Highlights

The ‘Arcano de Mare’ is one the “greatest atlases of the world” (Wardington). This sumptuous atlas, first published in 1646 when its author, Robert Dudley, was 73, was not only the first sea atlas of the world, but also the first to use Mercator’s projection; the earliest to show magnetic deviation; the first to show currents and prevailing winds; the first to expound the advantages of ‘Great Circle Sailing’ – the shortest distance between two points on a globe; and “perhaps less importantly the first sea-atlas to be compiled by an Englishman, all be it abroad in Italy” (Wardington).

Gregory, Alfred. The Picture of Everest. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1954. First US. 4to. original cream boards gilt in dustwrapper; pp. unpaginated, with numerous colour photos. A very good copy. [Neate G62]. Flatsigned on title page by the author, 'Alfred Gregory', first ascensionist 'Ed Hillary', and his son, 'Peter Hillary', also a notable mountaineer. Alf Gregory (Greg)(1913-2010) was an accomplished mountaineer and keen amateur photographer who took on the role of stills camera as part of his climbing duties on the successful 1953 Everest expedition.

Istanbul : Matbaa-I Amire, 1307-1309 [i.e. 1891-1893]. The first lithographed folio atlas printed in the Islamic world, with 42 maps drawn by the father of modern Ottoman cartography, Ali Şeref Paşa.

The 'New Naturalist' series has been continuously published since the first volume in 1945. Subjects are primarily British and most of the contributing authors are the leaders in their specialised fields. Apart from high quality texts, New Naturalists are distinguished by the original dustwrapper designs of Clifford and Rosemary Ellis, with the style being continued by other artists such as Robert Gilmour. Print runs are usually small and many volumes are highly collectable. New Naturalists can be best described as the 'modern firsts' of natural history book collecting.

The only known manuscript example of any part of Robert Dudley’s magnum opus, ‘Dell’arcano del mare’ held in private hands. An astonishing survival: a working manuscript, seemingly specifically assembled for the eyes and instruction of the officers of the Tuscan Navy, the Knights of St. Stefano, rather than for a public audience. This suggestion is borne out by the wording of the first title for the work that Dudley has crossed out: ‘Compendio del Direttorio Marittimo: Il pr[im]o Tomo e intilato , Supplemento della Navigare. Nel pr[im]o libro si discorre dell ‘arte, piu Curiosa di Navigare.

Stockholm : Anders J. Nordström, 1783; Carl Deleen, 1802 – 1818. The first edition of Sparrman’s account of Cook’s second voyage, a very rare complete set printed over a span of 35 years, including two samples of tapa cloth collected on the voyage in Tahiti and the Friendly Islands (Tonga).

A very good hardback copy. We will be bringing a collection of motoring books to the fair.

First edition, first printing, in the scarce and most collectible state with the uncorrected text error, erratum slip, and superfluous brushstroke on the calligraphic endorsement leaf. While first editions were issued in several states, "it is believed that copies with the text error... represent the earliest printed version" (Schiller, p. 37).

Very rare and unrecorded proof before letters, Chine-collé lithograph on India paper, of the [Sea Mouth of the Murray] by George French Angas.

This first edition of “A Clockwork Orange” by Anthony Burgess, published by Heinemann in 1962, is a highly collectible item. The book is in good condition, bound in chocolate brown cloth with silver titles on the spine. The original, price-clipped magenta dust jacket, designed by Barry Trengrove, shows some spine fading, edge browning, and minor chipping but is now protected by a clear archival cover. Light flecking on all edges, with excellent condition text, makes this copy a valuable addition to any collection.

Dawkins, Richard. The Selfish Gene. London: Oxford University Press, 1976. First Edition. 8vo. original black boards in dustwrapper; pp. xii, 224. A fine copy. In July 2017, the book was listed as the most influential science book of all time in a poll to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Royal Society science book prize, ahead of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of SpeciesIsaac Newton’s Principia Mathematica.

by Raimund von Stillfried Impressive, large format, hand-coloured, albumen photo of four Japanese sumo wrestlers in their kesho-mawashi along with a refereee (gyoji). This wrestler second front left is also in an individual photo by Stillfried. [Yokohama]. Raimund von Stillfried. c1875. 24.9 x 19cm. In very good condition with only minor age wear. Mounted on card.