Rare books from Patrick McGahern Books, Inc. (ABAC)

London. Hodder & Stoughton. (Engraved and Printed by Henry Stone & Son, Ltd., Banbury). [1914], 1914. 1st Edition. Hardcover. 4to, 28cm, The First edition, 206p., blue cloth with gilt lettering and design. With 25 tipped in colour plates on extra stock paper mounted under captioned tissue guards, illustrated title page and 34 line drawings and chapter heading devices, decorated black and gold pictorial endpapers, in the original dark blue cloth, gilt decorated, illustrated and spine titles, with gilt panel decorations and block titles on the upper cover designed by Nielsen, slightest rub to head, tail, spine edges and corners, very faint browning to endpapers. Occasional very slight pale foxing to margins, Plates and guards perfect, expertly restored, a fine copy (cgc) One of the most sought after books from the era of great illustrated books.

New York. Selmar Hess. [Publisher]. 1898. Hardcover. folio, 32cm (12.5"), complete in 6 volumes, with 34 beautiful colour lithograph plates, 68 full page plates & 845 text illustrations from wood engravings, in the original elaborate decorated brown cloth, gilt block titles on the spine and upper covers including black stamped borders and decorations, a brilliant set, it is difficult to image one in better condition (ds1).

London. John Richardson. 1832. Hardcover. Fine. 8vo. 22.5cm, first edition, xii,260p., with 2 engraved plate illustrations (inc. frontis view), & large folding map coloured in outline, (by J. Arrowsmith), in the publisher's original quarter green backed boards with paper spine label (worn), armorial bookplate, some slight foxing or transfer on the plates and map, in fine condition, rare. (cgc) Ferguson II-1517. Wantrup. Australian Rare Books, 148. "Bischoff's book was intended for distribution to the Company's shareholders and to encourage potential investors." In it he "reprints several of the Company's yearly reports,including the important third report of 1828, and reprints in full the exploration journals of Alexander Goldie, Henry Hellyer and Joseph Fossey, which were included in an appendix to the third report. Apart from these contemporary printings no other accounts of the early exploration of Tasmania were published until 1861 when James Erskine Calder, the Tasmanian Surveyor General,… Read More

[Montreal]. Editions La Frgate. [1979]. Hardcover. Fine. folio, 32.5cm, 188 p., on rag paper, title and half title printed in red,with 20 colour serigraph plates, text illustrations, in full reversedcalf (suede type finish) with a colour inlaid on the upper cover inmatched slipcase, limited to 130 copies, this issue being 1 of 20 copieswith Atlas Folio Portfolio, with 2 sets of plates, being 4 plates whichare hand coloured serigraphs & 1 set of 4 plates which are colourserigraphs with 2 colour crayon (conte), each numbered, HC V, and Signedby Richard. The Portfolio is string tied full brown fabrikoid, with R.Richard stamped in gilt on the upper cover, measuring 61x 53.5cm, the 8plates are 51x 58cm. This portfolio has a limitation label in the insideback board which had been replaced leaving glue residue; presumable byanother limitation label having been removed. The original label isscuffed and inked out but limited notice is still visible. A surmisableproduction change. This label may prove helpful… Read More

London. Sampson, Low, Marston, Searle, & Rivington. 1889. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Sm4to, 25.3cm, the First Edition, xii,289, [1]p., ad., frontis & 25 plates (6 hand coloured plates), text illustrations, in the original dark olive green cloth, gilt titles and borders on the spine and upper cover, bevelled boards, t.e.g., spine cap is mainly faded, hinges slightly shaken but sound, a very good copy. Inscribed Alexander Mortimer, Esq., with the Authors' kind regards, Frederic M. Halford, April 15th, 1889." W&S. (Supp). p246. Heckscher 885, (large paper copy). Hampton p44. Cites 2nd edition, 1889; another edition 1899; 4th edition revised, 1902. - This first trade edition was preceded by a limited deluxe edition, imperial 8vo, of 100 copies.

London. 1846. folio. 32x 20cm, 5p. ribbon tied, in fine condition in clamshell case. (cgc) ". Her Majesty's Government are desirous that the Militia of the whole of Her Majesty's North American Provinces be placed on a footing to enable it to render efficient services, if required. It cannot be long before I receive an account of the measures which the Legislature of Nova Scotia shall have adopted with respect to its own Militia; and your Lordship had better apprise Lord Cathcart of the amount of the Force which you can expect to be able to raise. .The general principle applicable to this matter is, that during Peace each Colony bears the charge of its local force. I am led to suppose that so far as regards Nova Scotia, the clothing would be supplied by the parties forming the Militia Force.But arms and accouterments will be sent from this Country, and the cost of them will not be charged to the Province only. As regards the expense of training, I trust, of course, that you will arrange that they… Read More

Buffalo. Geo. H. Derby & Co., Publishers. 1849. Hardcover. 12mo.19cm, 456p., 4 plates including 2 portrait frontispieces, appendices, rebound in modern half buckram & marbled boards, new spine title label, leaf edges toned, occasional foxing, near fine. (wst) Reprint of Fremont's Reports of his U.S. Army. exploring expeditions of 1842 and 1843/44 through the American West. The Reports are directed to Col. J.J.Albert, Chief of the Corps. of Topographical Engineers (the frontis portraits are of Fremont & Col. Albert). This "new edition" was timed to coincide with the great California Gold Rush and to encourage the "forty-niners" with added articles on the gold regions of California including Colonel Mason's "Official Report", routes to and physical geography of California. "In Upper California - may be found the modern Canaan, a land 'flowing with milk and honey,' its mountains studded and its rivers lined and choked, with gold!

A Paris. Printed by E. Groulleau pour Iean Longis & Nober6t le Mangnyer. 1559. 1st Edition. Hardcover. 8vo, in8's, 16.5cm, [xxiv],279,[1]p., printer's vignette on the title page and author's portrait vignette on final colophon leaf, decorated initial letters, in 18th century full mottled calf, floral gilt decorated spine panels, crushed dark crimson label, marbled endpapers, edges stained red, name crossed out in ink on the bottom title margin, a fine clean sound copy of the first French edition and the first foreign translation of any language, only one copy (this one) located in the auctions records, very rare. (cgc). No copies of this edition listed on WorldCat. Title translation: The Speeches of the State of Peace and War, Niccol di Bernardo dei Machiavelli (Italian:[nikko'l? mmakja'v?lli]; 3 May 1469 21 June 1527) was an Italian diplomat, politician, historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer of the Renaissance period.[1][2] He has often been called the father of modern political science.[3]… Read More

London. Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans, and Roberts. 1859. 1st Edition. Hardcover. 8vo, 21.5cm, The First Edition, xvii,[1],455p., appendix, with folding coloured frontis map and 8 full colour lithographed plates, 13 woodcut text illustrations, rebound in half calf over marbled boards, with leather label, wanting the half title, the map is wrinkled, the text has some smudge marks, or dust soiling, the plates have some occasional smudges on the margins, but are good clear impressions with vibrant hand colouring, good to very good. (cgc) Lande 1258. T.P.L. 2911. Peel 212. Sabin 37007. Howes K-7. Field 811. Graff 2262. Strathern 290. Wagner-Camp 332:1. The son of an Irish immigrant to Toronto, Kane became one of Canada's most famous nineteenth century painters. After four years studying art in Europe, he returned to paint North American Indians. It was a time of cultivated interest in primitive societies and Kane's paintings somewhat romanticize his subjects. They are, however, an eloquent record of… Read More

London. Marcus Ward & Co. 1878. Imperial folio, 48x33cm The British Expedition 1875-76: H.M.S. Alert, commanded by Captain G. S. Nares (the Expedition leader) and H.M.S. Discovery (Captain H. F. Stephenson) entered Smith's Sound at the end of July 1875 and after much difficulty with pack ice both ships reached Lady Franklin's Bay where H.M.S. Discovery was established in Winter Quarters whilst the Alert pressed on northwards and reached the edge of the heavy ice named the "Paleocrystic Sea" by Nares, the ice floes being 80-100 feet thick. Leaving Robeson Channel the vessel made progress between the land and the grounded floe pieces and passed the Winter off the open coast and facing the great polar pack, in 82' 27' North. Autumn parties were despatched in September and October to lay out depots and during the Winter plans were laid to explore as much of the unknown area as possible by the combined efforts of sledging parties from both ships in the ensuing Spring, The parties set out at the beginning… Read More

London. Archibald Constable and Company. 1908. 1st Edition. Hardcover. Near Fine. 23cm, the First Edition, in 2 volumes, xiii,335 & ix,397pp., with two gravure frontis plates (portrait & ships), and 237 plates and illustrations, 3 maps (2 folding in rear pocket), original gilt stamped and decorated dark green cloth, bevelled boards, top edges gilt, complete with half titles, wanting the front blank free fly in both volumes, some slight unobtrusive foxing on the preliminary leaves of both volumes, fine condition. (cgc) Cooke p299. A.B. 402. Narrative of the first expedition to navigate the Northwest Passage in a single vessel, the expedition that brought Amundsen to prominence as a polar explorer. In 1901 he gave up the idea of medicine and decided to become an explorer. After several months in Hamburg studying the science of terrestrial magnetism, he purchased an old ship, the Gjoa, 70ft long and thirty years old. He put in a 14 hp engine; then, with six dogs and enough provisions on board, he got… Read More

London. Printed for Fielding and Walker. 1778. Hardcover. 4to. 29.5cm, in 2 volumes, iv,595 & 629,[3]p., (errata & plate directions), with 47 of 51 plates and maps (several folding), wanting text pages pp109-112 & 402-404, also 3 of the maps, missing are:- (1)- World Map p1. Vol. 1; - (2)- Map of the Province of Quebec. p404, Vol. 2; plate #16 & - (3). General Map of North America. p409, Vol. 2: plate #17., in contemporary full speckled calf, real raised bands, double red and black leather labels, marbled endpapers, oval crimson calf bookplate, decorated border, stamp in gilt "John Drinklald, 1779", binding generally worn, hinges cracked or detached, internally very good, sound, rare. (cgc) Sabin 74383. Howes R539. A history of the America's by Scottish historian, William Russell (1741-1793) with an extensive Appendix on the ongoing American Revolution ("the Present Unhappy Contest") including engraved portraits of Benjamin Franklin, General Washington, Edmund Burke, and Sir Henry Clinton. Volume One… Read More

New York. Printed for the Society, 1884-85. Hardcover. 24cm, in two volumes, 626 & 472pp., colour folding map, index, original full green pebbled cloth, gilt spine titles, a fine bright set. (mt) The Journals of Colonel Stephen Kemble while Deputy Adjutant-General of the British army in North America. - I. - Journals of Lieut.-Col. Stephen Kemble, 1773-1778. II. - Order Books of Lieut-Col. Stephen Kemble, Adjutant General and Deputy Adjutant General of the British Forces in America, 1775-1778. Vol. 2. - Journals of Lieut.-Col. Stephen Kemble, 1780-1781. Sir Henry Clinton succeed Kemble.

London, Lion and Unicorn Press, 1973. 1st Edition. Hardcover. First edition. No. 9 of 100 copies printed. Large folio; pp. [I12]; engraved frontispiece and 29 engraved plates, all with tissue guards. Original black Nigerian morocco back, Japanese black silk paper-covered boards, with black morocco fore-edges by Zaehnsdorf, lettered in gilt on upper board; in original felt-lined black linenn covered solander box; slightly scuffed. Broadsheet of "List of Subscribers to Captain Cook's Florilegium" laid in, fine condition.(ewc) "Captain Cook's Florilegium" is one of the finest botanical productions of all time. The Lion and Unicorn Press' printing of these original eighteenth-century copper plates appeared in an edition of only 100 copies. The beautiful plates are after finished drawings by F. P. Nodder, J.F. Miller, James Miller and J Cleveley from Sydney Parkinson's sketches, printed by Thomas Ross and Son and Michael Rand. When Cook's first voyage returned to London, the original botanical drawings… Read More

London. Printed for Richard Phillips. 1807. 4to. 26.5cm, the First Edition, xii,602,[ii]p., with 27 aquatint plates by Stadler and Lewis after Heriot (6 being double folding) and a folding coloured map, in full contemporary tree calf, gilt ruled raised bands, gilt border and center device decorations and spine titles, gilt decorated borders on the boards, brown marbled endpapers, some transfer from most plates but less than usual, a fine copy, in attractive antique binding. (cgc). One of the most important books about Canada, the fine aquatint plates are printed in sepia. Waterston. The Travellers. Canada to 1900. P25. T.P.L. 805. Lande 433. Sabin31489. Hillp142-3. cf. Abbey 618. "Attractive aquatints match the light personal style of this first-rate travel account. Heriot unrolls the full chart of Canadian regions and of the potential tourist routes. Past Newfoundland up the St. Lawrence, noting Prince Edward Island; beyond Quebec, up the Restigouche to "Camarouska"; up the Ottawa to Lake Huron;… Read More