Prestige Items

In Darkest Africa – Henry Stanley – 2 Volumes African Exploration Classic Account -1892

Stanley’s great work recording his expedition to relieve Emin Pasha cut-off after the fall of Khartoum. The description of the jungle, wildlife and the Pigmy tribes makes this a special account.

A very good set of the fifth printing published in 1892 by Sampson Low, London. The preferred London “red edition” with the lovely pictorial covers in black, red, gilt and grey scene of a column about to be attacked in pretty good condition. Re-cased at some time so very sturdy. Thick royal octavo, 529 and 472 pages with 150 woodcuts and engravings. Two large foldout coloured maps. Maps re-enforced with archival tape to rear which has helped preserve them in very good condition. Some foxing particularly near the ends. Nice examples and necessary for any African collection.

The book may not need explanation. Sir Henry Morton Stanley G.C.B. (1841-1904) was born in Wales and became a journalist and famous explorer. Known primarily for his search for the great Scottish missionary and explorer David Livingstone … famously greet him … “Dr Livingstone I presume?”. Stanley searched for the source of the Nile, worked to develop the Congo under the sponsorship of King Leopold II of Belgium and his last expedition commanding of the Emin Pasha Relief Expedition, the subject of this work. He was knighted in 1899.

Stanley in Darkest Africa his final Expedition.

$270.00

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A Unique Document: Flying Saucers Over Papua A Report on Papuan Unidentified Flying Objects. Rev’d Norman E.G. Cruttwell of the Anglican Mission, Manapi, Papua New Guinea. March 1960

Typewritten document with sketches of flying saucers, tables of information etc. Foolscap,45 pages stapled in corner. This is a contemporary copied document. We cannot locate the original or any other copies and consequently this may well be a unique item, a classic UFO record.

In June 1959 Rev William Gill witnessed the most extraordinary contact with a UFO at Boainai Mission on the north-east coast of Papua. Previously he had reports of UFO sightings by Stephen Moi a mission teacher – he was sceptical. On the 26th June in the early evening standing in front of his house he saw a brilliant light which descended towards him. He was joined by witnesses. The object came to within three hundred feet and remained stationary . It was circular with a wide base and narrow upper structure and two sets of protruding legs. Periodically a shaft of blue light emanated from the centre. A human-like figure appeared, joined by three others. Father Gill described them in his notes as “men”. They watched the UFO for several minutes before if disappeared in the clouds. An hour later another smaller craft was seen over the sea and then another over Wadobuna Village. Twenty minutes later the larger craft reappeared and stayed for half an hour, the smaller craft coming and going. The next day discussion were held and observations continued that evening. The larger craft returned and the human like figure appeared. Gill waved and figure waved back. They beckoned it to land and it hovered close to the ground before disappearing at speed.

Gill sent his notes to Cruttwell who sent a report to the London, Flying Saucer Review. As a result Crutwell was appointed local investigator for the International. U.F.O. Observer Corps.

Crutwell commenced research into Papuan sightings the first modern day sighting being in 1958 … an event covered up by the Australian Military. This typed report is a summary of his extensive findings. The chapter headings give you some idea of the depth … Sightings before 1958; 1958 The Overture; 1959 “Tilley Lamps in the Sky”; Kaleidoscopic Light; The Visitation at Boainai; Corroboration from Giwa and Baniara; Strange Craft over Menapi; More Spherical Objects and Others; The Last Sightings of the Year; Have We any Clues? The Appendices are remarkable … Their Concentration in Area; Their Distribution in Time; The Close Knit Nature of the Sightings … And tables and graphs … Summary of Papuan Sightings; Graph of Monthly Frequency; Daily Frequency; Times of Sightings; Table of Localities; Table of UFO Types; Names of Principal Witnesses.

Unique comprehensive work on the Papuan UFO Sightings of 1958

Rev Gill communicates with Aliens …

$380.00

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Manuscript Letter (A Complaint) from Sir Erasmus Ommanney (First to Find Evidence of Franklin) to Hepworth Dixon (Notable Literary Identity) – 14th May 1870

Erasmus Ommanney (1814-1904) was an extraordinary individual from one of those sorts of families. He was born in 1824 seventh son of Sir Francis Molyneux Ommanney. In 1836 he went to Baffin’s Bay with Sir James Ross … he was second in command on the Franklin searching expedition and was the first to find traces of Franklin’s ships in 1850. He travelled over 500 miles on sledge to find the Franklin traces at Beechey Island. During this adventure he gathered much geographical information.

In 1854, on commencement of the Crimean War, he commanded a Squadron in the White Sea and engaged a Russian flotilla off the mouth of the Dwin that year … later the Committee at the Royal Geographical Society … Royal Society, Royal Astronomical society (Observed the transit of Venus at Luxor in 1874)… Knighted etc for Arctic services.

The recipient possibly equally well known in literary circles, historian and traveller Hepworth Dixon (1821-1879). A controversial writer at that. He was active in organising London’s Great Exhibition of 1851.

Two pages in a strong clear hand from 6 Talbot Square … a nice London address. Marked clearly Private. Erasmus is obviously not happy … he had previously written to Hepworth Dixon and clearly provided some personal information about his naval conduct (about which we believe he had been criticised … he was pretty heavy handed in the White Sea) and Dixon had published these “private letter” in the press.

“I was at the point of replying to your last note when I was surprised to find you had published my letters to you in the Newspapers, I believe it is always customary on such occasions first to obtain the sanction of the writer”

Erasmus goes on … “My object in criticising your representations of my conduct at Solaretet was simply to induce you to add … comments, in your next edition of “Free Russia” … to show that your countrymen were justified in punishing … and that we did not bombard a defenceless … ; and I was going to enquire that you would not publish my [this] letter but evenly take the substance of my information for your guidance”

Erasmus continues … not happy … “ As you have published my letters in the daily papers I must abide by the unpleasant announcements of the press, – there are various considerations to be dwelt on before an Officer writes on matters of a national and public nature in the newspapers; and in the present instance my letters should not have appeared.”

Erasmus turns up the heat … “As you have forwarded a copy of your work to the Emperor of Prussia, I have greater cause to feel dissatisfied with you colouring of my conduct in the Solowitch affair, which on the while I fear injurious to my reputation. I hope that the subject will not appear again in the papers”

Cranky letter from Victorian Naval hero and Adventurer who has had his reputation challenged in the Press

$180.00

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A Discourse On the Late Funds of the Million-Act, Lottery-Act and Bank of England – John Briscoe 1696

Title continues … Shewing, That they are … Ruinous to the Trade of the Nation. Together with Proposals for the Supplying their majesties with Money on Easy Terms.

Extremely rare, despite being a third edition printed London by J.D. for Andrew Bell, 1696.

Small octavo, iv, 187 pages plus adverts. Bound in 19th Century half calf, rubbed with old library stamps to title and last. Excuse it for its rarity. This is an expanded version of a pamphlet issued by Briscoe in 1694.

John Briscoe was a prolific land bank projector. He showed, using detailed costings the very high cost of the Treasury borrowing through the various Acts set up to do so .. and, importantly the newly established [1694] Bank of England.

Briscoe’s plan was based on the future rental income that could be expected from land, and his principles contained quite some modern theory.

Briscoe made the link between an increase in the supply of money and greater economic activity.

According to Briscoe, the new bills would be “to all intents as useful as money; it will be an introducing so many fresh-monied men into the Kingdom with several millions more than was before, for the supply of their Majesties”.

He was motivated to find a means by which the Government could borrow at a low rate in interest, and simultaneously improving the capital of the land owners … “Gentlemen will have an opportunity of improving their estates by building, planting, draining or watering their land”.

Briscoe managed to raise Pounds 100,000 for his bank … but it was not enough

Extremely rare Banking Theory from 1696

$490.00

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The Songs of Meleager – Frederick Rolfe – Fine Private Press 1937

A fine private printing for The First Edition Club by the Chiswick Press, London, 1937.

Made into English with designs by Frederick Baron Corvo (Fr. Rolfe) in collaboration with Sholto Douglas. The excellent preface by A.J.A. Symons gives an excellent background to the talented Baron Corvo (one of his many pseudonyms) and the academic Sholto Douglas.

A beautiful presentation designed by Christopher Sandford. Octavo, 132 pages. Text in original Greek to the left with translation facing. Gilt decorated green cloth covered binding, top edge gilt. Printed in Monotype Poliphilus Roman and new Hellenic Greek type on Eynsford Mill Toned Wove Had-made paper. The binding executed by the Leighton-Straker Bookbinding Co.

Rolfe’s translation was based on that of Frederick Jacobs circa 1813. The work had been begun by Douglas … revised and improved by Rolfe to the point that they fell out over the matter. The illustrations had been prepared for a previous abandoned edition … seemingly Rolfe quarrelled there also. Testy chap.

Melaeger was born in Gurada, Jordan in the 1st Century BC a time when Jordan was very much under the Greek influence. He lived in Kos later in life. He was the first to compile the epigrams of others, wrote satirical prose and sensual poetry.

A beautiful unusual work – makes a perfect gift

$160.00

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First Edition maps of Islands off Terra Napoleon and the County of Cumberland in New South Wales – Louis de Freycinet – 1811 – First Printing

An original copper engraving” Plan des Iles Jerome (Terre Napoleon) par M.M.H. Freycinet at Bernier, an 1802. Plan des Iles Berthier (Terre Napoleon) par M.M.H. Freycinet et Bernier, an 1802. Plan du Comte de Cumberland (Nouvelle-Galles du Sud) d’apres les Cartes Anglaises, mais assujetti aux observations Francaises.

The map is by Louis Claude Desaulses de Freycinet (1779-1842). Plate No 9 from the second atlas of his maps from the Voyage de Decouvertes aux Terres Australes (Voyage of Discovery to the Southern Lands) published by Langlois in Paris, in 1811.

The French had intended to colonise Australia. The first volume of this work was published in 1807. The second volume which contained the maps was in 1811 still three years before Flinders.

Three maps on one sheet, thick sturdy paper, strong plate mark, excellent definition. Sheet dimensions 35.1cm by 26.1 cm. Cumberland map 16.7 by 10.5 cm other two 8.3 by 10.5cm each. Some foxing and marks around the edge generally well off the printed area. A rare map.

Tooley reference Map, 618

Price $440.00 unframed

Freycinet accompanied Nicholas Baudin on his famous voyage to complete the French mapping of Australia. Baudin leader aboard Le Geographie and Freycinet aboard Le Naturaliste. Whilst in Sydney Baudin sent the Naturalist home with the records of their effort so far and purchased a vessel from Philip Gidley King, the Casuarina, which he placed under Freycinet’s command. Baudin died on the final voyage home and the task of writing up the travels fell to the naturalist Francois Peron. Sadly, he in turn died before completing the work and the mantle was passed to Louis Freycinet who completed that task and produced the magnificent accompanying atlas.

$440.00

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In Darkest Africa – Henry Stanley – 2 Volumes African Exploration Classic Account -1892

A Unique Document: Flying Saucers Over Papua A Report on Papuan Unidentified Flying Objects. Rev’d Norman E.G. Cruttwell of the Anglican Mission, Manapi, Papua New Guinea. March 1960

Manuscript Letter (A Complaint) from Sir Erasmus Ommanney (First to Find Evidence of Franklin) to Hepworth Dixon (Notable Literary Identity) – 14th May 1870

A Discourse On the Late Funds of the Million-Act, Lottery-Act and Bank of England – John Briscoe 1696

The Songs of Meleager – Frederick Rolfe – Fine Private Press 1937

First Edition maps of Islands off Terra Napoleon and the County of Cumberland in New South Wales – Louis de Freycinet – 1811 – First Printing

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