Travel and Exploration

Christensen, Lars

Such Is The Antarctic.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1935.

First edition of Norwegian Antarctic explorer Lars Christensen’s account of his Antarctic voyages between 1930 and 1934. Quarto, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, frontispiece portrait of the author, illustrated with 44 plates and one folding map. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown. American businessman and record-setting aviator SteveContinue reading "Such Is The Antarctic."

Hayes, J. Gordon

Antarctica: A Treatise on the Southern Continent.

London : The Richards Press, 1928.

First edition of Hayes’ seminal work on Antarctica. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated with plates after photographs, charts and maps, many folding. 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 theContinue reading "Antarctica: A Treatise on the Southern Continent."

Grierson, John

Sir Hubert Wilkins: Enigma of Exploration.

London : Robert Hale Limited, 1960.

First edition of John Grierson’s biography of fellow Arctic pioneer Sir Hubert Wilkins. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with photographs and maps. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in the year of publication, “to my distinguished Namesake from John Grierson 5.10.60.” From the library of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with hisContinue reading "Sir Hubert Wilkins: Enigma of Exploration."

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."

Bull, Henrik Johan

The Cruise of the ‘Antarctic’ to the South Polar Regions.

London : Edward Arnold, 1896.

First edition of Antarctic pioneer Henrik Johan Bull’s account of his voyage aboard the steamship ‘Antarctic’ in search of the elusive Right whale which, arguably, put the first men on the continent. Octavo, original pictorial cloth with gilt titles to the spine, gilt vignette of the ‘Antarctic’ to the front panel, frontispiece by W.L. WyllieContinue reading "The Cruise of the ‘Antarctic’ to the South Polar Regions."

Allcard, Edward C

Temptress Returns.

London : Putnam & Co., Ltd, 1952.

First edition of English yachtsman Edward C. Allcard’s detailed account of his second solo trip across the Atlantic aboard the yawl Temptress. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, frontispiece, illustrated. 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 toContinue reading "Temptress Returns."

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 roleContinue reading "The Road to Oxiana."

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.

Grierson, John. Introduction by Wolfgang von Gronau

High Failure: Solo Along the Arctic Air Route.

London : William Hodge & Company, Limited, 1936.

First edition of English Aviator John Grierson’s account of his solo trip along the Arctic Air Route. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Associtation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page in the year of publication, “To Chief Factor Ralph Parsons with best wished John Grierson 15/11/36.” The recipient, Ralph Parsons was aContinue reading "High Failure: Solo Along the Arctic Air Route."

Brown, Monty. Foreword by Vivian Fuchs

Where Giants Trod: The Saga of Kenya’s Desert Lake.

London : Quiller Press, 1989.

Special limited edition of Brown’s elaborately illustrated history of Kenya’s northern desert region and the 13 expeditions to Lake Rudolf. Quarto, original publisher’s three quarters pebbled morocco over leatherette boards, marbled endpapers, with 75 color and 50 black and white illustrations, folding map in pocket affixed to rear pastedown. One of 250 numbered copies signedContinue reading "Where Giants Trod: The Saga of Kenya’s Desert Lake."

Roosevelt, Eleanor

India and the Awakening East.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1953.

First edition of Eleanor Roosevelt’s account of her travels through the Middle East and India. Octavo, original half cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated with 32 pages of photographs.  Presentation copy, signed by the author on the half-title page, “Eleanor Roosevelt with love to you, on Washington’s birthday Fer. 22, 1954 Vernon.” Near fine in a veryContinue reading "India and the Awakening East."

Jameson, Mrs. [Anna Brownell]

Visits and Sketches at Home and Abroad with Tales and Miscellanies Now First Collected and a New Edition of the Diary of an Ennuyée.

London : Saunders and Otley, 1834.

Rare first edition of Mrs. Jameson’s Visits and Sketches at Home and Abroad. Octavo, volume III only of four volumes bound in three quarters vellum over marbled boards with gilt tooling to the spine, marbled endpapers, engraved frontispiece, headpieces, and tailpieces, all edges red. In very good condition.

Brown, Kenneth

The Medchester Club.

New York : The Derrydale Press, 1938.

First edition of the author’s collection of hunting reminiscences and tales of horsemanship. Octavo, original cloth with labels to the spine and front panel lettered in gilt, illustrated by Smithson Broadhead. One of 950 numbered copies, this is number 814. In near fine condition.

Uris, Leon; Photographs by Dimitrios Harissiadis

Exodus Revisited.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday & Company, Inc, 1960.

First edition of this monograph of photographs of Uris’ visit to Israel. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated throughout. Signed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Shalom Leon Uris.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket with light shelfwear. Jacket design by Sydney Butchkes. Project coordination by Ilan Hartuv.

Symonds, John Addington

Sketches in Italy.

Leipzig : Bernhard Tauchnitz, 1883.

First edition of John Addington Symonds’ Italian sketches. Small octavo, bound in full vellum with gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges red, ribbon bound in. In near fine condition.

Seton, Ernest Thompson

Lives of Game Animals.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday, Page, 1925-28.

Signed limited first edition, number 95 of only 177 sets, of Seton’s illustrated zoology of “land animals in America, north of the Mexican border,” with 1,500 illustrations and 50 maps showing distribution, signed by Seton on the frontispiece of Volume I. Large Quarto, four volumes, original brown and tan gilt-stamped cloth, top edges gilt. In very goodContinue reading "Lives of Game Animals."

Ebülgâzî Bahadir Han, Khan of Khorezm

A General History of the Turks, Moguls, and Tatars, Vulgarly called Tartars. Together With a Description of the Countries They Inhabit.

London : Printed for J. and J. Knapton, J. Darby, A. Bettesworth, et. al., 1729-1730.

Rare first edition in English of one of the earliest sources on the Turks, Moguls, and Tartars. Octavos, two volumes. Bound in full polished calf with red morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, gilt tooling to the spines in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins, all edges speckled red, engraved headpieces and tailpieces,Continue reading "A General History of the Turks, Moguls, and Tatars, Vulgarly called Tartars. Together With a Description of the Countries They Inhabit."

White, Herbert C

Peking the Beautiful.

Shanghai, China : The Commercial Press, 1927.

First edition of this work comprising photographic studies of the celebrated monuments of China’s northern capital with descriptive and historical notes. Folio, original embroidered silk pictorial boards, original publisher’s wooden box. In fine condition without wear. Contains 70 photographic plates mounted, numerous illustrations in text. Contains an introduction by Hu Shih, professor of Philosophy atContinue reading "Peking the Beautiful."

Bunnell, Lafayette Houghton

The Discovery of the Yosemite and The Indian War of 1851, Which Led To That Event.

Chicago : Fleming H. Revell, 1880.

First edition of Bunnell’s account of the discovery of Yosemite Valley with the Mariposa Battalion in 1851. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles and tooling to the spine and front panel, patterned endpapers, illustrated with 21 engravings including frontispiece portrait of Bunnell. In very good condition with wear to the extremities and rear panel.  Continue reading "The Discovery of the Yosemite and The Indian War of 1851, Which Led To That Event."

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: “Gateway to the Everglades”.

Fort Lauderdale : Snyder & Hortt, Real Estate and Investments, c. 1915.

Rare first edition promotional brochure for the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Octavo, profusely illustrated with photographs taken c. 1914-1915 of the business district, boulevards, markets, railways, farms, orange groves, beaches, marinas, streams, and homes of Fort Lauderale. Map of Florida on the final page. In near fine condition. Scarce, OCLC/WorldCat locates only one otherContinue reading "Fort Lauderdale, Florida: “Gateway to the Everglades”."