antiquarian bookseller - Peter Harrington

Peter Harrington Antiquarian Bookseller
182.LAWRENCE, Major
Henry M. L.
Adventures of an Officer in the
Punjaub. By … Political Agent in
Charge of British Relations with
Lahore.
London, Henry Colburn, 1846 [40104] £600
2 volumes, 8vo. Original oxide red blind-stamped cloth,
title gilt to spines. Lithographic portrait frontispiece to each
– Ranjit Singh & Shere Singh – the former image repeated in
blind on the boards. Contemporary gift inscriptions of William
Wingfield-Baker to his daughter Lucy-Emily Wingfield to the
front pastedowns. Scattered foxing, both volumes a little
rolled, cloth slightly rubbed, spines sunned, a very good set
in the publisher’s cloth.
Second Edition. Lawrence enjoyed a remarkable career. He
began as an indifferent student at Addiscombe, but from
a second lieutenancy in the Bengal Artillery he rose to be
viewed, at the time of his death, as the ideal candidate for
governor general. His skilful handling of the military and
administrative posts which he served in was noteworthy:
“Sir Henry was naturally a man of hot and impetuous
temper, which he kept under control by constant
watchfulness and discipline. He had great energy, was
indefatigable in his work, while his sympathetic and kindhearted
disposition attracted all who came into contact
with him. He was essentially straightforward, generous,
and disinterested” (DNB). He here gives an account of his
services in the First Sikh War and his careful handling of
the intrigue-filled court at Lahore in the aftermath. His
fame now largely rests on his brilliant conduct of the
defence of Lucknow during the Mutiny, wounded in the
thigh by a shell fragment on 2 July 1857. He died, despite
the best efforts of Dr. Fayrer, on the 4th. On his death bed
he composed his own epitaph, “Here lies Henry Lawrence,
who tried to do his duty.”
183.LEHMANN, John.
Prometheus and the Bolsheviks.
The Cresset Press Ltd., London, 1937 [38981] £275
8vo. Original brown cloth, titles to upper board and spine gilt
on a brown ground. With the dustjacket. Folding map at end
and photographic illustrations throughout. Spine a little dull
but an excellent copy in the rather grubby dustjacket with a
number of short tears, some small loss at the head of the spine
panel and a piece of internal repair.
FIRST EDITION, First Impression. An account of the
author’s journey through Soviet Georgia and of its art and
culture under the Bolshevik government. Very scarce in
dustjacket.
“...the lives of
the Gooroos...”
184.McGREGOR, William
Lewis.
The History of the Sikhs; containing
the Lives of the Gooroos; the
History of the Independent Sirdars,
or Mussuls, and the Life of the Great
Founder of the Sikh Monarchy,
Maharajah Runjeet Singh [&] An
Account of the War between the
Sikhs and the British, in 1845–46.
London, James Madden, 1846 [37260] £3250
2 volumes, 8vo. Tinted lithographic portrait frontispiece to vol.
I, tinted lithographic portrait frontispiece and 5 other similar
portraits to vol. II, the frontispiece (Lall Singh, Juwaheer Singh,
and Lab Singh) not called for and folding, folding lithographic
plan (Movement of the Army of the Sutluj) and folding
engraved map (the Bist Jalindhur) both coloured in outline
in vol. II. Near contemporary ownership inscription pencilled
to title of vol. I, some foxing throughout, particularly to the
prelims, first couple of gatherings of vol. II a little sprung, but
secure, small patches at the corners of the pastedowns marked
from the removal (probably of a covering), but overall a very
good set in the original sage green embossed cloth, slightly
rubbed and spotted, the spines crumpled head and tail and a
touch sunned. A pleasingly unsophisticated set.
FIRST EDITION. McGregor served as Surgeon to the
1st European Bengal Fusiliers, later 1st European Light
Infantry. Crawford describes the History as “a sound work
of some historical importance” (The History of the Indian
Medical Service, II, p. 161). McGregor consulted both
Sir Harry Smith and Sir Joseph Thackwell on the details
of Ferozeshahr and Sobraon, “for it is not from general
statements that the true nature of battles is to be gleaned
[but from] a true knowledge of the particulars”. Scarcer
than Cunningham’s History of 1849, and particularly so in
the cloth.
Catalogue 57: Travel Section 4: Asia including Russia
94 95
Bruce 4224.
185.McCRINDLE, John
Watson.
The Invasion of India by Alexander
the Great as described by Arrian,
Q. Curtius, Diodoros, Plutarch and
Justin. being Translations of such
Portions of the Works of these
and other Classical Authors as
describe Alexander’s Campaigns
in Afghanistan, the Panjâb, Sindh,
Gedrosia and Karmania. With an
Introduction containing a Life
of Alexander, Copious Notes,
Illustrations, Maps and Indices.
New Edition bringing the Work up
to Date.
Westminster, Archibald Constable and Company, 1896 [39752]
£250
8vo. Original red combed cloth. Photogravure frontispiece,
folding coloured map at the rear, full-page map of Alexander’s
route in the Panjâb, illustrations to the text. Endpapers
browned, some foxing, hinges tender, cloth a little rubbed and
soiled, corners bumped, chipping head and tail of the spine.
Second edition; first published in 1893. Norman Douglas’s
copy, with his “ND” ink stamp to the front pastedown and
sporadically through the text, page references pencilled to
the endpapers.
186.McLEOD, John.
Voyage of His Majesty’s Ship
Alceste, along the Coast of Corea,
to the Island of Lewchew; with
an Account of her subsequent
Shipwreck.
London, John Murray, 1818 [37760] £850
8vo (217 × 137 mm). Attractive contemporary black half calf
on marbled boards, title direct to spine, elegant gilding in the
compartments. Soft ground etched portrait of Capt. Murray
Maxwell as frontispiece and 5 coloured aquatint plates.
Contemporary pencilled ownership inscription of Louisa Du
Cane on title. A little rubbed at the extremities, some scattered
foxing, plates mildly browned, but overall a very good copy.
Second Edition, first published the previous year. McLeod
was the Surgeon of the Alceste which carried Lord Amherst
on his embassy to China. The ship was wrecked in the Strait
of Gaspar, all hands survived to be menaced by Malay
pirates but eventually rescued by the East-Indiaman
Ternate. A reviewer in the Edinburgh Review remarked on
“Mr. McLeod’s animated and ennobling story of the loss of
the Alceste, and the deliverance of the crew … makes us
proud of our country, and puts us in good humour with
our species.”
Abbey 559; Lipperheide 1529; Huntress 188c.