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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 – Nice Item

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. With 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 calf in very good condition. Internally, very light browning and signs of old worming long gone. The quality and the condition of the copper engraved plates is something special.

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”

$290.00

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In Search of Franklin – The Journal of Rochfort Maguire 1852-1854 … Two Years at Point Barrow, Alaska, aboard HMS Plover in the Search of Sir John Franklin – Edited by John Bockstoce

Sir John Franklin’s expedition left England in 1845 in search of the northwest passage. Three years later HMS Plover was the first to mount what would be many expeditions in search of the lost crew of the Erebus and Terror.

A Hakluyt Society publication in two octavo volumes published in 1988. 584 pages in total heavily illustrated and in fine as if new condition. There is a super large scale folding map on the Western Esquimaux by Simpson which we have difficulty scanning nicely because of its size.

Of further interest is that this expedition approached from the west whereas analysis of the search for Franklin has tended to focus on eastern approaches. The heart of this book is based on the journals of Captain Rochfort Maguire and it represents the earliest account of sustained contact with the Eskimos of northern Alaska. A detailed introduction regarding the history, strategy and logistics of the search and the conclusion supplemented by other accounts of Dr John Simpson who participated in a five boat expedition from Point Barrow.

Search for Franklin – First from the West

$60.00

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The Narrative of Captain David Woodward [Adventures and Suffering in the Celebes] -1805

An extremely scarce account, we can only find one other copy available.

The lengthy full title explains … The Narrative of Captain David Woodward and Four Seamen Who Lost their Ship while in a Boat at Sea and Surrendered Themselves up to the Malays in the Island of Celebes … containing an Interesting Account of their Sufferings from Hunger and Various Hardships, and their Escape from the Malays. After a Captivity of Two Year and a Half: Also, an Account of the Manners and Customs of That Country, and a Description of the Harbours & Coasts etc. Together with An Introduction and an Appendix containing Narratives of Various Escapes from Shipwrecks, under Great Hardships and Abstinence; holding out a Valuable Seaman’s Guide. And the Importance of Union, Confidence and Perseverance in the Midst of Distress.

Printed by Johnson, St Paul’s Church-Yard a second edition 1805 and despite this truly scarce. Octavo, 236 pages, rough cut edges as issued. Contemporary half calf with marbled paper covered boards showing some wear.

Frontispiece a profile of Woodward, folding chart of the Island of Celebes, larger folding chart of the Western Part of the Island (Celebes) visited by Captain Woodward and a two page plate of Proas, Canoes and Implements of War of the Malays.

The first 143 pages comprises Woodward’s narrative the events of which commenced in March 1791. Woodward had departed on an American Ship from Batavia to Manilla. There was a scarcity of provisions and Woodward along with five sailors (one died soon in the events if you are curious about the title) set off on a quest to find supplies. They got separated from their ship and after many adventures and near death with thirst and starvation surrendered themselves to the Malay of the Celebes. They were treated as slaves and suffered many hardships. Eventually they begin to find help and after a failed attempt to escape finally make it to safety at Macassar. From there they are engaged on an American ship, Woodward as Chief-mate and sail for Calcutta. There Woodward meets Captain Hubbard with whom he sails to Mauritius and there Woodward is given Command of the Ship. From there to Bourbon, round the Cape of Good Hope to St Helena for repairs. Then to Ascension and on to England.

Woodward follows this adventure with a description of the Celebes its climate and natural history, religion and manners and a brief vocabulary of the Malay language.

The other misadventures described include … Captain Inglefield’s Narrative; William Boys’s Narrative of the Luxembourgh Galley; Lieutenant Bligh’s Narrative; Loss of the Lady Hobart Packet; Loss of the Pandora Frigate and several more.

Appendices include several useful articles including …. Case of Thomas Travis – seven days in a Pit; Experiment of a Physician; Remarkable Case of the Effects of Long Abstinence, List of a Number of Accidents, Shipwrecks, Escapes etc.

Captain Woodward’s incredible hardship is the Celebes among the Malay’s

$890.00

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Victorian Microscope Slide – Horse Ant … Whole Insect Specimen – Mounted and dated 1880.

Nice condition, quality mount of a whole insect specimen of the Horse Ant, also known as the Red Wood and Southern Wood Ant. Classified by Linnaeus in 1761. Earlier, in 1648 the English Chemist John Ray distilled thousands of these ants to discover formic acid.

Mounted in gum arabic, with minimal oxidation a super example dated 1880.

Horse Ant in all its glory over 140 years old.

$40.00

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Further Selection from the Tragic History of the Sea 1559-1565

Published by the Hakluyt Society in 1967 as an addition to “Tragedies” published eight years earlier under the editorship of the Esteemed Professor Boxer, Vice-President of the Society.

The earlier work dealt with shipwrecks on the east coast of Africa. This selection are further east in or on their way to the East Indies. Also, they had never been translated into English before this book .. no mean task translating 16th Century Portuguese and dealing with the lack of proof reading characteristic of the Portuguese publishing world of the period.

Octavo, 170 pages nicely illustrated with helpful maps and charts. Very good condition with the original dust jacket.

We have the … “Narrative of the loss of the Aguia and Garca, 1559-60 by Diogo do Couto”; “Shipwreck of the Sao Palo and itinerary of the survivors by Henrique Dias” and “Misadventures of the Santo Antonio and Jorge d’Albuquerque by Afonso Luis”.

First translations from the original 16thC texts – shipwrecks from the great Portuguese maritime era.

$40.00

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Oracles of Nostradamus – Edited by Charles Ward

Published by The Modern Library in 1940. The original now scarce work was published in the 1890′s. Octavo, 366 pages including index. Apart from some creasing top of dust jacket a very good copy.

Interesting – when you consider this edition published in 1940 – see front cover for reference to Hitler – have you had enough Nostradamus?

Prediction, prediction, prediction ..

$40.00

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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 – Nice Item

In Search of Franklin – The Journal of Rochfort Maguire 1852-1854 … Two Years at Point Barrow, Alaska, aboard HMS Plover in the Search of Sir John Franklin – Edited by John Bockstoce

The Narrative of Captain David Woodward [Adventures and Suffering in the Celebes] -1805

Victorian Microscope Slide – Horse Ant … Whole Insect Specimen – Mounted and dated 1880.

Further Selection from the Tragic History of the Sea 1559-1565

Oracles of Nostradamus – Edited by Charles Ward

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