Travel and Exploration

Ponting, Herbert G

The Great White South: Being an Account of Experiences with Captain Scott’s South Pole Expedition and of the Nature Life of the Antarctic.

London : Duckworth & Co, 1921.

First edition of this first hand account of Captain Scott’s ill-fated last expedition. Octavo, original publisher’s blue cloth with gilt titles and British Antarctic Expedition vignette to the spine and front panel, frontispiece, with 164 photographic illustrations by the author, 11 by Captain Scott and others, a map, and 2 drawings. In good condition withContinue reading "The Great White South: Being an Account of Experiences with Captain Scott’s South Pole Expedition and of the Nature Life of the Antarctic."

Schlosser, Eric

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal.

New York : Houghton Mifflin Company, 2001.

First edition of this phenomenal work of investigative journalism. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Lengthily signed by the author on the half- title page, “Even in this fast food nation, you can still have it your way – Eric Schlosser.” Additionally inscribed by Schlosser on a note tipped in, “3/21/23Continue reading "Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal."

Scott, Captain Robert F

The Voyage of the ‘Discovery.’

London : Smith, Elder, & Co, 1905.

First edition of this pioneering journey of the British National Antarctic Expedition of 1901–1904. Octavo, two volumes, original publisher’s navy cloth with gilt titles to the spine, front panels with gilt stamped medallions of the expedition, tissue-guarded photogravure frontispieces, and tipped-in trade slip to volume one. Profusely illustrated with 260 full-page and smaller illustrations byContinue reading "The Voyage of the ‘Discovery.’"

Shackleton, Ernest H

The Heart of the Antarctic: Being the Story of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-1909 by E.H. Shackleton, C.V.O.

London : William Heinemann, 1909.

First trade edition of Shackleton’s thrilling account of one of the earliest attempts to reach the South Pole, “the best book of polar travel which has ever been written” (Manchester Guardian). Large octavo, two volumes in the publisher’s original blue cloth with gilt-lettered spines and large silver pictorial blocks to the front panels, top edgeContinue reading "The Heart of the Antarctic: Being the Story of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-1909 by E.H. Shackleton, C.V.O."

Muir, John

Steep Trails.

Boston and New York : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1918.

First edition of this collection of two dozen of Muir’s essays documenting his travels throughout the American West between 1873 and 1902. Octavo, original gray cloth lettered in white, colored pictorial onlay to the front panel, top edge gilt, illustrated with 12 plates. Edited by William Frederic Badè. In very good condition, name to theContinue reading "Steep Trails."

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 of Muir’s account of his expedition aboard the USS Corwin. Octavo, original cream green cloth, color pictorial cover label, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece, illustrated with plates from photographs and from sketches by Muir. Edited by William Frederic Badè. (Kimes 348 BAL 14775). In near fine condition, period ownership inscription to the pastedown.Continue reading "The Cruise of the Corwin: Journal of the Arctic Expedition of 1881 in Search of De Long and the Jeannette."

Willis, Nathaniel Parker; W.H. Bartlett

American Scenery; Or, Land, Lake, and River Illustrations of Transatlantic Nature.

London : George Virtue, 1840.

First edition of this illustrated portfolio of views of stunning American scenes. Quarto, two volumes, bound in full morocco with gilt titles and tolling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt ruling and floral detailing to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, tissue-guarded engraved portraitContinue reading "American Scenery; Or, Land, Lake, and River Illustrations of Transatlantic Nature."

Muir, John

The Yosemite.

New York : The Century Co, 1912.

First edition of this seminal work relaying Muir’s first experience in the Yosemite Valley which inspired to him to establish Yosemite National Park. Octavo, original publisher’s pictorial cloth stamped in gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece, illustrated with numerous plates and three folding maps. In very good condition, inscription to the front free endpaper. An excellent example.

Muir, John

Travels in Alaska.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1916.

First edition, early printing of this classic work by Muir. Octavo, original grey cloth lettered in white, color illustrated pictorial paper onlay, top edge gilt, illustrated with plates from photographs, tissue-guarded frontispiece. In very good condition, name to the front free endpaper.

Aldrin, Buzz; Charles Conrad; Alan Bean; Edgar Mitchell; Dave Scott; Charlie Duke; Gene Cernan

Apollo Moonwalkers Signed Photograph.

1969.

Rare color satin-finish photograph of the Apollo spacecraft over the lunar surface. Boldly signed around the Apollo spacecraft in black felt tip by seven moonwalkers: Buzz Aldrin, Charlie Duke, Gene Cernan, Charles Conrad, Alan Bean, Edgar Mitchell, and Dave Scott. In fine condition. The piece measures 10 inches by 8 inches.

Aldrin, Buzz

Return to Earth.

New York : Random House, 1973.

First edition of this work by the second man to walk on the moon. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by Buzz Aldrin on the front free endpaper and inscribed by the co-author “To Jerry A. Griffin with best wishes Wayne Warga.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. JacketContinue reading "Return to Earth."

Reisner, Marc

Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water.

New York : Viking, 1986.

First edition of this essential environmental text, named by The Modern Library as one of the 100 greatest non-fiction books of the twentieth century. Octavo, original publisher’s half-cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by Marc Reisner on the half-title page in red ink. Very good in a very good dustContinue reading "Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water."

Bulwer-Lytton, Edward George

The Last Days of Pompeii.

Chicago and New York : Rand, McNally & Company, 1899.

Finely bound example of Bulwer-Lytton’s most celebrated work, a classic of historical fiction and the basis for the 1935 Hollywood film of the same name directed by Ernest B. Schoedsack and Merian C. Cooper. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles and elaborate detailing to the spine, front and rear panels, top edge gilt, tissue-guardedContinue reading "The Last Days of Pompeii."

Kipling, Rudyard

The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book.

London : Macmillan, 1894-95.

First editions of both volumes of The Jungle Book. Octavo, two volumes, original blue cloth decorated and lettered in gilt, all edges gilt, engraved tissue-guarded frontispiece, illustrated by J. L. Kipling, W.H. Drake and P. Frenzeny. In near fine condition with light rubbing to the extremities. Near ownership inscriptions. An exceptional example.

Mather, William Williams

Geological Map of Long & Staten Islands with the Environs of New York From the Topographical Surveys of J. Calvin Smith.

New York 1842.

Rare hand-colored example of Mather’s monumental pre-Civil War wall map of Long Island, the finest and largest map of Long Island of the period. One page, two sheets joined from the topographical surveys of J. Calvin Smith, and lithographed by Endicott. Issued with Mather’s 1843 Geology of New York, the map offers fine detail ofContinue reading "Geological Map of Long & Staten Islands with the Environs of New York From the Topographical Surveys of J. Calvin Smith."

Armstrong, Neil; Buzz Aldrin; Michael Collins

Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins Signed Photograph of the Apollo 11 Launch.

1969.

Official NASA color photograph of the Apollo 11 liftoff. Color satin-finish photograph of the liftoff of the Apollo 11 mission from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on July 16, 1969. Boldly signed in black felt tip by the Apollo 11 crew members Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins. Official NASA photograph. In fineContinue reading "Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins Signed Photograph of the Apollo 11 Launch."

Fermor, Patrick Leigh [Daphne Fielding]

Roumeli: Travels in Northern Greece.

London : John Murray, 1966.

First edition of the author’s travelogue companion piece to Mani. Octavo, original cloth, a map, and illustrated with black and white photographs. Association copy, lengthily inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper in Greek to Daphne Fielding with a large ink sketch of a coastal scene covering the entire page and additionally signedContinue reading "Roumeli: Travels in Northern Greece."

Bourdain, Anthony

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly.

New York : Bloomsbury, 2000.

First edition, early printing of the legendary chef’s bestselling memoir and first work of non-fiction. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Diane Anthony Bourdain.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Notice 51. Rare and desirable signed and inscribed.

Friedman, Matti [Leonard Cohen]

Who By Fire: Leonard Cohen in the Sinai.

New York : Spiegel and Grau, 2022.

First edition, early printing of this journalistic perspective of Leonard Cohen during the Yom Kippur War. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jack design by Strick and Williams.

[Hill, Tex; Ken Jernstedt; Paul J. Greene; Robert T. Smith; Dick Rossi; Erik Shilling; Bob Layher; Ed Rector; Charlie Bond; Robert M. Smith; Edward F. Gallagher; Frank Losonsky; Rolland Richardson; Carl Quick; Al Kaelin]

Chennault’s Flying Tigers: A Commemorative History of the American Volunteer Group.

Minnesota : Flying Tigers 14th Air Force Association, Inc, 1982.

First edition of this detailed and richly illustrated tribute to American Volunteer Group’s pivotal role in early World War II air combat. Quarto, original blue boards with an inlay of a flying tiger and Claire Lee Chennault, pictorial and cartographic endpapers, illustrated with black and white photographs throughout. Boldly signed on a Flying Tigers bookplateContinue reading "Chennault’s Flying Tigers: A Commemorative History of the American Volunteer Group."

Armstrong, Neil; Buzz Aldrin; Michael Collins

Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins Signed Photograph of Descent Onto Lunar Surface.

.

Photograph of Buzz Aldrin descending the ladder of the Apollo 11 lunar module ‘Eagle’ onto the surface of the moon. Color glossy photograph of Buzz Aldrin descending the ladder of the Apollo 11 lunar module “Eagle” onto the surface of the moon. Boldly signed by the Apollo 11 crew on the mount by Neil Armstrong, BuzzContinue reading "Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins Signed Photograph of Descent Onto Lunar Surface."

Leigh Fermor, Patrick [Xan and Daphne Fielding]

A Journey To Peru: July 27th-Sept 2nd 1971 (Three Letters From the Andes).

Kardamyli, Greece : Privately Printed, 1972.

An 88 page manuscript of Patrick Leigh Fermor’s book “Three Letters From the Andes” with Leigh Fermor’s hand corrections throughout. Quarto, photocopy typescript. Privately printed in Kardamyli in 1972. Association copy, inscribed by the author, “For Xan and Daphne with tons of love from Paddy.” The recipient Daphne Fielding was a British socialite and memoiristContinue reading "A Journey To Peru: July 27th-Sept 2nd 1971 (Three Letters From the Andes)."

Loring, Josiah

Loring’s Terrestrial Table Globe.

Boston : Josiah Loring, c. 1833.

Rare early 19th century American terrestrial table globe published by Josiah Loring. The terrestrial globe measures 17 inches in diameter with a calibrated brass meridian ring and 17 inch mahogany horizon ring decorated with mounted hand colored decorations. Mounted on an ebonized oak stand. The globe is comprised of 12 richly detailed hand-colored gores withContinue reading "Loring’s Terrestrial Table Globe."

Chinese Medicine and Physiognomy Manual Collection.

.

Rare collection of nine Chinese woodblock physiognomy manuals, wonderfully illustrated with xiangfatu representing the principles and practices of Chinese physiognomy. Octavo, nine volumes bound in illustrated wrappers, illustrated with numerous physiognomic charts and diagrams. In  very good condition.