Amsterdam: Les Freres Wetstein, 1718. Beautiful engraved double page taken from the First edition (in French) of Le Bruyn's important illustrated account of his voyage to Russia, Persia, India and Java.
The book is arguably the best authority for costumes of the era in the countries visited. This double page shows the costumes typical of 'Homme Persan' and 'Dame Persanne'. In a very good condition for its age. Some very small closed tears to edges. Blank on verso.
Scope of images: 355 x 290 mm (14 x 11½ inches). Actual item: 405 x 325mm (16 x 12¾ inches). Belle double page gravée tirée de la Première édition (en français) de l'important récit illustré de Le Bruyn de son voyage en Russie, Perse, Inde et Java.
Le livre est sans doute la meilleure autorité pour les costumes de l'époque dans les pays visités. Cette double page montre les costumes typiques de « Homme Persan » et « Dame Persanne ». En très bon état pour son âge. Quelques très petites déchirures fermées sur les bords. Blanc au verso.
Portée des images : 355 x 290 mm (14 x 11½ pouces). Article réel : 405 x 325 mm

Amsterdam: Isaak Tirion, 1732. Part Four of Salmon's seminal work. First edition of the Dutch translation of Salmon's work dealing with Persia, Arabia and Tartary. Translated and much enlarged by Matthias van Gogh. A very nice copy. Simple red leather spine, and red marbled boards (more recent than the book - probably 19th century). With engraved title-page, three engraved maps and nine engraved plates (seven folding). The three large folding maps depict Persia, Arabia and Tartary, and the illustrations include a Persian hunting scene and a view of the Kaaba in Mecca.
The spine and edges have a little rubbing to them -but not too much. Slight creasing to the spine, and the gilt is somewhat faded. The newer end papers are somewhat darkened - but the original pages are in good clean condition. The maps and plates are in lovely condition. One is detached but still neat and present. [viii], 3-637, [xiii]. pp

Paris: Librairie de la Societe Bibliographique, 1874. Contemporary green leather spine with gilt titles. Marbled boards with green accents. A picture of the first attempts made by the French to establish their domination in India. Martin's generous efforts; the works of La Bourdonnais; the rivalry of it with Dupleix; the recall of La Bourdonnais; the admirable labours of Dupleix, so badly supported by the government of France; the struggles of his successors and the final failure.
xi, 504 pp. Title page has small ex libris stamp. Some water staining / foxing throughout. Large fold-out map (47 x 39 cm) to the rear has become detached, a little creased, but otherwise in a good condition. 240 by 160mm (9½ by 6¼ inches).

George Bruce Malleson was born in Wimbledon (UK). Educated at Winchester, he obtained a cadetship in the Bengal infantry in 1842, and served through the second Burmese War. His subsequent appointments were in the civil line, the last being that of guardian to the young Maharajah of Mysore. He retired with the rank of colonel in 1877, having been created C.S.I. in the 1872 Birthday Honours. He authored the biographies of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, the French governor-general Dupleix and the British officer Robert Clive for the Rulers of India series. 240 x 160 mm (9½ x 6¼ inches). Dos de l'époque en cuir vert avec titres dorés. Planches marbrées aux accents verts. Une image des premières tentatives faites par les Français pour asseoir leur domination en Inde. les efforts généreux de Martin; les œuvres de La Bourdonnais ; sa rivalité avec Dupleix ; le rappel de La Bourdonnais ; les admirables travaux de Dupleix, si mal soutenus par le gouvernement de la France ; les luttes de ses successeurs et l'échec final.
xi, 504 pp. 240 x 160 mm.
page de titre a un petit cachet ex libris. Quelques taches d'eau / rousseurs partout. Grande carte dépliante (47 x 39 cm) à l'arrière s'est détachée, un peu froissée, mais sinon en bon état. 2 George Bruce Malleson est né à Wimbledon (Royaume-Uni). Formé à Winchester, il obtint un grade de cadet dans l'infanterie du Bengale en 1842 et servit pendant la seconde guerre birmane. Ses nominations ultérieures étaient dans la ligne civile, la dernière étant celle de tuteur du jeune maharadjah de Mysore. Il prend sa retraite avec le grade de colonel en 1877, ayant été créé C.S.I. dans les honneurs d'anniversaire de 1872. Il est l'auteur des biographies de l'empereur moghol Akbar, du gouverneur général français Dupleix et de l'officier britannique Robert Clive pour la série Rulers of India.

London: Seeley, Burnside & Seeley, 1843. First edition - complete. '...To which is prefixed, a geographical memoir of Abyssinia and South-Eastern Africa by James McQueen esq. grounded on the missionaries' journals, and the expedition of the Pacha of Egypt up the Nile.' Original brown blind stamped buckram with gilt titles to spine. Yellow end papers. Small bookseller's embossed stamp to the half title. (George Gardham of Beverley). Two folding hand coloured maps of the relevant parts of Africa.. The buckram is a little faded and rubbed to the edge. There is a little chipping to the head and tail of the spine with slight loss. A split to the board has been repaired. A closed tear to the half title page has been neatly repaired. The maps are in very nice clean condition. xxvii, 529. pp

London: L. B. Seeley, 1824. Half calf binding with embossed decoration and burgundy label with gilt titles to spine. A touch of nicking to the spine and slight rubbing only. Ownership signature of Elizabeth Agnes Fitzgerald of Listowel. A full year of this monthly publication comprising brief reports from each station around the world, divided into United Kingdom, Africa, Mediterranean, the Black & Caspian seas, India, Australasia, North & South America. 4 engraved plates and one map. In addition there are often articles and engravings, including: February - An obituary of four native Christians, and a lengthy report on the Mission to convert the Jews. Engraved plate of the Indian goddess Kalee. April - A memoir of the late Rev. Wililiam Ward, an engraving of a hindoo widow casting herself onto her husbands pyre. June - A Memoir of Theophilus Solomon Schumann. July - A memoir of the Rev James Richards. August - A memoir of the Rev F.C.G. Schroeter, an engraving of the Syrian college at Travancore. September - An obituary of the Rev. T.C. Deininger. October - An obituary of Mr John Harle, an engraved map of Cape Mesurado. November - An obituary of Drinave (a youth training in England), an engraved plate of the temple at Juggernaut. December - an obituary of the Rev. Philander Chase. 582 pages. 220 by 140mm (8¾ by 5½ inches).

Philadelphia: Rosenbach Museum & Library, 1999. First edition. Black softback with blue dust jacket. Front cover overlaid with an illustration. The exhibition at the Rosenbach featured a copy of Manjiro's own lavishly illustrated manuscript account of his adventures, and this companion book includes full-page colour reproductions the manuscript. In very good / fine condition. 116 pages. 260 x 185 mm (10¼ x 7¼ inches).

In 1843 (at just 16 years old) Nakahama Manjirō became the first Japanese person to live in the United States. Two years earlier, at the tender age of 14, he had been rescued after a shipwreck by the crew of the 'John Howland', an American whale ship from New Bedford, Massachusetts. Having mastered English, sailing the world on whaling ships for several years, and trying his hand at gold mining, Manjirō later risked his life to go back to Japan in an attempt to make his homeland more "hospitable."
After much suspicion, and many interrogations, he was later to become a shōgun's samurai, a teacher of English and American culture, and his translation of Nathaniel Bowditch's 'The New American Practical Navigator' constituted the introduction of modern scientific navigation methods to Japan. His life story is certainly a fascinating one, and number of Manjirō's students would go on to play seminal roles in the Meiji-era modernisation of Japan.
This information has been extrapolated from an article written by Junji Kitadai.

Paris: Eug. Rey, 1906. Limited edition guide book to New York, with text and illustrations by Charles Huard. Attractive engraved frontispiece of a lady overlooking New York. The edition was published in a total of 600 numbered copies. 100 on Japon and 500 on velin d'Arches. This is one of the Velin copies. Originally published in pale blue wrappers, which have been retained here. Half vellum binding, with brown label and gilt titles. Marbled boards. Owner's bookplate to the inside front board. The binding is in good repair, with a little marking only. Original wrappers are in good state, with a touch of marking to the original cover only.
Xii. 202, [iv]. pp 200 x 150 mm (7¾ x 6 inches). Guide de New York en édition limitée, avec texte et illustrations de Charles Huard. Joli frontispice gravé d'une dame surplombant New York. L'édition a été publiée dans un total de 600 exemplaires numérotés. 100 sur Japon et 500 sur velin d'Arches. C'est l'un des exemplaires de Velin. Publié à l'origine dans des emballages bleu pâle, qui ont été conservés ici. Reliure demi cuir blanc/vélin, avec pièce de dos et titres dorés. Planches marbrées. Ex-libris du propriétaire sur le panneau avant intérieur. La reliure est en bon état, avec un peu de marquage seulement. Les emballages d'origine sont en bon état, avec une touche de marquage sur la couverture d'origine uniquement.
XII. 202, [iv]. pp 200 x 150 mm

London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1925. Scarce in original dust jacket. First UK edition. In hardback red cloth boards with gilt title. The front of the dust jacket has some marks, small tears / nicks to edges, a small surface loss, and a stain. Cloth boards are faded to the bottom and the boards are slightly warped. Neat bookseller label to the front of the dust jacket from La Librairie Francaise Peking - Tientsin. The bookshop was in the lobby of the Grand Hotel de Pekin and had a branch in Tientsin. Text and sepia reproductions of photographs taken by Ernst Boerschmann, documenting his journey in the 12 provinces: Zhili, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Szechuan, Hupei, Hunan, Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang. Boerschmann was the first Westerner to systematically document Chinese religious architecture. Captions in English, German, French and Italian. xxvi, 288 pp. 315 x 245 mm (12½ x 9¾ inches).

London: J. Phillips, 1788. New Edition (Second British Edition). Recent quarter leather with marbled boards. Gilt titles. New end papers. Half title, title, contents, biography of author, introduction and text. To the end there is a leaf of adverts on the subject of slavery from Phillips. In very nice condition. The quarter calf is clean and tidy, with just a touch of handling. The edges of the marbled boards are slightly rubbed, but overall in very good clean condition. Internally clean and tidy throughout, with just a touch of foxing to the pages.
An important early American publication against the slave trade. Benezet (1713-1784) was born in Picardy, France. His family moved to London following the edict of Nantz, which was against Protestants in France. The family moved to Philadelphia in 1731, and shortly after he converted to Quakerism. He is described in the Library Company Afro- Americana catalogue (Item 44) as "the colonial anchor-man of the Anglo- American anti-slavery axis." Benezet worked ceaselessly to have slavery abolished by the colonial legislatures, and corresponded with Granville Sharp, one of the most important English abolitionists. 131 + advert leaf pp. Nouvelle édition (deuxième édition britannique). Quartier récent en cuir à plats marbrés. Titres dorés. Nouveaux papiers de fin. Faux-titre, titre, contenu, biographie de l'auteur, introduction et texte. À la fin, il y a une feuille d'annonces sur le sujet de l'esclavage de Phillips. En très bon état. Le quart de veau est propre et bien rangé, avec juste une touche de manipulation. Les bords des plats marbrés sont légèrement frottés, mais globalement en très bon état de propreté. Intérieurement propre et bien rangé, avec juste une touche de rousseur sur les pages. Une importante publication américaine ancienne contre la traite des esclaves. Benezet (1713-1784) est né en Picardie, en France. Sa famille a déménagé à Londres à la suite de l'édit de Nantz, qui était contre les protestants en France. La famille a déménagé à Philadelphie en 1731, et peu de temps après il s'est converti au quakerisme. Il est décrit dans le catalogue de la Library Company Afro-Americana (article 44) comme « l'homme d'ancrage colonial de l'axe anti-esclavagiste anglo-américain ». Benezet travailla sans relâche pour faire abolir l'esclavage par les législatures coloniales, et correspondit avec Granville Sharp, l'un des plus importants abolitionnistes anglais. 131 pages.

Harlow: Longman Group Limited, 1985. First edition. In original illustrated dust jacket. Signed dedication to front: H. E. Gordon Douglas, thank you for all your support towards our mutual goals and many shared interests, Francine Stone 18 November 1993. Fascinating insight in to the flora, fauna, people and buildings of Tihāmah - the Red Sea coastal plain of the Arabian Peninsula from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Bab el Mandeb. Profusely illustrated. From the Gordon's own library. Dedication refers to the former British Ambassador to Yemen (and PDRY) Douglas Gordon. According to international protocol, ambassadors and ambassadors-at-large are officially styled and addressed as His/Her Excellency, and the title is often abbreviated as H.E. Both book and unclipped dust jacket in excellent condition. 148 pages. 310 x 220 mm (12¼ x 8¾ inches).

London: Charles Knight, 1838. Green blind stamped cloth, with gilt titles and design to the spine. 20 woodcut illus. including a chart of the navigation of Upper Canada. Map of British Canada to p. 314 This third edition was published "Under the superintendence of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge" The half title shows it to be part of the "Library of Entertaining Knowledge" and the verso of this page shows the membership of the Committee. Bound in with this work is "The Oregon Territory" with a map to the front of this. This work, published in 1846 by M. A. Nattali (London) was also by Traill. (1st edition). Overall, this third edition is in very nice condition. The green cloth is sound, with a touch of bumping only. There is a slight marking / lightening to portions of the green cloth - possibly from water marks. Not heavy though. Internally clean and tidy throughout. Very slight marking / darkening only. The illustrations are clean and tidy. includes much useful and interesting information on home-making under pioneer conditions, including pioneer recipes. Catherine Parr Traill (nee Strickland) 1802-1899. With her sisters Agnes, Elizabeth and Susanna, she was born in Rotherhithe, England, and was a children's author before emigrating with her husband (a retired Napoleonic Soldier) to Canada. She wrote numerous Canadian novels and settler's guides. viii, 1-313, (map) 315-351. (ii) map. (ii) 1-78, 2 (adverts of the library). pp

London: Keating and Brown: 1833. Brown paper wrappers, printed in black to the front cover. Sewn. Largely uncut. The brown wrappers are clean, but there is chipping to the spine, and a tear to perhaps a third of the length of the spine. Internally very clean and tidy throughout, with just a touch of darkening to the closed page edge. The first of the 4 issues (1833-1837). Includes papers on the work in Ceylon (relief of the Catholics, lists of the Catholic churches), St Lucia, Demerara, abolition of slavery, and the proposals for forming the "British Catholic Society for the Promotion of the Knowledge of Christianity". Included is a long letter from Lord Clifford, which discusses that he will be attending Rome with his Father in Law (Cardinal Weld). 80pp. 80pp.