Rare books from David Spilman Fine Books, ABAA & IOBA

London: H. Whitridge, 1748. First Edition. Near Fine. 8vo [8x5.5in]; xxviii, 1-96, 89-96 (repeated in [ ]), 97-336, 344 pp., frontispiece folding map of North West Passage and track of ships from England to Hudson's Bay [7x17.5in], nine plates of illustrations with five folding, chapter heading and ending designs; Contemporary mottle calf binding rebacked with ribbed and ruled gilt spine with original spine label, all edges trimmed, head and tail bands; Some shelf wear to edges, covers and corners, overall nice patina and wear, no foxing to map, illustrations or text, folding map and illustrations are in fine condition, hinges repaired and reinforced, binding glue offset to end papers, armorial bookplate of John Lewis along with modern bookplate of Beekman Pool on front end paper, small ink signature of J. Lewis on title page, contemporary, likely John Lewis, handwritten list of illustrations on p. xxviii [did not list illustration on p. 36]. [Hill 540, NMM 798, Sabin 22312, Cooke p.462]. Henry… Read More

London: Trubner and Co, 1858. First Edition. Very Good. Thomas A. Ayres, Edward Lewis and Bohm. 8vo [8.5x5.5in]; [4], 168 pp., [1] advertisement, 22 illustrations on 18 plates, including frontispiece tinted illustration of The Yo-Hamite Falls, fold out plate of panoramic view of San Francisco, eight tinted illustrations, two folding maps [14.625x12in and 12.25x18.25in]; Contemporary three-quarter dark brown leather on marbled board, rebacked with original spine laid down with new gilt lettered label, original gilt stamped Board of Trade at bottom of spine, light green end papers, all edges trimmed; Some shelf wear to edges and corners with minor rubbing to surfaces and spine, corners worn, slight fading to marbled boards, several scratches on spine, edges of text age darken, small bookseller ink stamp on lower front end paper, old ink stamp, partially erased, at top of title page, small stain on frontispiece margin and chip to tissue guard, small closed tears at hinges and folds to folding maps.… Read More

London: John Murray, Albemarle-Street, 1828. First Edition. Near Fine. William Clowes. [10.5x8.75in]; [1], xxiv, [xxi]-xxiv, 320 pp., clvii [appendices], [1], [errata], 31 plates, including frontispiece, of illustrations by George Back and E, N, Kendall engraved by Edward Finden, six folding maps with one colored outline of river and coastline, and tables in appendices; 20th Century Brown Half-calf with marbled boards, raised ribbed spine with gilt lettering on field of red and devices; Text block and plates have minimal light foxing, some dust soiling to text, plates and top edge, inconspicuous blind stamp of Leeds Public Library on frontispiece, title page, table of contents, all plates and maps, a few plates missing tissue guard, some minor creases in edges of several maps; [Hill 636, Arctic Bibliography 5198, Wagner-Camp 35:1Howgego F14, National Maritime Museum 843]. Franklin's second overland expedition in 1825-27 one of two expeditions to the western approaches to the Arctic with Beechey's… Read More

Philadelphia: Lippincott, Grambo & Co, 1852. First Edition, 1st Issue. Very Good. with separate Map volume , 8vo [ 9.25x6.25in]; [2], 487 pp., 58 plates including frontispiece of Ft. Utah, with 34 tinted lithographic illustrations with three fold out panoramas, fold out facsimile 1710 map of North America, six appendices of data and scientific reports, index; Map Volume - folded map of the blue tinted Great Salt Lake and adjacent country in the territory of Utah surveyed in 1849 and 1850 [44x30in], folded map of a reconnoissance between Fort Leavenworth on the Missouri River, and the Great Salt Lake in the Territory of Utah in 1849 and 1850 [28x68in]; Original dark brown decorative blindstamped cloth covers with gilt lettering, ruled lines and illustration of eagle and shield on spine, light blue end papers, all edges trimmed, Map Vol. bound in dark blue decorative blindstamped cloth covers with gilt lettering on front; Shelf wear to covers, edges and corners, regular fading to covers, corners… Read More

London: Longman, Brown, Green, and Longman, 1855. First Edition. Very Good. [9x6in]; x, [2], 443 pp., eight colored lithograph plates by Hanhart and Marryat including frontispiece, eighteen woodcuts in text, index; Red leather calf half bound with marbled paper covers, five raised bands, gilt rule and lettering with ornamentation in panels on spine, marbled end papers, top edge gilt with other edges trimmed; Some shelf wear to all edges, colored plates fresh and bright, corners worn and bumped, rubbing to top and bottom of spine with some general darkening, front hinge repaired, frontispiece, tissue guard and title page with some foxing and offset, age toning of paper along all edges, all plates without tissue guards and some offset to facing page, some chips and closed tears in tears in text block, repaired closed tear and chip to rear end paper; amorial bookplate of Robert Dudley Winthrop on front paste down, bound without advertisements. [Kurutz 429a, Howell 50 619, Wheat Gold Rush Books 137,… Read More

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1905. First First American Edition. Near Fine. In Two Volumes, 8vo [9.5x7in]; Vol. I- xx, 556 pp., frontispiece illustration of "Discovery" by Wilson with tissue paper guard, 92 plates with 7 in color from watercolor paintings by Wilson, 1 double-page with 2 panoramas, and 84 single-page with 105 images and 14 illustrations, 16 illustrations in text and 3 maps with one folding in rear pocket, Vol. II- xii, 508 pp., index, frontispiece image Scott with tissue paper guard, 92 plates with 6 in color from watercolor paintings by Wilson, 4 double-page with 8 panoramas, and 82 single-page with 120 images and 4 illustrations, 2 maps with one folding in rear pocket; Dark blue cloth boards with gilt lettering on spine and gilt medallions, in high relief, on front, top edge gilt, other edges untrimmed; Minimal shelf wear to edges, small water stain on Vol. II frontispiece lower corner and small chip in middle of tissue paper guard, prior owner illustrative bookplate on front… Read More

New York: Lee Keedick, 1913. First Edition. Near Fine. [In Two Volumes] [The English Translation of 'Sydpolen'] 8vo [9.25x7in]; Dark navy blue cloth covers with gilt lettering on front cover and spine, top edge gilt with other edges untrimmed; Vol. I - [1], xxxv, 392 pp., frontispiece of Amundsen with tissue guard, introduction by Fridtjof Nansen, 82 images, two maps one color foldout at back, Vol. II - x, 449 pp., same frontispiece, 52 plates with illustrations and photographs, with folding plan of "Fram" sectional, and 20 maps and charts, including one folding and one color; Minor shelf wear to edges, bright gilt lettering, Vol. I hinges cracked, Vol. II front hinge cracked, minor bumping and wear of corners. [Rosove 9.B2a, Spence 18, Conrad p. 113, Howgego A13]. Roald Amundsen (1872-1928) originally planned the expedition to repeat Nansen's drift through the Arctic Ocean with the ‘Fram' and likely an attempt to reach the North Pole. On hearing that Cook and Peary both claimed to have reached… Read More

London: William Heinemann, 1900. First Edition. Near Fine. 8vo [9.5x6.75in]; xxiv, 478 pp., 84 plates of 122 illustrations and images including color frontispiece and three color illustrations with tissue guards, 3 maps, and 21 illustrations in text, six appendices of scientific summaries and index; Blue-gray cloth covers with gilt lettering on spine, white lettering and illustration of Belgica on front, all edges untrimmed; Minimal shelf wear to covers, edges and corners, small creases at upper spine and front joint, small mark on spine, small sticker on rear end paper. [Rosove 76.A3b, Howgego III C24(C), Spence 311, Conrad p. 85]. Frederick Albert Cook (1865-1940) was a physician and polar explorer during the Heroic Age of Polar exploration. He also organized one of the first polar tourist excursions to Greenland. He began his polar experience in 1891 as a surgeon on Robert Peary's second Greenland expedition. This book is about his participation as the surgeon in the Belgian Antarctic Expedition… Read More

London: Vanity Fair, 1909. First Edition. Fine. Vanity Fair artist Kite, pseudonym of unknown artist. [15.5x10.5in]; Hentschel-Colortype illustration caricature by Kite [pseudonym of unknown artist], "The South Pole" (Lieutenant Shackleton) with black ink autograph "Ernest Shackleton" on card paper [2.5 x 4.5in]; Framed archival mounting on black matte. This Vanity Fair issue was after Shackleton returned from the "Nimrod" Antarctic Expedition [British Antarctic Expedition 1907-09] which he and three others reached 88 degrees south or 112 miles from the South Pole. They turned back due to doubtful food and fuel supply to return safely to the expedition's base at Cape Royds. He later commented to his wife that "...I thought, dear, that you would rather have a live ass than a dead lion." For the discovery of the route to the South Pole, discovery of the magnetic pole and the first ascent of Mt. Erebus, he was knighted by King Edward VII. The investiture ceremony was later than when this portrait was… Read More

Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1909. First American Edition, 1st Printing. Very Good. In two volumes, 8vo [10.25x7.75in]; Vol. I - [2], liii, [1], 366 pp. [2], 78 plate leaves of illustrations and images, with frontispiece and 6 in color with printed tissue guards, black/white and diagrams, numerous illustrations in text; Vol. II -xvi, 451 pp., [1], 69 plate leaves, with frontispiece and 6 in color with printed tissue guards, black/white, numerous illustrations in text, in rear pocket a black and white landscape panorama, with 3 colored folding maps of routes; Dark blue cloth with silver lettering on front and spine, ruled borders and silver illustration of three explorers and flag on front (from image at the magnetic South Pole) and silver illustration on spine of single explorer, top edge gilt and other edges untrimmed; Minor shelf wear to covers with rubbing to corners, edges and top/bottom of spine on both volumes, illustration on Vol. II front has rubbed spot, age toning to text edges… Read More

Douay: Francois Fabri, 1607. Second State. Very Good. [9.25x11.5in, 23x29cm neat line, 12x15.25in, 30.5x38.7cm sheet], Uncolored engraved double page map of the west coast of North America; Vertical center fold with four pin holes for sewn binding, verso blank with binding strip at fold; Age-toning along edges, minor soiling, three small foxing spots. [Burden 107, Rumsey 11622.051, Wagner Northwest 189] CS. Cornelius van Wytfliet (ca 1550-1597) was a Flemish cartographer and engraver in the late 16th Century. Little is know about him or his works. He is known for publishing the first Atlas to deal exclusively with North America. In 1597 he published 'Descriptionis Ptolemaicae Augmentum' in Lovain with 19 maps, which was described as a supplement to Ptolemy's world maps. After Wytfliet's death, or editions were published with revisions and additions. This map is a second state (1607, without the 1597 or other dates in the legend) published in 1611 in Douary by Francois Fabri with 23 maps in Histoire… Read More

London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, 1831. Second Edition. Very Good. 8vo [9x6in] Vol. I- xxii, 472 pp., frontispiece fold out map of voyage tracks,13 illustrations, two maps (double page and fold out), Vol. II- iv, 452 pp.,10 illustrations and views (four double page), tables, lacking advertisements; Rebound in modern three-quarter calf and marbled boards, gilt lettering on spine on dark brown label with rule and designs, new end papers, all edges untrimmed; Minimal shelf wear to covers, edges and corners, top edge of text darken, light foxing spots and offsets to all maps and illustrations in both volumes, Vol. I - several closed tears at creases and top of hinge (repaired) on frontispiece map, closed tear at top hinge of fold out map, two leaves of table of contents ([xix]- xxii) misbound in front of dedication and introduction. [Hill 93, Howes B309, Wickersham 6541, Lada-Morcarski 95 (Quarto) , Smith 704, Zamorano80 4, Arctic Biblio 1228, Books of the West 57]. Frederick William Beechey… Read More

London: John Murray, 1912. First Edition, 1st Printing. Near Fine. two volumes [9.25x7in]; Vol. I - xxxv, [1], 392 pp., frontispiece image of Amundsen portrait with tissue guard, 58 plates with 84 images and chart, folding color map, Vol. II - x, 449 pp., [1], frontispiece of Amundsen in polar kit with tissue guard, 45 plates with 52 images and 2 charts, folding diagram of ‘Fram', folding chart folding colored map, 16 charts in text; Maroon cloth covers with gilt lettering on front and spine, red border on front with debossed Norwegian flag illustration, top edge gilt, fore and bottom edges untrimmed; Some shelf wear overall, edges and corners bumped, top and bottom of spines rubbed with minor fraying, vol. I prior owner bookplate on front endpaper, vols. I & II bookseller stamp on rear endpaper, small blind embossed stamp of ‘Royal Institution of Great Britain' on title pages, ink stamp of ‘Disposed by the Royal Institute" on lower rear endpapers. Overall a very Near Fine and bright condition… Read More

London: A.W. Webster, 1835. First Edition. Very Good. In two volumes with Appendix to the Narrative, 4to [11x8.5in]; Vol. 1 - Narrative - [8], xxxiii, [1] binder notes for plates [large foldout chart], 740 pp., frontispiece engraving of Victoria Harbor, 25 plates of illustrations and diagrams (3 hand-colored) and 6 maps with two folding, addenda; Vol. 2 - Appendix - xii, 120 pp., cxliv, cii, [2], frontispiece engraving of Sir John Ross, 20 plates (12 hand-colored), collated complete including subscribers list and errata leaf; Later half red-brown calf with blind stamped edging and red-black marbled paper covers, five raised bands and gilt lettering on black field on spine; Some shelf wear to rubbed edges with corners bumped, several closed tear and crack repairs to plates and maps; American Entomological Society ex-library blind stamps on blank area of plates, some minimal foxing to plates [the hand colored plates do not appear in subsequent editions]. An attractive and complete set. [Hill 1490,… Read More

Washington DC: Government Printing Office, 1884. First Edition. Very Good. [9x6in]; Part 1 - 363 pp., 14 foldout maps, and diagrams of plans and sections views of the Steamer Jeanette; Part 2 - 75 pp., 4 plates sepia-toned images with tissue guard, one map; Bound in dark half-leather with marbled paper boards, gilt lettering and rule designs on ribbed spine, marbled end papers, light speckled stain to all trimmed edges; Minor shelf wear to covers, edges and corners with rubbing of covers, joints and bottom edge, minor age-toning to text and maps, typical closed tears, with some repaired, and nicks to map edges, rear free end paper detached, prior owner small library blind stamp on top part of six pages including title pages of both Parts. [Howgego III D4, Poore....... AB .......]. The Jeannette expedition (1879-81) was led by Lieutenant-Commander George Washington De Long (1844-81). The purpose was to find a route through the Bering Strait, that was warmed by the Pacific Kiro Shio current to an open… Read More