Travel and Exploration

Burton, Richard F

The Land of Midian (Revisited).

London : C. Kegan Paul & Co, 1879.

First edition of the sequel to Burton’s The Gold Mines Of Midian (1878), describing Burton’s second expedition through Midian in northwest Arabia. Octavo, two volumes, original publisher’s pictorial cloth stamped in black and gilt with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, black pictorial decorations to the front panel, beveled edges, black endpapers, illustratedContinue reading "The Land of Midian (Revisited)."

Gibbon, Edward

The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

London : Printed for W. Strahan; and T. Cadell, In The Strand, 1776-1788.

First edition, first state of Gibbon’s “masterpiece of historical penetration and literary style” (PMM). Quarto, six volumes, bound in modern half calf over marbled boards by Bayntun-Riviere with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, all edges speckled red, engraved frontispiece portrait of Gibbon byContinue reading "The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire."

Stanley, Henry M

Magdala: The Story of the Abyssinian Campaign of 1866-7.

London : Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1896.

First edition of the second part of the ‘Coomassie and Magdala’ volume. Octavo, original leather binding, illustrated with a map of the British expedition and numerous drawings by Melton Prior and other artists. In very good condition. Library bookplate to the front pastedown with the Latin motto ‘Vicilans Non Cadet’ – ‘The vigilant man fallsContinue reading "Magdala: The Story of the Abyssinian Campaign of 1866-7."

McPhee, John

Giving Good Weight.

New York : Farrar Straus Giroux, 1979.

First edition of this collection of McPhee’s classic essays. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by John McPhee on the title page. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Lawrence Ratzkin.

Melville, Herman

Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life. During a Four Months’ Residence in A Valley of the Marquesas.

New York : Wiley and Putnam, 1846.

First edition of Melville’s first book and his most popular during his lifetime. Octavo, two volumes bound into one in the original cloth stamped in blind with gilt titles to the spine, frontispiece map, both half-titles and 6 pages of publisher’s advertisements at rear. BAL 13653. In very good condition, bookplate to the front pastedown.Continue reading "Typee: A Peep at Polynesian Life. During a Four Months’ Residence in A Valley of the Marquesas."

Burton, Richard F

The Book of The Thousand Nights and a Night: A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights Entertainments Made and Annotated by Richard Burton.

New York : The Heritage Press, 1962.

The Heritage edition of Burton’s monumental masterpiece. Octavo, six volumes bound into three, original publisher’s half cloth over illustrated paper-covered boards, decorated with illustrations by Valenti Angelo. Each volume is near fine and housed in the publisher’s original slipcase. Ownership stamp to the front free endpaper of each volume.

Burton, Richard

The Thousand and One Nights: The Arabian Nights Entertainments. With an Introduction Illustrative of the Religion, Manners, and Customs of the Mohammedans.

London : J. C. Nimmo and Bain, 1883.

The Nimmo edition of Burton’s monumental masterpiece. Octavo, four volumes bound in three quarter maroon crushed levant morocco over marbled boards by Bayntun with gilt titles and five raised bands to the spine, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with nineteen original etchings by Lalauze. One of 150 numbered copies printed on laid paper withContinue reading "The Thousand and One Nights: The Arabian Nights Entertainments. With an Introduction Illustrative of the Religion, Manners, and Customs of the Mohammedans."

Hillary, Edmund

High Adventure.

London : Hodder & Stoughton, 1955.

First British edition of Hillary’s account of his ascent of Everest. Octavo, original blue cloth, with maps by A. Sparks and sketches by George Djurkouic. Boldly signed by the author in a contemporary hand on the frontispiece, “E.P. Hillary.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

Morris, James [Jan]

Sultan in Oman: Venture Into The Middle East.

New York : Pantheon, 1957.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in a very good dust jacket.

Lindbergh, Charles A

Of Flight and Life.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1948.

First edition of this prophetic discourse on weapons of mass destruction. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the half-title page, “To Elizabeth Bartky with much affection, and best wishes from Charles A. Lindbergh August 1948.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. An excellent association.

Carpenter, M. Scott; Cooper, L. Gordon, Jr., Glenn, John H., Jr., Grissom, Virgil I., Schirra, Walter M., Jr., Shepard, Alan B., Jr., Slayton, Donald K.

We Seven. By the Astronauts Themselves.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1962.

First edition, early printing of this first-hand account of the genesis of America’s manned space program. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by Mercury Seven Astronauts on the front free endpaper, “Bob Best wishes- Scott Carpenter and John Glenn. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by PaulContinue reading "We Seven. By the Astronauts Themselves."

Irwin, James B. with William A. Emerson Jr

To Rule The Night: The Discovery Voyage of Astronaut Jim Irwin.

Philadelphia : A. J. Holman Company, 1973.

First edition of the autobiography of Jim Irwin, who served as the Lunar Module pilot for Apollo 15. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To William Stanhope my very best wishes for your life in Him. James Irwin.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket designContinue reading "To Rule The Night: The Discovery Voyage of Astronaut Jim Irwin."

Schmitt, Harrison. Foreword by Neil Armstrong

Return to the Moon: Exploration, Enterprise, and Energy in the Human Settlement of Space.

New York : Copernicus Books in Association with Praxis Publishing, 2006.

First edition of the author’s visionary plan for humankind’s future in space. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Bob Harrison Schmitt Apollo 17.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Jordan Rosenbum.

Blixen, Karen. [Isak Dinesen]

Out of Africa.

London : Putnam, 1948.

Later printing of the author’s classic memoir, recounting her seventeen years in Kenya. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Karen Blixen Je Responderai March 1957.” While in Africa, Blixen took as her motto “Je Responderai,” “I will answer,” from the family crest of her lover, Denys Finch-Hatton. She explained:Continue reading "Out of Africa."

West, Rebecca

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: The Record of a Journey Through Yugoslavia in 1937.

New York : The Viking Press, 1941.

First American editions of Rebecca West’s masterpiece. Octavo, 2 volumes, original cloth, cartographic endpapers. Association copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “But the journey would have been better if Beatrice and Bruce had been there. Rebecca West 1962.” The recipients, Bruce Gould and Beatrice Blackmar Gould were co-editors of the Ladies’Continue reading "Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: The Record of a Journey Through Yugoslavia in 1937."

Morris, James. [Jan Morris]

Pax Britannica Trilogy: Pax Britannica: The Climax of an Empire, Heaven’s Command: An Imperial Progress, and Farewell the Trumpets.

London : Faber and Faber, 1968-1978.

First editions of each volume in the author’s highly acclaimed Pax Britannica Trilogy: Pax Britannica: The Climax of an Empire (1968), Heaven’s Command: An Imperial Progress (1973), and Farewell the Trumpets (1978). Octavo, three volumes, original publisher’s cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Each volume is very good in a near fine dust jacket. Spotting to theContinue reading "Pax Britannica Trilogy: Pax Britannica: The Climax of an Empire, Heaven’s Command: An Imperial Progress, and Farewell the Trumpets."

Blaeu, Willem and Joan

Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. [Le Theatre du Monde].

Amsterdam : Chez Jean Blaeu/Apud Guiljelmum et Johannem Blaeu, 1643-1645.

A fine French-text copy in a presentation binding. Folio, 4 volumes, contemporary Dutch vellum likely from the Blaeu workshop with gilt tooling to the spine in eight compartments within gilt bands, central gilt arabesques and fleuron corner pieces within double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt. Gilt presentation inscription toContinue reading "Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. [Le Theatre du Monde]."

Rickenbacker, Captain Edward V

Seven Came Through: Rickenbacker’s Full Story Including His Message to America.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday, Doran and Company, Inc, 1943.

First edition, early printing of Rickenbacker’s autobiography. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket.

The Macallan James Bond 60th Anniversary Release Decade I-VI [Full Set].

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Through a behind the scenes exploration of the James Bond archives this release celebrates 007 and The Macallan as modern innovators linked by their Scottish heritage. The Macallan and James Bond are bound together by our shared Scottish heritage, innovative nature and the pursuit of excellence. We have created a remarkable collection comprising six limitedContinue reading "The Macallan James Bond 60th Anniversary Release Decade I-VI [Full Set]."

West, Rebecca

The Vassall Affair.

London : Sunday Telegraph, 1963.

First edition of this work by the author of Black Lamb and Grey Falcon. Octavo, original wrappers. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the half-title page, “My love to Bruce and Beatrice Rebecca West 1963.” The recipients, Bruce Gould and Beatrice Blackmar Gould were co-editors of the Ladies’ HomeContinue reading "The Vassall Affair."

Lindbergh, Charles A

Of Flight and Life.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1948.

First edition of this prophetic discourse on weapons of mass destruction. Association copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the half-title page, “To Dean Walter Bartky with affection, and best wishes from Charles A. Lindbergh August 1948.” The recipient, Walter Bartky was an American educator and mathematician and friend of theContinue reading "Of Flight and Life."

Lawrence, T.E

Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1965.

Finely bound edition of Lawrence’s classic account of his role in the Arab rebellion against the Ottoman Empire during the First World War. Octavo, bound in full morocco by Brentano’s, frontispiece, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, double gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, raised bands, marbled endpapers, inner dentelles, all edgesContinue reading "Seven Pillars of Wisdom: A Triumph."

Aldrin, Buzz and Malcolm McConnell

Men From Earth.

New York : Bantam Books, 1989.

First edition of Aldrin’s autobiography. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by Buzz Aldrin on the half-title page, :To Bob Best Wishes Buzz Aldrin” and by the co-author opposite the title page, “To Bob – Best regards Malcolm McConnell.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Jacket design by One Plus Studio.Continue reading "Men From Earth."

Borman, Frank

Countdown.

New York : Silver Arrow Books, 1988.

First edition, second printing of the astronaut’s classic autobiography. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Bob Best wishes Frank Borman.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Mike Stromberg. Written with Robert J. Serling.