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Rare and Antiquarian Books

Rare books from E C Books

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The Ornithology of Francis Willughby In Three Books. Wherein all the Birds Hitherto known being...
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The Ornithology of Francis Willughby In Three Books. Wherein all the Birds Hitherto known being reduced into a Method suitable to their natures are accurately Described

by Francis Willughby, John Ray

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  • very good
  • Hardcover
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Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
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Birsay, Orkney
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A$8,819.55
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LONDON : A[ndrew]. C[lark]. for John Martyn, 1678 A very good copy in a high quality full leather binding. With title page in red and black ink; preface; text in 3 books with 2 plates of bird traps bound in, and 2 tables which serve as early identification keys; an appendix; summary of falconry; index and 78 plates of birds (including the dodo) at the rear. This is the first English edition translated from the original Latin which was published in 1676, four years after Willughby's death by his friend and colleague John Ray. It marks one of the first attempts to take a rational, scientific approach to classifying birds. It is a matter of debate, and current research, as to whether Willughby or Ray played a greater part in its development. Ray supervised the publication. The illustrations were commissioned from a number of sources and some birds are depicted twice where the initial image was not very good.This copy lacks the original endpapers - perhaps lost during the later rebinding - but is… Read More
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The Historie of Great Britaine under the Conquests of ye Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. Their...
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The Historie of Great Britaine under the Conquests of ye Romans, Saxons, Danes and Normans. Their Originals, Manners, Habits, Warres, Coines, and Seales: with y Successions, Lives, Acts, and Issues of the English Monarchs from Julius Caesar to the most gracious Sovereign King James

by John Speed

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Good
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
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Birsay, Orkney
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A$9,799.50
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Popes-head alley, at y signe of y White Horse: Imprinted by William Hall and John Beale. Sold by John Sudbury and Georg Humble. , 1611 A good copy of the extremely rare 1st edition of Speed's comprehensive work. In full leather binding which has been rebacked retaining the original boards which have blind tooled decoration, and replacing the spine, which has raised bands and gilt title label. This work continued Speed's 'Theatre of Great Britaine' - and the page numbering is continuous with it - the text starting at p155 and finishing at p 894, although the book is complete on its own. With engraved decorative title page; 4 page preface and text completing at p 894; Summary conclusion of the whole - 4 pp; The Second Index - 46 pp; and a one page 'Faults etc Sped'. The work has numerous engravings of coins, seals and coats of arms; and is embellished throughout with decorative head and tailpieces and decorated initial capitals. The binding has been expertly repaired with some… Read More
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Britannia: or a Chorographical Description of Great Britain and Ireland, Together with the...
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Britannia: or a Chorographical Description of Great Britain and Ireland, Together with the Adjacent Islands.

by William Camden, Edmund Gibson

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  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
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Birsay, Orkney
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A$8,133.58
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London : Mary Matthews, for Awnnsham Churchill , 1722 A very good copy of Camden's Britannia, revised by Edmund Gibson, and published in 2 volumes in contemporary full leather binding. Page edges pale yellow. With 51 maps (48 by Robert Morden and 3 by Andrew Johnstone), 9 plates of coins, 2 further full page plates and numerous illustrations in the text. The tree calf bindings have raised bands to spine and title and volume labels. There is some wear to edges and some scuffing to the boards - the back board of Vol I and the front board of Vol II. There is a small (2 cm approx) split at the top of the front spine joint in Vol I. There is no corresponding split internally and the board is firmly attached. The contents are generally in very good clean condition with the very occasional mark. Vol I: frontispiece; title page in red and black inks; Dedication 4pp; Preface 2pp; Mr Camden's Preface 4pp; Poems 1p; Ad Lectorum 6pp; Books and Antiquities 13pp; Antoninus Itinerary 6pp; General Heads 3pp;… Read More
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The Arraignement and Conviction of Sr Walter Rawleigh, At the Kings Bench-Barre at Winchester on...
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The Arraignement and Conviction of Sr Walter Rawleigh, At the Kings Bench-Barre at Winchester on the 17. of November 1603

by Sir Thomas Overbury ['Coppied by Sir Tho: Overbvry']

  • Used
  • fair
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Fair
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
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Birsay, Orkney
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A$6,271.68
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At the Sun over against St Dunstan's Church in Fleetstreet: Printed by William Wilson, for Abel Roper, 1648 A fair copy of an extremely scarce work. Thomas Overbury (1581-1613) is best known for the scandal surrounding his death by poisoning in the Tower, and the trial that followed it some 2 years later. He studied Law in 1598, was knighted in 1608 and was known as a writer and poet. His account of the arraignment and trial of Raleigh is assumed to be written as an eye-witness. Raleigh was tried in 1603 and convicted of treason. His sentence of death was commuted to imprisonment and he was later briefly released, before being imprisoned and retried in 1618. This trial reinstated his death sentence, albeit by less gruesome means. The book contains Overbury's account of the first trial; an account of the second trial (no author named); and Raleigh's letters to the King and to his wife before his death. The binding is more recent full panelled calf with title label to spine, matching a… Read More
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Orcades Seu Rerum: Orcadensium Historiae Libri tres, Quorum primus, Praeter insularum ficum...
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Orcades Seu Rerum: Orcadensium Historiae Libri tres, Quorum primus, Praeter insularum ficum numerumque, Comitum, Procerum, incolarumq; origines, familias, gesta & vicissitudines.....

by Thermodo Torffaeo [Thormodus Torfaeus]

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
Seller
Birsay, Orkney
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A$7,839.60
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Havniae: Literis Justini Hog, Universit, 1697 A very good copy of the 1st edition in recent full calf binding. Thormodus Torfaeus (1636-1719) was educated at the University in Copenhagen, and became Royal Antiquary of Iceland and Royal Historian of the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway. This was his second work, published in 1697, and concerns the activity of the Vikings in Orkney - particularly the material of the Orkneyinga Saga. The binding is in near fine condition and has raised bands and gilt titles to spine. The endpapers are recent and marbled, with an old bookplate of J A Maconochie to the front pastedown, and a newer bookplate of John Davie Manson Robertson (a noted Orcadian) to the fep. 2 new blanks have been added front and rear. Contents: original blank with latin note to top; rubricated title page with printer's device (small paper repair to verso); note of authority; dedication 5pp; Praefatio ad Lectorum 7pp; verses 2pp; Libri I pp 1-155 (some ink notes - generally dates in margins, some… Read More
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Coloured Figures of English Fungi or Mushrooms Vols I-III with Supplement
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Coloured Figures of English Fungi or Mushrooms Vols I-III with Supplement

by James Sowerby

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Very Good
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
Seller
Birsay, Orkney
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A$23,518.80
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London : Printed by J Davis [Vols I & II] and B Wilks [Vol III] for the Author, 1798 A very good copy of the complete 3 volume 1st edition including later Supplement, with 440 hand coloured plates on 436 leaves. This work was James Sowerby's follow up to his successful English Botany and he both drew, and engraved the plates and oversaw the colouring. He immersed himself in the study of mushrooms over the period of work, which was published between 1798 and 1809, including creating 200 models of larger species, and making his collection of specimens available to public view. In his introduction to the Supplement (which was issued without separate title) he states his concern that the identification of many individual species, with illustrations that focus only on perfect specimens, might confuse the public into eating poisonous fungi. His response was to illustrate a number of specimens rather than the 'perfect one' and to model a number of poisonous species for public inspection. This… Read More
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The Divina Commedia of Dante Alighieri: consisting of the Inferno-Purgatorio- and Paradiso
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The Divina Commedia of Dante Alighieri: consisting of the Inferno-Purgatorio- and Paradiso

by Dante Alighieri, Rev. Henry Boyd [translator]

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Good
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
Seller
Birsay, Orkney
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A$8,819.55
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London : T Cadell Jun. and W Davies, 1802 A good to very good copy of the first translation into English of Dante's Divine Comedy. This copy retains the original marbled boards, with new calf spines and corners, so the bindings are clean, sound and tight with some light scuffing to the boards. The translation was completed by Henry Boyd, then Vicar of Rathfryland in County Down. The contents are complete with frontispiece portrait by Stothard and titles and half titles to each volume. Vol I: frontispiece; title; dedication; half title to Inferno; text 408pp. Vol II: title; half title; preliminary essay and text 384pp. Vol III: title; half title; preliminary essay and text with index, errata and addenda 420pp (more detailed collation available on request). All the volumes retain their original endpapers with repair at the joints and stamped ownership details of Richd Hopkins of Huntingdonshire. All the endpapers have some marking and Vol II has lost the corner tip of the rear free endpaper.… Read More
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Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca: or a Compleat Collection of Voyages and Travels:...
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Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca: or a Compleat Collection of Voyages and Travels: Consisting of above Four Hundred of the most Authentick Writers; ....Vols I & II

by John Harris

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Good
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
Seller
Birsay, Orkney
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A$9,407.52
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London : Thomas Bennet; John Nicholson; and Daniel Midwinter, 1705 A good copy of the 1st edition in recent full panelled calf bindings with 9 maps, 21 (of 22) plates, 2 frontispieces (one with loss) and 8 engravings in the text. John Harris (1633-1719) was an anglican priest and scientist, specialising in mathematics. He was admitted as an FRS in 1696. His written works were well-regarded and popular and Navigantium was published in 2 further enlarged editions. The 1st edition is relatively scarce and is sought after particularly for the first printings of the Moll maps. The bindings are in near fine clean condition with gilt-lined raised bands to the spine with gilt decoration in the compartments and title and volume labels. There is light scuffing. Internally new endpapers and blanks have been added. This set has been matched against the reference copy held by the Hathi Trust and matches it apart from a misplaced plate, a missing plate, a small misbound section in the appendix and a misplaced map… Read More
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The First and second volumes of Chronicles ....[with] The Third volume of Chronicles, beginning...
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The First and second volumes of Chronicles ....[with] The Third volume of Chronicles, beginning at duke William the Norman, commonly called the Conqueror; and descending by degrees of yeeres to all the kings and queens of England in their orderlie successions: ...

by Raphael Holinshed, William Harrison, now augmented by John Hooker [alias Vowell Gent] and others...

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Edition
2nd Edition
Binding
Hardcover
Seller
Birsay, Orkney
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A$22,538.85
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At London printed in Aldergate Street at the signe of the Starre: John Harrison, George Bishop, Rafe Newberie, Henrie Denham and Thomas Woodcocke, 1587 A good copy of the 2nd edition of Holinshed's Chronicles. This edition lacks the extensive woodcuts found in the 1st edition but has beautiful initial capitals and head and tailpieces. Volumes I and II are bound together; Volume III is a single volume. All have been rebound in half calf with gilt lining and title label to spine and marbled boards. Bookplates from the Skipworth family of Newbold-Revel in Warwickshire dating from 1704 through to 1884, have been relaid on the front endpapers of both volumes. Vol I/II has worming. The animals in question have gone vertically through the text block and so little text has been lost, apart from a solitary sideways saunter in the Irish section from p 41 through to p 1 of the Irish History where there loss of some words. Vols I/II are complete apart from lacking the title page to the Description of Ireland and… Read More
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Three Years Travels from Moscow Over-Land to China: thro' Great Ustiga, Siriana, Permia, Sibiria,...
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London : W Freeman, F Walthoe, T Newborough, F Nicholson, and R Parker, 1706 A very good copy of the 1st English edition of this work, translated from the Dutch edition of 1704. In contemporary panelled calf binding which has been expertly rebacked with new spine with gilt lined raised bands and title label. Corners have been repaired. The binding is in very good clean condition. Contents are complete with large folding map and 30 plates, of which 8 are folding. In detail: engraved title dated 1705; title 1706 - with old small signature to the top; epistle 6pp; contents list 4pp; folding map; text pp 1-110 with 29 plates; blank; half title; text pp 115-208 with one plate; Dutch translator's postscript pp 209-10; Finis. The contents are in good to very good condition. There are some toned sections, and there is some marking and spotting which is mainly to margins, particularly the side margin (eg on the title page). There is some professional paper repair (small worm hole circa pp 31-34; small edge… Read More
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A$7,153.64
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Opus de conscribendis epistolis recognitum ab autore & locupletatum
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Opus de conscribendis epistolis recognitum ab autore & locupletatum

by Desiderius Erasmus

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Good
Binding
Hardcover
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Birsay, Orkney
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A$8,329.58
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Coloniae: Heronem Alopeciu, 1522 An extremely scarce early edition published in September 1522 - a month after the authorised Basel edition - by Hero Alopecius in Cologne. We have only been able to find one reference to it (University of Toronto). Erasmus arranged publication of the Basel edition in August 1522, in response to the appearance of an unauthorised version in Cambridge in 1521. He had originally worked on the content in 1509-1511, and this work, developed from his earlier writing and lectures, became a popular and important text book on the writing of letters. It was much reprinted. This copy is newly rebound in full calf with panelled design to boards and gilt titles to spine. The page edges are red although this may not be contemporary. New endpapers. Contents with 2 initial blanks - the first with ink notation on the edition - this looks likely to be 1800's in date and the paper does not look contemporary. Title with elaborate design including 2 cherubs holding a shield with 3 crowns… Read More
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The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm
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The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm

by Grimm; Mrs Edgar Lucas [translator]

  • Used
  • near fine
  • Hardcover
  • Signed
  • first
Condition
Used - Near Fine
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
Seller
Birsay, Orkney
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A$8,819.55
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London: Constable & Company Ltd, 1909 A near fine copy of the 1st enlarged limited edition of Grimm's Fairy Tales illustrated by Arthur Rackham. 750 copies were produced and signed by Rackham, of which this is copy number 490. Issued with tipped in colour frontispiece and 39 further tipped in colour plates and numerous black and white illustrations and designs. This copy has been recently rebound in full calf with raised bands, blind stamped designs and titles to spine, and blind stamped panelled design to the boards. Top page edges gilted; remainder untrimmed. The binding is in fine clean condition. New endpapers have been added. Contents are complete with bright clean uncreased plates. There is a slight paper ripple to the bottom corner of preliminary leaves, a couple of light creases to tissue guards, and a slight fold to the stock paper for the plate at p 236. The tissue guard to the plate at p 74 has a tiny top edge tear. There is the occasional mark: gutter pp xiv-xv; small brown mark appearing… Read More
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Aranei, or A Natural History of Spiders including The Principal Parts of the well known work...
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Aranei, or A Natural History of Spiders including The Principal Parts of the well known work English Spiders by Eleazar Albin, as also The Whole of the celebrated publication on Swedish Spiders By Charles Clerk, Revised, Enlarged and Designed Anew

by Thomas Martyn

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Good
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
Seller
Birsay, Orkney
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A$10,779.45
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London: Thomas Martyn At his Academy for Illustrating and Painting Natural History, 1793 A good to very good copy of the first edition of this extremely scarce work. With hand coloured frontispiece, 28 hand coloured plates, and 2 plates of medals. Thomas Martyn is principally known as a draughtsman of natural history works. This publication is drawn from Charles Clerck's study dated 1757 and Eleazor Albin's Natural History of Spiders from 1736. The binding has a newer black morocco leather spine with decorative gilt bands and gilt titles. The boards are probably as issued by the publisher. There is rubbing and wear to the spine joints - particularly the top of the front joint - and rubbing to spine ends. The boards have a lot of wear to the marbled paper and the corners - which look to have been leather-covered at some point - are very worn. The endpapers are newer and with a small label of E W Classey to the front pastedown. Contents: hand coloured frontispiece; engraved title; advertisement 2pp;… Read More
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A$10,779.45
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Pride and Prejudice
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Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

  • Used
  • very good
  • Hardcover
Condition
Used - Very Good
Binding
Hardcover
Seller
Birsay, Orkney
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A$6,075.69
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London : Richard Bentley, 1833 A very good copy of the first Bentley edition in contemporary half leather binding which has been rebacked preserving the original spine. It was issued as part of the Standard Novels series enabling a much wider range of readers to access Jane Austen's works. The binding is sound and clean with new marbled paper sides. The spine has 5 small raised bands and gilt compartments with title label. Most of the original spine is present - as the previous damage was mainly to the spine ends and joints. Page edges lightly marbled.The original endpapers have been preserved with professional repair at the joints. There is an old ownership signature to the top of the initial blank. Contents: frontispiece; vignette title and letterpress title; text pp 1-340. It is bound without the half title. The contents are in very good clean condition with some occasional light foxing. Page size 16.5 cm x 10 cm.
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The Man With Two Left Feet
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The Man With Two Left Feet

by P G Wodehouse

  • Used
  • good
  • Hardcover
  • first
Condition
Used - Good
Edition
1st Edition
Binding
Hardcover
Seller
Birsay, Orkney
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A$7,839.60
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London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1917 A good copy of the rare 1st edition, which marks the first appearance of Bertie Wooster. In the original light red cloth binding which has been expertly rebacked and is sound and tight. The cloth on the spine is faded and browned. The boards have some light marking (more obvious on the back board) with some scuffing. Internally new endpapers have been added. Contents are complete as per McIlvaine A21a. There is persistent spotting, particularly to page edges and margins. Spotting visible at the foredge. The publisher's listing at the rear is very browned. Please enquire if you would like to see additional images.
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A$7,839.60
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