North America

A Strange Career – The Life and Adventures of J. G. Jebb [South America and Mexico] – 1895

John Gladwyn Jebb led as an adventurous life as could be possible. This book was compiled by his widow and carries the introduction of none other than possibly the greatest adventure writer H Rider Haggard.

English born Jebb’s adventures began as a military man in India. Soon he was conducting privately funded explorations into Central and Southern America. Involved in numerous business dealings… helped to start White Line … was in involved in armaments. He moved to the US and the Wild West … bear hunting, gold mining and a few conflicts with local bandits and Indians. Off to Mexico to make his fortune gold mining (made it and lost it) and much of the later part of the books is about his times in Mexico padded a bit with history of the region.

Published by Blackwood, Edinburgh in 1895 octavo, 271 pages, frontispiece of the great man, illustrated by John Wallce. Pictorial boards nice but a little rubbed especially at the tips. Overall, still a particularly good copy of a rather hard to find book.

Inspiration for Rider Haggard – John Jebb Adventurer

$50.00

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Forty Years in Canada – Colonel B Steele- First Edition 1915

A super perhaps companion book to our book by Haydon on the Mounties published a few years earlier.

This scarce London First edition published by Herbert Jenkins in 1915. An insert tells us that it was ready to go in August 1914 but postponed because of the outbreak of WWI.

The longer title provides … Reminiscences of the Great North-West with some Accounts of His Service in south Africa by Colonel S.B. Steele CB MVO late of the N.W.M. Police and the S. African Constabulary – Edited by Mollie Niblett with an introduction by J.G. Colmer CMG.

Large Royal octavo, 428 pages, 17 plates from relevant photographs, frontispiece of the fine chap etc.

A mots interesting and highly detailed personal account of a man of action in the Canadian North-West and despite the overarching title some extensive experience in the Military in South Africa where he commanded Strathcona’s Horse. This guy could ride. Soapy Smith – Sitting Bull etc.

Canadian North West history personal and in detail by a man like his name made of Steele

$90.00

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The Riders of the Plains – A Record of the Royal North-West Mounted Police of Canada 1873-1910 – A.L. Haydon – First Edition London 1910

The go to book re the “Mounties” of the era. And really a book about the vast region they held responsibility for the various goings on and in particular references to the indigenous people of this cold region and the incredible topography and diversity.

A scarce first London edition published by Andrew Melrose in 1910. Thick “Royal” octavo, 382 pages plus publisher’s catalogue, super illustrations from period photographs throughout, very helpful annotated map and various diagrams re Fort layouts etc. Original crimson cloth covered boards, gilt titles and embellishments. Very good if not better overall condition.

A comprehensive account … too much to precis easily. Starts with the history of the region, the coming of the “Police”, outposts in the Wilderness and the Indian Treaty with the “Blackfeet” – then the Sioux invasion and “Sitting Bull” … various rebellions and attacks on Forts – tough times.

The history of the vast area patrolled by the Mounties.

$90.00

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Map Collectors’ Circle – The American Colonies – Bickham – by D Schrire

This is No 27 of the Map Collectors Circle published in 1966. Its proper title is Bickham’s Birds Eye County Views and the British Monarchy, including the North American Supplement, in full reproduction.

It is Bickham’s beautifully executed work … “A Short Description of the American Colonies belonging to the Crown of Great Britain Engraved by George Bickham Snr, London published according to an Act of Parliament 19 Dec 1747” that dominates and makes this issue – hence our corrupted Voyager title.

Usual Original light peach coloured card covers, 42 pages, numerous illustrations and the aforesaid reproduction.

A reminder of the past for those that care or cope.

American Interest – Bickham in 1747

$25.00

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Spring on an Antarctic Island (Bylot Island) – Katherine Scherman

First edition published by Victor Gollancz, London in 1956. The author and a group of naturalists and scientists visit remote Bylot Island, north of Baffin Island well within the Arctic Circle.

Octavo, 329 pages, end paper maps, illustrated from photographs taken on the expedition. A small chip top of dust jacket, otherwise a fine copy.

The party flew by light aircraft to Pond Inlet a remote Hudson Bay Company outpost on the northern shores of Baffin Island. Some explorations in the locale and then off further north to Bylot with Eskimo guide Idlouk. They set up camp near the Aktineg glacier. Bylot sparsely populated with a few friendly Eskimo group is a cold mountainous place with its own unique flora and fauna. Image the Arctic Willow which last eight years but never gets higher than five inches.

Bylot a unique environment – an authentic account.

$35.00

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The Amazing Mr Doolittle [Biography of American Air Ace and Daredevil] – Quentin Reynolds – 1954

A very good copy of the second impression of the first UK edition published in June 1954 one month after the first.

Published by Cassell, London. Octavo, 313 pages, frontispiece of our Hero.

Biography of the great American Air Ace. The front cover boldly list his achievements .. some would be less bold nowadays .. that’s history.

His early flights is our bag though, and this ace started early in the 1920’s .. winner of the Schneider Trophy and a true daredevil .. where are they now? He was the first to fly on instruments alone, cross America etc.

Doolittle, Not talking to the Animals, flying the Aeroplanes.

$40.00

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A Strange Career – The Life and Adventures of J. G. Jebb [South America and Mexico] – 1895

Forty Years in Canada – Colonel B Steele- First Edition 1915

The Riders of the Plains – A Record of the Royal North-West Mounted Police of Canada 1873-1910 – A.L. Haydon – First Edition London 1910

Map Collectors’ Circle – The American Colonies – Bickham – by D Schrire

Spring on an Antarctic Island (Bylot Island) – Katherine Scherman

The Amazing Mr Doolittle [Biography of American Air Ace and Daredevil] – Quentin Reynolds – 1954

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