Blair, Lawrence; Lorne Blair

Ring of Fire.

London : Bantam Books, 1988.

First edition of this lavish documentary spanning ten years of adventure through the islands of the East. Quarto, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated with photographs throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Cy, with warmth, Lawrence Blair 1988.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Bipin Patel.Continue reading "Ring of Fire."

Bellin, Jacques-Nicolas

L’Empire de La Chine Pour Servir a l’Histoire Generale des Voyages. [Eighteenth Century Jacques-Nicolas Bellin Map of China].

Paris 1748.

Eighteenth century engraved map of China by renowned French cartographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. One page with two decorative cartouches. In near fine condition. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 22 inches by 17.25 inches.

Attenborough, David

The Zoo Quest Expeditions.

London : Lutterworth, 1980.

First edition of this volume that compiles Attenborough’s acclaimed Quest Series. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated. Boldly signed by the author “with best wishes David Attenborough” on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket.

Burton, Richard

The Thousand and One Nights: The Arabian Nights Entertainments. With an Introduction Illustrative of the Religion, Manners, and Customs of the Mohammedans.

London : J. C. Nimmo and Bain, 1883.

The Nimmo edition of Burton’s monumental masterpiece. Octavo, four volumes bound in three quarter maroon crushed levant morocco over marbled boards by Bayntun with gilt titles and five raised bands to the spine, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with nineteen original etchings by Lalauze. One of 150 numbered copies printed on laid paper withContinue reading "The Thousand and One Nights: The Arabian Nights Entertainments. With an Introduction Illustrative of the Religion, Manners, and Customs of the Mohammedans."

Peary, Robert E. Introduction by Theodore Roosevelt

The North Pole.

London : Hodder and Stoughton, 1910.

First British edition of Peary’s illustrated account of his journey to the North Pole. Thick quarto, original cloth with a polar bear and gilt titles to the spine, gilt titles and disk to the front panel, double ruling to the front panel stamped in white, a polar bear in white to the rear panel, tissue-guardedContinue reading "The North Pole."

Barrington, Daines

The Possibility of Approaching the North Pole Asserted.

New York : James Eastburn & Co, 1818.

First separate American edition of this work arguing that reaching the North Pole was possible. Octavo, bound in modern half brown calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised bands, black calf spine labels, title page vignette, with a folding frontispiece map of the North Pole.Continue reading "The Possibility of Approaching the North Pole Asserted."

Blair, Lawrence; Lorne Blair

Ring of Fire.

Toronto : Bantam Books, 1988.

First edition of this lavish documentary spanning ten years of adventure through the islands of the East. Square quarto, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated with photographs throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “For Jean and Bob – with warm memories of a shared adventure into…Ring of Fire Lawrence Blair SulawesiContinue reading "Ring of Fire."

Malte-Brun, Conrad [China]

Empire Chinois et Japon. [Nineteenth Century Conrad Malte-Brun Map of the Chinese Empire] [China].

Paris 1812.

Fine detailed nineteenth century map of China by Dano-French geographer Conrad Malte-Brun. One page. In near fine condition. Double matted and framed. The entire piece measures 18 inches by 14.75 inches.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida: “Gateway to the Everglades”.

Fort Lauderdale : Snyder & Hortt, Real Estate and Investments, c. 1915.

Rare first edition promotional brochure for the city of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Octavo, profusely illustrated with photographs taken c. 1914-1915 of the business district, boulevards, markets, railways, farms, orange groves, beaches, marinas, streams, and homes of Fort Lauderale. Map of Florida on the final page. In near fine condition. Scarce, OCLC/WorldCat locates only one otherContinue reading "Fort Lauderdale, Florida: “Gateway to the Everglades”."

Facsimiles of Declaration of Independence and the Treaty of Waitangi.

New Zealand : R.E. Owen, Government Printer, 1960.

Finely bound example of this compilation of documents related to the Declaration of the Independence of New Zealand and the Treaty of Waitangi. Quarter, bound in full pebbled leatherette with gilt titles to the front panel, containing numerous facsimiles of original signed documents, many folding. In very good condition. Rare.

Sikorsky, Igor

The Story of the Winged-S: New Chapters and Illustrations on Recent Developements of the Helicopter.

New York : Dodd, Meade & Company, 1952.

First edition, later printing of the autobiography of the Russian-American aviation pioneer and designer of the first viable American helicopter. Octavo, original pictorial cloth, frontispiece, illustrated with black and white photographs many from the author’s collection. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Dave Postle, With kindest personal regards ofContinue reading "The Story of the Winged-S: New Chapters and Illustrations on Recent Developements of the Helicopter."

Newby, Eric

Love and War in the Apennines.

London : Hodder & Stoughton, 1971.

First edition of this classic World War II memoir. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece. Boldly signed by Eric Newby on the half-title page. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by Don Last. Uncommon signed.

Douglas, Marjory Stoneman

Florida: The Long Frontier.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1967.

First edition of this historical and cultural study of Florida that traces the region’s development from early exploration through the modern era. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, cartographic endpapers. Signed by the author on the half-title page, “With best wishes, Marjory Stoneman Douglas.” Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Uncommon in this condition and signed.

Darton, William [China]

Nineteenth Century Map of China.

London : William Darton, 1812.

Hand-colored engraved nineteenth century Map of China by English cartographer William Darton. One page, hand-colored. In very good condition. Matted and framed. The entire piece measures 16 inches by 14.5 inches.

Fermor, Patrick Leigh

Mani: Travels In The Southern Peloponnese.

London : John Murray, 1958.

First edition of the author’s travelogue about the rocky Mani, later complementing it with Roumeli: Travels in Northern Greece. Octavo, original cloth, frontispiece and title-page vignette by John Craxton, map of the southern Peloponnese by John Woodcock, and illustrated with 26 photographs. Near fine in a near fine price-clipped dust jacket. Dust jacket design byContinue reading "Mani: Travels In The Southern Peloponnese."

Douglas, Norman

South Wind.

London : Martin Secker, 1917.

First edition of the author’s classic work based on the island of Capri. Octavo, original cloth. In near fine condition. Housed in a custom half morocco and chemise case.

Douglas, Marjory Stoneman

Florida: The Long Frontier.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1967.

First edition of this historical and cultural study of Florida that traces the region’s development from early exploration through the modern era. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, cartographic endpapers. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To John B. Chowning, for his alert interest in his wonderful nature state, With best wishes.Continue reading "Florida: The Long Frontier."

Dunton, John

John Dunton’s Letters From New-England.

Boston : Printed For the Society, 1867.

The Prince Society edition of Dunton’s letters from New England. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt. One of twenty numbered copies printed on large paper, this is number 5. In very good condition.

Balkantourist. [Madeleine Albright]

Bulgaria Guide-Book Balkantourist.

Bulgaria : Balkantourist, c. 1999.

Original Bulgaria guide-book from the oldest existing Bulgarian tour operator, Balkantourist. Octodecimo, original pictorial wrappers, illustrated with black and white photographs, one folding map. From the library of Secretary Madeleine Albright. Secretary Albright went to Sofia, Bulgaria in June, 1999 for a working visit. She was the first woman to serve as the U.S. SecretaryContinue reading "Bulgaria Guide-Book Balkantourist."

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."

Bellin, Jacques-Nicolas

Carte de la Floride, de la Louisiane, et Pays Voisins. [18th Century Map of Florida, Louisiana, and Neighboring Countries. To be used in the General History of Travel].

: Jean-Francois de La Harpe, 1757.

Rare 18th century engraved map of North America by French cartographer Jacques-Nicolas Bellin. One page, hand-colored, the map shows the French territory of Louisiane and Florida.  Labelled cities and regions include St. Augustine, Savannah, New Orleans, Santa Fe, Toronto, Detroit, Mobile, Pensacola, New Mexico, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Topographical features include Lakes Michigan, Erie, andContinue reading "Carte de la Floride, de la Louisiane, et Pays Voisins. [18th Century Map of Florida, Louisiana, and Neighboring Countries. To be used in the General History of Travel]."

Peixotto, Ernest

Romantic California.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1912.

Finely bound edition of this classic in travel and tourism for the state of California. Octavo, bound in full morocco with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands with a design of a California mission and bell on the front panel, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt,Continue reading "Romantic California."

van der Aa, Pieter

La Floride, Suirvant les Nouvelles Observations de Messrs de l’Academie Royale des Sciences, etc. [17th Century Map of Florida and America].

Leiden : Pieter van der Aa, [1713].

Rare 17th century hand-colored engraved map of Florida and 17th century America by Dutch cartographer Pieter van der Aa. One page, the engraved hand-colored map features Florida, part of Mexico, the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland and Illinois, Native American territories of Conchaques, Apalachicoli, and Apalache, Villages of the Chaktas Indians, and the Bahamas. Embellished cartouche. InContinue reading "La Floride, Suirvant les Nouvelles Observations de Messrs de l’Academie Royale des Sciences, etc. [17th Century Map of Florida and America]."

Johnson, Osa

I Married Adventure: The Life and Adventures of Martin and Osa Johnson.

Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott Company, 1940.

First edition of Johnson’s classic work. Octavo, original striped cloth, photographic endpapers illustrated with 83 aquatone illustrations. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Esther Bates With my very best African wishes. Affectionately Osa Johnson.” Near fine in a good dust jacket with chips and wear.