Social History from Rare Illustrated Books

Canada, no date. Dynamic and engaging advertisment for soap detergent, pre-dating the advent of washing machines. One sheet, doubled-sided colour printing, 280 mm x 215 mm, faint fold lines, crisp corners, in very good overall condition.

Montreal: General Steel Wares Limited, 1929. Near fine. Covers everything from damask table cloths to renovating old woodwork. Octavo, 38 pages, 3 full page colour plates + 5 full page black & white plates + many additional illustrations throughout, mild edgewear to cover otherwise near fine.

Mosman, N.S.W.: The Pump Press, 1978. Limited Edition. Fine. Number 55 of 80 copies. Fine press publication regarding the work of Beatrice Webb (1858 -1943) and Sidney Webb (1859 -1947), noted English Fabian Socialists who visited Australia in 1898 addressing the United Trades and Labour Council in Adelaide. "Mrs Webb... remarked that public opinion in Australia… Read more about this item

Melbourne: University of Melbourne Press, 1926. 'This Handbook has been compiled to give in short compass the essentials of the various courses which may be taken at the University, and in addition some general notes and information concerning University life.' S.A. Octavo, 219 pages + advertisements, a very good copy.

London: Alfred A. Knopf, 1930. Hartley. Signed limited edition, printed on Japanese vellum; this is number 29 of 1350 copies. This copy bears a presentation inscription in English and Hebrew to Dr. Robert Wallace, Vice-Chancellor of the University, from Rabbi Falk, September 1936. Rabbi Falk's immense literary collection is now housed in the Rabbi L. A. Falk Memorial Library… Read more about this item

British Broadcasting Corporation, 1956. First Edition. Jean Seaton, official historian of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC): "[The Listener] was edited with a real eye, a testament to the power of the editor, intelligent and constructive and with a style driven by the urgency and topicality of the BBC, but about as real an insight into what the serious minds… Read more about this item

London: David Bogue, 1849. Sulpice Guillaume Chevalier (1804-1866), pseudonym Gavarni, was a French master lithographer noted for his fashion and satirical illustrations. In 1847 he travelled to London and produced a series of images condemning the conditions of the English working-classes and urban poor, here used to illustrate a series of written descriptions by leading writers of the day.… Read more about this item

Melbourne & Sydney: Lothian Book Publishing Co, 1917. First Edition. Australian author, Tarella Quin (1877 -1934) began her literary career writing children's books in collaboration with the celebrated artist, Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. Quin published her first book with Outhwaite in 1910 - Gum Tree Brownie and Other Faerie Folk of the Never-Never - embarking later into the world of… Read more about this item

London: Cassell & Co, 1900. Small octavo, red cloth wrappers, in lovely original condition, some wear. With chapters on Australian meat and homemade wine. 'The age in which we live is essentially one of progress, and in no branch of the fine arts is progress more marked than in the art of cookery... The secret of good… Read more about this item

Japan: Box of Curios Printing and Publishing Co, 1905. Third Edition, revised and with an appendix. Privately printed for the author. Fine copy in later half-crushed red morocco with marbled paper boards, gilt titles on black leather with raised gilt bands. Octavo, top edge gilt, others uncut, 386 pp + 25 plates.

Thomas Hurst, 65, St Paul's Church-Yard: London, 1837. First Edition. J.W. Wright and E.T. Parris. All that regards regimen and health being furnished by medical friends, and revised by Sir Anthony Carlisle, F.R.S. Vice President of the College of Surgeons." A rare and detailed study of nineteenth-century health, of particular interest also for the fascinating (and very early!) 'before… Read more about this item