Non-fiction

Secret Servant – My Life with the KGB and the Soviet Elite – Ilya Dzhirkvelov

Published by Collins, London in 1987. 397 pages all in very good condition … a substantial book and a very good read.

Illya Dzhirkvelvov joined the Soviet intelligence services in 1943 as a teenager. He was a guard to Stalin at the Yalta conference. A distinguished career in the KGB followed and then he became a journalist of disinformation , or “fake news” as the “Donald” would say. In 1980 he defected and lived in Britain.

Detailed KJB and fake news

$40.00

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A Reply to the Objections of Robert Nelson Esq and an Anonymous Author – Dr Samuel Clarke – 1714

Full title continues … “against Dr Clarke’s Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity. Being a Commentary upon Forty Select Texts of Scripture. To which is added, An Answer to the Remarks of the Author of, Some Considerations concerning the Trinity, and the Ways of Managing the Controversy”.

Original panelled calf binding, raised bands to spine with six compartments, red leather title label. Binding aged and hinges cracked but holding well on strong cords. Despite deficiencies a delightful antiquarian patina. Octavo, 311 pages after preliminaries plus book advertisements and “index of the texts explained in this book”. First page is title so likely missing front end paper. Internally some ageing and staining to pages but overall very good condition for its age.

Printed for James Knapton, at the Crown in St Paul’s Church Yard 1714.

A more important historical work than immediately apparent. Samuel Clarke (1675 – 1729) was the major British figure in philosophy between John Locke and George Berkley. Born in Norwich he went to Caius College, Cambridge where his tutor was John Ellis a personal friend of Isaac Newton. Clarke adopted the new physical system of Newton and in 1697 published a book on the superiority of the Newtonian system. Taking holy orders Clarke moved rapidly up the hierarchy and by 1709 he was Rector of St James, Westminster and Chaplain in Ordinary to Queen Anne. At this time, he became in personal contact with Isaac Newton. Just before this period he presented the Boyle Lectures where he presented examples of a physico-theological system. That is that God is self-existent, infinite, omnipresent, having existed from eternity …

In 1712 Clarke published his treatise “The Scripture Doctrine of the Trinity” it was controversial and he was cautioned not to publish … he ignored this advice. There were complaints from the Lower House of Convocation and the Blasphemy Act was threatened and those that published against him included Robert Nelson (1656 – 1715) mentioned strongly in the title to this work and Francis Gastrell who was the “Anonymous Author” also referred to in a robust defence.

Clarke a controversial intellectual with personal influence from Isaac Newton, Boyle Lecturer and Chaplain to Queen Anne – 1714

$170.00

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The Story of Nell Gwyn And the Sayings of Charles the Second – Cunningham – Private Printing 1927 Fine Condition

The Story of Nell Gwyn And the Sayings of Charles the Second – Related and Collected by Peter Cunningham with an introduction by John Drinkwater.

Privately printed in London for the Navarre Society 1927. Very good if not fine condition. Original red cloth binding, octavo 194 pages after preliminaries on thick fine bright paper, red silk page ribbon. Top edge rich gilt very clean. Frontispiece of Nell in all her glory and a folding reproduction of Hollar’s view of London and thirty-eight portraits and views from rare contemporary (and relevant) prints.

Nell Gwyn in all her finery – Private Printing 1927

Nell Gwyn (1650–1687) actress and mistress to Charles II. Samuel Pepys referred to her as “Pretty witty Nell”. She was a great comedian and started as an “orange girl” at what is now the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. She had two sons by Charles II one who died young and the other lived long and was granted an Earldom after she remarked when Charles approached “come on you little bastard here is your father”

$70.00

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Primal Places – Tasmania Chris Bell – Signed – Only Edition 2002

Quite scarce and sought after published by Laurel Press, Hobart 2002.

Landscape quarto 104 pages with 60 striking colour photographic images with good text based on the photographer’s field notes. A quality book. Signed discretely on the half title.

Sought after images and signed

$70.00

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The Friendly Arctic – Vilhjalmur Stefansson – c1927

The first UK edition c1927 of this great book by Stefansson. Imperial octavo 784 pages after preliminaries with two very good folding maps in rear pocket. A substantial volume. Very good condition albeit foxing to endpapers up to the title otherwise clean and throughout. Magnificently illustrated with 68 plates and a further 7 maps, some folding, in the body of the work.

Forward by Gilbert Grosvenor and introduction by Sir Robert Bowden setting out the origin and organisation of the Canadian Arctic Expedition of 1913-18. Records of incredible tributes of Stefansson from Greely and the last public appearance of Admiral Peary who died shortly afterwards.

Stefansson most comprehensive in his written account with many images and maps

$120.00

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Arctic Manual – Vilhjalmur Stefansson – 1944

Published by Macmillan, New York a first edition 1944. Thick octavo 556 pages after preliminaries with its dust jacket getting very scarce. Very good condition.

A special book prepared by the highly qualified Stefansson under the direction of the United Sates Army.

Prepared to provide realistic advice on how to survive when stranded in the Arctic. The book is introduced by a historical background relating to early voyagers and the seeking of the elusive North West passage. He discusses in depth the topography of the land and the nature of the seas and ice. The climate (obviously) and the physical effects of cold. Winds, gales and special aviation problems. Wildlife, pests and parasites. Shelter and the many advantages of snow houses over tents (Voyager has memorised the methods of making good snow houses as a precaution). And survival, clothing, food, health and first aid. Hunting and fishing various methods and transportation in this difficult environment.

Really the only Arctic Manual by Stefansson – You never know!

$90.00

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Secret Servant – My Life with the KGB and the Soviet Elite – Ilya Dzhirkvelov

A Reply to the Objections of Robert Nelson Esq and an Anonymous Author – Dr Samuel Clarke – 1714

The Story of Nell Gwyn And the Sayings of Charles the Second – Cunningham – Private Printing 1927 Fine Condition

Primal Places – Tasmania Chris Bell – Signed – Only Edition 2002

The Friendly Arctic – Vilhjalmur Stefansson – c1927

Arctic Manual – Vilhjalmur Stefansson – 1944

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