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First Edition of From Cape to Cairo. The First Traverse of Africa from South to North; Inscribed by Arthur Sharp
GROGAN, Ewart S. and Arthur H. Sharp; Illustrations by A. D. McCormick.
From Cape to Cairo. The First Traverse of Africa from South to North.
London: Hurst & Blackett, 1900.
First edition of this travel work which details a log between Capetown to Cairo. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, with photogravure portrait frontispiece, 2 color-printed folding route maps and 48 plates. Presentation copy, inscribed by Arthur Sharp on the front pastedown, “To E. Percy Henderson from Arthur H. Sharp Dec. 1900.” The recipient, Major Percy E. Henderson was the author of A British Officer in the Balkans. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown. 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. Rare and desirable signed and inscribed.
Price: $3,250.00 Item Number: 111856
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Signed Limited First Edition of William Beebe's Galapagos: World's End
BEEBE, William.
Galapagos: World’s End.
New York: G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1924.
Signed limited first edition, one of 100 numbered copies, this is number 54, boldly signed by William Beebe, the father of modern ecology. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated endpapers. Illustrated with 24 tipped-in color plates by Isabel Cooper, and 83 photographs mostly by John Tee-Van. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 84953
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Large Paper Copy of John Muir's The Cruise of the Corwin; One of Five Hundred and Fifty Copies; In the Exceptionally Rare Dust Jacket
MUIR, John.
The Cruise of the Corwin: Journal of the Arctic Expedition of 1881 In Search of De Long and the Jeannette.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1917.
First edition, large paper copy, one of five hundred and fifty copies, this is number 260. Octavo, original cloth. Edited by William Frederic Badè. Illustrated with plates from photographs and from sketches by Muir. Fine in the rare original dust jacket with light rubbing and wear. Kimes 348; BAL 14775
Price: $3,000.00 Item Number: 97365
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“the feeling of being lost in time and geography with months and years hazily sparkling ahead in a prospect of inconjecturable magic": First Edition of Each Work in Patrick Leigh Fermor's Trilogy; Each Signed by Him
LEIGH FERMOR, Patrick.
A Time of Gifts; Between the Woods and the Water; The Broken Road.
London: John Murray, 1977-2013.
First editions of each volume in Leigh Fermor’s trilogy. Octavo, original cloth. A Time of Gifts and Between the Woods and the Water are signed by Patrick Leigh Fermor on the title page. The Broken Road, which was published posthumously is signed by editors Colin Thubron and Artemis Cooper on the title page. Jacket artwork by John Craxton. Near fine in excellent dust jackets.
Price: $2,800.00 Item Number: 86873
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First Edition of Khan's The Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan in Asia, Africa, and Europe; In the rare original boards
KHAN, Mirza Abu Taleb .
The Travels of Mirza Abu Taleb Khan in Asia, Africa, and Europe During the Years 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, and 1803.
London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, & Orme, 1810.
First edition of one of the earliest by an Indian travel writer about the West, and has been described as perhaps the most significant
“reverse travelogue.” Octavo, original boards. In very good condition with some loss to the spine. We have never seen another example offered in the original boards. Housed in a custom half morocco clemise and clamshell box. Scarce.Price: $2,800.00 Item Number: 119852
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Scarce Limited First Edition of Gontran de Poncins' Kabloona; signed by him
DE PONCINS, Gontran. In collaboration with Lewis Galantiere. Illustrated by the author.
Kabloona.
New York: Reynal, Hitchcock, Inc, 1941.
First limited edition of French adventurer Gontran de Poncins’ classic account of his solo unsupported journey in the Canadian Arctic. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco over cloth covered boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine. One on only 550 copies, this is number 81. Boldly signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Before I disappear for good!…I remain your friend, ‘Eskimo Miki’, de Poncins.” With the original Publisher’s Note laid in which explains, “The Vicomte Gontran de Poncins, author of KABLOONA, called out of the Arctic to join the colors of his country, disappeared in the debacle of the French Republic following the fall of Paris. It has therefore been impossible to obtain his signature for this limited edition.” Poncins did in fact survive, and this is one of the scarce copies that he signed.
Price: $2,800.00 Item Number: 95094
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"The cowboy is the most vivid and native character in the United States today": First Edition of Alice Rogers Hager's Big Loop and Little; Inscribed by her to Amelia Earhart
HAGER, Alice Rogers (Amelia Earhart).
Big Loop and Little: The Cowboy’s Story.
New York: Macmillan, 1937.
First edition of the author’s classic illustrated story of the West. Large octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author to legendary aviator and personal friend Amelia Earhart on the front free endpaper, “To Amelia Earhart – First Lady of the Air because she, too, loves the free West. With admiration and appreciation of pleasant days at Burbank and Oakland. Alice Rogers Hager Washington, D.C. June 1937.” From the library of Amelia Earhart with here bookplate to the verso of the front panel. Near fine in a very good dust jacket. An exceptional example with noted provenance.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 61792
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"To know Indians was to take a delight in people as people; every encounter was an adventure": First Editions of each volume in Naipaul's India Trilogy; Each Signed by Him
NAIPAUL, V.S.
An Area of Darkness: An Experience of India; India: A Wounded Civilization and India: A Million Mutinies Now.
London: Andre Deutsch, 1964-1990.
First editions of each of the author’s works in his acclaimed Indian Trilogy. Octavo, original cloth. Each volume is signed by V.S. Naipaul on the title page. Each are fine in near fine to fine dust jackets.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 90453
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First Edition of V.S. Naipaul's The Middle Passage: The Caribbean; Revisited; Signed by Him
NAIPAUL, V.S.
The Middle Passage: The Caribbean Revisited.
London: Andre Deutsch, 1962.
First edition of this travel work, “which belongs in the same category as Lawrence’s books on Italy, Greene’s on West Africa and Pritchett’s on Spain” (New Statesman). Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers. Boldly signed by V.S. Naipaul on the title page. Name on the front free endpaper and stamp on the half-title page, near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by William Belcher.
Price: $2,000.00 Item Number: 75489
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Finely Bound First Editions of Henry Yule's The Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian, Concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East
YULE, Colonel Henry.
The Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian, Concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East.
London: John Murray, 1871.
First edition of Yule’s important work which correlated Polo’s travels with their present-day locations. Octavo, two volumes. Bound in three quarters morocco with gilt tooling featuring naval vignettes and red morocco spine labels lettered in gilt to the spines, top edges gilt, marbled endpapers, with maps and engraved illustrations many folding and in color. In near fine condition. First editions are uncommon.
Price: $1,850.00 Item Number: 90447
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First edition of Henry Miller's Journey Into an Antique Land; inscribed by him to his second wife and muse June Mansfield
MILLER, Henry.
Journey Into an Antique Land.
Big Sur: Ben Ben Press, 1970.
First edition of Miller’s short illustrated work on a visit to St. Remy in the South of France. 12mo, original wrappers as issued, illustrated. One of only 2000 copies. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the verso of the front panel to his second wife, June Mansfield, “For June, All the best! Henry 1/16/67.” In fine condition. Miller’s second wife, June, convinced him to commit to writing full time and became the inspirations for most of his best known works including Tropic of Cancer. After they divorced in 1934, they remained close friends and Miller continued to send his new works to her for many decades to come. With the original transmittal envelope addressed to Mrs. June E. Corbett in Miller’s hand. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. A significant association, most rare and desirable.
Price: $1,800.00 Item Number: 95358
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First Editions of Rudyard Kipling's The First and Second Jungle Books; finely bound in full morocco
KIPLING, Rudyard.
The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book.
London: Macmillan, 1894-95.
First edition, second printings of both volumes of The Jungle Book, finely bound in full morocco. Octavo, two volumes bound in full morocco by Atelier with gilt titles and tooling to the spines in six compartments within raised bands, triple gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated with engravings by J. L. Kipling, W.H. Drake and P. Frenzeny including tissue-guarded frontispiece to Volume I. With the original cloth spines, front and rear panels bound in at the rear of each volume. In fine condition. An exceptional set of these classic children’s books.
Price: $1,750.00 Item Number: 110973
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Sven Hedin's Trans-Himalaya. Discoveries and Adventures in Tibet; From the Library of Explorer and Adventurer Steve Fossett
HEDIN, Sven.
Trans-Himalaya. Discoveries and Adventures in Tibet.
London: Macmillan & Company, Limited, 1909-1913.
Early printings of volumes one and two and a first edition of volume three of this work by the famed explorer. Octavo, 3 volumes, frontispieces, 14 maps (4 of which are folding route maps), numerous illustrations. 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. Uncommon in this condition and with noted provenance.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 111827
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"A STATE OF JOY AND LAUGHTER": SIGNED LIMITED EDITION OF ONE SPECIAL SUMMER; SIGNED BY JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS AND LEE RADZIWILL
BOUVIER, Jacqueline and Lee [Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis].
One Special Summer.
New York: Delacorte Press, 1974.
Signed limited first edition of this delightful memoir written by the Bouvier sisters about their summer in Europe. Folio, original marbled blue paper boards, original cardboard slipcase with photographic paper label, illustrated with drawings and decorations by both authors. Signed by both Jacqueline and Lee Bouvier. In fine condition in the original slipcase, which is fine condition. One of 500 numbered copies.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 48738
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"How much does one imagine, how much observe? One can no more separate those functions than divide light from air, or wetness from water": First Edition of Elspeth Huxley's The Flame Trees of Thika; Signed by Her
HUXLEY, Elspeth.
The Flame Trees of Thika: Memories of an African Childhood.
London: Chatto & Windus, 1959.
First edition of Huxley’s autobiographical work based on her early life among white settlers on her father’s coffee plantation in Kenya. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Elspeth Huxley on the title page. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Rosemary Seligman. Uncommon signed.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 110441
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"All this life, must be life, since it is so much like a dream": First Edition of Joseph Conrad's Nostromo
CONRAD, Joseph.
Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard.
London: Harper & Brothers, 1904.
First edition of what many consider to be Conrad’s masterpiece, one of 2000 copies. Octavo, original blue cloth stamped in gilt. An excellent near fine example with some light rubbing, spine gilt nice and bright, armorial bookplate to the front free endpaper. A very nice example.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 69864
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First Edition of Robert Byron's The Road to Oxiana; From the library of Henry Alexander Nesbitt Medd
BYRON, Robert.
The Road to Oxiana.
London: Macmillan & Company, 1937.
First edition of the author’s masterpiece. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece, 15 plates and a map. From the library of Henry Alexander Nesbitt Medd. Medd, who was an architect and best-known for his collaboration with fellow architects, Edwin Luytens and Herbert Baker, in designing New Delhi. He remained in India and in 1939-47 held the role of Chief Architect to the Indian Government. Medd’s ownership inscription is on the front free endpaper, there is also the bookplate of Gavin Stamp on the front pastedown, who notes that it was a gift from Medd. Stamp reviewed the Picador edition of this work for the Spectator in 1981 and a photocopy of his review is included. In very good condition. A nice example with noted provenance.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 111765
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Rare Autograph Letter signed by Sir Richard Francis Burton
BURTON, Sir Richard Francis.
Sir Richard Francis Burton Autograph Letter Signed.
1885.
Rare autograph letter signed by and entirely in the hand of British orientalist Sir Richard Francis Burton. One page, the letter reads, “Dear Sir, With many thanks I wish to say that I am at present my own agent… but I will let you know in time… Bill F. Burton. Twist Feb. 23 85.” In very good condition. Accompanied by portrait of Burton. Rare and desirable.
Price: $1,500.00 Item Number: 116349
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First Editions of Cadernos De Lanzarote I-IV; Each Volume Signed by Nobel Prize-winning author Jose Saramago
SARAMAGO, Jose.
Cadernos de Lanzarote Diario I- IV.
Lisbon: Caminho, 1994-1997.
First Portugese editions of the Nobel Prize-winning author’s commentaries on Lanzarote, one of Spain’s volcanic Canary Islands. Octavo, original wrappers as issued, 4 volumes. Each volume is signed by Saramago, who has added the word “Lanzarote.” Fine in fine dust jackets.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 148
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First Edition of Edward Whymper's Travels Amongst the Great Andes of the Equator; From the library of Explorer Steve Fossett
WHYMPER, Edward.
Travels Amongst the Great Andes of the Equator.
London: John Murray, 1891-92.
First edition of this work by the mountaineer and explorer. Octavo, 2 volumes, original publisher’s cloth, with 34 engraved plates and 4 maps (one folding, one large folding route map in rear cover pocket). 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 very nice example, with noted provenance.
Price: $1,250.00 Item Number: 111798
