A Practical Discourse Concerning Death by Dr. W.Sherlock. Published in 1760 As one might expect not exactly a cheery little book, but none the less interesting for it's relatively persuasive arguments for the benefits of a maintaining a religious life during the mid 18th Century. 5"x 7.5"x .75". Some interesting hand written notes within, concerning timings and moon phases, and, we presume, a poem to Plato about the longing for immortality etc., written by Anna Bashford in 1798, and a hand written, loose, original owner's label of William Hardham of Spitalfields.

A Superb Copy of the Grimani Breviary Illuminated Manuscript Facsimiles A glance at the Grimani breviary : preserved in S. Mark's. Venice.Ferd. Ongania 1906. Bound in maroon velvet. One of only 500 copies, frontis., with 2 coloured reproductions of the binding, 4 coloured and 110 plain plates, original. velvet binding, deep relief stamp on upper cover, uncut. As printed in 1475 and preserved in St Mark's Library Venice. Originally accumulated by Cardinal Grimani for the Pontiff Sextus IV who founded the Vatican Library.

Aur.Theodosii Macrobii, v. cl. & inlustris, Opera Published London 1694 by Ambrosius Aurelius Theodosius Macrobius, Johannes Isacius Pontanus, Johannes van Meurs, Jacobus Gronovius. First printing in England. Published by Dring and Harper of Fleet St. Imprimateur Rob. Ridgely, Feb 25, 169 1/2. Editio Novissima, Cum Indice Rerum & Vocum Locupletissimo. Calf leather, spine with four raised bands.

Culpepper's Physician 1784. A Superb Little Book, Wonderful for Herbalists THE ENGLISH PHYSICIAN ENLARGED with Three Hundred and Sixty Nine MEDICINES Made of ENGLISH HERBS, That were not in any IMPRESSION until THIS being.By NICH. CULPEPPER, GENT. STUDENT in Phyfick and Aftrolgy. 348 pages, original all leather binding. Named within to it's likely first owner, John Eddie of Liverpool and signed dated by him in 1788. Nicholas Culpeper, the famous English astrologer and physician of the early 17th century, left to future generations a rich store of herbal knowledge. His remedies are catalogued here, and many of them are still useful. Mistletoe gets a good mention as does Willow Bark (of which the active ingredient, we now know is aspirin).7" x 4 1/2"

Eikon Basilike. " The King's Book" The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in His Solitudes and Sufferings. Printed 1662. 2 Volumes. Hand named and dated to it's owner 'John Coke' 1695 [see next to last photo in gallery]. Likely the son or grandson of Sir John Coke, of Melbourne Hall [from whence Melbourne City gained it's root name] a passionate royalist servant of King Charles Ist, and, his Secretary of State. His eldest son though [also named Sir John Coke] was not a royalist, being more of a parliamentarian. However, his son, once more a John, quite rightly returned to his grandfather's royalist views. A wonderful pair of Restoration period books that would grace the finest library or perfectly compliment a collection of antique or period arms and armour. Beautifully rebound in the last century. A pair published in 1662 just after Charles the IInd was returned to the throne of England. "Eikon Basilika" (vol. 1) has been attributed to King Charles I himself, and also to John Gauden. Vol. 2 has title: A collection of declarations, treaties, and other principal passages concerning the differences betwixt King Charles I and his two houses of Parliament / edited by William Fulman and Richard Perrinchief. The workes of King Charles the martyr Aeternitati sacrum A collection of declarations, treaties, and other principal passages concerning the differences betwixt King Charles I and his two houses of Parliament The works of Charles I with his life and martyrdome Eikon basilike. Printed by James Flesher for R. Royston Bookseller to the King. The first version issue was published during King Charles Ist's lifetime, and were immensely successful. However, after the King's execution, the years of the Commonwealth intervened and it wasn't until the return of the King, did Charles IInd order a new version for the Restoration, and these are the first edition of 1662 of those. A large pair, 13.5 inches by 9.25 inches by 1.5 inches

History of United Netherlands from the death of William the Silent to the twelve years truce-1609. by John Lothrop Motley. New Edition with portraits. 4 volumes, all in fine bindings with clean and polished calf in red, two gilted leather title labels on the spines of each, 5 raised bands. Marble cover and interior pages. Marbled edges. Published 1875/6 by John Murray Albemarle St. London. Motley, who served as United States ambassador to Austria during the Civil War and later as ambassador to Great Britain, said of his affinity for the Netherlands: "I had not first made up my mind to write a history and then cast about to take up a subject. My subject had taken me up, drawn me on, and absorbed me into itself." A fine set, very collectable and much sought by collectors.

Nonarum Inquisitiones in Curia Scaccarii, temp. Regis Edwardi III of 1341 (Record Commission 1807):Very large leather bound book, with exterior distressing and loose back cover. A valuation for taxation, undertaken for King Edward IIIrd in 1341. Covering much of 27 English counties : Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cornwall, Dorset, Essex, Glocestershire, Hampshire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Sussex, Wiltshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Yorkshire.

Origin of the Species, Charles Darwin, Owned by Randolph S.Churchill 2 Vol. Originally owned by the father of one of the most important and greatest men who has ever lived, Winston S. Churchill. Randolph S. Churchill was a highly respected Victorian, a British Statesman and member of Salisbury's Cabinet. His son, Winston Spencer Churchill, would have read these, his father's books, in the family library in their London residence, many times, and as his eldest son likely formed part of his inheritance. We consider the opportunity to offer, even a small part Churchill's personal and formative history, a great and rare honour. Lord Randolph Henry Spencer Churchill was the third son of the 7th Duke of Marlborough and his wife Frances Anne Emily Vane-Tempest (1822–1899), daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Londonderry. He was the father of the future wartime Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Sir Winston Churchill, who wrote the first major biography of Lord Randolph. He had a remarkable career including being appointed Secretary of State for India in Lord Salisbury's Government. Lord Randolph Churchill married on 15 April 1874 Jennie Jerome, daughter of Leonard Jerome, of New York in the United States, by whom he had two sons, Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874–1965) and John Strange Churchill (1880–1947). Jennie Jerome's social contacts greatly helped advance Lord Randolph's early career. Winston's life and career are so well known throughout the world there is little point in us detailing it here. But, needless to say, although he would have been the first to admit he was not faultless, there is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that the entire world's freedom from Nazism is solely and squarely down to the existence and gargantuan efforts of Sir. Winston S. Churchill. The West's greatest ally of that time, President Franklin D.Roosevelt, unquestionably saved Britain from a war we could likely have not have won, but, without Winston's British Empire & Commonwealth, single handedly holding Hitler's Axis at bay for over three, very long and tragic years, there would have been no Free Western Europe for Roosevelt to help liberate. These books bear Randolph's personal library labels, that contain a drawing of the Chamber of the House Of Commons, from the Palace of Westminster, within the Houses of Parliament, both Randolph's and Winston's first and truest love. Published in 1891 printed on handmade paper. Small paper lining separation inside front cover, the binding is perfectly good and otherwise very good overall. These books are also shown in the WW1 & WW2 section [for information only]

Scott's Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft Rare 2nd Edition 1831. by Sir Walter Scott, from the personal library of William Congreve Russell, Whig MP and High Sheriff of Worcestershire and Capt of the North Worcestershire Volunteers. Original antique books on Witchcraft are highly prized and compliment beautifully antique weaponry based in the same vein. A beautiful book of fascinating interest. Good calf leather binding, mild foxing throughout. In ill health following a stroke, Sir Walter Scott wrote Letters on Demonology and Witchcraft at the behest of his son-in-law, J. G. Lockhart, who worked for a publishing firm. The book proved popular and Scott was paid six hundred pounds, which he desperately needed. (Despite his success as a novelist, Scott was almost ruined when the Ballantyne publishing firm, where he was a partner, went bankrupt in 1826.) Letters was written when educated society believed itself in enlightened times due to advances in modern science. Letters, however, revealed that all social classes still held beliefs in ghosts, witches, warlocks, fairies, elves, diabolism, the occult, and even werewolves. Sourcing from prior sixteenth- and seventeenth-century treatises on demonology along with contemporary accounts from England, Europe, and North America (Cotton Mather’s Magnalia Christi, for one), Scott’s discourses on the psychological, religious, physical, and preternatural explanations for these beliefs are essential reading for acolytes of the dark and macabre; the letters dealing with witch hunts, trials (Letters Eight and Nine), and torture are morbidly compelling. Scott was neither fully pro-rational modernity nor totally anti-superstitious past, as his skepticism of one of the "new" sciences (skullology, as he calls it) is made clear in a private letter to a friend. Thus, Letters is both a personal and intellectual examination of conflicting belief systems, when popular science began to challenge superstition in earnest. This book also appears in our Antique Department. 6" x 4"

Super Zulu War Interest Set of Napier's 'Peninsular War' of Lord Chelmsford Original Set of 6 Volumes of Napier's "A History of the War in the Peninsular" from the personal library of Lord [General] Chelmsford, probably the most significant and famous [and some may say 'infamous' ] name of the 1879 Zulu War. He was the first appointed army commander of the Zulu War of 1879, but was relieved of his command, due to the disaster and massacre of the Battle of Isandlwana. However, it is recognised in some respects that he exonerated his reputation at the Battle of Ulundi. There is no historic record, book or film that does not focus on Chelmsford's actions of the Zulu War, it is arguable, that without him, or his actions, the Zulu War may not have the historical significance that it has today. Just as in many ways the famous 'Charge of the Light Brigade' has it's very existance due to the notorious actions of Lord Cardigan. These books are signed personally by Chelmsford, when he acquired them as a Lt. In the Grenadier Guards in 1848, with his own personal labels. His given name was Frederick Augustus Thesiger and he was given a commission in the Rifle Brigade in 1844. In 1845, he served with the Rifles in Halifax, Nova Scotia before purchasing an exchange into the Grenadiers as Ensign and Lieutenant in November of that year. He was promoted Lieutenant and Captain in 1850, and became aide-de-camp to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Lord Eglinton, in 1852, and then to the Commander-in-Chief in Ireland, Sir Edward Blakeney, from 1853 to 1854.In May 1855, he left for the Crimean War, in which he served firstly with his battalion, then from July 1855 as aide-de-camp to the commander of the 2nd Division, Lieutenant-General Markham, and finally from November 1855 as deputy assistant quartermaster general on the staff at Headquarters, being promoted brevet Major. He was mentioned in despatches and received the fifth class of the Turkish Order of the Medjidie and the British, Turkish and Sardinian Crimean medals.In 1857, he was promoted Captain and Lieutenant-Colonel, and transferred, as a Lieutenant-Colonel, to the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment in 1858, serving with that regiment at the end of the Indian Mutiny, for which he was again mentioned in despatches. From 1861 to 1862 he served as deputy adjutant general to the forces in Bombay, and was promoted brevet Colonel in 1863. He served, again as deputy adjutant general, in the Magdala campaign, for which he was awarded the CB and made an aide-de-camp to the Queen in 1868. He was adjutant general in the East Indies from 1869 to 1874.He returned to England in 1874 as colonel on the staff, commanding the forces at Shorncliffe, and was appointed to command a brigade at Aldershot, with the temporary rank of Brigadier-General, in 1877. He was promoted Major-General in March 1877. In February 1878 he was appointed to command the forces in South Africa, with the local rank of Lieutenant-General, and in October succeeded his father as 2nd Baron Chelmsford. He brought the Ninth Cape Frontier War to an end in July 1878, and was made a KCB in November. In January 1879 he invaded Zululand (see Anglo-Zulu War), but the centre column of his forces was defeated at the Battle of Isandlwana. Because an invasion of Natal seemed likely as a result, Chelmsford was relieved of his command. However he defeated the Zulus at the Battle of Ulundi just before the arrival of his replacement, Sir Garnet Wolseley, which effectively ended the campaign. He left for England in July 1879, but Wolseley ensured in his despatches that Chelmsford receive all the credit for Ulundi, and he was awarded the GCB in August. NAPIER, W.F. A History of the War in the Peninsula and in the South of France, from the Year 1807 to the Year 1814. To which is prefixed: A Reply to Lord Strangford’s Observations; also, A Reply to various Opponents; together with Observations illustrating Sir J. Moore’s Campaigns. London: Thomas & William Boone, 3rd Edition. Published 1835 6 volumes. brown calf with raised bands, red title labels and extra gilt to spines; marbled boards, end papers. and edges. Corners bumped and worn, extremities rubbed, the leather will need attention ideally. But for historical purposes, due to their significant ownership, it may well be best to leave them original and as they are. Napier's are a very highly regarded set of volumes, and a must for all military strategists and historical Peninsular War collectors, but the added benefit of once being the property of General Chelmsford of the Zulu War make them a unique and highly significant set. There is a picture in the gallery of Lord Chelmsford and a picture of a South African 100 year commemorative issue first day cover, issued in 1979, showing Chelmsford and the Zulu King. For information only not included. These books are also displayed in our Antique Arms Dept.

The Journal of The House of Lords 1620 1628 A magnificent large volume of the records of the House of Lords before the English Civil War, in the Reign of King James Ist and into the accession of King Charles Ist. 11" X 3" X 17.75" Weight around 10 pounds