Search Results: Titles starting with J from John Randall (Books of Asia)

Batavia: Volkslectuur, 1938. First edition, 4to, pp.545, 45 plates, 4 mounted and in colour. A very good copy in original boards, spine strengthened. A classic study of Javanese theatre, with many illustrations of masks.

London: Printed for Private Circulation only, [1839]. First edition, two volumes, 8vo, pp.xxiii, 306, folding frontis; [vi, titles and contents], 291. Half-titles present. A very good set in original gilt and blind decorated cloth, gilt lettering to spines. Spines slightly sun faded, and corners and spines slightly bumped. Wide margins untrimmed. Unblemished and tight internally. A fascinating account of the journey of three young Persian princes through Europe to England in 1836 with the goal of freeing their father from British detention. Firmân Firmân, their father, was involved in a succession crisis over the throne of Persia and lost out to the British backed claimant, subsequently being detained by the British in Tehran. This account offers a fine narrative of their journey alongside description complex political situation in Persia. Between leaving and returning to Syria, the princes visited not just England, but also Belgium, Prussia, Austria, Hungary, Walachia, Turkey, Baghdad,… Read More

Trevoux: Par La Compagnie, 1741. Nouvelle edition, augmentée d'une table des matieres, 12mo, pp.[ii], 512. A very good crisp copy bound in later full speckled calf, spine gilt, all edges red. The last few pages of the table of contents are bound out of order but all are present. The new edition of Choisy's account of his journey to Thailand with Chevalier de Chaumont, the first French ambassador for King Louis XIV, first published in 1687. François Timoléon, abbé de Choisy (1644-1724) was famous in his youth for being cross-dressed by his mother for the amusement of Louis XIV and his court. Madame de La Fayette convinced him to continue his use of women's clothes and make-up into adulthood, gaining a reputation for using androgyny to cause scandal at court, especially as he was an ordained priest. Modern historians have cast doubt over the extent of this reputation, suggesting it more likely that these were rumours invented by his opponents. Alexandre,… Read More

London: John Murray, 1872. New (i.e. second) edition, edited by his son. pp.cvii, [2, half-title], 280, 32 (adverts), frontispiece, 2 folding maps. A very good copy in the original blind decorated cloth. Spine sun-faded, slight spotting to a few leaves. John Wood (1812-1871) was a naval officer who took great interest in exploration and geography, and achieved considerable fame for being the first European to discover and chart the source of the Oxus. With his flair for exploration and cartography Wood was chosen to lead an expedition into Central Asia in 1838. His narrative is gripping with tales of danger and excitement throughout, but is most engaging in it's impartial frankness on the condition of the people he met and the lands through which he travelled. This edition, published by Wood's son in commemoration of his father's death, is considerably expanded with Yule's essay bringing the known history and geography of the Oxus and it's surrounding region up to date. Henry… Read More

London: G.G. and J. Robinson, 1789. First edition, 4to, pp.[vi], 327, [1, directions to the binder]. With a folding map and 6 engraved plates, 1 of which folding. A very good copy in contemporary speckled calf, neatly recased. Faint rubbing to extremities, light foxing to first few leaves. A couple notes to margins by a previous owner. A fascinating account by Elizabeth Craven (1750-1828), a leading lady of her day, made up of letters to her then illicit partner Charles Alexander, Margrave of Brandenburg-Ansbach (1736-1806). Craven was a controversial figure: at the age of 16 she had been forced to marry William Craven, 6th Baron Craven. Both were open about the numerous affairs they had with different partners and their dislike for each other. They split permanently, while still married, when Elizabeth was just 29 and already mother of seven children. It was not long after that she and Alexander started their relationship, but they could only marry in 1791 after William Craven died. These letters… Read More