Democracy in America
Birmingham, Gryphon Editions, 1988 (facsimile edition)/ 1838. One of the Legal Classics Library; complete with the useful 'Notes from the Editors' booklet. More
Our latest catalogue includes two very rare items that are parochial in the extreme, but by nature of universal appeal to collectors. The album of photographs by Freeman & Wivell, prepared for the 1876 Philadelphia Exhibition, contains 20 large-format stark and monumental ‘architectural portraits’ of the city of Adelaide. The mammoth hand-coloured wall map of the settled portions of South Australia, prepared by Sanders & Packard, Surveyors, in early 1886, appears to be unique.
Among other important items of literature are first editions of Katherine Mansfield’s first book, In a German Pension (1911); the third and fifth volumes of C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia series, as well as his Till We Have Faces (1956); and T.S. Eliot’s Animula (1929, one of only 400 copies of the signed large-paper edition). The signed deluxe edition of Gifford Chapman’s Kangaroo Island classic, Wooden Fishing Boats (1998) is arguably rarer than Fenner's much earlier Pocket Atlas of Modern & Ancient Geography (1828, with 79 hand-coloured maps), but horses for courses …
Less rarified, but no less interesting and definitely as eclectic, items include numerous volumes in the Legal Classics Library series; a selection of Bluey and Curley annuals; assorted trade catalogues and other printed ephemera; and a handsome gold medallion awarded to Joseph Watson, a member of the Port Adelaide Football Club’s team declared ‘Champions of Australia’ in 1913.
Down tools or drinks for twenty minutes and enjoy the catalogue!
Birmingham, Gryphon Editions, 1988 (facsimile edition)/ 1838. One of the Legal Classics Library; complete with the useful 'Notes from the Editors' booklet. More
Birmingham, Gryphon Editions, 1996 (facsimile edition)/ 1941. One of the Legal Classics Library; complete with the useful 'Notes from the Editors' booklet. [2 items]. More
Birmingham, Gryphon Editions, 1994 (facsimile edition)/ 1894. One of the Legal Classics Library. More
London, Simpkin Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Limited, [1890]. Alexander Williamson Dobbie (1843-1912), an Adelaide brassfounder, merchant, inventor and photographer - and incidentally, an early director of BHP - was 'also a writer of direct, individual style' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'). More
London, John Murray, 1929 (first edition). Loosely inserted is the publisher's small four-page leaflet of 'Some Recent Books on the War' (with this book being one of the two advertised on the first page). A classic work in exceptional condition. More
Sydney, The Library Committee of the Commonwealth Parliament, 1916. Provenance: 'Senator W.H. Story' is stamped in gilt on the front cover. Adelaide-born William Harrison Story (1857-1924) 'was educated at state schools before becoming a stonemason and bricklayer. He served as President of the Operative Masons and Bricklayers Society and the..... More
London, Faber & Faber Ltd, 1929 (large-paper signed edition)/ 1929. Number 175 of 400 large-paper copies signed by T.S. Eliot. This signed edition, printed on English hand-made paper, was published on 28 October 1929, preceded only by the unsigned trade edition in wrappers, published on 9 October (Gallup 14b, not..... More
The five men (four in butcher's striped aprons) and one woman are standing on the unsealed road in front of the shop, next to a horse-drawn delivery cart sign-written with the name 'A. Mount'. The vintage gelatin silver photograph (image size 107 × 152 mm) is on the original blind-stamped..... More
Birmingham, Gryphon Editions, 1984 (facsimile edition)/ 1876. One of the Legal Classics Library; complete with the useful 'Notes from the Editors' booklets (one per volume). [2 items]. More
London, Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1938 (first English edition)/ 1936 (France). Translated from the French by Nea E. Morin; with an introduction by Brigadier-General The Hon. C.G. Bruce. A contemporary newspaper review of the book, and the original purchase receipt, are loosely inserted. More
London, Essex House Press, 1906. One of only 300 copies of this collection of poems. This prolific author, playwright, illustrator and social reformer was the younger brother of the better-known A.E. Housman. Tomkinson 68. More
London, Marshall Brothers, Ltd, [1908]. The author was 'Late C.M.S. [Church Missionary Society] Missionary at Peshawar'. More
Adelaide, [The Author], 1945. Number 29 of only 200 copies numbered and signed by the author. Charles Brown Fisher (1818-1908) was the second son of James Hurtle Fisher; he arrived with his father, the first Resident Commissioner of South Australia, on the 'Buffalo' in December 1836. He became one of..... More
London, William Darton, [circa 1825]. Provenance: James Hurtle Fisher, with his armorial bookplate on the pastedown and his signature in ink at the head of the engraved title page. Sir James Hurtle Fisher (1790-1875) 'was one of the most important pioneers of South Australia' ('Australian Dictionary of Biography'). He commenced..... More
The very fine portrait (visible image size 545 × 395 mm, in its original ornate gilt frame, external dimensions 740 × 595 mm) is exquisitely hand-painted and signed by the famous colonial photographer, Townsend Duryea (1823-1888). His original label is affixed to the paper backing on the verso of the..... More
Adelaide, Griffin Press [for the Author], 1955. Number 103 of 250 copies initialled by the author. More
Adelaide, Government Printer, 1989 (facsimile edition)/ 1814. A superb production, limited to only 500 numbered sets (this is number 345). The storage box was designed with a matching two-door lid opening at the centre, and attached to the base with piano hinges. About a third of the edition was issued..... More
Adelaide, Libraries Board of South Australia, 1966 (facsimile edition)/ 1814. Peade A37: 2150 sets. [3 items]. More
Canberra, Australian Biological Resources Study, 2001. 'In 1801, at the age of 29, Robert Brown was chosen by Sir Joseph Banks as the botanist to accompany Matthew Flinders in the "Investigator" on the first circumnavigation of the Australian continent ... This book provides the first complete transcript of his diary..... More
London, British Museum (Natural History), 1981. 'Australian Edition. Limited to 250 copies'; it also appeared in wrappers as the Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History), Historical Series Volume 9 (Complete). The lengthy introduction is followed by a transcription of the journal (its first publication), a variant of part of..... More
London, Michael Joseph, 1986. Number 820 of 1000 copies of this deluxe edition, signed on the limitation certificate by Dick Francis and Lester Piggott, one of the most successful professional jockeys in history. Loosely inserted is a prospectus for the American edition (folded once, but in fine condition): 'The Newmarket..... More
Sydney, William Brooks and Company, [1907]. The early ownership details of Joseph A. Hill, 'Correa', Wakeham St, Stawell are on an early blank. On the pastedown is the wattle-blossom bookplate of horticulturalist, naturalist and author Edward Edgar Pescott (1872-1954); his ownership details are written at the head of the preface..... More
London, Rider and Company, 1954. 'The author is a member of one of the few covens of witches surviving in England, and with an unbroken oral tradition that goes back to pre-Christian days. For the first time secrets of the cult are revealed by a practising devotee, and they differ..... More
Brisbane, T.P. Pugh, 1862. Statutes and Laws of the German Hospital Association (in German). More
Adelaide, Vardon & Sons, Printers [for the RGSSA], 1912. The head of the title page is inscribed by the author to 'E.W. Hawker Esqre MA LLM East Bungaree'. Edward William Hawker (1850-1940), barrister, grazier, politician and metallurgist, was born on 14 January 1850 at Bungaree near Clare, South Australia, eldest..... More