Products | Voyager Rare Books Maps & Prints

SO (Ten Romances) – John Crombie and The Kickshaws Private Press – Limited to 175 copies – Unusual Permutational Book.

A first and only limited edition by the talented writer and book designer John Crombie. Published by his Kickshaws Press in Paris in 1988.

This is a unique example of a what can be referred to as a permutational book. The book is bound on the left hand edge but the text runs like a maze left to right continuously around the book until each of ten romances is complete. At the end of each section the reader is presented with options on new lines as to how to proceed and must make a choice. There are also vertical groups of connecting words that rhyme or free-associate with the ones above and below. The text is worthy, funny and at times a little naughty. Once you have completed the ”maze” the stories can be read in a different order [we challenge you to remember which way you went the first time] giving them a whole new meaning.

Unpaginated, 20cm by 25cm, the book narrative is printed and bound separately from the fuchsia three-fold heavy paper wrap around, the latter containing an introduction that describes in more words than ours the recommended method of reading

A really super item … challenging, enlightening and entertaining. Would make a special gift.

Crombie’s “SO” a most unusual book from the Paris Kickshaws Press.

$120.00

Updating cart…

Playback – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1958

A first edition of Raymond Chandlers last novel published by Hamish Hamilton, London in 1958. Chandler died the following year.

Octavo, 207 pages, unclipped dust jacket designed by Patricia Davey, chip to lower spine, a better than good copy of a desirable first edition.

Private detective Marlowe appears for his final hurrah. His first appearance since “The Long Good-Bye”. Chadler’s classic writing personified by the first sentence of the second … “There was nothing to it. The Super Chief was on time, as it always is, and the subject was as easy to spot as a kangaroo in a dinner jacket” … PS read in your head with the voice of Humphrey Bogart.

Playback …. Marlowe’s final … sadly.

SO SORRY SOLD

$60.00

Updating cart…

The Blue Dahlia – A Screenplay – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1976

Published by Elm Tree Books – Hamish Hamilton, London in 1976 a first edition. Produced from the only then existing copy of the screenplay used in the movie production kept in the University of California collection.

Large form octavo, v, ix, xxiii, 129 pages (the screenplay) plus 11 page appendix. Complete dust jacket … a near fine copy.

A well put together book with a lengthy Memoir “Lost Fortnight” by John Houseman and neat Editorial Note re anomalies in the script. After the screenplay, which is illustrated from movie promotional stills, an Appendix … Chandler on Hollywood; Movies made from Chandler’s Plays and Screenplays written by Chandler (almost as prolific as Graham Greene .. but not quite).

Many think Chandler the greatest crime writer of the 20th Century. Hollywood needed a script in a hurry for Alan Ladd to continue his rise. Chandler had a half finished book … the Blue Dahlia .. he was commissioned to adapt what he had complete the plot etc. He immediately hit a bout of writers block … his remedy was to write whilst blind drunk for a fortnight … hence the title to the memoir. He finished … it was a hit … he got sober.

Chandlers Dahlia wrapped up for Hollywood.

$60.00

Updating cart…

Musical Quotation – Jazz – Signed – William Scmidt (1926-2009) American composer, arranger and music publisher.

An unusual piece of music ephemera in manuscript and signed by the composer … “Opening measures of Rhapsody No 1 for Clarinet and Piano” by William Schmidt.

Original piece 13 cm by 8 cm … strong “musical hand” in good condition. We love it.

There is a really lovely biographical interview online with William Schmidt. In that there are a few images helping to illustrate the man … one being this item.. we suppose it may have been given to the talented interviewer and maybe scripted then … who knows?

More to come we just need time to summarise the interesting life of William Schmidt.

Get out your Clarinet today for William Schmidt

$120.00

Updating cart…

The Lure of Unknown Lands – North Pole and Equator – Major F.G. Jackson – First Edition 1935

A first edition published by G. Bell, London in 1935. Large octavo, 342 pages, 44 illustrations from period photographs and three maps … North Russia; Franz Joseph Land and Central Africa. No dust jacket but otherwise a very good copy.

The maps are large folding and in super condition … the Franz Joseph map is a classic of exploration.

Frederick Jackson (1860-1938) probably the most unsung exploration hero of all time … a little like Hubert Wilkins. Prior to this late life summary as achievements he produced tow great classics … The Great Frozen Land [See Our Copy] and A Thousand Days in the Arctic (Both Voyager Favourites). Famously met Nansen in the Arctic frozen wastes with the Stanley /Livingston like greeting “You are Nansen – aren’t you?” .. the later having been lost for over a winter and had no clue where he actually was … saved by Jackson. The photograph of the meeting was reconstructed after Nansen had a chance to tidy up!

Despite the title the book starts in Western Queensland and the lead up to that is most interesting. Soon we are at Waigate Island, quite a contrast and the journey from Khabarova to to Archangel. Then the big event .. the Jackson – Harmsworth Polar Expedition … Franz Josef Land … winter, new discoveries and dangers and that extraordinary meeting. Further North and eventually a third winter. After all of this cold weather and excursion to war Jackson explores Central Africa and Liberia. What a life …

Jackson in the cold and the hot – super account

$90.00

Updating cart…

Tasmanian Tiger – Original Thylacine Engraving – by Varin – 1830’s

Scarce hand coloured engraving of the now extinct Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacine). A delightful depiction by Pierre Amedee Varin (1818-1883).

Paired with a botanical Thunbergie … as the engravings appeared in la Dictionnaire Pittoresque d’Histoire Naturelle et de Phenomenes de la Nature published in Paris in the 1830’s

28cm by 18cm in dimensions and in very good condition. Stipple engraved probably in steel … you can see the technique reflected in the hairs of the thylacine especially in the enlarged iamge … super technique.

Thylacine lovers often frame their favourite part omitting the botanical. We always leave those decisions to the buyer.

Pierre Varin came from a family of engravers and illustrators who came from Chalons- sur-Marne, now named Chalons-en-Champagne … a really beautiful part of France.

Scarce Thylacine engraving … well they are

SO SORRY SOLD

$170.00

Updating cart…

All products

SO (Ten Romances) – John Crombie and The Kickshaws Private Press – Limited to 175 copies – Unusual Permutational Book.

Playback – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1958

The Blue Dahlia – A Screenplay – Raymond Chandler – First Edition 1976

Musical Quotation – Jazz – Signed – William Scmidt (1926-2009) American composer, arranger and music publisher.

The Lure of Unknown Lands – North Pole and Equator – Major F.G. Jackson – First Edition 1935

Tasmanian Tiger – Original Thylacine Engraving – by Varin – 1830’s

Product Categories