Contact Publishing Company. Paris, 1923. Black lettered blue jacket over beige wraps, enclosed in green cloth slipcase. Hemingway's first book. Although Bill Bird's Three Mountains Press' In Our Time was contracted earlier, Robert McAlmon's Contact Editions book was published and released earlier. Limited to 300 copies only. This copy inscribed by Hemingway on the front endpaper "This book is the property of James Cowan--he is not responsible for it--nor did he buy it. It was presented to him by the author--Ernest Hemingway" Cowan was a fellow reporter for the Toronto Star newspaper, for which Hemingway also worked. Included also is a sheaf of correspondence between former owners and James Cowan attesting to it's history and authenticity. Also included a dealer's catalogue in which this book was listed for sale back in late thirties or forties. This copy wrapped in glassine which is contemporary but not original. Wear and a few tears to the extremities but a particularly fine example of a fragile book. A great Toronto copy of an essential item in the Hemingway canon.

London, 1655. Pp. [10], 308, [2] - publisher's adverts, engraved frontispiece portrait plus 1 engraved plate, folding map. On a separate title-page: 'Bellum Tartaricum, or the Conquest of The Great and most Renowned Empire of China, By the Invasion of the Tartars, who in these last seven years, have wholly subdued that vast Empire. ... Written originally in Latine by Martin Martinius, present in the Countrey at most of the Passages herein related, And now faithfully Translated into English," (at page [249] - 308), engraved frontispiece portrait, engraved map dated 1654. Period style rebind in full calf, 5 raised bands, gilt-stamped spine title, sewn headbands, new endpapers distressed, folding map now mounted, dust soiling and thumbing to margins as to be expected, otherwise a superb copy of a very important book. Alvarez Semedo served as Portuguese Procurado General for China and resided 22 years at the Court. Derived from first-hand observation. First published in Madrid in 1642. "The second part is based on Martino Martini's De Bello Tartarico Historia (1654) - the story of the Manchu conquest of China, a work that was at the time was considered the best general description of China."

Yellow paper wraps serialized in 20 parts (19 and 20 bound together as a double number). The true first state of first edition although the ads are in various states of the first edition. Housed in a burgundy cloth four fold wrapper and then housed in burgundy morocco pull off case by Riviere. Gilt titles to spine. 621pp. This was Thackeray's first novel to be published under his own name. Each part is illustrated by engravings (39 total) by Thackeray himself, including the suppressed illustration in the 11th part titled "Marquis of Steyne" not present in subsequent editions. One of the highlights of English literature, it is rare to find it in such nice condition in the original parts.

No. 47 of 50 numbered copies on papier de Hollande. Pp. [vi], 326, [1], includes half-title. Bound by Stikeman & Co. in full green morocco with thin triple-ruled border in gilt, surrounding a gilt inner quad-ruled frame with a sprig of leaves to upper frame corner, gilt panelled spine with five raised bands, top edge gilt, others deckled, wide inside gilt dentelles on all margins of the pastedowns, serpentine on turkish marbled endpapers, ribbon bookmark. Gentle sunning to the spine, light rubbing to upper joint, deckled fore-edge very slightly dusty, occasional offsetting from the paintings, minor unobtrusive spotting, odour of animal glue present, otherwise a magnificent, rare and unique copy, housed in a very good slipcase with suede interior and marbled exterior. Contains 107 original watercolour and ink (and/or gouache) paintings by Emile Delphes Chabod, primarily margin illustrations, with approximately half signed or initialled by the artist.