North America

The Wonders Of The Modern Railway – Archibald Williams – 1913

We really love the series of book written by Archibald William, this is one of his early ones having only at this time published “the Romance of Modern Engineering” and the Romance of Early Exploration” … there were more to come in this vein.

Published by Seeley, London in 1913 a first edition. Octavo, 163 pages plus Publisher’s Catalogue. The much preferred embossed pictorial binding with superb images to front [the Railway Pass between Lucerne and Brienz] and spine, titles in gilt. Some scattered foxing on the spongy paper … still a delightful rarity. Eight illustrations from period photographs.

Contents includes .. How the Midland Railway came into being; the Great Western Railway or the struggle of the gauges; the building of the Canadian Pacific and what it had done for Canada; the first of the Transcontinentals; the Highroad to Orange Land; the USA Railroads; the Railway as Conqueror and Mountain Railways.

Delightful historic record of the “Modern” Railway

$60.00

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The Misty Islands – Miles Smeeton – First Ed 1969

Published by the Nautical Publishing Company (Captain’s Row, Lymington) in association with Harrap, London.

Octavo, 214 pages nicely illustrated and with endpaper maps. Very good near fine condition.

The Smeeton’s experienced sailors spent a year in Japan after a prior voyage before they set sail for Southern Ireland via … the Aleutians, Alaska, British Columbia … the down the west coast and through Panama to the West Indies. Heading north to colder foggier climate past Labrador and across to round Iceland before heading near south to the Hebrides and the final leg. Much about the sailing and the stopping’s off along the way. A special record.

Unusual voyage and a liking for colder water

$30.00

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Climbs in the Canadian Rockies – Frank Smythe – First edition 1950

Published by Hodder and Stoughton, London a first edition 1950. Octavo, 259 pages with many illustrations and all in very good condition.

Frank Smythe one of the 20th Century’s greatest high altitude climbers. His last great project, the Canadian Rockies. Beautifully written and wonderfully illustrated.

One last great season of climbing for Smythe

$30.00

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Camps and Cruises of an Ornithologist – Frank Chapman – First edition 1908

A first edition, large octavo, 432 pages heavily illustrated as from black and white photographs. Published by Appleton, New York in 1908 a first edition. Good condition with the striking flamingo cover albeit with some pock marks to the fore and bottom edge. Internally nice, clean and tight.

Ornithology and travel have gone hand in hand since bird watching was invented and in this book travel around the greater North America has equal status with some rare feathery friends.

Frank Chapman was curator of ornithology at the American Museum of Natural History and a Fellow of everything relevant. After checking out Jays, Meadowlarks and Nighthawks near to home the party visit Gardiner’s and Cobb’s Islands on the Atlantic Coast. Then to Florida and Pelican Island … the Great Blue Heron, Water Turkey, Egret and the Cuthbert Rookery. A nice trip to the Bahama and the striking Flamingo, Egg Birds and the Booby and Man-o-War bird. Off to the west and the prairie birdlife, California and the Sierras before reaching north to Western Canada and the White Pelican’s. An unusual finale in England and stroking the Eider Duck.

Birds and getting around them done in style early 20thC.

$120.00

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IMAGO MVUNDI (MUNDI) The Journal of The International Society for the History of Cartography – Vol 38 – 1986

Published by Imago Mundi, Kings College London in 1986. Folio hardback, 134 pages plus advertisements. Illustrated with maps, charts and diagrams. original blue cloth covered boards with gilt titling and device. Very good condition.

An annual publication and the pinnacle of cartographic research. Superbly presented.

The concentration in this issue is with North America. Three paper – First, Indicators of Unacknowledged Assimilations from Amerindian Maps on Euro-American Maps of North America: Some General Principles Arising from a Study of La Verendrye’s Composite Map, 1728-29. Secondly, Maps in Colonial Promotion: James Edward Oglethorpe’s Use of Maps in “Selling” the Georgia Scheme. Thirdly, The Rise of Maps Use by Elite Newspapers in England, Canada and the United States.

Other articles include “the Turning Point in German Cartography” and a thorough “Census” of Pre-Sixteenth Century Portlan Charts.

Extensive book reviews provided an excellent bibliography for cartography enthusiasts.

Imago Mundi cannot be improved

$50.00

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The Battle of Lake Champlain (Plattsburgh), and The Battle of Fort McHenry (Baltimore) – The Boston Messenger – 7th October 1814

An original four page broadsheet … the Boston Messenger published on the 7th October 1812 at the culmination of the War of 1812 between The USA and Britain and its allies.

Over 150 column inches (half the paper) devoted to reports, commentary and tributes, from both sides, regarding these important battles.

The Battle of Lake Champlain (Also known as the Battle of Plattsburgh) ended the invasion of the northern states of the USA during the War of 1812. The British army under General Prevost and the Royal Navy under Downie converged on the lakeside town of Plattsburgh which was defended by New York and Vermont militia and detachments of regular troops under General Macomb and ships under Macdonough. The British attacked after dawn on the 11th September 1814 but were defeated after a hard fight in which Downie was killed. Prevost retreated to Canada.

The Battle of Fort McHenry (Also known as the Battle of Baltimore, Maryland) inspired Francis Scott Key to write the “Star Spangled Banner” as he was watching the battle from a British ship! This battle the turning point when US forces warded off a British invasion of the sea port of Baltimore. The British had landed 5,000 troops who first found resistance at the Battle of North Point, some five miles from the city. General Sticker commanding a group of Maryland militia blunted the British attack killing General Ross in command. They were halted. Meanwhile at Fort McHenry 1,000 American soldiers awaited the British bombardment. They had protected the harbour by sinking a line of merchant ships. The attack began on 13th September 1814 using mortars and rockets. The pounding was relentless although inaccurate and little damage was sustained. British Admiral Cochrane decided on a commando style assault in an attempt to distract the American troops. However, it failed and from there the British gave up any hope of success and retreated on 14th September 1814.

Whilst all this was happening peace negotiations were underway in Europe, also noted in this edition. A Treaty was soon signed to end the war on the basis that prior territories were retained.

Significant Reports the War of 1812

$90.00

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The Wonders Of The Modern Railway – Archibald Williams – 1913

The Misty Islands – Miles Smeeton – First Ed 1969

Climbs in the Canadian Rockies – Frank Smythe – First edition 1950

Camps and Cruises of an Ornithologist – Frank Chapman – First edition 1908

IMAGO MVUNDI (MUNDI) The Journal of The International Society for the History of Cartography – Vol 38 – 1986

The Battle of Lake Champlain (Plattsburgh), and The Battle of Fort McHenry (Baltimore) – The Boston Messenger – 7th October 1814

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