Metz: P. Didion, [1870]. Wonderful military certificate of competency in the art of cane fighting. Soldiers were expected to pass many different competencies. This particular diploma was awarded to Monsieur Joseph Franc of the 115th French Infantry Regiment. Complete with the ink signatures of attending instructors. Undated, but circa 1870. 325 x 490 mm (12¾ x 19¼ inches). Has some stains and closed tears, but generally in a good condition. In the 1800s carrying a walking stick / cane was a symbol of a gentleman who was fashion conscious, but one who was also ready to defend himself. Whilst fencing was still practiced, it did not enjoy the same popularity with the newly empowered bourgeoisie. Enterprising fencing masters soon translated their skills to the use of the walking stick or la canne. Fascinatingly, 'la canne de combat' is still a sport practiced today by thousands of cannistes around the world. Magnifique certificat militaire de compétence dans l'art du combat à la canne. Les soldats devaient acquérir de nombreuses compétences différentes. Ce diplôme particulier a été décerné à Monsieur Joseph Franc du 115e Régiment d'Infanterie Française. Compléter avec les signatures à l'encre des instructeurs présents. Non daté, mais vers 1870. 325 x 490 mm (12¾ x 19¼ pouces). A quelques taches et déchirures fermées, mais généralement en bon état. Dans les années 1800, porter une canne / une canne était le symbole d'un gentleman soucieux de la mode, mais également prêt à se défendre. Alors que l'escrime était encore pratiquée, elle ne jouissait pas de la même popularité auprès de la bourgeoisie nouvellement investie. Les maîtres d'armes entreprenants ont rapidement traduit leurs compétences dans l'utilisation de la canne ou de la canne. Fascinant, la canne de combat est toujours un sport pratiqué aujourd'hui par des milliers de cannistes à travers le monde.

Totnes: James Cauty: 2007. Limited Edition Print onto 315 gsm archival paper. Edition of 99 - numbered and stamped (this is 35/99). Believe the Magic, OMK Page Edition. 'Operation Magic Kingdom' was a billboard and street poster campaign in London (2007) against the Iraq war. Also released as stamps and prints. OMK blind stamped and hand numbered in pencil to front. Also official CNPD red stamp on back. With 4 binding holes in the left hand margin. Dimensions: 35,8 cm x 30.5cm James (Jimmy) Cauty, was formerly a musician with the band 'The Orb', and was a member of 'KLF'. More recently, he has been an artist, creating works of dissent, and working alongside artists such as Banksy and Billy Childish. He has been involved in Steve Lowe's L-13 Light Industrial workshop. He created the gift shop at Banksy's 'Dismaland'. His work also toured as part of the ADP (Aftermath Dislocation Principle) Riot Tour.

New York: Arianne Lancell / Alsparck, 1983. Original lithograph of a bearded man in a Winter hat. Part of a suite of work based on Carmilla, the gothic novel by the Irish writer Sheridan Le Fanu. Signed in pencil. Numbered 29 / 297 copies. Authenticated by the artist's own dry stamp (a cat's head). On vellum. Very good condition as the work has never been framed. Sold unframed. 555 x 455 mm (21¾ x 18 inches).
The description for this character in the novel reads: This evening there arrived from Gratz the grave, dark-faced son of the picture-cleaner, with a horse and cart laden with two large packing cases, having many pictures in each. Lithographie originale d'un homme barbu dans un chapeau d'hiver. Fait partie d'une série d'œuvres basées sur Carmilla, le roman gothique de l'écrivain irlandais Sheridan Le Fanu. Signé au crayon. Numéroté 29 / 297 exemplaires. Authentifié par le propre tampon sec de l'artiste (une tête de chat). Sur vélin. Très bon état car l'oeuvre n'a jamais été encadrée. Vendu sans cadre. 555 x 455 mm (21¾ x 18 pouces).
La description de ce personnage dans le roman se lit comme suit : Ce soir arriva de Gratz le fils grave et sombre du nettoyeur de tableaux, avec un cheval et une charrette chargés de deux grandes caisses d'emballage, contenant chacune de nombreuses images.

Totnes: James Cauty, 2005. Limited Edition Print onto 315 gsm archival paper. Edition of 29 stamped and numbered (this is 10/29). Part of the 'Stamps of Mass Destruction' campaign also released as stamps and prints. Stamped and hand numbered in ink on front, showing "Cautese National Postal Disservice" and the "C.N.P.D. Stamps of Mass Destruction Limited Edition". With this print is the COA (Certificate of Authentication) from Cauty - an attractive design, numbered. This is one of James Cauty's famous anti-occupation of Iraq protest prints. These stamps were the subject of a legal action in 2003 by UK's Royal Mail alleging copyright infringement. Dimensions: 32.8 x 30.5 cm. James (Jimmy) Cauty, was formerly a musician with the band 'The Orb', and was a member of 'KLF'. More recently, he has been an artist, creating works of dissent, and working alongside artists such as Banksy and Billy Childish. He has been involved in Steve Lowe's L-13 Light Industrial workshop. He created the gift shop at Banksy's 'Dismaland'. His work also toured as part of the ADP (Aftermath Dislocation Principle) Riot Tour.

Totnes: James Cauty, 2005. Limited Edition Print onto 315 gsm archival paper. Edition of 65 stamped and numbered (this is 06/65). Part of the 'Stamps of Mass Destruction' campaign also released as stamps and prints. Stamped and hand numbered in ink to front. "Cautese National Postal Disservice" certificate inclused. Has the "C.N.P.D. Stamps of Mass Destruction Limited Edition". This is one of James Cauty's famous anti-occupation of Iraq protest prints. These stamps were the subject of a legal action in 2003 by Royal Mail alleging copyright infringement. Dimensions: 32.8 x 30.5 cm. James (Jimmy) Cauty, was formerly a musician with the band 'The Orb', and was a member of 'KLF'. More recently, he has been an artist, creating works of dissent, and working alongside artists such as Banksy and Billy Childish. He has been involved in Steve Lowe's L-13 Light Industrial workshop. He created the gift shop at Banksy's 'Dismaland'. His work also toured as part of the ADP (Aftermath Dislocation Principle) Riot Tour.

1800. Two items. An original hand coloured copper engraving with two images of the coast of Japan with ships in the foreground. Also a full sheet of text, printed on both sides (one side is in German and the other in French). Sheet size for both is approx. 24.5 x 19.3 cm (image: approx. 9 x 14.5 cm). Both in a very good condition. Engraving is blank to verso. Translation of the text:
Japan is a country that has only been better known for two hundred years and consists of several large and small islands on the north-east coast of Asia in the eastern great ocean, and because of its great wealth, especially in gold and other products, it has been an object of the Become European greed. The Portuguese settled here in the middle of the 16th century, but abused the goodness of the Japanese and were driven out by them. Since then only the Dutch have been allowed to trade in Japan, albeit with great restrictions; but the British failed two attempts that they made because of this.
The latest Russian venture of this kind also failed. In 1803 the Russian court sent the two ships under the command of Capitan v. Krusenstern were sent to make a trip around the world, including an envoy to Japan. This envoy, however, was not admitted to the audience, and the gifts he had brought with him were not accepted. From the, by the captain v. Krusenstern 's masterful description of his journey around the world, the following two views are borrowed from Japan:
Fig. 1. View of Megasaki near the city of Nangasaki in Japan, where the Russian ambassador was assigned his apartment, and the first visit of the Japanese interpreters, who are approaching the Russian ship in an open sloop, of which we can only see the rear.
Fig. 2. The Russian envoy takes two boats or sloops, one of which is splendidly decorated, to the apartment in Megasaki assigned to him. Here we can get to know not only the design of the Japanese vehicles, but also the clothing of the Japanese. Deux articles. Une gravure sur cuivre originale colorée à la main avec deux images de la côte du Japon avec des navires au premier plan. Egalement une feuille de texte complète, imprimée recto-verso (une face est en allemand et l'autre en français). La taille de la feuille pour les deux est d'env. 24,5 x 19,3 cm (image : environ 9 x 14,5 cm). Les deux en très bon état. La gravure est vierge au verso. Traduction du texte :
Le Japon est un pays qui n'est mieux connu que depuis deux cents ans et se compose de plusieurs grandes et petites îles sur la côte nord-est de l'Asie dans le grand océan oriental, et en raison de sa grande richesse, notamment en or et autres produits, il a été l'objet de la cupidité Devenir Européen. Les Portugais se sont installés ici au milieu du XVIe siècle, mais ont abusé de la bonté des Japonais et ont été chassés par eux. Depuis lors, seuls les Néerlandais ont été autorisés à commercer au Japon, bien qu'avec de grandes restrictions ; mais les Britanniques ont échoué deux tentatives qu'ils ont faites à cause de cela.
La dernière entreprise russe de ce genre a également échoué. En 1803, le tribunal russe a envoyé les deux navires sous le commandement de Capitan v. Krusenstern ont été envoyés pour faire un voyage autour du monde, y compris un envoyé au Japon. Cet envoyé, cependant, n'a pas été admis à l'audience, et les cadeaux qu'il avait apportés avec lui n'ont pas été acceptés. À partir de la description magistrale du capitaine v. Krusenstern de son voyage autour du monde, les deux points de vue suivants sont empruntés au Japon :
Fig. 1. Vue de Megasaki près de la ville de Nangasaki au Japon, où l'ambassadeur de Russie s'est vu attribuer son appartement, et la première visite des interprètes japonais, qui s'approchent du navire russe dans un sloop ouvert, dont on ne peut voir que il y a.
Fig. 2. L'envoyé russe emmène deux bateaux ou sloops, dont l'un est magnifiquement décoré, jusqu'à l'appartement de Megasaki qui lui est assigné. Ici, nous pouvons connaître non seulement le design des véhicules japonais, mais aussi les vêtements des Japonais.

London: G. Baxter, 1853. Two framed prints of famous images. One is entitled: "Australia. News from Home". This first depicting a group of men inside a wooden building in Australia. Two of whom appear indigenous. The other entitled: "News from Abroad". This showing a family gathered around for the reading of a letter, whilst on the wall there is a poster promoting emigration to Australia. Both from paintings by Harden Sidney Melville, and engraved, printed and published by G. Baxter. They are cropped, so no longer have the Baxter stamp at the bottom. Tipped on to card and mounted in wooden frames under glass. Each measures: 110 mm x 150 mm. Total size including frame: 260 mm x 290 mm. They have a label to the rear which says they were framed by The Petersfield Book Shop. In very good condition. (Price is for the pair).

Paris: Rüe de la Harpe vis a vis le Soleil d'Or, 1737. Original etching. Depicts a follower of Bacchus in the centre, on the left a man with a thyrsus standing in a giant cup and drinking from a conch shell; and on the right a statue of Pan on a plinth. Etching is annotated in the lower left Bouchardon del. Under gold edged duck egg blue passe-partout. Has a small area of green (paint?) to bottom left. Otherwise very good. Actual image size: 210 x 145 mm (8¼ x 5¾ inches). Gravure originale. Représente un disciple de Bacchus au centre, à gauche un homme avec un thyrse debout dans une coupe géante et buvant dans une conque ; et à droite une statue de Pan sur un socle. L'eau-forte est annotée en bas à gauche Bouchardon del. Sous passe-partout bleu canard bordé d'or. A une petite zone de vert (peinture?) En bas à gauche. Sinon très bien. Taille réelle de l'image : 210 x 145 mm (8¼ x 5¾ pouces).

Valencia: Hija de E. Mirabet, 1928. An anonymous colour lithographic poster, mounted on linen. "Chang and Fak-Hong's United Magicians presents The Bhuda". 63.5 x 44 cm. Chang and Fak Hong were a popular illusionist duo of the 1920s and 1930s, renowned throughout Europe and the United States. Very good condition. A few foxing spots to the white and cream edges. Slight fraying to the undressed linen edge. Overall very attractive. Affiche lithographique couleur anonyme, marouflée sur toile de lin. "Les magiciens unis de Chang et Fak-Hong présentent le Bhuda". 63,5 x 44 cm. Chang et Fak Hong étaient un duo illusionniste populaire des années 1920 et 1930, renommé dans toute l'Europe et les États-Unis. Très bonne condition. Quelques rousseurs sur les bords blanc et crème. Légère effilochage au bord du lin dévêtu. Globalement très attractif.