Now that the wretched month of January is finally past us, it feels like there is so much to look forward to here at Rooke Books! We've recently had lots of works from the library of Edward and Jocelyn Henderson, important British diplomats based in Abu Dhabi, as well as countless works regarding the lavish church plate found in ecclesiastical institutes across Britain. Of course, there's always something a little juicier to sink our teeth into, and so...

The Stowe Catalogue

This auction catalogue from 1848 describes the auction of Stowe House's treasures, including an important portrait of one of the most recognisable figures in Western history, William Shakespeare. Widely considered the most famous of the two portraits depicting Shakespeare, it was amongst the thousands of treasures auctioned off, and purchased by the 1st Earl of Ellesmere, an art collector. Upon his death, the portrait was donated to what would grow into the National Portrait Gallery, where it has hung ever since. Ours is a fascinating insight into auctions of the day, complete with a historical notice of Stowe and the Buckingham and Chandos family and richly illustrated with plates.

Through the Grand Canyon

A beautiful, bright and signed work regarding the Grand Canyon, written by the Kolb Brothers. Emery and Ellsworth Kolb constructed the picturesque Kolb Studio on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon; it was a home and photography studio for the two brothers. This work is an ode to the beauty of the Canyon, and follows the author's travels from Wyoming to Mexico. Illustrated by Emery and written by Ellsworth, this later impression is signed by both Kolb brothers to the front free endpaper, and is a delightful tribute to an incredible natural landmark.

Ghosts, Stories of the Supernatural

This is a scarce first edition copy of Elliott O'Donnell's eerie collection of ghost stories, tales which O'Donnell believed to be authentic. O'Donnell was a fascinating figure who claimed to have had ghostly experiences of his own, including being strangled by an apparition in Dublin. He wrote popular fantasy works which he presented as being true stories, and as his renown grew, was often asked to solve ghost problems. This collection by an original real-life Ghostbuster features stories by O'Donnell as well as a number of other authors, and is complete with the original unclipped dust wrapper.

Our Inheritance in the Great Pyramid

An eye-catching and fascinating insight into the construction of the Great Pyramids of Giza. This is the fourth edition of 1880 of this popular and innovative work by Charles Piazzi Smith, an astronomer best known for his work regarding the Pyramids. Among his theories was that the Bible's Noah planned and supervised the construction of the Pyramids. This remarkable work is illustrated with twenty-five plates, including five plates in colour, and is bound in the publisher's original bright cloth. Our other archaeological works can be found here.

Wooings and Weddings in Many Climes

And, in spirit of the looming Valentine's Day, this work is an insightful exploration of marriage traditions as they are across the world. A second edition, the author takes the reader through the Arctic, Ceylon and 'Gipsy Land', and the charming book is illustrated with photographs depicting brides across the globe. This would make a most thoughtful engagement or wedding gift, and we've thoroughly enjoyed listing it.

Finally, our header this week comes from the beautifully illustrated 'The Insignia & Plate of the Corporation of The City of Westminster', a scarce first edition detailing the treasures of the City of Westminster, illustrated with photographs.