Non-fiction

Growing Pains – The Shaping of a Writer [An Autobiography] – Daphne du Maurier – First 1977

First Australian edition published by Hutchinson in conjunction with Victor Gollancz in 1977.

A special autobiography of the writer who would become a legend with Rebecca. Ownership signature back of half title otherwise a very good copy.

Octavo, 173 pages with images from photographs from the family album.

She writes of her early life from the time she was a small child up to the age of 25 when by then she was married and had completed her first novels. Her grandfather was the recognised artist and writer George du Maurier and her father Gerald a noted actor …. They were well to do … so Daphne had a pretty fancy early life … London, Paris etc but it was not until the family moved to Cornwall that she found what she was searching for in life … and the rest is well in the words in more ways than one.

Daphne du Maurier admired autobiography

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$40.00

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The Memoirs of the Marq de Langallerie: containing an Account of the Most Secret Intrigues of the French, Spanish and Bavarian Courts: and the Most Remarkable Battles, Sieges and Encampments in Germany Spain and Flanders. – Courtilz de Sandras – First Edition 1708

First English edition published by R Burrough et al, London. Octavo, 12, 324 pages, bound in contemporary full panelled calf, no title label, joint cracking but holding well. Browning and marks to text with a flower press image on one leaf. Scarce in any condition and especially in original binding.

An entertaining and revelatory history of the European wars of the period, based on the dramatized account published by Pierre Marteau of Cologne and attributed to Courtilz de Sandras … possibly a nom de plume for Gabriel Alphonse de Sassenger.

The continental version did not mention Langallerie by name … who was an obscure military figure in the French Army, who had fallen out of Royal favour and was subsequently imprisoned for encouraging a revolt of French Protestants.

Secret Memoirs of Langerallerie by de Sandras Perhaps.

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$180.00

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Shipwrecks – Being the Historical Account of Shipwrecks along the Victorian Coast from Cape Otway to Port Fairy 1836-1914 – Margaret Mackenzie.

This is the third enlarged self published edition 1964 printed by National Press, Melbourne. Small octavo, 135 pages illustrated. A very good copy, bookplate of previous owner on front free end paper.

The author of this book had a lifetime interest in the subject. What makes the book all the more astonishing is that she was twelve years blind before she started to put it together with the help of her daughter Jean.

Covers eighteen important shipwrecks starting with the elusive “Mahogany Ship” … then the Thistle; Children; Joanna; Enterprise; Schomberg; Champion; Marie Gabrielle; Young Australia; Loch Ard; Eric the Red; Olivia Davis; Edinburgh Castle; Fiji; Newfield; La Bella; Falls of Halladale and the Antares.

Some nice detail and a super sketch map of the wreck locations. To read this is to have a pretty thorough knowledge of the events … the author sure did.

Victorian Shipwrecks – a Key Reference

$25.00

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“Cowslips” – Original Multi Coloured Woodcut – by Australian born Hall Thorpe – 1922

One for the collector. A striking example of a desirable woodcut by Australian born Hall Thorpe.

A very good bright impression, signed in pencil below the image. Thick wove paper 27cm by 23cm, printed area 16.5cm by 15.2cm. A lovely example. Authority on Hall Thorpe, Richard King (see Voyager listing) reference no 10. This work was completed in 1922.

Hall Thorpe (1874-1947) was born in Victoria, Australia. In the 1890’s he was apprenticed to John Fairfax as an engraver for the Sydney Mail. He was pretty good. In 1902 he moved to England and commenced further study at the Heatherly School of Art, Chelsea. He honed his skill in woodblocks holding his first one-man show in London in 1918. It was a great success and by the early 1920’s he had gained an enviable reputation for woodblock floral still life. He printed each example himself ensuring consistency and standard. Operating first from a studio in Redcliffe Square, he then moved into gallery space in South Kensington. As well as the UK they were popular in the USA and France

Original signed Hall Thorpe Woodcut – Cowslips.

$360.00

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Epitolae Medicanales Variis Occasionibus Conscriptae – Ricardo Carr – 1691

A first edition of this scarce 17th Century collection of medical instruction by Richard Carr MD published by Anson Stafford, London in 1691.

Small octavo, 12, 200,6 pages, bound in full period leather, some wear, cracked hinges holding well, very clean inside, a very good copy of a rare medical work.

Richard Carr was born in Lincolnshire, educated at Louth Grammar School and then Magdalene College, Cambridge. He entered Cambridge, shortly after Newton, as a sizar in 1667, graduated BA in 1670 and MA in 1674. He then became Master of the Saffron Walden Grammar. In 1683 he went to Leyden to study Physic and then back to Cambridge for his MD in 1686. He was created a Fellow of the College of Physicians by James II Charter, admitted in 1687.

{Note a “sizar” was a special arrangement at Cambridge whereby food lodgings etc could be obtained for free by the sizar completing some lowly task such as serving food to others etc … Newton was also a form of sizar called a subsizer]

This book is his main recognised work; it is dedicated to the College of Physicians.

The book contains eighteen “epistles” written in a readable popular style as if addressed to patients rather than physicians. They are in Latin. The first epistle deals with the use of sneezing powders, the second smoking tobacco and numerous others relate to dietetics including a strong suggestion that it is most healthy to get blind drunk once a month. The virtues of the Tonbridge and Bath waters are discussed as well as the remedial effects of a trip to Montpellier for phthisis. He reflects on the “struma” and notes that King Charles II touched over ninety two thousand people between 1660 and 1682 and respectfully doubts they all got well. His third epistle deals with the coffee-houses … not a modern phenomena … referring to coffee, thee, twist (a mixture of both), salvia and chocolate.

Wise Medical Advice from Cambridge Physician Richard Carr – 1691

$460.00

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An Essay on the Ancient and Modern Use of Armories; Shewing Their Origin, Definition, and Division of them into their several Species. The Method of Composing them, and Marshalling many Coats together in one Shield. Alexander Nisbet – First Edition 1718

Title continues … Illustrated by many Examples and Sculptures of the Armorial Ensigns of Noble Families in this and other Nations … To which is added, An Index explaining the Terms of Blazon made use of in this Essay.

First Edition and scarce. Printed by William Adams Jnr for James MackEuen (to be sold at his shop), Edinburgh 1718.

Small quarto, 224 pages preceded by introductions and subscribers list an followed by seven folding plates of multiple images of arms, and the aforementioned Index of Terms. Contains a detailed account of the reigns of British Royalty and the origins of their arms. Bound in original full panelled calf, light browning and signs of old worming in some margins.

Scottish historian Alexander Nisbet’s works on heraldry are considered the best on the subject.

Nisbet the Authority and an early First Edition of his “Essay on Heraldry”

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$290.00

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Growing Pains – The Shaping of a Writer [An Autobiography] – Daphne du Maurier – First 1977

The Memoirs of the Marq de Langallerie: containing an Account of the Most Secret Intrigues of the French, Spanish and Bavarian Courts: and the Most Remarkable Battles, Sieges and Encampments in Germany Spain and Flanders. – Courtilz de Sandras – First Edition 1708

Shipwrecks – Being the Historical Account of Shipwrecks along the Victorian Coast from Cape Otway to Port Fairy 1836-1914 – Margaret Mackenzie.

“Cowslips” – Original Multi Coloured Woodcut – by Australian born Hall Thorpe – 1922

Epitolae Medicanales Variis Occasionibus Conscriptae – Ricardo Carr – 1691

An Essay on the Ancient and Modern Use of Armories; Shewing Their Origin, Definition, and Division of them into their several Species. The Method of Composing them, and Marshalling many Coats together in one Shield. Alexander Nisbet – First Edition 1718

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