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The Passenger Pigeon – by Joseph Quinn.

No date comb bound copied item published circa 1990, see below. This was its original form – self published by the author.

Subtitled “A Boys Story” but not a story for Boys, in fact a compilation of the writings of the author, many of them, published in Bird World … and all about the demise of the Passenger Pigeon.

We learn that the last pigeon a female was given the name of Martha, after George Washington’s wife … the second last Passenger Pigeon, her brother, named George … naturally. We like this unusual work not just for its obvious rarity but the love of the writer for his subject. The Boys story is a reference to him finding his childhood scribbles about the subject matter.

96 pages in all, some images from the magazine that have not copied too well. Cream card covers.

A total of 20 separate articles, all of some length, published variously between 1982 and 1987.

Inserted on posh faux vellum paper is a poem written by the author in honour of the sadly retired bird; rather well penned and definitely moving.

Joseph Quinn – his life’s work on the Passenger Pigeon all in one place.

$40.00

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The Fountain Overflows – Rebecca West – 1957

An early edition of this important work by Rebecca West published by MacMillan, London and nominated a “Book society choice” – a March 1957 edition after the January 1957 First.

Octavo, 392 pages, very good condition, a trifle marked on the page edges.

Rebecca West the nom de plume of Dame Cicily Isabel Fairfield was named by the Times as the best female writer of the 20thC.

She maybe is even more famous for her lengthy romance with HG Wells despite his 27 years on her of his already marriage. They had a child, Anthony west, who also became a writer. He wrote a fictionalised biography of HG Wells that did not show Rebecca (or Cicily) in a good light … they never spoke again; and it was worse than that.

The Fountain Overflows can be understood from the Blake quote on the title page … “The cistern contains: the fountain overflows”. Essentially and autobiographically inspired novel concerning the Aubrey family in the first decade of the 20th Century.

Later Rebecca west would write two further extensions … one published posthumously. She lived then in a large apartment overlooking Hyde Park. Unfortunately, next to the Iranian Embassy and had to be evacuated when it was under siege … if you remember all that. I her final years she was friends with Frankie Hawerd so must have had some fun.

Rebecca West an extraordinary life and this novel encapsulates some of it.

$30.00

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The Living Sea – John Crompton

A first edition of this interesting easy to read book about the natural history of the oceans. Quite broad in content … starts with prehistory and then moves into Whales (nice content), Manatee, Sharks, Rays back to Caelacanth .. all the good stuff.

Published by Collins, London in 1957. Octavo, 256 pages, some sketch like illustrations. And the dust jacket … we had to have it just for

Good period all rounder dressed to impress.

$25.00

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Matto Grosso – Waclaw Korabiewicz

A peculiar and enchanting travel book about a bird hunting expedition to the Matto Grosso in South America. Watch out for the piranhas!

Translated from the original Polish. Octavo, 238 pages published circa 1958 by the Travel Book Club, effectively Jonathan Cape, London. A lovely clean copy with the striking jacket designed by Leslie Wood.

Parrots and Piranhas

$30.00

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Maigret’s Pickpocket and Maigret and the Nahour Case– Georges Simenon

Translated from the French another double helping of Maigret published by the Companion Book Club in 1968. A first of type.

Octavo, 288 pages in very good condition.

Maigret has his wallet stolen on a bus .. the young offender telephone Maigret and a murder enquiry ensues. In Nahour a gambler is murdered and his wife, who has fled with her lover, is suspected.

Two different Maigret cases but with murder at the heart of each.

$35.00

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Maigret – Hesitates and Takes the Waters – Georges Simenon

Two classic short stories by Simenon in Paris and also out in the Vichy countryside – superb

First edition in this form published by The Companion Book Club in 1971 the individual editions being published in 1969 and 1970.

Octavo, 288 pages, page edges and end papers bright red. A very clean copy.

Maigret unsurpassed – a double helping.

$35.00

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All products

The Passenger Pigeon – by Joseph Quinn.

The Fountain Overflows – Rebecca West – 1957

The Living Sea – John Crompton

Matto Grosso – Waclaw Korabiewicz

Maigret’s Pickpocket and Maigret and the Nahour Case– Georges Simenon

Maigret – Hesitates and Takes the Waters – Georges Simenon

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