War, polar exploration and gardening - an eclectic mix of collectibles comes to auction

National Book Auctions have announced the listings for their February auction. Featured in this catalogue is an eclectic collection of militaria, including antique and vintage uniforms, books, ephemera and other memorabilia. 

Among items in this collection are original WWI and WWII army and air force jackets, pants, helmets, and other gear, as well as authentic patches and insignia. 

Complementing this collection are several important military-related books, featuring an 1862 first edition of the "History of the United States Naval Academy" and an 1825 report on the court martial of Commodore David Porter, and a variety of antique titles concerning the Civil War.  

Ephemera in this group include original correspondence to and from soldiers during World War II and photographs of German Nazi soldiers and Japanese soldiers, among other items.

The art reference titles feature works such as the first printing of the vintage work "The New Industrial Parks Near Irvine, California," an influential work on landscape photography. 

Other important works include a six-volume set on the paintings of Rembrandt with over 2,000 plates of the painter's work, a 1931 first edition German catalogue of artwork in the Berlin Museum, and "Les Marques De Collections De Dessins & D'Estampes," an important 1921 French work identifying collector's marks used by museum and private collectors.

The polar exploration titles in this catalogue chronicle the history of nineteenth and early twentieth century journeys to the North & South poles. 

The works in this collection detail the expeditions of A. W. Greely through items such as the 1884 pamphlet "The Greely Arctic Expedition,"  by Peary, an 1898 first edition of "Northward Over the 'Great Ice'," and Ejnar Mikkelsen's 1913 first English edition of "Lost in the Arctic". 

Also included are numerous books by classic exploration authors, such as Fridtjof Nansen, Vilhjalmur Stefansson and Peter Freuchen.

 Other notable books in this catalogue include a fine assortment of gardening and botany titles.  Featured is a first edition, gorgeously bound 1877 printing of the "Hand Book of Practical Landscape Gardening," Thomas Meehan's 1878-79 work on the "Native Flowers and Ferns of the United States," and several volumes of U.P. Hedrick's "Fruits of New York" series in fine condition with the prized colour plates.

The sale takes place in New York on February 27.