Asia

The Dragon and the Lotus – Crosbie Garstin

Published by Heinemann in London, a first crown edition 1930. Thick octavo, 343 pages with sketches by the author of some standard and the handy endpapers for the geographically limited.

An informative and entertaining travel account which starts at the Ritz in Piccadilly amongst Cabinet Ministers, Army Officers and American musical Comedy Stars!

It does get more serious, and Garstin takes us nicely on his journey starting in earnest in the Pacific at Oahu then on to Japan, southward to Hong Kong, Macao then in to Tonking and the “House of Marvels”. Then to Yunnan-fu and Hue and the “Funeral of a King” and the “Marble Mountains”. To Saigon and north to Angkor and the “Vat” west to Bangkok and the river to Ayuthia for a bit of leisure and on home.

Travelling in Asia in a different era …….

$50.00

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Map of Ningbo Zhejiang China – Bellin after Thornton -1746

An original copper engraved map titled “Carte de l’Isle de Che-chan ou Isle de Chusan de la Province de Che-kiang avec les Costes et Isles voisines”. Engraved by J van Schley for Jaques Nicolas Bellin Cartographer to the French Navy. It was published in Paris in 1746 as part of Prevost’s History of Voyages. The underlying charting ahd been completed by the Englishman Thornton.

The great city of Ningbo near Shanghai is seen just off the map at the top named them Ning-po .. with a note that it is known by Europeans as Liampo. The Che Kian Province now known as Zhejiang.

The map is 32cm by 21 cm to the border of the printed image. Folds as original. In pretty good condition with nice colouring and a nice compass rose. Now a very busy harbour its interesting to see so many depth measurements marked.

Price $120.00 unframed

Interesting chart of the coastal area around Ningbo

$120.00

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Javan or Sunda Rhinoceros (Sadly, now critically endangered) – Lesson – 1838

Original hand coloured engraving by Antoine Charles Vauthier. Good strong example. Produced for Rene Primevere Lesson (1794-1849) for his extension of the great natural history work originally produced by Count Buffon.

Published in Paris in 1838.

Lesson participated as doctor and naturalist in the Duperry voyage round the world on board La Coquille (1822-1825).

Price $190.00 framed in Voyager Natural History style in cream mat with black core in gilt frame … lovely … ready to hang

Endangered species beautifully engraved in 1838

$190.00

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Rufous-bellied Pteruthius (Pteruthius Rufiventer) John Gould – The Birds of Asia

Original hand-coloured lithograph from Gould’s impressive “Birds of Asia” completed and published in London in 1856.

Executed by John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter. Beautifully colouring and with gum Arabic highlights to the back, tail and eyes of the bird to give extra depth and contrast. A very good near fine example with the attendant descriptive page.

The now common name of the bird is the Black-headed Shrike-Babbler. At the time of this lithograph it had recently been discovered and named as a new species by Mr Blyth of Calcutta, India. He is still given that accolade. It was thought to be uncommon whilst it is found from Eastern Nepal through to Vietnam.

Price $390.00 unframed

Quality original John Gould Lithograph

$360.00

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Kamet Conquered (One of the Decisive Climbs in the History of Mountaineering) – Frank S. Smythe

This is the Uniform edition published by Hodder and Stoughton. London in 1947. First published in 1932. Thick octavo 371 pages with complete dust jacket. Some ageing on a couple of pages from a relevant inserted newspaper article … we have left it there as it adds to the interest. End paper maps, 36 photographic images and two maps in the text. A pretty good copy of an excellent account. Foreword by the formidable Francis Younghusband

In 1931 Frank Smythe and his team were the first to climb Kamet in the Himalayas in Northern India. It was the first of 70 plus peaks over 25,000 feet to be climbed. At this time the Tibetan authorities would not allow access to Everest. A brilliant mountaineer, Smythe gained a reputation as a special writer and packed his books with excellent photography. He died when only 49 after suffering food poisoning and malaria whilst in Delhi.

Kamet conquered at last … and not a bad place to smoke your pipe!

$50.00

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The Royal Geographical Society Journal – May 1932 – Polar, Mountaineering and Franklin

A complete copy of the Journal in original blue wrappers.

Lead articles include the British Arctic Air Expedition under Hubert Watkins (author of some interesting works on Northern Queensland); The expedition in the Tien-Shan by Schomberg and further evidence of John Franklin’s retreat by William Gibson. Good photographic images as often and two nice maps of the of Greenland up to the 68th parallel and localised map of the Base Fjord. Nice condition all round.

Climbing in the Tien-Shan and Arctic Air Expedition keep exploration alive in 1932

$90.00

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The Dragon and the Lotus – Crosbie Garstin

Map of Ningbo Zhejiang China – Bellin after Thornton -1746

Javan or Sunda Rhinoceros (Sadly, now critically endangered) – Lesson – 1838

Rufous-bellied Pteruthius (Pteruthius Rufiventer) John Gould – The Birds of Asia

Kamet Conquered (One of the Decisive Climbs in the History of Mountaineering) – Frank S. Smythe

The Royal Geographical Society Journal – May 1932 – Polar, Mountaineering and Franklin

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