PATRICK O ' BRIAN: AUBREY - MATURIN, 20 BOOKS/FOLIO SOCIETY/NAVY/RARE 2010, $3000,
Item History & Price
A handsome complete set of 20 matching hardcover books, published in England by the Folio Society. These lovely books are printed on high quality paper, with color illustrated plates, other illustrations in the texts, and maps on the endpapers. They are solidly bound in heavy hardcover bindings with striking gilt and color images and lettering. These books have no ...writing or markings, no torn or missing pages, no ownership markings, and with almost no wear to the covers. They were issued with slipcases, but the previous owner removed the boxes. I could probably get most or all of the boxes if desired, but for now I am listing the set without boxes. Sets of these books are now very rare and valuable: the only 2 other sets for sale, worldwide, are priced $3200 and $4300. These books are out-of-print; the publisher only has 4 of these books still for sale, at $56 each; some of the books are available used for $40 each, but other titles in the series now sell for more than $400 each. Such a nice complete matching set of these classic works is not likely to come up for sale often.
Titles include: MASTER & COMMANDER; POST CAPTAIN; H. M. S. SURPRISE; THE MAURITIUS COMMAND; DESOLATION ISLAND; THE FORTUNE OF WAR; THE SURGEON'S MATE; THE IONIAN MISSION; TREASON'S HARBOR; THE FAR SIDE OF THE WORLD; THE REVERSE OF THE MEDAL; THE LETTER OF MARQUE; THE THIRTEEN-GUN SALUTE; THE NUTMEG OF CONSOLATION; CLARISSA OAKES; THE WINE-DARK SEA; THE COMMODORE; THE YELLOW ADMIRAL; THE HUNDRED DAYS; BLUE AT THE MIZZEN.
According to Wikipedia: "Patrick O'Brian, CBE (12 December 1914 – 2 January 2000), born Richard Patrick Russ, was an English novelist and translator, best known for his Aubrey–Maturin series of sea novels set in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and centred on the friendship of the English naval captain Jack Aubrey and the Irish–Catalan physician Stephen Maturin. The 20-novel series, the first of which is Master and Commander, is known for its well-researched and highly detailed portrayal of early 19th-century life, as well as its authentic and evocative language..."
Also according to wikipedia: "The Aubrey–Maturin series is a sequence of nautical historical novels—20 completed and one unfinished—by Patrick O'Brian, set during the Napoleonic Wars and centering on the friendship between Captain Jack Aubrey of the Royal Navy and his ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin, a physician, natural philosopher, and intelligence agent. The first novel, Master and Commander, was published in 1969 and the last finished novel in 1999.[1] The 21st novel of the series, left unfinished at O'Brian's death in 2000, appeared in print in late 2004. The series received considerable international acclaim and most of the novels reached The New York Times Best Seller list.[1] These novels comprise the heart of the canon of an author often compared to Jane Austen, C. S. Forester and other British authors central to the English literature canon...O'Brian's books were written and published in the same chronological sequence as the events they describe, beginning with Master and Commander, set in 1800, and carrying through to the final novel, set in late 1815 after the Battle of Waterloo...The series focuses on two main characters, naval officer Jack Aubrey and physician, naturalist, and spy Stephen Maturin, and the ongoing plot is structured around Aubrey's ascent from Lieutenant to Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy during the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars.Jack Aubrey is a large man (both literally and figuratively) with an energetic, gregarious, cheerful, and relatively simple personality and a deep respect for naval tradition. Remarkable early success earned him the nickname "Lucky Jack Aubrey" and a reputation as a "fighting captain", a reputation which he sought to retain throughout his career. But while frequently "brilliant" and much respected at sea, he is less competent on land, as indiscreet liaisons, impertinent remarks, and poor financial decisions often bring him trouble. Aubrey's professional life of daring exploits and reverses was inspired by the chequered careers of Thomas Cochrane and other notable captains of the Royal Navy from the period.Irish-Catalan Dr. Stephen Maturin ostensibly serves as an adept ship's surgeon on Aubrey's various commands. However, unknown to many of his associates, he also serves as a particularly skilled volunteer intelligence agent for the British Admiralty. Maturin is described as a small, quiet, "ugly" man who is known to cast a "dangerous, pale, reptilian eye" towards his enemies. Unlike his action-oriented friend, Maturin is very well educated with several intellectual pursuits. He is passionately fascinated by the natural world, and takes every opportunity to explore the native wildlife of his ships' ports of call around the world...Despite their many differences, the pair are invaluable and indispensable companions throughout many years of adventure and danger. Reviewers have compared Aubrey and Maturin to other seemingly mismatched yet inseparable fictional duos such as Don Quixote and Sancho Panza in "Don Quixote", Holmes and Watson in the Sherlock Holmes stories, and Kirk and Spock in the original Star Trek TV series..."
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Set of 20 thick Octavo-sized hardcover books; about 300 pages in each book, with many color illustrated plates, and maps on endpapers. Near Fine condition: no torn or missing pages; no writing or markings in the texts; no ownership markings. Original hardcover bindings, with almost no wear, and with beautiful ornate gilt and colored designs. No slipcases. A solid and attractive rare complete set of hardcover books.
Please look through my other auction listings- I have listed many scarce and unusual books this week on ebay. Please bid on more than one book, because I will be happy to reduce shipping costs for multiple purchases; media mail postage is $12 for this listing, and $1 for each additional book that you win from me. International bids welcomed, international airmail postage $140; Canadian airmail postage $100.
rare