Schmitt, Harrison. Foreword by Neil Armstrong

Return to the Moon: Exploration, Enterprise, and Energy in the Human Settlement of Space.

New York : Copernicus Books in Association with Praxis Publishing, 2006.

First edition of the author’s visionary plan for humankind’s future in space. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Bob Harrison Schmitt Apollo 17.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Jordan Rosenbum.

Bourgeois, Jean-Louis. Photographs by Carollee Pelos. [Peter Matthiessen]

Spectacular Vernacular: The Adobe Tradition.

New York : Aperture Foundation, Inc, 1980.

First edition of this spectacular celebration of traditional Adobe architecture in the West. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated with photographs by Carollee Pelos. Historical Essay by Basil Davidson. Signed by Jean-Louis Bourgeois and Carollee Pelos on the half-title page. From the library of Peter Matthiessen with his bookplate to the pastedown. American writer Peter MatthiessenContinue reading "Spectacular Vernacular: The Adobe Tradition."

The Gimlet: Miami, Palm Beach, Havana.

Miami : John Ashe Scott, Publisher, 1933.

Special Carling Hotel edition of The Gimlet, “published in the interest of the many visitors to Cuba and Florida and other fascinating resorts of the South.” Slim octavo, original illustrated wrappers, illustrated with numerous vintage advertisements. In near fine condition.

Gunther, John

Inside Europe Today.

New York : Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1961.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers. Signed by John Gunther on the half-title page. Fine in a near fine dust jacket, bookplate. A very sharp example.

Hillary, Edmund

Nothing Venture, Nothing Win.

New York : Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1975.

First edition of Hillary’s autobiography, which he considered his finest book. Octavo, original blue boards, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “To Dan Searle with kindest regards Ed Hillary.” The recipient, Dan Searle was a business executive and philanthropist. He served as the Chief Executive Officer and President of G.Continue reading "Nothing Venture, Nothing Win."

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."

Souvenir of The Palm Beaches, Florida.

Chicago : Curt Teich & Co., [n.d., circa 1910s].

Rare early color lithograph souvenir album of the Palm Beaches, Florida. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers printed in full color, the upper wrapper depicting golfers on the links beneath coconut palms with an inset view captioned “View of the Royal Poinciana and White Hall From West Palm Beach,” titled in bold gilt lettering “Souvenir of TheContinue reading "Souvenir of The Palm Beaches, Florida."

Cormier, Richard L. 'Zeke'; Walter M. 'Wally' Schirra; Phillip R. 'Rat' Wood; Barrett Tillman

Wildcats to Tomcats: The Tailhook Navy.

St. Paul, MN : Phalanx Publishing Co, 1996.

First edition, early printing of this collection of flying stories. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Presentation copy, inscribed on the title page by Captain Phillip Wood, “9/6/96 Tailhook To Ozzy: A great Tailhooker Warrior. Big A little F but still one of the finest. ‘Rat'” and Barrett Tillman, “To Ozzy:Continue reading "Wildcats to Tomcats: The Tailhook Navy."

Saint-Exupéry, Antoine de

Wind, Sand and Stars.

New York : Reynal and Hitchcock, 1939.

First British edition of Saint-Exupery’s philosophical memoir of flight. Octavo, original publisher’s half cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Decorations in color by John O’Hara Cosgrave, II. Translated from the French by Lewis Galantière. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket which has been laminated. Uncommon in the original dust jacket. 

Aldrin, Buzz

Return to Earth.

New York : Random House, 1973.

First edition of this work by the second man to walk on the moon. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Boldly signed by Buzz Aldrin on the front free endpaper and inscribed by the co-author “To Jerry A. Griffin with best wishes Wayne Warga.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. JacketContinue reading "Return to Earth."

Sikorsky, Igor

The Story of the Winged-S: with New Material on the Latest Development of the Helicopter.

New York : Dodd, Meade & Company, 1942.

First edition, early printing of the autobiography of the Russian-American aviation pioneer and designer of the first viable American helicopter. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author opposite the half-title page, “To Mr. Henry Drans with kindest personal regards of I. Sikorsky Dec 16 1942.” In very good condition.

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.

Fermor, Patrick Leigh

Between the Woods and the Water.

London : The Folio Society, 2006.

First Folio edition of the author’s second book in the author’s trilogy that began with A Time of Gifts. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Leigh Fermor on the title page. Fine in a fine slipcase. Illustrated by Mary Kuper.

Brickell, Paul

Reach For The Sky: The Story of Douglas Bader.

London : Collins, 1954.

First edition, early printing of the biography of one of the great heroes of the Battle of Britain. Octavo, original cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Signed and dated by Douglas Bader on the frontispiece in the year of publication, “Douglas Bader 27/6/54.” Very good in a very good dust jacket. Rare and desirableContinue reading "Reach For The Sky: The Story of Douglas Bader."

Messner, Reinhold. [Peter Habeler]

Everest: Expedition to the Ultimate.

London : Kaye & Ward, 1979.

First edition of Messner’s thrilling account of the first ascent of Everest without the use of artificial oxygen. Octavo, original cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Boldly signed by Reinhold Messner and by Peter Habeler on the first page of the book’s first section, The Idea. Fine in a near fine dust jacket. Translated by Audrey Salkeld.Continue reading "Everest: Expedition to the Ultimate."

Fermor, Patrick Leigh

Roumeli: Travels in Northern Greece.

London : John Murray, 1966.

First edition of the author’s travelogue companion piece to Mani. Octavo, original cloth, a map, and illustrated with black and white photographs. Near fine in a very good price-clipped dust jacket with a couple of small closed tears. Jacket design by John Craxton. Photographs by author’s wife Joan Eyres Monsell. A very sharp example.

Mant, Rev. Frederick W

The Midshipman: or Twelve Years at Sea.

London : G. Routledge & Co, 1854.

First and only edition of this nautical memoir. Octavo, half calf bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine, edges sprinkled red. In very good condition. Ownership plates to the front pastedown and front panel of the Norfolk & Norwich Library, donated there from the library of George FrederickContinue reading "The Midshipman: or Twelve Years at Sea."

Lindbergh, Charles A

We.

New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1927.

First edition of Lindbergh’s definitive autobiography. Octavo, original pictorial cloth, pictorial endpapers, illustrated. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket and glassine.

Copeland, Sebastian; Foreword by Mikhail Gorbachev; Preface by Leonardo DiCaprio

Antarctica: The Global Warning.

San Rafael, CA : Earth Aware, 2007.

First edition of this riveting collection of photographs depicting the true state of our global ecosystem. Oblong quarto, original blue cloth, illustrated with breathtaking high-resolution photographs by Sebastian Copeland throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “October 2008, To Victoria, This earth is our only home. She is ours to protectContinue reading "Antarctica: The Global Warning."

Gunther, John

Inside South America.

New York : Harper & Row, Publishers, 1966.

First edition of this eye-opening study of South America, the eighth “Inside” book by John Gunther. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, illustrated with a black and maps of South America. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Warmly to Douglas and Marylee Fairbanks, of the truly valued. John Gunther. NY Jan 67.”Continue reading "Inside South America."

Lindbergh, Anne Morrow

Listen! The Wind.

New York : Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1938.

First edition of this classic work. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers. With a foreword and map drawings by Charles A. Lindbergh. With a lengthy autograph note entirely in the hand of Anne Morrow Lindbergh which reads, “From Marcel & Elise ‘Love is to the soul what the would is to the body – an increase,Continue reading "Listen! The Wind."

Graham, Commander R.D. Introduction by Claud Worth

Rough Passage.

Edinburgh and London : William Blackwood & Sons Ltd, 1936.

First edition of Graham’s narrative of his solo voyage across the Atlantic to Newfoundland, Labrador, and Bermuda on the Yacht Emanuel. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers, with maps and illustrations including frontispiece. From the library of of James Stephen “Steve” Fossett with his bookplate to the pastedown. American businessman and record-setting aviator Steve Fossett becameContinue reading "Rough Passage."

Borman, Frank

Countdown.

New York : Silver Arrow Books, 1988.

First edition, second printing of the astronaut’s classic autobiography. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “To Bob Best wishes Frank Borman.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Mike Stromberg. Written with Robert J. Serling.

Zatto, Antonio [China]

Impero Della China Colle Isole Del Giappone. [Eighteenth Century Antonio Zatta Map of the Empire Of China and Islands Of Japan]

Venice : Presso Antonio Zatta, 1784.

Large eighteenth century hand-colored map of China and Japan by Venetian cartographer Antonio Zatta. One page, hand-colored with a fine botanical cartouche. In near fine condition. The entire piece measures 19.5 inches by 23.5 inches.