Paris: Plon et Cie, 1877. Second edition. In half leather with marbled boards. Gilt-stamped title to spine. Comparing the 'Venice of the North' with the real one! With seven etchings by MM. Léopold Flameng and Gaucherel (protected by tissue guards), and 124 wood engravings. Boards are a little rubbed / worn, and edges bumped. Internally there is some light foxing. 636 pages. 290 x 210 mm (11½ x 8¼ inches).
Henry Havard was a French art historian who specialised in Dutch art, and wrote extensively about Delft pottery - other works include L'art et les artistes hollandais (1879-1881) and Histoire et philosophie des styles (1899). Deuxième édition. En demi cuir avec plats marbrés. Titre estampé doré au dos. Comparer la « Venise du Nord » avec la vraie ! Avec sept eaux-fortes de MM. Léopold Flameng et Gaucherel (protégés par des gardes de tissus), et 124 gravures sur bois. Les planches sont un peu frottées/usées, et les bords émoussés. À l'intérieur, il y a de légères rousseurs. 636 pages. 290 x 210 mm (11½ x 8¼ pouces).
Henry Havard était un historien de l'art français spécialisé dans l'art néerlandais et a beaucoup écrit sur la poterie de Delft - d'autres ouvrages incluent L'art et les artistes hollandais (1879-1881) et Histoire et philosophie des styles (1899).

London: Longman, Brown, Green and Longmans, 1850. First edition. Original blind stamped green cloth, with gilt titles to the spine. Decorative end papers with adverts for Longman's geographical works. Despite the size and nature of this tome - there is not a map or illustration in sight! Overall, in good condition. There is a gift inscription from the author to Sir William Johnston, Lord Provost of Edinburgh (his brother) to the front end paper. The green cloth is a little rubbed to the edges, with slight nicking at the corners of the boards. There is particularly rubbing to the edges of the spine, where the cloth is starting to split (although the boards are holding perfectly well behind this). Internally clean and tidy, with just a little darkening. 1432, 32 pp.
This copy has a unique association, being from the author to his own brother. Alexander Keith was an eminent Scottish geographer and, with his brother, formed the cartographical firm of W. and A. K. Johnston. Perhaps they didn't get on terribly well, as in 1855, Sir William gifted this book on to a Mr. James Pearson.

Nürnberg: 1750. An attractive diptych sundial compass. Unsigned, but probably by Stockert of Nuremberg. To the rear panel is a paper label with the latitudes of major cities listed. This seems to be an "export version" for the French / American market. Usually these are only for European cities. What is unusual for this item, is that it begins with an American list (11 cities), followed by England (11), Spain (7), France (15), Italy (2), and finally Germany (12). The label is significantly darkened, and with chips to the edges, but still legible. The two blocks of wood are hinged and have a hook to keep it open. Inside are two hand coloured paper labels. One side for the sundial and one for the inset compass (the label of the compass is in French). The internal labels are clean, with a touch of darkening. A replacement thread has been attached. A very nice example of an early navigation aid. 100 x 60 mm (4 x 2¼ inches) x 20 mm (depth).

Paris: Aux Éditions Arc-En-Ciel, 1944. Text in French. Haunting colour frontis stencil illustration, plus 40 others in text. Limited to 1000 copies of which this is one of 963 copies on vellum. This is # 795. In a very good condition, with just a few spots of foxing. 285 x 230 mm (11¼ x 9 inches).
This novel centres around the experiences of the narrator-traveller en route to the Klondyke and Alaska at the time of the great gold rush. A story of physical and moral solitude in the face of the vastness and hostility of the Far North; where the relationship between man and his dog is of great significance. Texte en français. Illustration de pochoir frontis couleur obsédante, plus 40 autres dans le texte. Limité à 1000 exemplaires dont celui-ci est un des 963 exemplaires sur vélin. C'est # 795. En très bon état, avec juste quelques taches de rousseurs. 285 x 230 mm (11¼ x 9 pouces).
Ce roman est centré sur les expériences du narrateur-voyageur en route vers le Klondike et l'Alaska à l'époque de la grande ruée vers l'or. Une histoire de solitude physique et morale face à l'immensité et à l'hostilité du Grand Nord ; où la relation entre l'homme et son chien est d'une grande importance.

London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1862. First edition. Original blue buckram with black designs and gilt titles. Folding map, frontis and three further plates. Signed by the author with an inscription to his wife: "Anna Flemyng, with the best love of her husband, the author. Glenfeulan, Dec. 1862". Also present is a Baptism and Holy Communion card for Beatrice Anna Flymyng - baptised July 17th 1869, Confirmed Feb. 29 1884 (at the Cathedral in Sodor, Isle of Man) and her First Communion was Whitsunday May 13th 1889. Presumably this is their daughter. The blue boards are tidy, but with a touch of darkening to them. Overall clean, with just a little marking. The gilt is bright, Very slight nicking to the edges of the gilt on the spine (the casing has possibly been repaired at some point). The gift inscription, to the verso of the end paper, is clean and bright. The rest of the book is in excellent condition - just a touch of darkening to the pages. Percaline bleue originale avec dessins noirs et titres dorés. Carte dépliante, frontis et trois autres planches. Signé par l'auteur avec une inscription à son épouse : « Anna Flemyng, avec le meilleur amour de son mari, l'auteur. Glenfeulan, décembre 1862 ». Est également présente une carte de baptême et de sainte communion pour Beatrice Anna Flymyng - baptisée le 17 juillet 1869, confirmée le 29 février 1884 (à la cathédrale de Sodor, île de Man) et sa première communion a eu lieu le 13 mai 1889. Il s'agit probablement de leur fille. Les planches bleues sont bien rangées, mais avec une touche d'assombrissement. Globalement propre, avec juste un peu de marquage. La dorure est brillante, Très légères entailles sur les bords de la dorure sur le dos (le boîtier a peut-être été réparé à un moment donné). L'inscription cadeau, au verso du papier de garde, est nette et lumineuse. Le reste du livre est en excellent état - juste une touche de noircissement sur les pages.

Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore & Yokohama: Kelly and Walsh Limited. First edition, printed in 1904, of this important early guide book. With numerous photos and period advertisements. It was the first city guide on Shanghai published in a foreign language, and - at the time - was a very useful source of information about Shanghai, though mostly focussed on the foreign settlements. Black ink mark to front cover. Light wear to spine ends but tight and clean copy. The inside is clean and in a very good condition. Lacks the original map to the back pocket.
[x], xx, 221, [xxiv] pp. A fascinating insight in to China at that time - with everything from guidance on the price of hiring a sampan or a rickshaw, to 'handy' phrases in Pidgin-English! It represents a certain view of the city; through the eyes of a Western resident in the early 20th century.

London: Smith, Elder & Co, 1900. First edition, first issue. From the library of the British Embassy at Aden, and bound in burgundy buckram with gilt titles. Complete, with all maps and photographs. The binding is spotless, in good, clean, unblemished condition. The pages are a a little darkened / foxed, and a few are crinkled. There are some library marks, consistent with an embassy library. Overall a sound copy.
, x, [ii], 456pp., [iv adverts], half-title, 6 coloured maps [5 folding], 25 plates [19 photographic].
Theodore Bent and his wife undertook seven journeys from 1893 to his death and added much to European knowledge of the southern Arabian peninsula. The work, which includes a bibliography, is divided into sections on Southern Arabia, Maskat, the Hadramout, Dhorat and the Gara Mountains, the Eastern Soudan, the Mahri Island of Sokotra, Beled Fadhli and Beled Yafei.
It is perhaps surprising that the embassy staff would go to the trouble to remove books such as this from the embassy on evacuation in 1967, in the face of a hostile revolution. The last British High Commissioner had to be lifted out by helicopter under armed guard to a naval carrier standing well offshore. He left behind the first avowedly Marxist state to take the place of Empire, the (People's Democratic Republic of South Yemen).