London: Jonathan Cape, 1966. First edition in dust wrapper. Wrapper is clean, with a touch of nicking and edgewear and with a 1cm closed tear to the head of the spine. Now in protective archival film. Hardback in clean and neat green cloth with just a touch of bumping. Book is in good clean condition throughout. What is interesting about this copy, is that there is a gift inscription to the verso of the half title, stating that the book was taken from the Iranian Embassy shortly after the SAS had ended the embassy siege in 1980. The annotation claims that it was taken from the embassy an hour after the siege, but apart from this seeming unlikely (with security concerns at the time) the date given is actually 3 weeks after the end of the siege. There is no evidence that this is true but a strange thing to make up and we offer it as an interesting oddity! 414 pages. 220 by 150mm (8¾ by 6 inches). Première édition sous couverture anti-poussière. L'emballage est propre, avec une touche d'entaille et d'usure des bords et avec une déchirure fermée de 1 cm à la tête de la colonne vertébrale. Maintenant dans un film d'archives protecteur. Couverture cartonnée en toile verte propre et soignée avec juste une touche de bosse. Le livre est en bon état de propreté partout. Ce qui est intéressant à propos de cet exemplaire, c'est qu'il y a une inscription cadeau au verso du faux titre, indiquant que le livre a été pris à l'ambassade d'Iran peu de temps après que le SAS eut mis fin au siège de l'ambassade en 1980. L'annotation prétend qu'il a été prise de l'ambassade une heure après le siège, mais à part cela qui semble peu probable (avec des problèmes de sécurité à l'époque), la date indiquée est en fait 3 semaines après la fin du siège. Il n'y a aucune preuve que cela soit vrai mais une chose étrange à inventer et nous l'offrons comme une bizarrerie intéressante ! 414 pages. 220 par 150 mm

London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd, 1899. New half calf (dark blue) with corresponding buckram cloth. Gilt titles to spine. New end papers. Text and Japanese characters throughout. Ex library, but the rebinding has resulted in very few library marks remaining. A lovely copy of this work. The binding is immaculate (it was finished last week!). Inside, the first 4 leaves have moderate foxing to them. The rest of the book is clean and tidy, with just a little darkening to the edges. Library marks are limited to a stamp to the verso of the title pages, then small discreet stamps to the top of page 1, and the bottom of page 480. Tape residue to the last page (list of author's other works). [vi], 1-480, [vi]. pp.
Chamberlain was one of the foremost Japanologists active in the Nineteenth Century. He wrote some of the earliest translations of haiku into English. During his tenure at the Tokyo Imperial University, he sent many Japanese artifacts to the Pitt Rivers Museum at Oxford.

Paris: L. G. Michaud & Delaunay Libraire, 1814. First Edition of this uncommon work giving an overview of the United States of America at the beginning of the Nineteenth Century. Complete with all maps and tables. Contemporary green hardback binding with burgundy and gilt spine label. The binding is somewhat rubbed and darkened. A weakness to the front board has been repaired and sewn at some point. There is a large (50cm x 38cm) map of North America with hand coloured borders and boundaries. This has a repaired hole to the top right edge (not really affecting map detail) and a repaired closed tear to the book edge, through the cartouche. There are also 17 charts and plans to the the rear showing statistical information. 274 pages. The pages are clean, with a little darkening to the edges only. A decent copy. 230 by 150mm (9 by 6 inches). The author was the French Consul General in the United States From 1804 to 1810, representing Napoleon Bonaparte to Thomas Jefferson. Sabin, 4172; Howes, H288; Clark II, 78

Paris: Lehuby: 1842. quarter tan leather with brown boards. gilt titles and decorations to the spine. Now covered in removable archival film. All edges gilt. Yellow end papers. Contemporary gift inscription to the end paper. half title carries the approval of Cardinal Prince de Croy. Three engraved plates (frontis and two further) and an engraved title page. There is a little rubbing to the boards, but overall the spine and boards are in good bright shape. the front end paper has a nick to the top corner. The rest of this book is in good condition, slightly darkened to the page edges. The frontis plate is still holding well, but is in danger of becoming detached (slightly loose to the top half). Overall a sound copy. The book is telling the history of the missions to spread the Catholic faith. There are chapters on the Jesuit missions, missions to Constantinople and to Holland. Sections also on the religion of the Armenians, Ethiopians and the monastery at mount Sinai, the mission to Guyana etc: The Second half of the book is in two sections. The first dealing with the Mission to America to convert the Native Americans - (The "Savages" of Illinois and Louisiana). The second with the Mission to India (1701, 1709 etc.), and to Tibet. cuir quart de bronzage avec des conseils bruns. titres et décorations dorés au dos. Maintenant recouvert d'un film d'archives amovible. Tous les bords dorés. Feuilles de garde jaunes. Inscription cadeau contemporaine sur le papier de fin. le demi-titre porte l'approbation du Cardinal Prince de Croy. Trois planches gravées (frontis et deux autres) et une page de titre gravée. Il y a un peu de frottement sur les planches, mais dans l'ensemble le dos et les planches sont en bon état brillant. le papier frontal a une entaille dans le coin supérieur. Le reste de ce livre est en bon état, légèrement noirci sur les bords des pages. La plaque frontale tient toujours bien, mais risque de se détacher (légèrement lâche jusqu'à la moitié supérieure). Dans l'ensemble une copie sonore. Le livre raconte l'histoire des missions de diffusion de la foi catholique. Il y a des chapitres sur les missions jésuites, les missions à Constantinople et en Hollande. Sections également sur la religion des Arméniens, des Éthiopiens et du monastère du mont Sinaï, la mission en Guyane etc. : La seconde moitié du livre est en deux sections. Le premier traitant de la Mission en Amérique pour convertir les Amérindiens - (Les « Sauvages » de l'Illinois et de la Louisiane). La seconde avec la Mission en Inde (1701, 1709 etc.), et au Tibet. 288 pages.

London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme and Brown, 1817. First edition 4to, Bound in late 19th century half calf, marbled boards. A little light spotting to extremities. Title on spine. A very good copy. The book bears the owner's signature of T.J. Powell, Brecon. This would seem to be the Welsh composer and conductor Thomas James Powell.
xxvii, [1, blank], 565 pp. 270 by 210mm (10¾ by 8¼ inches). Although translated from the French, this was the 1st Edition. A Classic analysis of Hindu society. Jean-Antoine Dubois, 1765-1848, French catholic missionary, sailed in 1792 to India where he spent twenty-seven years, serving first in Pondichery, then at Mysore and Mangalore. He abjured western society, dressed as a Sanyasi, and became a vegetarian. In 1827 he returned to Paris where he was appointed head on the Missions Étrangères. This book, one of the first classic analyses of Hindu society, soon became a standard work and a kind of manual for the Indian Civil Service. It is now known that a substantial portion of the work was plagiarized from the writings of a French Jesuit, Father Gaston-Laurent Coeurdoux, who worked in south India from 1732 to 1779 and was himself a noted Indologist.

Paris: Dentu, 1807. First edition. Nineteenth century (but not original) half leather binding, with brown marbled boards. Black labels to raised bands to the spine. Mottled closed page edge. In matching brown and marbled slipcase. Hand coloured end papers with gilt highlights. Two hand made map pockets at rear, with the large folding maps inside. Map of Interior: 350 mm x 270 mm. Map of the voyage: 490 mm x 380 mm. Very nice clean and tidy condition. No significant flaws. A touch of marking to the half title only. There is a small closed tear to the map of the voyage. X- 401 pp. 210 x 135 mm (8¼ x 5¼ inches). Édition originale. Reliure demi-cuir XIXème (mais pas d'origine), à plats marbrés marron. Etiquettes noires aux bandes en relief jusqu'au dos. Bord de page fermé marbré. Logé dans un étui assorti marron et marbré. Feuilles de garde coloriées à la main avec rehauts d'or. La reliure semble être un bon travail d'amateur plutôt que de professionnel. Deux pochettes pour cartes faites à la main (avec les grandes cartes pliantes à l'intérieur). Plan d'intérieur 350 mm x 270 mm. Carte du voyage 490mm x 380mm. Très bel état de propreté et de rangement. Pas de défauts importants. Une touche de marquage au faux titre seulement. Il y a une petite déchirure fermée sur la carte du voyage. X- 401 pp. 210 x 135 mm

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