Rare books from Wadard Books PBFA

London: Thomas McLean, 1828 It is most unusual that we should have two copies of such a scarce title in stock at the same time. Georgian humour at its worst but never-the-less a rare opportunity for any serious collector of English caricature.This copy is bright and clean throughout and the sheets have no defects. 40 hand coloured plates with variations to the running order above. The front pastedown bears the small circular label of H&M Massey By Appointment to HRH The Prince of Wales 41 Park Street Grosvenor Square W.

London: Whitmore and Fenn, 1820 The Naval Chronology of Great Britain or an historical account of the Naval and Maritime events from the commencement of the War in 1803, to the end of the year 1816. Also particulars of the most inportant Courts-Martial, votes of Parliament, Lists of Flag Officers in Commission and of promotions for each year. A work of invaluable reference on the British Navy during the period of the Napoleonic Wars, and remarkably detailed, using, amongst others, the first hand accounts of officers and sailors involved in the engagements. Many of the plates record events based on the drawings of officers participating in the battles depicted. "The object of this work is, more particularly, to perpetuate the names of those individuals who have, by their talents, courage, and professional abilities, increased the honour and reputation of the British Navy, and secured the peace and independence of the country." 60 coloured plates with plate list at the end of volume three,… Read More

Canterbury: Printed for the Author By Simmons, Kirkby and Jones, 1792 (10) viii, 877pp+6. Two parts bound in one volume as requested in the introduction to the preliminary list of subscribers. Includes also the second and full list of subscribers. All plates present, two only of which misplaced in the binding. A remarkably clean copy with only nominal light foxing to some of the plates.Relatively modern speckled calf and marbled boards by Atkinsons of Salisbury. A first class and complete copy. Included at no extra cost the Foyles receipt showing the sale price in July 1949.

William Faden, 1813 "For the purposes of rendering this new edition of Mr Horwood's Plan of London etc complete and correct as far as the nature of the work would admit, the whole extent of the Plan has been carefully re-surveyed throughout from which examination all the New Buildings, Alterations & other Improvements are now inserted to the present time. This edition has likewise been augmented with eight new copper plates, extending the Plan eastward to the River Lea, thereby comprehending those important commercial objects the London, West India and East India Docks" All 40 sheets A1-K4 plus the index spread housed in cloth hardcovers. Some offsetting otherwise very good throughout. Available to view at our shop premises in Farningham Kent.

London: R.Ackermann, 1828 Picturesque tour of the River Thames illustrated by William Westall and Samuel Owen from original drawings taken on the spot. vi, 172pp gilt edged. 24 full page hand coloured aquatints, 2 vignettes and a folding map of the Thames from Oxford to the mouth, uncoloured. The plates throughout are in fine condition. The blind embossed covers are lightly sunned and the front pastedown carries a withdrawn label from the Essex Institute to whom it was presnted by Mrs Martha Peabody. The Essex Institute is now merged with the Peabody Museum of Salem to form the Peabody Essex Museum. The front end paper bares a Peabody signature.

London: T Astley, 1750 The London and Country Brewer as practised in both town and country; according to observations made by the author in four years travels through the several counties of England also the method of preserving liquors in the cask and directions to be observed in bottling them. In three parts to which is added a Supplement. By a person formerly concerned in a public Brewhouse in London. viii, 332pp plus index 4. Engraved frontis plate. The Art and Mystery of Vintners and Wine Coopers containing approved directions for the preserving and curing all manners and sorts of wines by E.T, a wine cooper of long experience. Printed for J.Roberts, London 1734. 70pp plus index plus 9. Orinal boards sometime rebacked. Some soiling and worming to the last few pages of the second volume, not affecting the text.

London: J.W.Norie and Co, 1826 Printed for the author by J.J.Hadley, Cheltenham, vii,+ii, 262pp+erata housed in a modern hardback binding. "Since I came on shore, having no residence, I have passed the half of each year in wandering nearly sixteen thousand miles, have visited almost all the sea ports of England and Scotland, and held familiar coversation with the Seamen, without either begging the question, or permitting them to know who I was, or the object in view." Published in 1826 the authors investigation must have taken some years. After the cessation of hostilities with France and the down sizing of the fleet after 1815 the need for impressment became less 'pressing' and was abandoned informally. However the last law passed in 1835 re-affirmed the power to Impress and Impressment remained legal until 1900. These laws have never been repealed. A scarce item in the original.

London: Henry Colburn, 1837. Rambles in Egypt and Candia (Crete) with details of the military power and resources of those countries and observations on the government, policy and commercial system of Mahammed Ali. The author, C.Rochfort Scott was a Captain in the Royal Staff Corps created in 1800 for the purposes of tactical military engineering. Volume One, xx, 348pp, frontispiece and 2 full page plates. Volume Two, vii, 358pp, frontispiece plus two full page and one folding plate. Both volumes have moderate foxing to the end papers and the frontis to volume one. The texts throughout are remarkably clean. The contemporary bindings show a little wear but are tight and the hinges good.. Half Calf. Good Plus. 220x140mm.

London: Printed by William Godbid, 1659 xx, 401pp, folding map. Original boards, sometime rebacked. Modern ex Libris plate to front pastedown but more interesting is a full page in an early calligraphic and very neat hand to the lower pastedown, as yet undeciphered.
Some early but worthy repairs.
Book size 290x190mm

London: John Van Voorst, 1856 British Birds, third edition in three volumes, with many additions 1856. 550 wood engravings.
Vol.1- xxxv, 614pp. Vol.2 - 702pp. Vol.3 - 679pp.

British Fishes, second edition in two volumes, 1841. 500 wood engravings.
Vol.1 - xlvii, 464pp. Vol.2 - 628pp.

Bound in green crushed morocco, heavily gilt decorated, signed J.Wright, binder. Spines tanned, the upper board of volume five part lightly tanned. End papers lightly foxed otherwise all volumes clean and bright throughout. A masterclass in finely wrought wood engraving.

Liverpool: Goodchild and Plant, 1806 First and only edition. vii, 268pp + 3, followed by the Life of Sir Sydney Smith, 45pp.
Nelson frontis plate plus three folding plates. Sydney Smith frontis plate.
Half calf with marbled boards, recently rebacked with original spine relaid. Faded ownership signature to front pastedown dated 1878, end papers show some ageing and title has light offset, otherwise clean throughout.
Contains a full account of the processions and ceremonies attending the funeral in January 1806. Fast work by the publishers to get this volume to market in 1806.

"Such was the character of Nelson, whose exploits, and whose virtues, must be the subject of exultation to every Briton; - and in future ages, when the Stranger who may visit our Island, shall enquire for the Monument of NELSON, the answer will be,
"Behold the Country which he saved." "

London: Edm.Bollifant, 1596 The first English County History written in the year 1570 and first published in 1576. This the second edition increased and altered after the authors own last copy and considered to be the best.
7+588+6 with both the map of England and the folding map of the Beacons in Kent.
Full calf binding sometime, but not recently, nicely rebacked together with marbled end papers. Size 190x145mm.
William Lambarde (1536-1601) was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1556, was a writer on legal subjects but is best known for the Perambulations. He lived in the Manor of St. Clere in Ighham and is buried in the Church of St. Nicolas in Sevenoaks.

Canterbury: Printed for the Author by Simmons and Kirby, 1778 Volumes 1-4, 1778-1799, All maps and plates complete as called for.
Burgundy roan with marbled boards. A really fine set and one of the jewels in the crown for any Kentish collection.
Supplied together with a complimentary copy of A Scholar and a Gentleman, Edward Hasted the Historian of Kent, the biography by Shirley Burgoyne Black published in 2001.
Shipping free in the UK, overseas by quotation.

See also Wadard Books entry in this section for the second edition, Octavo, in twelve volumes

Oxford in the High Street: W. Jackson, 1754 xvi, 413pp. 24 full page engraved plates, one folding inclusive of the frontis and a map of the County of Cornwall and the Scilly Islands.
The content consisting of several essays on the first inhabitants, Druid superstition, customs, and remains of the most remote antiquity, in Britain and the British Isles: exemplify'd and prov'd by monuments now extant in Cornwall and the Scilly Islands, faithfully drawn on the spot, and engraved according to their scales annex'd.
A summery of the Religious, Civil and Military State of Cornwall before the Norman Conquest illustrated by the plans and elevations of several ancient castles, an eastern view of the Monastery and site of St. Michael's Mount and a vocabulary of the Cornu-British language.

A good quality half calf and marbled rebind sometime in the mid 20th century.
Book size 355x230mm

london: Edward Moxon, 1857 Alexander Dyce 1798-1869 dramatic editor and literary historian. He took holy orders after graduating from Exeter College Oxford in 1819. Published extensively across the full range of the Tudor literary scene from the early 1820s In 1857 his edition of Shakespeare was published by Moxon in which his wide reading in Elizabethan literature enabled him to explain much that was formerly obscure in Shakespeare. Volume 1 - pp. i-cxci the prelims covering the life of Shakesoeare and his will. The early editions, Commendatory verses etc. pp. 1-351 The Plays The Tempest - The Two Gentlemen of Verona - The Merry Wives of Windsor - Measure for Measure - The Comedy of Errors Volume 2 - pp' 1-500 Much Ado about Nothing - Loves Labour's Lost - A Midsummer Nights Dream - The Merchant of Venice -- As You Like It - The Taming of the Shrew - All's Well the Ends Well Volume 3 - pp. 1-555 Twelfth Night - The Winter's Tale - King John - King Richard the Second - The first part of King Henry the… Read More