collection Album
Antique Postcard Collection Album.
Rare folio containing hundreds of vintage postcards, most postdated between 1907 and 1917. From the collection of Ellen Warren. Folio, original cloth decorated in gilt with raised vignettes to the front panel depicting a snowy landscape and caribou bust, patterned endpapers, containing hundreds of postcards including many Christmas, New Year’s and Easter postcards, family photograph postcards, and views from Santa Catalina, New York City, Lake Merrit, Royal Gorge, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. In very good condition. A charming collection offering years of intimate insight into the collector’s life.
Price: $975.00 Item Number: 116035
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First Edition of W. K. Vanderbilt's A Trip Through Italy, Sicily, Tunisia, Algeria and Southern France
VANDERBILT, W. K.
A Trip Through Italy, Sicily, Tunisia, Algeria and Southern France.
New York: Privatley Printed, 1918.
First edition of Vanderbilt’s account of his travels throughout Europe and North Africa. Octavo, original blind-stamped publisher’s cloth, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, frontispiece map of the Tunis Tour, illustrated with engraved photographs, folding map. In near fine condition. A very sharp example.
Price: $950.00 Item Number: 95181
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First Edition of Sir James Penn Boucaut's The Arab: The Horse of the Future; Finely Bound by Zaehnsdorf
BOUCAUT, Sir James Penn. Preface by Sir Walter Gibley.
The Arab: The Horse of the Future.
London: Gay and Bird, 1905.
First edition of Boucaut’s authoritative text on the Arabian horse. Octavo, bound in full red morocco by Zaehnsdorf for Asprey with gilt titles and raised bands to the spine, gilt turn-ins and elaborate inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. Illustrated with engravings including tissue-guarded frontispiece. In fine condition. A superior example.
Price: $650.00 Item Number: 100350
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"When the shuttle lifts off, all of America will be reminded of the crucial roles teachers and education play in the life of our nation": First edition of the Teacher in Space Cookbook; inscribed by Teacher In Space National Finalists Bonnie Fakes and Robin Kline
MCAULIFFE, Christa; Nancy Reagan.
Teacher in Space Cookbook: Compiled by the Teacher In Space National Finalists, the “Class of 51L”, United Space Shuttle Challenger Mission scheduled for launch, January 22, 1986 and other parties interested in Space Education.
Waseca, Minnesota: Walter's Publishing Company, 1986.
First edition Teacher in Space cookbook, issued prior to the January 28, 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy. Octavo, original wrappers spiral bound, frontispiece portrait of Sharon Christa McAuliffe, illustrated with color photographs. Inscribed on the verso of the front panel by editor Bonnie Fakes, “Bon Appetit! Bonnie Fakes” and Robin Kline, “My Love and Gratitude Robin Kline.” President Ronald Reagan announced his search for a “teacher passenger” for a shuttle mission on August 27, 1984. Of the thousands of teachers that applied, Bonnie Fakes was the official finalist from Tennessee and Kline the official finalist from Arizona. The spot was ulitimately rewarded to Sharon Christa McAuliffe of New Hampshire who died tragically in the 1986 Challenger disaster. Fakes put together the Teacher in Space cookbook in an effort to have all state finalists contribute a recipe in celebration of their achievement. The cookbook includes two recipes by McAuliffe in addition to recipes by First Lady Nancy Reagan, astronaut James Garn and Challenger Commander Dick Scobee. In fine condition. Scarce and desirable. OCLC locates only three other copies at LOC, Virginia Tech and Ohio State University. Uncommon signed.
Price: $450.00 Item Number: 103520
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Finely bound by Bayntun Bindery of W. Shaw Sparrow's Old England; elaborately illustrated by James Orrock
SPARROW, Walter Shaw. Illustrated by James Orrock R.I.
Old England: Her Story Mirrored in Her Scenes.
Eveleigh Nash: London, 1908.
Finely bound example of Sparrow’s illustrated work on the history and landscape of Old England. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco by Bayntun Bindery with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers.
Price: $350.00 Item Number: 90430
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Finely Bound example in German of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Italian Journey
GOETHE, Johann Wolfgang von.
Goethes Italienische Reise Mit Zeichnungen Und Bildnissen Goethes. [Goethe’s Italian Journey With Drawings And Portraits Of Goethe].
Insel-Verlag zu Leipzig: Wohlfeile Ausgabe, 1913.
Finely bound example in German of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s Italian Journey. Octavo, bound in one quarter vellum over pictorial boards, top edge gilt, ribbon bound in, illustrated. In near fine condition.
Price: $100.00 Item Number: 111094
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Finely bound example of Motley's History of the Netherlands
MOTLEY, John Lothrop.
History of the United Netherlands: From the Death of William the Silent to the Synod of Dort.
Rotterdam: Jacs G. Robbers, 1872.
Finely bound example of John Lothrop Motley’s popular history of the United Netherlands. Octavo, bound in full red morocco with gilt tooling to the spine in seven compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling and gilt coats of arms from the Royal Military College of Canada to the front and real panel, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled. In very good condition.
Price: $100.00 Item Number: 114060