Geography

Staunton, Sir George. [Sir George Macartney]

An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China; Including Cursory Observations Made, and Information Obtained, In Travelling Through That Ancient Empire, and a Small Part of Chinese Tartary.

London : Printed by W. Bulmer and Co. for G. Nicol, 1797.

Rare first edition of the official account of Lord Macartney’s voyage and embassy to the Qianlong emperor in 1792-94, the failure of which led to the establishment of the British trading post at Hong Kong. Three volumes (two quarto volumes of text and one folio atlas volume of plates) bound by Clarke Preston in full diced calf with morocco spine labels lettered in gilt, elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raisedContinue reading "An Authentic Account of an Embassy from the King of Great Britain to the Emperor of China; Including Cursory Observations Made, and Information Obtained, In Travelling Through That Ancient Empire, and a Small Part of Chinese Tartary."

[A.R. Sharples]

Collection of Photographs and Eyewitness Account Letters of the First Bikini Atoll Nuclear Bomb Tests.

1946.

Rare collection of photographs of the first atomic bomb test “Able” at Bikini Atoll with letters of eyewitness accounts of the first atomic bomb testing and the second test “Baker” at Bikini Atoll. Four photographs of the detonation of the first atomic bomb test, “Able.” Two depicting mushroom clouds in the ocean above an island.Continue reading "Collection of Photographs and Eyewitness Account Letters of the First Bikini Atoll Nuclear Bomb Tests."

Catlin, George W

North American Indians: Being Letters and Notes on Their Manners, Customs, and Conditions, Written During Eight Years’ Travel Amongst the Wildest Tribes of Indians in North America, 1832-1839.

London : David Bogue, 1844.

Finely bound fourth edition of this detailed anthropological history. Octavo, two volumes, bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, frontispiece, marbled endpapers, all edges marbled, three maps, with 400 black and white illustrations carefully engraved from the author’s original paintings by Catlin.Continue reading "North American Indians: Being Letters and Notes on Their Manners, Customs, and Conditions, Written During Eight Years’ Travel Amongst the Wildest Tribes of Indians in North America, 1832-1839."

Raleigh, Sir Walter. [Alexander Ross]

The History of the World, In Five Books. [with] The History of the World: The Second Part, In Six Books: Being a Continuation of the famous History of Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight.

London : Printed for Robert White, T. Basset, J. Wright, R. Chiswell, G. Dawes and T. Sawbridge, 1677; London: Printed for John Saywell, 1652.

Rare 1677 printing of Sir Walter Raleigh’s renowned unfinished world history, written while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London and first published in 1614; uniformly bound with a rare first edition of its second part, being a continuation by Alexander Ross. Folio, two volumes bound in full diced calf with gilt titles and elaborate gilt tooling andContinue reading "The History of the World, In Five Books. [with] The History of the World: The Second Part, In Six Books: Being a Continuation of the famous History of Sir Walter Raleigh, Knight."

Banerjee, Subhankar; Matthiessen, Peter; Schaller, George B.; Miller, Debbie S.; Sibley, David Allen; Mauer, Fran; Meadows, William H.; Foreword by Jimmy Carter

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land.

Seattle : The Mountaineer Books, 2003.

First edition of the most comprehensive, photographic documentation of the biodiversity and indigenous cultures of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by Peter Matthiessen and Terry Tempest Williams on the title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Uncommon signed.

National Democratic Institute for International Affairs [Madeleine Albright]

Democracies In Regions Of Crisis: Botswana, Costa Rica, Israel.

Washington, D.C : National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, 1990.

First edition of this study of democratic systems in regions that are prone to political instability and conflict. Octavo, original publisher’s wrapper, bookplate to the front pastedown from, “The Private Collection of Secretary Madeleine K. Albright.” The collector, Madeleine K. Albright was the first woman to serve as the U.S. Secretary of State. She actedContinue reading "Democracies In Regions Of Crisis: Botswana, Costa Rica, Israel."

Catlin, George W

North American Indians: Being Letters and Notes on Their Manners, Customs, and Conditions, Written During Eight Years’ Travel Amongst the Wildest Tribes of Indians in North America, 1832-1839.

Edinburgh : John Grant, 1926.

First Grant edition of this detailed anthropological history. Royal octavo, two volumes, original publisher’s cloth elaborately stamped in gilt, illustrated with 180 color lithograph plates (including maps, 1 of which is folding) containing 320 images from original paintings by Catlin. In very good condition with wear and a few small closed tears to the clothContinue reading "North American Indians: Being Letters and Notes on Their Manners, Customs, and Conditions, Written During Eight Years’ Travel Amongst the Wildest Tribes of Indians in North America, 1832-1839."

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."

Benear, M. A.

Eastland Cosden Oil and Gas Company Oil Map.

Eastland, TX 1919.

Rare original oil map of the Cosden Oil and Gas Company in Eastland, Texas. Cadastral oil map of the central Texas county west-southwest of Ft. Worth, showing land ownership, oil, and mineral claims, scale of 1 inch = 4000 feet, legend of symbols designating oil and gas exploitation: Location; Rig Up; Drilling; Producing Well; Gas Well;Continue reading "Eastland Cosden Oil and Gas Company Oil Map."

Potok, Chaim

Wanderings: Chaim Potok’s History of the Jews.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1978.

First edition of this wonderfully illustrated work by the author of The Chosen. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the half-title page, “To Fred and Lothe Marcus Best Wishes Chaim Potok 10 Dec. 78.” Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket.

Copeland, Sebastian; Foreword by Orlando Bloom

Antarctica: A Call to Action.

San Rafael, CA : Earth Aware, 2008.

First edition of the inspiring sequel to ‘Antarctica: The Global Warning.’ Oblong duodecimo, original pictorial boards, illustrated with breathtaking high-resolution photographs by Sebastian Copeland throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “January 2009 To Linda, Sebastian Copeland.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Author photograph by Orlando Bloom.

North America XIV Florida: Published Under the Superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge.

London : Baldwin & Cradock, 1834.

Rare 19th century English map of the state of Florida, published by Baldwin & Cradock under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge. One page, the map shows the placements of Indian lands just before the second Seminole war and contains full margins showing all of the Florida Keys. In near fineContinue reading "North America XIV Florida: Published Under the Superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge."

Child, Frank Samuel [William Tecumseh Sherman]

An Old New England Town: Sketches of Life, Scenery, Character.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1895.

Limited edition de Luxe of this sketch of Old New England towns; from the library of Philemon Tecumseh Sherman. Octavo, bound in three-quarter morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling in six compartments within gilt raised bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, tissue-guarded frontispiece portrait of Judge Roger M. Sherman, illustrated with tissue-guardedContinue reading "An Old New England Town: Sketches of Life, Scenery, Character."

Paine, Caroline

Tent and Harem: Notes of an Oriental Trip.

New York : D. Appleton and Company, 1859.

First edition of this quality piece of travel writing. Octavo, bound in full modern cloth, illustrated with a frontispiece portrait of The Sheik. In very good condition with toning to the text block, stamps to the front flyleaf and dedication page.

Martineau, Harriet

Eastern Life, Present and Past.

London : Edward Moxon, 1848.

First English edition of this sociological travelogue. Octavo, three volumes, original publisher’s cloth with gilt titles to the spine, blindstamping to the front panel. In good condition with rubbing and toning to the spine of each volume, splitting to the hinges of each volume, ownership signature to the half title page of Vol. I andContinue reading "Eastern Life, Present and Past."

Russell, John

Map of the Northern, or, New England States of America. Comprehending Vermont, New Hampshire, District of Main, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

London : H.D. Symonds, Feb. 7, 1795.

Hand-colored engraved map of New England by renowned 18th century English cartographer John Russell, one of the few commercial maps of New England issued immediately following the American Revolutionary War which appeared in Russell’s 1795 American Atlas. One page, the folding map covers the northeastern part of the United States including part of New YorkContinue reading "Map of the Northern, or, New England States of America. Comprehending Vermont, New Hampshire, District of Main, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut."

Susskind, Leonard

The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics.

New York : Little, Brown and Company, 2008.

First edition of this compelling inside account from the professor of theoretical physics at Stanford University, one of the fathers of string theory. Octavo, original boards, illustrated with mathematic equations and diagrams. Signed by the author on the title page, “Best wishes Leonard Susskind.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Karen Horton.Continue reading "The Black Hole War: My Battle with Stephen Hawking to Make the World Safe for Quantum Mechanics."

Shea, John Galmary

Early Voyages Up and Down the Mississippi, by Cavelier, Dt. Cosme, Le Sueur, Gravier, and Guignas.

Albany : Joel Munsell, 1861.

Limited edition of Shea’s important history of the early explorers of the Mississippi, printed for subscribers. Octavo, bound in half morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Bradford 4933; Field 1395; Sabin 80003. Provenance: from the library of American businessman James Phinney Baxter (1831-1921) of Portland, MaineContinue reading "Early Voyages Up and Down the Mississippi, by Cavelier, Dt. Cosme, Le Sueur, Gravier, and Guignas."

A New and Accurate Map of East and West Florida. Drawn from the best Authorities. [18th Century Map of Florida].

London [c. 1765].

Engraved 18th century English map of the state of Florida; one of the earliest printed maps of the state which appeared in the London Magazine in March of 1765. One page, the map is divided into British East and West Florida, showing South Florida as a group of over 50 islands and a number ofContinue reading "A New and Accurate Map of East and West Florida. Drawn from the best Authorities. [18th Century Map of Florida]."

Ludlam, Stephen [Wall Street]

Early American Wall Street Survey Map.

April 8, 1817.

Rare 1817 hand-colored copy of an original map of early 18th century Wall Street attached to a Deed of Partition between Col. Abraham de Peyster and Samuel Bayard dated January 3rd 1718, copied on April 8th 1817 by Stephen Ludlam, City Surveyor. One page, the hand-colored map details the intersection of Wall Street, Broad Street,Continue reading "Early American Wall Street Survey Map."

Bardin’s New British Terrestrial and Celestial Globes. [Nineteenth Century English Globes].

c. 1800.

Fine pair of two large Regency period globes produced by William and Thomas M. Bardin, two of the most highly regarded globemakers of the period. Both the celestial and terrestrial globe measure 18 inches in diameter and are mounted on the original mahogany tripod stands with central compasses mounted on raised brass casters. Fitted withContinue reading "Bardin’s New British Terrestrial and Celestial Globes. [Nineteenth Century English Globes]."

Kingdon Ward, Frank

The Romance of Plant Hunting.

London : Edward Arnold & Co, 1924.

First edition of Kingdon-Ward’s work on the love of flowers and plant hunting. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, illustrated. In good condition.

[van Wytfliet, Cornelius]

Florida et Apalche. [Facsimile 16th Century Map of Florida].

[Louvain, Belgium] : Cornelius de Wytfliet, [1597].

Facsimile reproduction of the original Flemish 1597 Cornelius van Wytfliet map, one of only three maps printed prior to 1600 to depict the area with any accuracy and one of the earliest maps to refer to the region as Florida. One page, the map is based on Geronimo de Chaves’ map, which was copied byContinue reading "Florida et Apalche. [Facsimile 16th Century Map of Florida]."

[Florida]

Carte De La Louisiane Et De La Floride. [18th Century French Map of Florida].

Paris : Rigobert Bonne, [1797].

Rare 18th century map of North America by Royal Hydrographer Rigobert Bonne. One page, the engraved map extends from Illinois to Florida with one of the earliest insets of Kansas City. Born in the Lorraine region of France, French cartographer Rigobert Bonne (1727-1794) was a skilled cartographer and hydrographer and succeeded Jacques Nicolas Bellin as RoyalContinue reading "Carte De La Louisiane Et De La Floride. [18th Century French Map of Florida]."