History & Culture
Windows into worlds gone by, a vast store of history. Both the iconic and the less well-known is here. Together with forgotten byways and things not found anywhere else. Here is also Americana, Crime, Feminism, Occultism,Archaeology, and Ethnography.
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1945 IndiaBombay: 1945An uncommon, first edition of Cecil Beaton's stunning collection of 100 photographs documenting his exploration of India in 1944, this copy with the original dust wrapper.
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1823 Skelton's Engraved Illustrations of the Principal Antiquities of OxfordshireLondon: 1823A large paper copy of the first edition of this impressive collection of fifty engravings of Oxfordshire antiquities. Engraved by the author, John Skelton, after the work of Frederick Mackenzie.
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1823 Skelton's Engraved Illustrations of the Principal Antiquities of OxfordshireLondon: 1823A large paper copy of the first edition of this impressive collection of fifty engravings of Oxfordshire antiquities. Engraved by the author, John Skelton, after the work of Frederick Mackenzie.
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1943 The Silver CrescentLondon: 1943Somerset de Chair's limited edition account of his experiences in World War Two, in a quarter morocco binding by Sangorski & Sutcliffe.
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1943 The Golden CarpetLondon: 1943The first edition of Somerset de Chair's first hand account of his World War II campaign in the desert. A limited edition work, in a Sangorski & Sutcliffe binding.
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1925 The Smaller English House of the Later Renaissance 1660-1830: An Account of its Design, Plan, and DetailsLondon: 1925The author's presentation copy of this richly illustrated survey of domestic architecture in England, from the library of Greek architect Hector Corfiato. -
1929-30 The Lives of the Noble Grecians & RomansLondon: 1929-30An illustrated Nonesuch limited edition of Plutarch's influential and informative collection of short biographies on Greek and Roman men.
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1904 The Last Records of A Cotswold CommunityEssex: 1904An excellent example of Charles Robert Ashbee's limited edition account of the famous Cotswold games, illustrated by Frank New.
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1852 Census of Great Britain, 1851. Population Tables.London: 1852The compete three volume population tables of the 1851 census, providing information on the growth of the nation's population from 1801, and illustrated with a wealth of folding maps..
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1841 Map and Section of the Brighton Railway, Shewing its Connexion with the South Eastern and Croydon RailwaysLondon: 1841The first edition of this vanishingly scarce hand coloured folding map by J. R. Jobbins, illustrating the Brighton Railway.
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1946-1948 3vols Travel in England; Outline of English Architecture; The English InteriorNew York; London: 1946-1948A lovely illustrated three volume set on the history of British architecture, interior design and travel; all with their original unclipped dust wrappers.
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1961 The Path to LeadershipLondon: 1961A very smart first edition of Field-Marshall Montgomery's study of leadership qualities, in the original dust wrapper.
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1900-02 South Africa and the Transvaal WarEdinburgh: 1900-02The first edition of Louis Creswicke's impressive contemporary study of the Second Boer War, complete with many colour plates and folding maps.
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1949 Four Centuries of Fine PrintingLondon: 1949A second revised edition of this sweeping study of the printing press between 1465 and 1924, illustrated with numerous plates.
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1834-1836 The History of EnglandLondon: 1834-1836Sixteen volumes of the Valpy edition of Hume, Smollett and Hughes's impressive study of the history of England, from B.C. 55 to A.D. 1837.
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1962-65 A Churchill Anthology, Painting as a Pastime & Churchill: His Life and TimesLondon: 1962-1965A fine three-volume set of Winston Churchill's writings, speeches, biography and words on painting, together with the original slipcase.
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1938 The Printing of BooksLondon: 1938A first edition copy of this history of the printing of books by one of the twentieth century's leading bibliophiles Holbrook Jackson.
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1914-1950 A Collection of Works from the Notable British Trials SeriesEdinburgh: 1914-1950A twenty-six volume set of works depicting famous British trials, including those of Oscar Wilde and Mrs. Maybrick.
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1933 National Provincial Bank 1833 to 1933London: 1933A very smart first edition of this centennial history of the National Provincial Bank.
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1963 Hamlet's Divinity and Other EssaysLondon: 1963A lovely first edition copy of this scarce collection of essays on religious and historical themes by Christopher Devlin, in the original unclipped dust wrapper.
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1938-39 A Collection of Issues from 'Picture Post'London: 1938-1939A fascinating selection of issues from this popular British photojournalistic magazine, 'Picture Post'.
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1938-39 Three Issues of 'Picture Post'London: 1938-1939A selection of scarce issues of 'Picture Post', a pioneering British photojournalistic magazine.
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1926 Plymouth: Unique as a Holiday CentrePlymouth: 1926A charming and very scarce illustrated 1926 guide to Plymouth, illustrated with a folding map of the transport system of the region.
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1910 Stories of the EnglishEdinburgh; London: 1910A very scarce collection of fictionalised accounts of real British historical events for children, in a leather prize binding.
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c1935 The Duchy Tours: Guide for Lizard and Mullion TourSaundry, Penzance: c1935A charming twentieth century travel brochure from a company offering tours of the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall via motor coach.
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1964 November Twenty Six Nineteen Hundred and Sixty ThreeNew York: 1964The first trade edition of Wendell Berry's touching elegy to John F. Kennedy, illustrated by Ben Shahn.
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1894 Beautiful Britain: The Scenery and the Splendours of the United KingdomLondon: 1894The first edition of this richly illustrated work on some of Britain's most beautiful stately homes.
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1977 Words & Wisdom of Martin Luther KingBushey Heath: 1977A very scarce limited edition volume of quotes by Martin Luther King, illustrated with linocuts by Paul Peter Piech.
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1904 EncaeniaOxford: 1904A very scarce order of proceedings for the 1904 Encaenia at the University of Oxford.
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Signed
1946 Four Portraits: Studies of the Eighteenth CenturyLondon: 1946A signed presentation copy of the second impression of Peter Quennell's biography of four key eighteenth century figures: James Boswell, Edward Gibbon, Laurence Sterne and James Wilkes. -
1953 Souvenir Book of Coronation PageantryLondon: 1953The very scarce first edition of this charming children's celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, illustrated with colour figures that can be cut out.
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1897 The Daily Mail: To Commemorate the Queen's Diamond JubileeLondon: 1897The very scarce 23nd June 1897 issue of The Daily Mail, published the day after the celebrations of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee, to commemorate sixty years of her reign.
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1847-1848 The Comic History of EnglandLondon: 1847-1848The two volume first edition of this humorous work from Gilbert A'Beckett and John Leech, illustrated with hand-coloured plates.
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1896 Stories of the Royal Humane SocietyLondon: 1896A vanishingly scarce volume detailing significant events led by the Royal Humane Society, with illustrations.
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c1936 T. E. Lawrence ExhibitsNot Stated: c1936A vanishingly scarce flyer presenting twenty-six items relating to a T. E. Lawrence exhibit.
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1935 Lawrence of Arabia MemorialNot Stated: 1935A pamphlet proposing plans for the 'Lawrence of Arabia' memorial, set to be unveiled at St. Paul's Cathedral the following year.