Rare Book Monthly
Articles - February - 2004 Issue
Voyages and Travels from<br>The William Reese Company
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Early travels to Texas by women is another unusual topic, but here’s a book by Matilda Houstoun entitled Texas and the Gulf of Mexico; or Yachting in the New World. We know how the British like to add that extra “u” to their words, like “colour” for “color,” but how about that extra “u” in Sam Houston’s last name? That is very British. Anyway, Mrs. Houstoun was a wealthy British lady who sailed the world on her yacht, and visited Texas and New Orleans in 1842. She writes about such topics as politics, society, slavery, and the possibility of civil war. Item 79. $2,000.
Here’s a book whose title says it all: A Compleat History of the Lives and Extraordinary Adventures of the Most Famous Pyrates, Highwaymen, Murderers, Streetrobbers, &c. Also, a Genuine Account of the Voyages, Travels, and Plunders, of Each Particular Hero, with an Exact Description of Every Engagement, Robbery, Murder &c. Printed in 1741, the author was “Charles Johnson,” likely a pseudonym. He describes various unpleasant individuals in England and abroad, including the Americas. Item 81. $7,500.
Travels to the Source of the Missouri River and Across the American Continent to the Pacific Ocean…, better known simply as “Lewis and Clark,” is one of the most collectible of all books of Americana. Reese is offering a first British edition of this classic, printed in 1814. Item 93. $35,000. Another classic, though more recent item is T.E. Lawrence’s Seven Pillars of Wisdom a Triumph. Of course Lawrence is better known as “Lawrence of Arabia.” This is a subscribers’ copy of this work from 1926. Item 89. $75,000.
An item of Canadiana is Leandre Ducharme’s Journal d’un Exile politique aux Terres Australes. Ducharme was one of the rebels in Canada’s Rebellion of 1837 who was captured by the British and sent to prison in Australia. French farmers and others of poorer means attempted to overthrow the British and the powerful and wealthy business interests which controlled the government. They were unsuccessful, and many were later executed, imprisoned, or exiled to Australia. Ducharme was pardoned in 1845 and returned to Canada where he wrote this book. Item 45. $1,750.
Item 160 is Aventuras de Filipinas, an illustrated tour of the Philippines which seems designed to discourage tourists. The humorous pictures depict the misadventures one can anticipate during their visit. $6,000.
The William Reese Company’s website may be found at www.reeseco.com and their phone number is 203-789-8081.
