Peter Harrington

    Member of ABA - United Kingdom

    Children's Books Literature Military & Naval History Philosophy Science & Technology Voyages & Exploration

Since its establishment in 1969, Peter Harrington has specialised in sourcing, selling and buying the finest quality original first editions, signed, rare and antiquarian books, fine bindings and library sets. One of the leading rare book dealers in the world and the largest antiquarian book dealer in Europe, Peter Harrington has, for over half a century, dealt with a stock of thousands of fine books from rare seventeenth-century Shakespeare folios to highly sought-after contemporary classics such as signed and inscribed first editions of the Harry Potter series. Peter Harrington operates two stores in London - a flagship double-fronted store in Chelsea with more than 20,000 volumes and 6,000 works on paper displayed over four floors, and a store on Dover Street in the West End of London which offers a carefully curated selection of its best stock in a gallery-style environment.

Contact Information
Phone: ++44 (0) 2075910220

Highlights
BLIGH, William. A Narrative of the Mutiny on Board His Majesty’s Ship Bounty.
$60000
First edition, annotated by William Henry Smyth, who became acquainted with Bligh in Australia in 1807; his unpublished notes include a portrait of Bligh as “an iron hearted, obstinate, violent, brutal man”. Alexander Dalrymple, Hydrographer to the East India Company, has also transcribed a letter to the Secretary to the Admiralty from the Brig Mercury about the movements of Fletcher Christian and the Mutineers.
COOK, James - HODGES, William. Original drawing with watercolour highlights of HMS Resolution.
$80000
A lovingly preserved relic from Cook’s second expedition, a delicately rendered drawing of HMS Resolution under sail sketched from astern, the White Ensign clearly visible, also a streamer flying from the main mast and a jack at the bow. It is attributed to William Hodges, who accompanied Cook as draughtsman. From the collection of Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Grindall (1750–1820); thence by descent.
DELANY, Mary. A Catalogue of Plants copyed from nature in Paper Mosaick . . . according to the Generic and Specific names of Linnaeus.
$27000
Sole edition of this exceedingly rare catalogue; this copy with a manuscript appendix adding more than 330 samples to the printed list, written in an attractive contemporary copperplate hand, most likely Delany’s. The catalogue, privately printed in very small numbers, lists the “paper mosaick” decoupage botanical designs produced by Mary Delany, and includes Linnaean references and occasional additional botanical and geographical remarks. Copies located at the British Library, Longleat, and Yale; no appearances at auction. Of these, only that at Yale has a similar manuscript appendix.
FOOTE, Eunice Newton. Circumstances affecting the Heat of the Sun’s Rays. [In:] The American Journal of Science and Arts.
$22000
Uncommon first edition, in the original wrappers, of the first paper to record the discovery of the absorption of thermal radiation by carbon dioxide and water vapour. Auction records trace just two copies total. Uncut in original buff printed paper wrappers.
GURREY, Alfred Richard. The Surf Riders of Hawaii.
$65000
First and only edition of this important handmade booklet, a noted rarity with fewer than ten copies known, self-published by the father of surf photography. This is the first known book dedicated entirely to surfing, which inspired the genre of surf photography.
LOCKE, John. An Essay concerning Humane Understanding.
$105000
First edition, first issue, with the Holt imprint, here a superior copy handsomely bound by Francis Bedford (1799–1883), the leading English bookbinder of his time.
MACROBIUS, Aurelius Theodosius. In Somnium Scipionis expositio.
$120000
Rare first edition illustrated with the large and detailed woodcut world map, only the second edition overall of Macrobius’s influential neoplatonist commentary on Cicero, retaining the original wooden boards and with ten illuminated initials.
NEWTON, Isaac – WALLER, William. An essay on the value of mines.
$45000
First edition of this privately published appeal by the mine manager William Waller, written to convince of the imminent success of the Welsh Potosi mines, named after the famously rich silver mines in Bolivia. This copy, one of those bound for presentation to curry favour with partners and influential figures, is from the library of Isaac Newton, who at the time of publication was warden of the Royal Mint. Welsh Potosi silver was eventually used in recoinage efforts overseen by Newton, making this a testament to the success of Waller’s efforts.