Blixen, Karen [Isak Dinesen]

Out of Africa.

London : Putnam, 1937.

First British edition of the author’s classic memoir, which recounts events of the seventeen years when Blixen made her home in Kenya. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket. An exceptional example, rare in this condition.

Bourdain, Anthony

Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly.

New York : Bloomsbury, 2000.

First edition of the legendary chef’s bestselling memoir and first work of non-fiction. Octavo, original boards. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page in a contemporary full signature, “Cooks Rule! To Heather Anthony Bourdain.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Notice 51. Rare and desirable signed and inscribed.

Roosevelt, Theodore

Through the Brazilian Wilderness.

New York : Charles Scribners Sons, 1914.

First edition of this classic adventure taken by Theodore Roosevelt. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, top edge gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece. Illustrated from photographs taken by Kermit Roosevelt and other members of the expedition, and with 3 maps, including 1 folding in the rear. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the authorContinue reading "Through the Brazilian Wilderness."

West, Rebecca

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: The Record of a Journey Through Yugoslavia in 1937.

London : Macmillan, 1941.

First editions of Rebecca West’s masterpiece. Octavo, 2 volumes, original green cloth, cartographic endpapers. Both volumes are signed by West with volume one inscribed and dated in 1965 by the author, volume two is signed and dated in 1965. Both volumes are near fine in near fine dust jackets that show light shelfwear to theContinue reading "Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: The Record of a Journey Through Yugoslavia in 1937."

Parkman, Francis

The California and Oregon Trail.

New York : George P. Putnam, 1849.

First edition, first printing of Parkman’s classic account of his journey along the Oregon Trail. Octavo, original cloth, tinted lithographic frontispiece and vignette half title by Felix Octavius Carr Darley. This is the scarce first issue in cloth, with ad leaf preceding the frontispiece. Publisher’s catalogue in the rear and binding with PARKMAN set in sans-serifContinue reading "The California and Oregon Trail."

Mitchell, William

Skyways: A Book on Modern Aeronautics.

Philadelphia and London : J. B. Lippincott Company, 1930.

First edition of this classic work on aeronautics by “the father of the United States Air Force” Billy Mitchell. Octavo, original cloth, with seventy-six illustrations from photographs and drawings. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To W. Walter Healy National President Society of the Fifth Division U.S.A. With the regardsContinue reading "Skyways: A Book on Modern Aeronautics."

[Russia]

A New and Exact Description of Moscovy.

London : R. Baldwin, 1698.

First edition of this work. Octavo, bound in modern wrappers, 28 pages. In very good condition with some browning and toning to the text. Rare, with no other examples appearing at auction in the last 80 years.

Armstrong, Neil; Gene Cernan; George Bush; Cy Laughter

Neil Armstrong, Gene Cernan, George H.W. Bush, and Cy Laughter Signed Photograph.

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Photographic print of the iconic ‘Earthrise’ image taken by Bill Anders during the Apollo 8 mission. Glossy finish color print of the earth rising over the moon, with “To Gene Cernan” calligraphically inscribed on the mat beneath. Boldly signed on the mat beneath the photograph by Neil Armstrong, Gene Cernan, George H.W. Bush and Cy Laughter. The first and lastContinue reading "Neil Armstrong, Gene Cernan, George H.W. Bush, and Cy Laughter Signed Photograph."

Masson, Charles [James Lewis]

Narrative of Various Journeys in Balochistan, Afghanistan, The Panjab, & Kalat, During a Residence in those Countries.

London : Richard Bentley, 1842.

First edition of this narrative of Lewis’ travels between 1826 and 1838 through Balochistan, Sind, the Hazara, Afghanistan and the Punjab. Octavo, four volumes. Bound in full morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, morocco spine labels, gilt ruled, marbled endpapers, illustrated with engravings, folding map. From the library of James Stephen “Steve” FossettContinue reading "Narrative of Various Journeys in Balochistan, Afghanistan, The Panjab, & Kalat, During a Residence in those Countries."

Des Ballons Aérostatiques, de la maniere de les construire, de les faire elever [Of Balloons aerostatic, the way to build them, elevate them].

Lausanne : J.P. Heubach & Cie, 1784.

First edition of this work, translated as, Of Balloons Aerostatic, the Way to Build Them, Elevate Them. Octavo, bound in contemporary three quarters calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine and gilt balloon tooling in 4 compartments, marbled endpapers. This work is often wrongly attributed to Faujas de Saint-Fond, as it reprints his “DiscoursContinue reading "Des Ballons Aérostatiques, de la maniere de les construire, de les faire elever [Of Balloons aerostatic, the way to build them, elevate them]."

Slocum, Joshua

Voyage of the Liberdade.

Boston : Press of Robinson & Stephenson, 1890.

First edition of Slocum’s account of his fifty-five days at sea with his wife and sons aboard the 35-foot junk-rig The Liberdade. Small octavo, original cloth with gilt title to the front panel, patterned endpapers. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Mr. Don C Seitz Brooklyn Eagle with complimentsContinue reading "Voyage of the Liberdade."

Carpenter, M. Scott; Gordon L. Cooper; John H. Glenn; Virgil I. Grissom; Walter M. Schirra; Alan Shepard; Donald K. Slayton

We Seven. By the Astronauts Themselves.

New York : Simon and Schuster, 1962.

First edition of this first-hand account of the genesis of America’s manned space program. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Signed on the half-title page by John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, Wally Schirra, Gordon Cooper, and comedian Bill Dana aka Jose Jimenez. Jiménez was a fictional character created and performed by comedian Bill Dana on TheContinue reading "We Seven. By the Astronauts Themselves."

Roosevelt, Theodore

The Wilderness Hunter: An Account Of The Big Game Of The United States And Its Chase With Horse, Hound And Rifle.

New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1905.

Finely Bound Standard Library edition of Theodore Roosevelt’s American big game epic. Octavo, bound in three-quarters red morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles and detailing to the spine in two compartments in raised bands, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, silk ribbon bound in, tissue-guarded frontispiece, withContinue reading "The Wilderness Hunter: An Account Of The Big Game Of The United States And Its Chase With Horse, Hound And Rifle."

Charignon, Antoine Joseph Henri

Le Livre de Marco Polo. [The Book of Marco Polo].

Peking : Albert Nachbaur, 1924.

First edition of each volume of French sinologist Antoine Joseph Henri Charignon’s monumental work on the life and discoveries of Marco Polo. Quarto, three volumes bound in three quarter polished calf over marbled boards with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in five compartments within raised gilt bands, text in Chinese and French, originalContinue reading "Le Livre de Marco Polo. [The Book of Marco Polo]."

Wetmore, Helen Cody [William F. Cody]

The Last of the Great Scouts: The Life Story of Col. William F. Cody “Buffalo Bill”.

London : The Partington Advertising Company, 1903.

First British edition of this biography of “Buffalo Bill” written by his sister, Helen Cody Wetmore. Octavo, original leather covered boards, frontispiece, with black and white illustrations. Presentation copy, inscribed by William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody in fountain pen on the half-title page, “With the compliments of the subject, W.F. Cody ‘Buffalo Bill’ Billings, ToContinue reading "The Last of the Great Scouts: The Life Story of Col. William F. Cody “Buffalo Bill”."

Duke, Charlie [John F. Kennedy]

Charlie Duke Signed John F. Kennedy Photograph.

2520.

Oversized photograph of President John F. Kennedy delivering his famous speech on September 12, 1962, about landing on the moon before 1970. Boldly signed by astronaut Charlie Duke in silver felt tip with a lengthy inscription from Kennedy’s speech that reads in full, “‘We choose to go to the moon. We choose to go toContinue reading "Charlie Duke Signed John F. Kennedy Photograph."

Albrizzi, Giambattista; Giovanni Battista Piazzetta

Mappamondo o sia Descrizione Generale Del Globo Terrestre Ed Acquatico.

Venice : Giambattista Albrizzi, c. 1750.

Fine hand-colored example of Albrizzi’s double hemisphere map of the World, one of the most elaborately decorated world maps to appear in mid-18th century Italy and a beautiful example of the Italian school of commercial cartography. One page, the map includes a finely executed armillary sphere, explorer’s routes, unknown NW Coast of America, incomplete projectionsContinue reading "Mappamondo o sia Descrizione Generale Del Globo Terrestre Ed Acquatico."

Burton, Richard F

A Plain and Literal Translation of the Arabian Nights’ Entertainments, now entitled The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night… [with] Supplemental Nights.

Benares : Printed by the Kamashastra Society for Private Subscribers only, .

First Burton edition of The Arabian Nights. Octavo, 16 volumes, bound in three quarter red crushed morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, top edge gilt, illustrated. In near fine condition.

Sartine, Antoine de

Carte Reduite des Cotes et de l’Interieur de la Presqu’ile de la Floride, avec le Detroit de Cette Presqu’ile et le Canal de Bahama. [18th Century Anotoine de Sartine Map of Florida]

France : Dépôt General de la Marine, 1780.

Rare 18th century hand-colored engraved map or the state of Florida published for the use of the French Navy during the American Revolution. One page, the map shows coastal topography around the Florida Peninsula depicting harbors, points, keys, shoals and low water areas, the St. John’s River, St. Augustine, Cape Canaveral, Charlotte Harbor, Tampa Bay,Continue reading "Carte Reduite des Cotes et de l’Interieur de la Presqu’ile de la Floride, avec le Detroit de Cette Presqu’ile et le Canal de Bahama. [18th Century Anotoine de Sartine Map of Florida]"

Slocum, Joshua

Voyage of the Liberdade.

Boston : Press of Robinson & Stephenson, 1890.

First edition of Slocum’s classic account of his fifty-five days at sea with his wife and sons aboard the 35-foot junk-rig The Liberdade. Small octavo, original cloth with gilt title to the front panel, patterned endpapers. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “To Mrs C.E. Staples in kind recollections ofContinue reading "Voyage of the Liberdade."

Sarmiento de Gamboa, Pedro

Viage al Estrecho de Magallanes Por el Capitan Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa En los anos de 1579. y 1580.

Madrid : En la Imprenta Real de la Gazeta, 1768.

Rare first edition of Sarmiento’s account of his 1579–1580 survey of the Straits of Magellan. Octavo, bound in full contemporary marbled calf with gilt tooling to the spine, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, marbled endpapers, all edges speckled red, illustrated with 3 folding views. Headland 35. Hill 267. Sabin 77094. Stamp of Jose JimenezContinue reading "Viage al Estrecho de Magallanes Por el Capitan Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa En los anos de 1579. y 1580."

Hubble, Edwin

Edwin Hubble Signature On Card.

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Rare signature of influential American astronomer Edwin Hubble. Boldly signed in ink below his bust portrait, clipped from a newspaper and mounted to cardstock. In near fine condition with remnants of mounting at center verso. The piece measures 3.25 inches by 5 inches.

Armstrong, Neil

Neil Armstrong Signed Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company Stock Certificate.

Cincinnati, Ohio May 7, 1974.

Printed Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company stock certificate boldly signed in full by American astronaut Neil Armstrong. One page, printed on recto and verso, the certificate is entitled “Form 4, Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership of Securities” and dated May 7, 1974. It includes Armstrong‘s relevant personal information, including his Social Security number andContinue reading "Neil Armstrong Signed Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company Stock Certificate."

Edited by Edgar M. Cortright. [Alan Shepard; Deke Slayton; Walter Cunningham; et al]

Apollo Expeditions to the Moon.

Washington, D.C : National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1975.

First edition of this profusely illustrated collection of essays documenting NASA’s Apollo Missions. Quarto, original illustrated boards, pictorial endpapers, illustrated with photographs, charts, and maps. Boldly signed by thirty astronauts on the title page and facing page, including: Alan Bean, Karol J. Bobko, Vance Brand, Jerry Carr, Gene Cernan, Bob Crippen, Walter Cunningham, Joe Engle,Continue reading "Apollo Expeditions to the Moon."