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History & Culture
Windows into worlds gone by, a vast store of history. Both the iconic and the less well-known is here. Together with forgotten byways and things not found anywhere else. Here is also Americana, Crime, Feminism, Occultism,Archaeology, and Ethnography.
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1907 4vol Monarchs of Merrie EnglandLeeds and London: [1907]A Heath Robinson illustrated complete four volume set of these historical poetry works by Roland Carse. -
1801 A New History of England, by Question and AnswerLondon: 1801An early 19th century edition of John Lockman's educational and entertaining history of England, told in question-and-answer style. -
1807 The Ancient and Modern History of NiceLondon: 1807Illustrated with a folding landscape frontispiece, this is the uncommon first edition of I. B. Davis's detailed history of the region surrounding Nice in France. -
1762 An Historical and Critical Account of the Life of Oliver CromwellLondon: 1762The scarce first edition of William Harris's highly informative nonconformist biography of Oliver Cromwell, in a contemporary calf binding. -
1820 Notice historique des Evenements qui se sont passes dans l'administration de l'Opera, la nuit du 13 FevrierParis : 1820A scarce historical account of the assassination of the Duke of Berry at the Paris Opera. -
1929 S'Nellie's Welsh Fairy TalesNewtown: 1929An incredibly scarce volume of charming illustrated Welsh fairytales. -
1919 A Japanese Artist in LondonLondon: 1919An uncommon autobiography, with numerous colour and monochrome plates, on the life of Yoshio Markino. -
1814 The Universal Fortune-Teller; Or An Infallible Guide to the Secret & Hidden Decrees of FateLondon: 1814Cunning-man John Parkins's vanishingly scarce guide to the many occult methods of fortune-telling with which he was intimately acquainted. -
Signed
1988 No Idle Hands: The Social History of American KnittingNew York: 1988A signed first edition, first printing of this historical account of knitting in America. -
c1930 Mrs Beeton's Household ManagementLondon: c1930A smart edition of Mrs Isabella Beeton's important cookery work - one of the most influential of its genre ever published - in the original dust wrapper. -
1950 Decorative Art of Victoria's EraNew York: 1950A very scarce copy of this copiously illustrated historical account of the art of the Victorian era. -
Signed
1957 La Maison; The History of Prunier'sLondon: 1957A signed first edition copy of this delightful illustrated history of the Paris restaurant La Maison Prunier, written by its owner Madame Prunier. -
1812 A Complete and Universal Dictionary of the English LanguageBungay: 1812A handsomely bound example of the first Bungay edition of Barclay's impressive English language dictionary, illustrated throughout with engraved plates and hand coloured maps. -
1934 Housecraft Principles and PracticeLondon: 1934A very scarce illustrated and instructional title, seen here with its incredibly scarce, unclipped original dust wrapper. -
c.1962 Cock-a-hoop Bibliography of the Golden Cockerel PressLondon: c.1962A charming, illustrated bibliography of publications released by the Golden Cockerel Press, illustrated throughout. -
1949-1961 4vol Collection Local HistoryHavant; London; New York; Toronto; Sydney: 1961; 1949; 1960; 1957A collection of illustrated local history titles, in original illustrated, and unclipped, dust wrappers. -
Signed
1932-1934 The Conquest of the South Pole; The Conquest of the North PoleLondon: 1932-1934The impressively illustrated first editions of J. Gordon Hayes's accounts of early 20th century Polar exploration, with his study of the North Pole being a signed presentation copy from the author himself. -
1775 A Tour through Sicily and Malta. In a series of letters to William Beckford, Esq.Dublin: 1775In full calf bindings, this is the two volume third edition of Patrick Brydone's account of his 1770 travels in the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Malta. -
1852 Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of CrowdsLondon: 1852The illustrated second edition of this highly important early study on crowd psychology and group delusions, by the Scottish journalist Charles Mackay. -
1825 The Private Memoirs of Madame Du Hausset, Lady's Maid to Madame De PompadourLondon: 1825A bright example of the very scarce first English language edition of Madame du Hausset's account of her time as lady's maid to Madame de Pompadour, in the household of King Louis XV. -
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1919 Collected Fruits of Occult TeachingLondon: 1919The scarce first edition of theosophist Alfred Percy Sinnett's guide to occult teachings and the ways in which theosophists view the world and its history. -
1834 A Letter Relative to the Affairs of the Poor of the Parish of Frome Selwood, in SomersetshireFrome : 1834A rare and insightful survey pertaining to Frome's poor population, from well-known philanthropist of the parish, Thomas Bunn. -
1726-1727 The Memoirs and Secret Negotiations of John Ker, of KerslandLondon: 1726-1727An exceptionally lovely complete first and third edition set of John Ker's fascinating memoirs, including an account of the French in Louisiana and Mississippi, and illustrated with a folding map. -
1949 The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and ReligionLondon: 1949Insightful study on the mysteries of magic and religion from prominent folklorist and social anthropologist, Sir James George Frazer. -
c1920 Fairy Tales and StoriesLondon: c1920A beautifully illustrated copy of this collection of notable fairy tales by Hans Christen Andersen. -
c1930 Fabrique de Bois de Lits de Repos & Divans Cosy-Corners Chassis Sommiers et Chassis en Hetre Establissments Jamet Cornelis, Gorand & CieParis: c1930A smart very scarce copy of this abundantly illustrated French furniture catalogue. -
1900 All About the Merry Tales of GothamNottingham: 1900The first edition of this fascinating deep-dive into the history of Nottinghamshire folklore, illustrated with black and white original sketches by Harry Packer. -
1824 Memoirs of a Captivity among the Indians of North America, from Childhood to the Age of Nineteen; with Anecdotes Descriptive of Their Manners and Customs.London: 1824The third edition of John D. Hunter’s autobiographical captivity narrative, offering a vivid early nineteenth-century perspective on Native American life west of the Mississippi. -
1855 The War: From the Landing at Gallipoli to the Death of Lord Raglan.London: 1855The first edition of this landmark work of war reporting, a vivid firsthand account of the Crimean War that helped to invent modern battlefield journalism, by the Irish journalist William Howard Russell. -
c1880 The Ruins or, A Survey of the Revolutions of Empires. To which is Added, the Law of Nature.London: c1880A later English edition of Volney’s landmark meditation on the rise and fall of civilisations, including The Law of Nature, illustrated with two fold-out plates and a frontispiece. -
1934 Edward Pellew Viscount Exmouth Admiral of the RedLondon: 1934A lovely and uncommon first edition illustrated naval biography, in original unclipped dust wrapper. -
1898 History of the WorldLondon: 1898Beautifully bound half-calf first edition of Edgar Sanderson's late-nineteenth-century world history. -
1911 The Story of the GuidesLondon: 1911A lovely half calf prize binding of this illustrated military history. -
1842-1854 The New Navy ListLondon: 1842-1854Two very scarce first edition volumes of 'The New Navy List' for the years 1842 and 1854, offering detailed information on officers and their ranks. -
1838 The Naval Officers Guide for Preparing Ships for SeaLondon: 1838A vibrantly bound half morocco example of the vanishingly scarce first edition of Charles Martelli's informative guide to preparing ships for sea.