Books on books

Alvin Lustig Dust Jacket design for New Directions – 50 Postcard style Illustrations.

Voyager hero and favourite graphic designer Alvin Lustig got into bed with super New York publisher of high end literature, New Directions, to design unique dust jacket art for the likes of Tennessee William, Dylan Thomas, Ezra Pound etc.

This boxed set of fifty postcards is a retrospective of that work comprising some of the more unusual designs. Unfortunately the books are getting out of reach for all but the devoted cashed up collector. So why not get this selection as an introduction or reminder of this man’s talent.

Would make a super gift – and get over the – we don’t use postcards any more – they are a memento of normal life as it once was before the whole world spent their whole waking moments tapping away with two fingers on a iphone … uuhhggh.

Lustig beautifully presented and maybe a challenge for some.

$35.00

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A Law Dictionary or, the Interpreter of Words and Terms, used either in the Common or Statute Laws of that Part of Great Britain, call’d England; and in Tenures and Jocular Customs – 1708

We are told on the remainder of the title that this work was first published by the learned Dr Cowel, and (is) now very much Augmented and Improv’d, by the additions of many Thousand Words, as are found in our Histories, Antiquities, Cartularies, Rolls, Registers, and other Manuscript Records, not hitherto explain’d in any Dictionary.

Folio, unpaginated, voluminous, near 500 pages. Bound in full leather, worn and scrapped but holding together very well. Internally very clean – a good example of this important reference which takes its place in the history of published legal references.

Super Preface(s) as introduction by John Cowell. Contains an Appendix of the ancient names of places … necessary for ancient deeds, charters etc.

Printed and published by D Browne, R Sare, S Battersby, J Walthoe etc

Important Historical Law Related Dictionary – 1708

$190.00

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The [Sir] Rex Nan Kivell Collection – Paradise Possessed

Some of us will have bought collectable Australiana with Rex Nan Kivell’s bookplate and wondered who was the man with the rather odd name.

And he was odd. Born in New Zealand in the late 1800’s as Reginald Nankivell he went off to Europe to WWI. After that he reinvented himself as Rex de Charembac Nan Kivell and developed a career as an upmarket London art dealer. He began collecting almost everything he could find concerning post settlement Australia and New Zealand. Paintings, photographs, manuscripts, key published accounts, objects of interest, government reports etc … Very oddly he never ever came to the Antipodes. His collection came to the attention of the Australian Government at the highest levels. Senior curators labelled it the most important collection yet formed in private hands and, more so, never to be surpassed in terms of its decorative and scholarly qualities. It was bought – it cost a knighthood.

Softcover, square form, perfect bound published by the National Library of Australia. Profusely illustrated in colour over 78 pages. Scholarly narrative shared among a number of relevant experts. Both super and surprising.

Rex Nan Kivell – Cannot be repeated.

$25.00

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Armorial Book-Plates. Their Romantic Origin and Artistic Development – Signed limited edition of 300 this number 218 by the expert of all experts Neville Barnett – published in 1932

Unusual faux snake-skin binding. Excellent condition 172 pages.

With numerous book-plate illustrations with 17 tipped in originals from those of great fame (our favourite being that of Polar Explorer Douglas Mawson).

Chapters on the Origins of Armory; the Age of Chivalry; the Pageant of Heraldry; the Romance of Arms; German, French and British Book-plates the latter extensive and importantly Australian and New Zealand Armorial Book-plates.

Collectable work from the doyen of Australian Bookplates – Neville Barnett – Numbered Limited Signed edition with Mawsons bookplate.

$240.00

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The Book of Kells and The Art of Illumination

In the year 2000 Ireland’s greatest treasure the illuminated medieval manuscript the Gospel of St mark from the Book of Kells visited the National Gallery of Australia. We cannot imagine the insurance costs for this item beyond the wealth of any man.

Written painstakingly by Irish Monks and lost for many years before found “under a sod”.

Large format, perfect bound soft cover, 80 pages, heavily illustrated as you would expect.

The Book of Kells impossible not to stir some emotion.

$30.00

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Encyclopedia of Exploration 1850 to 1940 – The Oceans, Islands and Polar Regions.

An as new copy of this great work by the unique Raymond Howgego, published by the equally unique Hordern House in 2006. Part of a greater series of works likely not yet complete … but the modern era will be a challenge despite Everest etc. This one stands on its own partly because of the Polar emphasis …

A comprehensive [understatement] reference guide to the history and literature of exploration, travel and colonisation in the oceans, the islands, New Zealand, and the polar regions from 1850 to the early decades of the twentieth century.

Large quarto, x, 724 pages, containing 521 major articles, referencing 3000 odd individuals, in over 700,000 words all cross referenced to primary and secondary sources … indexes of persons, ship, bibliography 14,000 works) etc.

The format is interesting, perhaps a little challenging … Entries begin with leaders of expeditions and if there is more than one expedition these are dealt with as separate chronological entries i.e., Scott, Amundsen, Charcot etc. Major members then follow the principal … so Frank Wild for example follows Shackleton. Separate entries summarise activity by location e.g., New Guinea, New Zealand, St Helena etc.

Raymond Howgego was teacher of physics before he gave that up to become a full-time traveller and travel writer. Possibly put down more words than any other living person. Seemingly can handle almost all European languages and Arabic and probably a few others. He still has an interest in amateur radio and fixing electronic items … we withhold his call sign, but you can find it if you try.

As new Howgego on the Island etc and the Polar Regions.

$260.00

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Alvin Lustig Dust Jacket design for New Directions – 50 Postcard style Illustrations.

A Law Dictionary or, the Interpreter of Words and Terms, used either in the Common or Statute Laws of that Part of Great Britain, call’d England; and in Tenures and Jocular Customs – 1708

The [Sir] Rex Nan Kivell Collection – Paradise Possessed

Armorial Book-Plates. Their Romantic Origin and Artistic Development – Signed limited edition of 300 this number 218 by the expert of all experts Neville Barnett – published in 1932

The Book of Kells and The Art of Illumination

Encyclopedia of Exploration 1850 to 1940 – The Oceans, Islands and Polar Regions.

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