One of the finest Pacific illustrated books of the nineteenth century. This is a beautiful copy of the rare coloured issue, complete in the original illustrated wrappers. The superb handcoloured lithographs are by the naval commander Richard Aldworth Oliver (1811-1889) who commanded the HMS Fly on survey voyages of New Zealand and Pacific waters between 1847 and 1851.

Two highlights from our new catalogue to be shown at the forthcoming Melbourne Rare Book Fair include: a recently-discovered, fine pastel portrait of Sir Joseph Banks  by Amelia Susannah Petty. This remarkably fresh portrait in its original frame shows Sir Joseph Banks at the height of his powers wearing his Order of the Bath sash; and a fine illuminated presentation address to...

Offered from a private Australian collection is this choice catalogue which includes a beautifully-bound copy of Lycett's Views in Australia; a handsome set of Cook's three voyage accounts with uniform contemporary provenance; a fine copy of Parkinson, uncut in the original boards; and First Fleet works by Collins, Hunter and Phillip. 

A rare and astonishingly beautiful French Art Noveau design album based on the butterflies of the world, featuring species from China, India and Asia. Eugene Alain Séguy (1889-1985) was a leading French designer of the Art Noveau and Art Deco periods who produced eleven stunning design portfolios with a range of styles and inspirations

A beautiful suite of watercolours, including a superb series of scenes of a contemporary Venetian commedia dell’arte troupe, by the Venetian painter and engraver Francesco Novelli (1767-1836). Featuring images from both the stage and street-performance, including acrobatics and conjuring, each of the 46 deftly drawn images is of considerable quality.