Non-fiction

The History of Queen Anne, Digested into Annals. Year the Sixth. Containing a Full and Exact Account of the Long and Glorious Campaign of His Grace the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene. Abel Boyer – 1708

Published by Margaret Coggan, London in 1708.

Octavo, 559 pages all up, bound in original panelled calf, rubbed and cracked at joints, pages lightly browned. Various endpaper scribbles of the period and interesting ownership notations … Richard Townley’s signature on the title page and, the deleted name of James Bamford and a note “not his book 1718”. Also, to affirm, carries the Townley bookplate and an unusual inscription “Begun my short round at small Bridge design to end at Whitworth”

The Townley or sometimes written Towneley family have a special place in English history. They had been fighting in wars for centuries and at this time supported the Jacobites. A Richard Towneley (1689-1735) who could be our man, was arrested in 1715 after at the Battle of Preston and acquitted after an expensive trial … they could afford one. His brothers John and Francis joined the French army and aided the final Jacobite uprising in 1745 … Francis was captured and executed in 1746. The book “How the Hangman Lost His Heart’ is about his story. Later family members amassed a very substantial library which was auctioned off in the 1820’s to refurbish their city digs, Corney House in Chiswick. This book would have passed through that auction.

John Churchill was the First Duke of Marlborough and the campaigns he successfully fought with the aid of his trusted Imperial Commander, Prince Eugene were the greatest strategic Military actions before Napoleon. His family had already amassed wealth through high connections, but his success brought special treatment from Anne, and William before her. His wife Sarah was a first a special friend of Anne’s and history suggest they may have been lovers … before there was an enormous falling out and Sarah was ejected from the bed chamber and Court. Many who visit Blenheim Palace (named after one of his greatest campaigns) believe Churchill’s wealth must have been beyond any limit … however its building was plagued with problems, not the least financial, and took twenty odd years to complete. Churchill never got to occupy it … unfinished and unfurnished at his death in 1822.

The author Abel Boyer (1667-1729) was French born Huguenot who fled, first to Friesland, then to England. There he fell into great poverty but eventually got a role as a transcriber. His scholarly talents were recognised, and he went on to become tutor to the aristocracy and to Prince William, son of Princess to be Queen Anne. For William he prepared “The Complete French Master” which was published in 1694. He wrote and published numerous history books and it is no surprise, given his connections, that he wrote his series of books on the reign of Queen Anne. The publisher Margaret Coggan was the widow of Francis Coggan who had died the year before this book was published. She continued to trade from the Inner Temple Lane dealing mainly in law books … she had a half share in Dr John Harris’s Lexicon Technicum

Interesting antiquarian history … a busy year in the reign of Queen Anne … and the making of Marlborough

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$180.00

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The Secret History of White-Hall from the Restoration of Charles II Down to the Abdication of the late K[ing] James. – David Jones – First Edition 1697

Lengthy title continues … “Writ at the Request of a Noble Lord, and conveyed to him in letters, by _________ interpreter to the Marquess of Louvois, who by that means had the perusal of all the private minutes between England and France for many years: the whole consisting of a secret memoirs, which have hitherto lain conceal’d, as not being discoverable by any other hand / publish’d from the original papers, by D Jones gent.

A scarce first edition of an unusual work, published by R Baldwin, London in 1697. Six parts all bound in one volume. Octavo, 14, 80, 80, 80, 64,80,100. Bound in contemporary full calf, re-backed with red title label. Some rubbing and repair to joint, and pretty clean internally.

One of the most interesting “Secret Histories” described by Lowndes as a ‘scandalous work”. Exposes the secret negotiations, treaties, liaisons, conspiracies, court scandals etc in the reigns of Charles Ii and James.

David Jones (1776-1720), born at Llwynrhys, Wales, was a Captain in the Royal Regiment of Dragoons. He was at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. He spent much time on mainland Europe where he became fluent in modern languages and was appointed (as the title suggests) to serve the Marquis of Louvois, who was the French Minister for War. Jones was to publish several other “historical accounts”, including the History of the Turks.

Scarce 17thC account of the goings on during the reigns of Charles II and James II (of England).

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$390.00

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The Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man. With an Outline of Glacial Post-tertiary Geology and Remarks on Theories of the Origin of Species with Special Reference to Man’s First Appearance on the Earth

A fourth English edition, much revised, published by John Murray in 1873. The first three being all in 1863. Thick royal octavo, 572 pages illustrated throughout. In the original binding with the gilt fossil device to front. A very good copy.

Carries the bookplate of John David Hope, from the great Scottish Lowlands family of that name, that for centuries have made their money from banking, the law and politics and owning loads of property. Related to the first Governor General of Australia, John Adrian Hope. The family motto is a good one “At Spes Non Fracta” – “Yet my Hope is not Broken” … a little corny. The heraldic emblem includes a broken terrestrial globe above which is a rainbow emanating from clouds on either side … describes their position quite well we think.

Scottish geologist Charles Lyell (1797-1875) brings a geological approach to this debate on the origin and age of mankind. Embracing Darwin’s theory of evolution, he references Lamarck, Chambers, Darwin, Wallace and Hooker. A comprehensive and careful review of fossil evidence with interesting evidence of man living in Europe among ancestors of elephants, rhinoceros and hippopotami. The age and development of languages in man are considered and the all important issue of the day .. could man be placed among the apes?

Lyell in there with Darwin and Evolution

$390.00

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Seven Professionally Prepared Antique Microscope Slides – Botanicals – by W. Watson

A fine collection of antique ring mounted botanical specimens. Comprising …

Leaf of Tea Tree
Leaf of Aloe ferox
Leaf of Laurel
Leaf of Tobacco Plant
Stem of Ribes
Lime Tree section
Lea bud of Ash

Some super examples with very minimal specimen degradation as can be seen from the images.

William Watson set up as an optician in 1837. He took up premises at 313 High Holborn, London in 1862. The business became W Watson & Sons from 1882. They took over the slide preparation business of Edmund Wheeler in 1884 and from them were to become one of the most successful preparers. These slides are circa 1900, though the Lime Tree is earlier and carries the distinctive Watson cursive style specimen label of the 1880’s.

Note tray not included slides will be sent in protective special purpose containers.

A good group of early quality mounts by Watson

$140.00

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Beethoven Ninth Symphony Pianoforte Score arranged by Carl Reinecke (Choral Portion) English Translation by Rev W.T. Southward – Sir Adrian Boult’s Copy dated 1910 whilst at Oxford.

Published by Breitkopf & Hartel, Leipzig circa 1900. Large octavo, 78 pages. Original cloth backed wrappers, slightly aged but still very good.

Symphony No.9 in D minor Op 125 the final complete Beethoven symphony compose between 1822 and 1824. Many regard this his greatest work. The first major symphony to use voice in here the fourth movement with four soloists and a choir. The words from a poem “Ode to Joy” a poem by Friedrich Schiller with Beethoven additions.

Published Breitkopf & Hartel being the worlds oldest music publishing house established in 1717. Their rendition of the Ninth arranged by Reinecke was to become a favourite of quality orchestra’s around the world.

Sir Adrian Boult’s copy inscribed on the upper wrapper … “Adrian C Boult 15 Oct 1910”

Adrian Boult (1889-1983) schooled at Westminster and then went up to Christ Church, Oxford reading History in 1908, but later changed to Music graduating in 1912. So, the ownership of this item clearly resides with his university days. In fact, in 1910 he was the President of the University Music Club. He met Ralph Vaughan Williams at Oxford and was already acquainted with Elgar. He then went on to study at Leipzig and it was there that he developed into the man he was. Surely one Britain’s greatest orchestral conductors … he was the first to tackle Holst’s Planets and was to form the BBS Symphony Orchestra and conduct the LSO and the LPO

Beethoven Ninth Choral – Sir Adrian Boult’s Copy

$120.00

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Kennedy – The Barcoo and Beyond 1847 – Beale – Limited Signed Edition

A limited edition signed by the author Edgar Beale and published by the tremendous Blubber Head Press of Hobart.

The quality of the book is best bar none and the condition near fine. Octavo, 292 pages, nicely illustrate, some in colour, end paper maps an, a most unusual printed thick glassine dust cover, often chipped but here completely undamaged.

The author was taken aback by the contents of fresh papers that surfaced from the descendants of Kennedy – and along with records held in Northern Ireland and the journals and papers at the Royal Geographical Society London the rich content of this book has been crafted.

Edmund Besley Court Kennedy (1818-1848) was chosen by Mitchell as his second for the 1846 expedition into southern and central Queensland. He was given command of a further expedition the nest year to trace Mitchell’s “Victoria River” to an expected mouth in the Gulf of Carpentaria. This turned out not to be true, Kennedy proving that that the Victoria was in fact the Barcoo, the upper waters of Cooper Creek … and in doing so discovered the valuable Channel Country. He then went on to track the Werrego River and in a further expedition from Rockingham Bay in 1848, setting its sights on the very tip of the Cape York Peninsula, he was killed by aboriginals.

Three folding maps near rear.

Essential and Fine Kennedy

$80.00

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The History of Queen Anne, Digested into Annals. Year the Sixth. Containing a Full and Exact Account of the Long and Glorious Campaign of His Grace the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene. Abel Boyer – 1708

The Secret History of White-Hall from the Restoration of Charles II Down to the Abdication of the late K[ing] James. – David Jones – First Edition 1697

The Geological Evidences of the Antiquity of Man. With an Outline of Glacial Post-tertiary Geology and Remarks on Theories of the Origin of Species with Special Reference to Man’s First Appearance on the Earth

Seven Professionally Prepared Antique Microscope Slides – Botanicals – by W. Watson

Beethoven Ninth Symphony Pianoforte Score arranged by Carl Reinecke (Choral Portion) English Translation by Rev W.T. Southward – Sir Adrian Boult’s Copy dated 1910 whilst at Oxford.

Kennedy – The Barcoo and Beyond 1847 – Beale – Limited Signed Edition

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