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Eyed Hawk Moth and White Sating Moth – Hand Coloured Engraving – Moses Harris – 1840

A rare and desirable hand coloured engraving from The Aurelian by Moses Harris. From the final issue 1840 and considered special for the brilliance of the hand colouring and the thick Whatman paper.

Moses Harris (1731-1785) was a brilliant engraver and entomologist. His first work though was the “Natural System of Colours” where he examined colour theory introduced by Isaac Newton. The Aurelian was his masterpiece and it’s believed he spent many years researching his subject and honing his engraving skills before it was completed. He drew from live specimens showing in each plate the dorsal and ventral view of his subject, together with the various stages of development – egg, caterpillar, chrysalis and their preferred food. This first issue was in 1766 and the full title “The Aurelian: or, Natural History of English Insects; namely Moths and Butterflies. Together with the plants on which they feed and their standard names, as given and established by the Society of Aurelians. Drawn, engraved and coloured, from the natural Subjects themselves. Moses Harris”

In all there were 45 hand coloured plates. The work was reissued in 1778,1794 and in 1840. A handful of the early copies exist.

Here we have Plate XVII, dedicated to the Honourable Thomas Townshend and shows the Eyed Hawk moth and the White Sating Moth together likely because of their common eating habits. Very good condition with nice colouring enhanced with gum arabic. Very clean and a verygood example of a rare and desirable item. Engraved border approximately 30cm by 23cm.

Moses Harris sought after Moths and Butterflies

$190.00

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The Islands of the Pacific – from Old to New – James Alexander – First Edtion 1895

James Alexander was the son of Hawaiian missionary William P Alexander. Published by the American Tract Society, New York in 1895. A substantial work, octavo 503 pages and appendices. Illustrated throughout with nice pictorial covers in good condition.

After three chapters of general introduction there are discrete chapters on The Society Islands, Austral Islands; Peal Islands; Hawaiian Islands; The Marquesas; Harvey Islands; Samoa; Micronesia; Tonga; New Zealand; Fiji; Melanesia; Pitcairn and Norfolk. An interesting chapter in retrospect on the “Future of the Pacific Ocean”.

The appendices provide good information on the Ancient Polynesians, Languages, European Appropriations and a list of active Missionaries and where they were. The seventy illustrations include simple but useful maps, and images form early photographs albeit sometimes posed.

Alexander covers some ground … and some ocean … in this well structured book.

$60.00

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Studies in Murder – Edmund Pearson

An unusual Modern Library edition given the factual content. A nice 1950′s copy with slightly chipped dust jacket. Top edge stained blue to match jacket as required.

True crime by American criminologist Pearson famous for his analysis of the Lizzie Borden Murders and the Hauptmann Case. We have catalogued it also under fiction because of his easy story telling style

Edmund Lester Pearson (1880-1937) was a highly regarded write of real crime … he was also a librarian to Congress which is why he had time to research and write no doubt!

Person Understood the motive …

$40.00

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Penguin Island – Anatole France

An early Modern Library edition, pre WWII publication. Very good condition, top edge stained grey blue to match the binding, very good dust jacket.

Written in French a most unusual fantasy book by Anatole France, who was awarded the Nobel Prize.

A wayward Christian lands on an island and mistakes some auks for noble pagans and proceeds to baptise them. As this should only happens to humans, when he finds out he transform the auks to human form and from there the history of Penguinia unfolds .. a satire emulating the history of Europe and some strange affairs.

Maybe underneath we are really all penguins or auks?

$30.00

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Barchester Towers and The Warden – Anthony Trollope

A very good near fine period Modern Library edition in a similar condition complete dust jacket.

Useful introduction by Harlan Hatcher then Professor of English at the Ohio State University.

Anthony Trollope wrote Barchester Towers in the 1850’s. He built a special transportable desk so he could write whilst on the train. His publishers thought it somewhat vulgar. The Guardian have it on their “must be read list”. Trollope most realistic and entertaining of the 19th century greats.

Double dose of Trollope

$30.00

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The Long Voyage Home – Eugene O’Neil

Great Modern Library edition published 1946 in very if not better good condition, albeit with a simple ownership mark “H” on free end paper.

Seven short plays by Eugene O’Neil. Includes … The Moon of the Caribees; Bound East for Cardiff; Ile; Where the Cross is Made; The Rope and our favourite “In the Zone” and of course the title play The Long Voyage Home.

Nautical Plays for Salty Dogs

$40.00

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All products

Eyed Hawk Moth and White Sating Moth – Hand Coloured Engraving – Moses Harris – 1840

The Islands of the Pacific – from Old to New – James Alexander – First Edtion 1895

Studies in Murder – Edmund Pearson

Penguin Island – Anatole France

Barchester Towers and The Warden – Anthony Trollope

The Long Voyage Home – Eugene O’Neil

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