Fine Bindings and Sets

Dickens. Charles

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1839.

First edition in book form of one of Dickens’ most popular novels. Octavo, bound in contemporary three quarters calf, morocco spine label, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, steel-engraved frontispiece portrait of Dickens after the painting by David Maclise, illustrated with 39 etchings by Hablot Knight Browne (“Phiz”). In very good condition.

Jones, Owen

Plans, Elevations, Sections and Details of the Alhambra.

London : Owen Jones, 1841-45.

First edition of this monumental work on The Alhambra. Elephant folio,  two volumes, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, as issued. In excellent condition with some wear to the binding, plates in exceptional condition.

Thomson, James

The Complete Poetical Works of James Thomson.

London : Henry Frowde, 1908.

The Oxford edition of Thomson’s complete poetical works. Octavo, bound in full contemporary tree calf with elaborate gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, red morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the front and rear panel, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edgesContinue reading "The Complete Poetical Works of James Thomson."

Thompson, Theodora

Underneath The Bough: A Posie of Other Men’s Flowers.

New York : John Lane, 1905.

First edition of Theodora Thompson’s collection of inspirational verse. Octavo, bound in three quarters vellum by Riviere & Sons with green morocco spine label lettered in gilt, botanical gilt tooling to the spine, top edge gilt, pictorial endpapers, engraved frontispiece and decorated title page. In near fine condition. Rare and desirable. Ownership inscription.

Lucas, St. John

The Oxford Book of French Verse.

Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1908.

First edition of Lucas’ compilation of the verse from the greatest French poets of the 13th and 14th centuries. Octavo, bound in half vellum for Christ’s Hospital boarding school with their armorial crest to the front panel, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt tooling to the spine, gilt topstain. Introduction in English, text inContinue reading "The Oxford Book of French Verse."

Whitman, Walt

Two Rivulets: Including Democratic Vistas, Centennial Songs, and Passage to India.

Camden, New Jersey : Author's Edition, 1876.

Scarce first edition, first issue with the blank leaf between ‘As a Strong Bird’ and ‘Memoranda’ and single leaf of advertisements for Whitman’s books inserted between the back flyleaves. One of only 100 copies. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised giltContinue reading "Two Rivulets: Including Democratic Vistas, Centennial Songs, and Passage to India."

von Mises, Ludwig

Theory and History. An Interpretation of Social and Economic Evolution.

New Haven : Yale University Press, 1957.

First edition of Mises’ classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Boldly signed by Ludwig von Mises on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket with a touch of rubbing. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. An exceptional example, rare and desirable signed.

Merrihew, Stephen Wallis

The Quest of the Davis Cup: Volume VI of The Lawn Tennis Library.

New York : American Lawn Tennis, Inc, 1928.

First signed limited edition de luxe of Merrihew’s classic work on the “World Cup of Tennis.” Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, engraved photogravure tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Davis, illustrated with 48 engravings after photographs.Continue reading "The Quest of the Davis Cup: Volume VI of The Lawn Tennis Library."

Facsimiles of Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Waitangi.

New Zealand : R.E. Owen, Government Printer, 1960.

Finely bound example of this compilation of documents related to the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand and the Treaty of Waitangi. Quarter, bound in full pebbled leatherette with gilt titles to the front panel, containing numerous facsimiles of original signed documents, many folding. In very good condition. Rare.

Mawson, Sir Douglas

The Home Of The Blizzard: Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911–1914.

Philadelphia and London : J.B. Lippincott and William Heinemann, 1915.

First edition of this classic account of Antarctic exploration. Thick octavo, 2 volumes, original dark blue cloth, profusely illustrated with 18 color plates, hundreds of black-and-white plates, numerous in-text illustrations and three color folding maps in rear pocket of Volume II. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown of eachContinue reading "The Home Of The Blizzard: Being the Story of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, 1911–1914."

Paine, Thomas

Dissertations on Government, the Affairs of the Bank, and Paper Money.

London : Printed by W.T. Sherwin, 1817.

First British edition of Paine’s defense of the Bank of North America. Small octavo, bound in modern wrappers. In near fine condition with light toning to the extremities.

Des Ballons Aérostatiques, de la maniere de les construire, de les faire elever [Of Balloons aerostatic, the way to build them, elevate them].

Lausanne : J.P. Heubach & Cie, 1784.

First edition of this work, translated as, Of Balloons Aerostatic, the Way to Build Them, Elevate Them. Octavo, bound in contemporary three quarters calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine and gilt balloon tooling in 4 compartments, marbled endpapers. This work is often wrongly attributed to Faujas de Saint-Fond, as it reprints his “DiscoursContinue reading "Des Ballons Aérostatiques, de la maniere de les construire, de les faire elever [Of Balloons aerostatic, the way to build them, elevate them]."

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 businessmanContinue reading "Trans-Himalaya. Discoveries and Adventures in Tibet."

Davis, John K

With the “Aurora” in the Antarctic 1911-1914.

London : Andrew Melrose, 1919.

First edition of Captain John Davis’ expedition to Antarctica. Octavo, original blue cloth, gilt titles and gilt illustration of the titular steamship, illustrated throughout, tipped-in rear map. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the front free endpaper. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett became the first person toContinue reading "With the “Aurora” in the Antarctic 1911-1914."

British Sports and Sportsmen: Yachting and Rowing.

London : British Sports and Sportsmen, 1916.

First edition, limited to 1,000 examples. Folio, bound in original full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, raised bands, numerous photogravure portraits. This lavishly-produced survey of large and small boat racing, cruising, and rowing, includes biographies of prominent yachtsmen, and includes descriptions of the America’s Cup and single-handedContinue reading "British Sports and Sportsmen: Yachting and Rowing."

Bagehot, Walter

The English Constitution.

London : Kegan Paul, Trench & Co, 1882.

Early printing of Bagehot’s analysis of the constitution of the United Kingdom. Octavo, bound in full vellum with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, armorial gilt devices to the front and rear panels, marbled endpapers, all edges red. In very good condition.

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 full morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, gilt ruling and vignettes to the front panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, all edges gilt, patterned endpapers, with maps and engravedContinue reading "The Book of Ser Marco Polo, the Venetian, Concerning the Kingdoms and Marvels of the East."

Bolton, James

Harmonia Ruralis; or, An Essay Towards A Natural History of British Songbirds.

London : Printed For and Sold By the Author, 1794.

Rare first edition of Bolton’s magnificently illustrated work on British songbirds. First issue with the original plates 7 and 13 which differ in later issues. Quarto, two volumes bound into one in three quarters morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustrated with eighty copper-plates of life-size maleContinue reading "Harmonia Ruralis; or, An Essay Towards A Natural History of British Songbirds."

Wilde, Oscar

The Works of Oscar Wilde.

London and Paris : Methuen Charles Carrington, 1907-22.

The works of Oscar Wilde, bound in the original cloth, one of 1000 sets made on handmade paper. Octavo, 14 volumes, original cream cloth, decorated and lettered in gilt, top edges gilt. One of 1000 sets of this edition on handmade paper. In near fine condition.

Le Paulmier, Julien

Traite Du Vin Et Du Sidre.

Rouen : H. Lestringant, 1896.

Rare Societe des Bibliophiles Normands Limited Edition reissue of Le Paulmier’s foundational work on pomology. Octavo, original wrappers, one of only 200 copies printed, this is number 65. Translated into the French by Jacques Cahaignes. Introduction by Emile Travers. In very good condition.