1. Americas – Homann, Johann Baptist. (1664 – 1724).

Americae Mappa generalis.

Original hand-coloured engraving. Nürnberg, Homann, 1746. Plate Size: 53 cm x 46 cm. Sheet Size: 56.3 cm x 50 cm. Original map. Very good+ condition. Expertly restored map with reinforced edges. Faintest traces of the professional repairs barely evident such is the quality of the restoration.

2. [Arabian Nights] Forster, Edward / [Provenance: Daniel Callaghan of Lotabeg].

The Arabian Nights, in Five Volumes. [Including “The History of Aladdin, or the Wonderful Lamp” / The History of Ali Baba and of the Forty Robbers, killed by one Slave” / etc.] Translated by The Reverend Edward Forster [based on the French version of Antoine Galland]. With [24] Engravings, from Pictures by Robert Smirke.

First Edition [Large Paper Quarto Edition]. Five Volumes (complete set with all engravings). London, Printed for William Miller, 1802. Quarto (21.5 cm x 27.5 cm). Volume I: LXI, (7), 385 pages with 5 copper-engravings including Errata-Leaf and “Directions for placing the Plates” for all four volumes / Volume: 432 pages with 5 copper-engravings / 405 pages with 5 copper-engravings / 461 pages with 5 copper-engravings / 474 pages with 5 copper-engravings. Hardcover / Original, early 19th century full leather with gilt lettering and date on lower spine [″London, 1802”]. Beautiful, richly ornamented master-bindings. All Volumes in strong, protective collector’s Mylar, which invites the reader/collector to use the work without fear of handling. Armorial Bookplates / ExLibris of Daniel Callaghan, Esquire of Lotabeg (MP for Cork City 1830-1849) to all five pastedowns (Motto: “Fidus et Audax”). Marbled endpapers a little dusty but beautiful. Volume 1, 2 and 5 with some weakening to the spine (slightly cracked), but holding and still firm overall. All plates present. As known and always found with this scarce edition, the original, titled tissue-guards all in place, have created stronger signs of foxing to the plates but in sharp contrast the text in all the five Volumes in bright and clean condition with only occasional faint staining. Endpapers with some minor browning. Very good+ condition overall with some rubbing and minor bumping to the Volumes but really only minor signs of external wear. Extremely sought after publication, not to be confused with the later, much more common Octavo Editions !

3. [Bathurst, Henry (3rd Earl Bathurst)] Whately, Richard / Murray, Daniel / Vignoles, Charles / More O’Ferrall, Richard / Carlile, James / Hort, Fenton / Corrie, John / Naper, James / Battie-Wrightson, William.

Selection of Parochial Examinations Relative to the Destitute Classes in Ireland. From the Evidence Received by his Majesty’s Commissioners for Enquiring into the Condition of the Poorer Classes in Ireland. By Authority.

Original First Edition. Dublin, Milliken and Son [and B.Fellowes, London], 1835. Octavo. 430 pages [plus a four-page catalogue of “Important Works Relating to Ireland, printed for or sold by Milliken and Son”, bound before the publication] / [plus a four-page “Appeal in [sic] Behalf of the Association Incorporated for Discountenancing Vice &c.”]. Original Hardcover / Publisher’s rare, printed spine-binding. In protective Mylar. Unusually excellent, actually stunning interior condition, with some minor signs of external wear only. Extremely rare publication.

4. Congo / Kongo – Leopold II of Belgium (1835-1909) – King of the Belgians and Owner / Absolute Ruler of the Congo Free State from 1885 to 1908.

Collection of four very important and meaningful manuscript letters by Leopold II to his administrator and Foreign Minister of the Congo – Free-State, Baron Adolphe de Cuvelier (1860-1931) with a total of 16 pages filled with Leopold’s instructions on pressing issues regarding a warning about an imminent visit by the Rector of the Mill-Hill Missionaries [probably Herbert Alfred Henry Vaughan (1832 – 1903)] and Leopold’s qualification of the visit of being detrimental to the Congo Free State (″ne travaillent pas pour l’État”). Leopold continues in another letter to talk about the hostile positions of english officials (consuls) and missionaries (″que les consuls anglais et les missionnaires anglais se conduisent bien mal envers l’État”). Interestingly, Leopold also touches on the nuisance of the german press criticizing Belgian Railway Lines and he is of the opinion that this is all happening in order to force the german parliament [″Reichstag”] to finance the building of the Tanganyika Railway [between Dar es Salaam and Kigoma]: (″cherche à effrayer l’opinion [en] Allemagne à propos de mes chemins de fer afin d’obtenir du Reichstag des fonds pour la ligne allemande vers le Tanganika”.

16 pages of MLS, Manuscript Letters (signed) on 10 leaves of Leopold’s official stationery “Château de Laeken” and “Palais de Bruxelles”. Laeken / Brussels, Château de Laeken [Palace of Laeken], 1901 – 1906. The leaves with different sizes (13,5 cm x 9 cm) and (18 cm x 11,5 cm). Excellent condition. Unsigned. Tremendously rare to find original letters by Leopold II on the open market in which the Colonial Free State and the protection against inquisitive visitors is discussed in such clear and instructive fashion. Leopold’s correspondence with Adolphe de Cuvelier shows how he is very much trying to still protect and influence the narrative of his Colonial Slavery Outpost even in the final years of his life.

5. Cotton, Henry / [Charles Patrick Ranke Graves].

My Swing [Inscribed and signed by Cotton to British journalist and Travel Writer, Charles Graves].

London, Country Life Limited. 1952. 22 cm x 14,5 cm. 144 pages. With many black-and-white illustrations throughout the book. Original Hardcover. Very good condition with only minor signs of wear to spine. Inscribed and signed by author to Charles Graves. Rare !

6. Creedon, J.C.

The Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway. An Illustrated History. Volume 1: 1849 – 1899 / Volume 2: 1900-1950 / Volume 3: 1951-1961-1976.

Three Volumes (Complete set). Cork, self-published, 1989-1991. 15 x 21 cm. 162, 248 pages with several illustrations. Original Softcover. Very good condition. Very Rare ! Signed by author. Personal letter from author with an old Royal Bank of Scotland One Pound note attached as ephemera loosely inserted. [The Cork, Bandon and South Coast Railway]

7. [Davey & Hackney] / R.M.S.P. Arcadian.

Two Vintage Photo Albums / Portfolios of “Cruise No. 2 to ‘The Norwegian Fjords’ in June 1913 on the R.M.S.P. Arcadian”. Fantastic combination of two photo logbooks of one of the last trips for this beautiful passenger liner before she served with the Royal Navy and was sunk by a U-boat, the German submarine SM UC-74, in 1917. These luxury photographic records were created by Davey & Hackney, Alexandra Palace, London. I. Album One: On 24 pages (12 stiff cardboards with photographs on both sides) with 44 vintage high-quality photographs, the cruise was documented by not only focusing on the natural beauty of Norway but also by documenting the captain (Captain Custance) and crew of the Arcadian, one large photograph shows the captain and all his officers. Some striking images of the ship itself are showing this liner in all its glory. The ship was built in 1899 by Vickers, Sons & Maxim Ltd. for the Pacific Steam Navigation Company as SS Ortona. This unusually luxury Album also documents in an appendix with a small map of Norway the Itinerary of the cruise. All mileage covered and dates the cruise would reach the scheduled destinations in Norway are mentioned (Grimsby, Wed. 18 June / Leith, 235 miles, Thursday 19 June / Aalesund 493 Miles Sat. 21 June / and so on and so on). The cruise would stop at Molde (Moldefjord), Aandalsnaes (Romsdalfjord) / Oie (Jorundfjord) / Hellesylt (Sunelvsfjord) / Merok (Geirangerfjord) / Olden (Invikfjord) / Loen (Nordfjord) / Mundal (Fjaerlandsfjord) / Balholmen (Sognefjord) / Gudvangen (Naerofjord) / Sundal (Maurangerfjord) / Norheimsund (Hardangerfjord) / Bergen / back to Grimsby on July 2nd, 1913 with a total of 2127 miles covered in 14 days. The photographs of the “Arcadian” are differing in size from a beautiful full ship image in 17.5 cm x 28.7 cm to detailed photographs of the deck in 11.5 cm x 16.4 cm; a nice photo of the “Arcadian’s” Launch (with small steem funnel), interior of the ship (Dining Salon), a photograph of a visiting steam Tender (″The Grimsby Tender”), Deck tennis – scenes, Playing Bull Board, Letting go the Anchor with two crew members. / II. Album Two: This additional, smaller Album, on an additional 24 pages (12 stiff cardboards with photographs on both sides) shows a further 24 vintage, high-quality photographs. These additional photographs show The Hardangerfjord / Folgefond Glacier / An Arcade in the Dining Salon / Photograph of Captain Custance / Sundal / The Landing Stage in Norheimsund / Fysse / The Landing Stage in Trondheim with many locals waiting / The Landing Stage in Forhatten / Digermulen / The Raftsund Fjord / Lyngenfjord / A boat full of Lapps in traditional clothing, showing and offering livestock and handmade dolls for tourists on board the “Arcadian” / Hammerfest / North Cape & Midnight Sun from the “Arcadian” / Tromso, with a large gathering of schoolchildren / A Boxing Match on the “Arcadian”, showing two pugilists fighting it out to the bemusement of bystanders / Pillow Fighting as Pastime for Tourists on the “Arcadian” / Molde from the Hill, showing the “Arcadian” in the Fjord / Aandalsnes / View from Aandalsnes / Bergen and Bergen Harbour with a few nice local Yachts in the foreground // The quality of the photography in both of these Album is excellent.

London / Norway, Davey & Hackney Photo (Alexandra Palace), 1913. Sizes: Vol. I: Folio (25.5 cm x 32 cm) / Vol.II: Oblong Octavo (25 cm x 17 cm). Volume I: 12 cardboard sheets with 24 pages (of which 24 are with photographs) with foldable appendix / Volume II: 12 cardboard sheets with 24 pages (of which 24 are with photographs) Hardcover / Green soft morocco with gilt lettering on cover and ornament around the pastedowns of the inner boards. Some minor rubbing to the binding but overall in excellent, near Fine condition with only minor signs of external wear.

8. Dickson, R. W.

The Farmer’s Companion; being a complete System of Modern Husbandry: Including the Latest Improvements and Discoveries, in Theory and Practice. Illustrated by numerous Engravings. With 102 copper engraved plates (including two larger hand-coloured fold – out plates).

Second Edition. In two Volumes (complete set). London, Printed for Sherwood, Neely and Jones, 1813. Large Octavo. Both volumes together contain 948 pages interleaved illustrations throughout the volumes (many of these plates are folding out) including a General Index. [Please ask for a full list of the illustrations]. Hardcover / Two modern halfleather / full leather bindings (see images). Volume I in octavo format and in a brown full leather with spinelabel / Volume II in large octavo and bound in an excellent green half morocco with gilt lettering on spine, marbled boards and leather corners. Both volumes with new endpapers. Some illustrations and text towards the end of Volume II with some faint dampstaining only. Three illustrations are present twice in these volumes (Plates 35, 54 and 84). Extremely rare publication in very good condition !!

9. Edwards, Jonathan.

A careful and strict Enquiry into the Modern Prevailing Notions of that Freedom of Will, which is supposed to be essential to Moral Agency, Virtue and Vice, Reward and Punishment, Praise and Blame.

First British Edition. Boston / London, Re-Printed for Thomas Field, 1762. Octavo. IX, [5], 414, [8] pages plus two pages of advertising for Jonathan Edwards’ “Treatise concerning Religious Effections”. Hardcover / Original 18th century calf, rebacked with new spine and spinelabel. Interior all original and besides some minor signs of foxing in very good condition. Name of preowner in ink on titlepage. Binding overall excellent with only minor signs of external wear. A very rare and important book.

10. Evans-Freke, John [Lord Carbery] / Castle Freke [Rathbarry] / Castlefreke Library Bookplate.

Collection of Books and Art with a relation to Castle Freke. Some of the books being from the historical library of Castle Freke with the original Exlibris / Bookplate / Some of the books from the libraries and private collections of relatives to the Freke Family / Some of the books by famous writer Mary Carbery, wife of Algernon [″Algy”] William George Evans-Freke, 9th Baron Carbery of Castle Freke, County Cork, Ireland, until his death in 1898. At least one book with direct connections to “Algy” Evans-Freke and Mary Carbery.

Ireland, 1811 – c. 1950 Octavo. Hardcover Editions. Find detailed descriptions and many photographs on all these titles on our website under “Library & Collections” [Castle Freke Collection”].