Rare Book Monthly

Book Catalogue Reviews - February - 2018 Issue

Canada, Arctic, Travel, Illustrated, Bindings, and Antiquarian Material from Patrick McGahern Books

Canada, Arctic, Travel, Illustrated, Bindings, Antiquarian.

Canada, Arctic, Travel, Illustrated, Bindings, Antiquarian.

Patrick McGahern Books has published their Catalogue 262. Rare and Interesting Books, Canada, Arctic, Travel, Illustrated, Bindings, Antiquarian. Most connect Canada or the Arctic with one or more of those other topics, but there are exceptions. This is not a large catalogue, just 27 items, but there is an interesting selection of varied material anyway. Here are a few items to be found.

 

Captain Edward Belcher had served under explorer Frederick Beechey, and when the latter became ill, commanded one of his ships on an exploration that took him along the Pacific coast of South and North America, all the way to Alaska, and then as far as Hong Kong. When John Franklin disappeared with no trace on his mission to find a Northwest Passage in 1845, the British Admiralty sent numerous expeditions to find him, without success. The last of those missions was given to Edward Belcher, not beloved by either those above him or below him, but experienced. By the conclusion of his attempt, news had come home indicating that Franklin and his men had not survived. No more official missions were sent, though unofficial ones continued for years. Item 5 is a copy of Beecher's account of the last official Franklin search: The Last of the Arctic Voyages. Being a Narrative of the Expedition in H.M.D. Assistance, Under the Command of Captain Sir Edward Belcher, in Search of Sir John Franklin, during the Years 1852-53-54, published in 1855. Belcher did not bring back Franklin, but he did return with much scientific and geographical information. He also rescued Robert McClure instead, who had become trapped in the ice after searching for a Northwest Passage from the western side. Unfortunately, Belcher lost four of the five ships he commanded to the ice. He was court martialed, and acquitted, but never given such a command again. He was later made an admiral, but that was after his sailing days were over. Priced at CAD $4,000 (Canadian dollars, or approximately $3,145 in U.S. dollars).

 

In a process similar to what happened in the United States, Canada granted the Canadian Pacific Railway millions of acres in the West so that they would build the first transcontinental railroad in Canada. The enticement was needed as, in the 19th century, that required building through thousands of miles of land essentially uninhabited by anyone other than the sparse native tribes, not likely customers for rail travel. The Canadian Pacific completed their task, and set about selling their land. The purpose was twofold, both to make money on land sales and fill the land with farmers and other settlers who would then use their services to transport goods to market. Realizing the number of potential settlers for their land was limited within the confines of Canada, they reached out to Europe, even opening offices overseas to encourage immigration. The Canadian government liked the idea too as they wanted to fill the indigenous lands with European settlers. Item 7 is an undated 40" x 25" poster (early 20th century), printed in London, announcing, Ready Made Farms in Western Canada. It encourages the British to "Get Your Home in Canada from the Canadian Pacific. Special Farms on Virgin Soil Near the Railway and Close to Schools, Markets, Churches &c are Prepared Each Year for British Farmers of Moderate Capital. Payments in Easy Installments." A cute farmhouse is depicted beneath a blue sky, with various family members wandering around, obviously enjoying their beautiful country life far from the damp, crowded streets of London. I don't know whether these farms were actually that close to schools, markets, and churches, but if not, you could always take the train! I wonder whether the British knew what winters are like on the Canadian plains? CAD $2,500 (US $1,964).

 

This is a most unusual item for a McGahern catalogue, not really fitting into any of these categories, but a fascinating and humanitarian reminder of a terrible time. Item 1 is a List of Displaced German Scholars published in 1936. It was the work of the Academic Assistance Council in London and the Emergency Committee in Aid of Displaced German Scholars in New York. The Academic Assistance Council was formed in 1933 at the behest of William Beveridge, Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science, who would later be instrumental in designing England's social insurance programs, which provided assistance for the unemployed, sick and retired. After a trip through Austria that year, Beveridge realized the danger facing many German scholars, particularly Jews, and set about finding a way to find them positions in England and America where they would be safe to continue their pursuits. It covered people from all parts of academia, from science to arts, theology and music. This list includes the name of 1,500 such scholars and their biographies. Among those listed is Albert Einstein, though he was one who needed no assistance and already had work in the United States. The Emergency Committee in New York helped to find homes in the United States, with this publication funded by the Rockefeller Foundation. The AAC still exists today, aiding academics who need to flee other despotic regimes, though it is now known as the Council for At-Risk Academics. CAD $750 (US $589).

 

Next we have The Rising Village, and Other Poems, by Oliver Goldsmith. No, not that Oliver Goldsmith. This one is by the other, Canadian Oliver Goldsmith. As the rest of the title explains, By Oliver Goldsmith, a Descendant of the Author of "The Deserted Village". This Oliver was the great nephew of the better-known Oliver, which technically does not make him a descendant. You will notice the similarity in the name of his poem and that of the earlier one written by his great uncle. It is a response, written in a similar style, to that of his Irish relative. Offered is the first Canadian edition from 1834 of Oliver the Younger's poems, originally published in London in 1825. It includes some poems not in that first edition. While the first was published in London, this Oliver was a Canadian, born and raised, living most of his life in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is noted as the first significant Canadian-born poet. Item 8. CAD $1,200 (US $941).

 

Patrick McGahern Books may be reached at 613-230-2277 or books@mcgahernbooks.ca. Their website is www.mcgahernbooks.ca.

Rare Book Monthly

  • Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    APRES DE MANNEVILLETTE
    Le Neptune Oriental
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    CASSAS
    Eaux fortes de la Sicile et quelques vues d’Espagne
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    CASSINI DE THURY
    Carte générale et particulière de la France.
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    JOUY; GARNERAY
    Vues des côtes de France dans l'Océan et dans la Méditerranée
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    LA PÉROUSE
    Voyage autour du monde
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    LE GENTIL DE LA GALAISIERE
    Voyage dans les Mers de l’Inde
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    LICENT
    Hoang Ho, Pai Ho, Loan Ho, Leao Ho. Itinéraires suivis dans le bassin du golfe du Pei Tcheuly
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    FRENCH SCHOOL FROM THE 19th CENTURY
    Panorama d’Athènes
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    PEETERS
    Description des principales villes, havres et isles du golfe de Venise
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    PÉRON; FREYCINET
    Voyage de découverte aux terres australes
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    STACKELBERG
    La Grèce : vues pittoresques et topographiques.
    Gros & Delettrez, 7 November:
    VALENTINER
    Atlas des Sonnensystems.
  • Forum Auctions
    Online Sale:
    The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper
    Ending 7th November, 2024
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). The Thirteen Problems, first edition, The Crime Club, 1932. £15,000 to £20,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Dumb Witness, first edition, 1937. £3,000 to £4,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Cards on the Table, first edition, The Crime Club, 1936. £2,000 to £3,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: [Carr (John Dickson)], "Carter Dickson" and John Rhode. Drop to his Death, first edition, Heinemann, [1939]. £600 to £800.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Berkeley (Anthony). Jumping Jenny, first edition, Hodder and Stoughton, 1933. £800 to £1,200.
    Forum Auctions
    Online Sale:
    The Detective Fiction Collection of John Cooper
    Ending 7th November, 2024
    Forum, Nov. 7: Marsh (Ngaio). Overture to Death, first edition, The Crime Club, 1939. £600 to £800.
    Forum, Nov. 7: [Day-Lewis (Cecil)] "Nicholas Blake". The Beast Must Die, first edition, 1938. £750 to £1,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Brand (Christianna). Green for Danger, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author, John Lane the Bodley Head, 1945. £600 to £800.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Christie (Agatha). Murder is Easy, first edition, signed by the author, 1939. £3,000 to £4,000.
    Forum, Nov. 7: Sayers (Dorothy L.) Lord Peter Views the Body, first edition, Gollancz, 1928. £6,000 to £8,000.
  • Doyle
    Stage & Screen
    November 14 & 15
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A studio-sanctioned Darth Vader Touring Costume from The Empire Strikes Back. $50,000 to $100,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: An original Al Hirschfeld's illustration of the cast of On Golden Pond. $4,000 to $6,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: The largest trove of personal Grace Kelly letters to come to market. $60,000 to $80,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: An Important Archive of Musical Manuscripts of Truman Capote and Harold Arlen's House of Flowers. $40,000 to $60,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: The archive of an original Merrily We Roll Along Broadway cast member. $5,000 to $10,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: Jerry Herman's Yamaha Model C7 Ebonized Grand Piano. $6,000 to $9,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A large group of Jerry Herman musical posters. $300 to $500.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: Group of awards presented to Jerry Herman. $300 to $400.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: Six pages of original art for "The MAD Game of Basebrawl," a complete story published in MAD #167, pages 31-36, June 1974. $3,000 to $4,000.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A MAD book made for Al Jaffee, containing original art and writings from many MAD contributors. 2011. $1,200 to $1,800.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: A Jaffee-themed MAD Fold-In - "What honor should the creator of the MAD Fold-Ins be given?" $800 to $1,200.
    Doyle, Nov. 14-15: MAD Fold-In - "What developing news story has many Americans totally transfixed?" $800 to $1,200.
  • Sotheby's
    Fine Books, Manuscripts & More
    Available for Immediate Purchase
    Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. 11,135 USD
    Sotheby’s: Edgar Allan Poe. The Raven and Other Poems, 1845. 33,000 USD
    Sotheby’s: Leo Tolstoy, Clara Bow. War and Peace, 1886. 22,500 USD
    Sotheby’s: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, 1902. 7,500 USD
    Sotheby’s: F. Scott Fitzgerald. This Side of Paradise, The Great Gatsby, and Others, 1920-1941. 24,180 USD
  • Freeman’s | Hindman
    Fine Printed Books and Manuscripts, Including Americana
    November 14
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: LEROUX, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. FIRST AM. ED, FIRST ISSUE IN THE VERY RARE DUST JACKET. 1911. $6,000 – 8,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD, John. A Monograph of the Trochilidae...Humming-Birds. L., [1849-] 1861. $60,000 – 80,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: A COMPLETE RUN of Limited Editions Club publications, v.p. [mostly New York], 1929-2010. $50,000 – 60,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: ORWELL, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. Lon., 1949. FIRST EDITION IN A VERY FINE DUST JACKET. $6,000 – 8,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: GOULD. A Monograph of the Ramphastidae...Toucans. L., [1852-] 54. SECOND ED. $35,000 – 45,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: The Federalist. NY, 1788. FIRST EDITION, THICK PAPER COPY. $60,000 – 80,000.
    Freeman’s | Hindman, Nov. 14: SELBY. Plates to Selby’s Illustrations of British Ornithology. Edin., [1833-] 34. $20,000 – 30,000.

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