Search Results: Books from Belle Books

First edition. "In this volume Mr Davies seeks, in language intelligible to "the man in the street" (and in the country lane), to trace the origins of the New Zealand flora, and to describe it's distinctive features and its geographical distribution." The dustjacket is missing. The cover is green cloth board with the title in dark green on the spine. The spine is faded and foxed, there is shelf wear, and wear at the crown where there is a small tear. The cloth on the margins of the spine is fragile. There are a number of ink marks on the front and back cover and the corners are bumped. The text is very clean and clear, with a few, mostly minor, marks on a couple pages including the title page. These also appear to be ink. (A troublesome fountain pen perhaps.) There are no annotations anywhere. There are numerous black and white photographs taken by the author and two fold out maps in the back showing botanical districts of New Zealand. These are all in good condition.A highly regarded reference book… Read More

First edition. "The author is a distinguished scientist who has never lost his feeling of affection and admiration for the world about him and who can express his observations in a lucid, even lyric style, free of academic jargon and obscurity." The front and spine of the dustjacket are faded. There is a tear (3cm) at top lefthand corner with no loss. There is wear at the top of the spine, shelf wear and overall general surface rubbing. The blue board covers have the title in gilt along the spine. The corners are bumped. There is marked shelf wear and also wear at the crown of the spine. The text is very clean and clear, but very minor foxing on a couple of pages. There are no annotations anywhere in the book. There are numerous black and white photos and colour illustrations, many full page. We are happy to provide additional photos and information on request.

First edition. This book "is devoted to the beautiful private gardens New Zealanders have made. It is the story of forty rural and urban gardens throughout the North and South islands; about the pioneer properties of the 19th century which were formed from gorse and blackberry covered pasture in the days of horse and dray and pick and shovel." The dustjacket is faded along the spine and the top left of the front. There is some foxing on the inside and there is general surface rubbing. It is not price clipped. The covers are black board with the title in gilt along the spine. There is some shelfwear along the bottom edge. The text is clean and crisp and is in good condition. There is some foxing at the top of the front free endpaper and half title page and some discolouration along the top of the page margins. There are no annotations. The photos are numerous and in good condition. We are happy to provide additional photos and information on request. This is a large book which may incur additional… Read More

First edition (2019). " With a scientist's eye, a poet's turn of phrase, and an explorer's sense of wonder, Callum Roberts brings the underwater world to vivid life. His deep love of the ocean and profound concern for the changes that threaten it cannot be ignored." Lewis Pugh, UN Patron of the Oceans. The dustjacket is in near fine condition, there is no fading of the vibrant colours and vitually no sign of wear at all. The original retailer's price sticker is on the back and this could be removed if wished. The covers are turquoise with the title in silver along the spine. There is no fading or marks, and only minimal signs of shelfwear at the spine. The content of the book is virtually pristine. There are no annotations to the text and no inscriptions. There is no ageing to the pages. There are many photos throughtout the book, mostly colour and a few black & white. These are in equally good condition. We are happy to provide additional photos or information on request.

First edition. "Rearing nearly five miles into the skies, the Himalaya are the most magnificent range on earth. Yet they are only part of an even greater mountain complex which includes the Hindu Kush, Karakoram, Pamirs, Tien Shan and Kun Lun. Eminently readable, Mountain of the Gods tells the story of this whole complex from its formation to present day."" Superbly illustrated with paintings and photographs drawn largely from the archives of the Royal Geographical Society, Mountains of the Gods is a story of endurance and achievement on a heroic scale and a timely warning of what future generations stand to lose if we do not conserve this threatened paradise." The dustcover is in good condition with light surface rubbing. There is some fading down the spine and a few foxing marks. There is some shelfwear and also wear and a very small tear at the crown of the spine. The dustcover is not price-clipped.The covers are maroon cloth covered board with the title in silver along the spine. There is some… Read More

First edition. "The 1981 climbing team of Chris Bonington, Peter Boardman, Al Rouse and Joe Tasker were at first halted by appalling weather, by frighteningly unconsolidated snow, and the sheer deceptive scale of the final summit pyramid at whose foot they turned back. This distinctive triangle of steep ice-clad rock which formed the crux of the climb remained remote, seldom fully visible, making success uncertain to the very end. On their second attempt they spent four nights immured in snow 'coffins' waiting for the storm to subside before making the final successful push for the summit." This book originates from the personal library of the late Arnold J. Heine QSM, ONZM, Polar Medal. The dustjacket is in very good condition with no tears or nicks. There is discolouration to part of the front and to the spine. There is light general rubbing and minor shelfwear. The dustcover is not price-clipped. The covers are black cloth with the title on the spine in silver. They are in near fine condition. The… Read More

First edition. This book "stands out among mountaineering records because of the author's intense interest in the human side of the expedition, the reactions of the men to the mountain, to the almost unimaginable force of the wind, the cold down to -40 degrees F, the demands on physical and mental strength. The stark, ugly South West Face is here but so, no less, are the personalities confronted by this 'leviathan'..." This book originates from the personal library of Arnold J. Heine QSM, ONZM, Polar Medal.There is ageing to the colours of the dustcover and there is fading along the spine. There are three tears with no loss, the largest on the front is 2.5cm. The dustcover does show some shelfwear and bumping of the corners. The dustcover is not price clipped.The covers are royal blue with the title in gilt on a black panel on the spine. The covers are in very good condition, with very light bumping of corners and minimal shelfwear.The endpapers show some ageing. The text is very clean with minimal… Read More

First edition. "Easy Rider outlines the many joys of riding a bike in New Zealand, and provides a complete beginners' guide - from riding for fun, to commuting, riding for fitness, mountain biking and even racing. We learn about the reasons for, the reasons against (there aren't any), the basics of buying a bike and getting started, riding in New Zealand traffic, training and racing, safety and etiquette, maintenance, gizmos, gadgets, Lycra - and so much more.Told with Jon's amiable sense of comedy, boundless energy and passion for the subject, and accompanied by illustrations and photographs throughout, Easy Rider is your one-stop bike shop."The softcover is in very good condition with light surface rubbing and the slightest shelfwear. The original retailer's price sticker is on the back of the book and this could be removed if wished.Internally the text is in very clean and crisp condition with no marks or ageing. There are no annotations to the text and there are no inscriptions. There are numerous… Read More

First edition. "Whilst we shall never know the last tragic moments of the 1982 British Everest Expedition's final assault, this book records the team's progress to the once Forbidden City of Lhasa, across Tibet and to the unknown North East Ridge. It is the personal story of Chris Bonington, the leader, and Charles Clarke the expedition doctor; redolent in climbing history, it tells of a close-knit team who lost cherished friends."The dustcover is in very good condition, there is minor surface rubbing but no tears. The spine has some fading. There is a little wear at the crown of the spine. The covers are black cloth covered board with the title in silver along the spine. There is minimal shelfwear and the slightest hint of fading along top margin. The text is very clean with the very slightest ageing of the pages around the margins. There are no annotations or inscriptions. There are numerous colour photos throughout the book, many full page, and there are maps on the endpapers. These are all in… Read More

First edition. Translated from the French by Ben Lifson. "The development of nearly twenty species of wildflowers is caught on film using macrophotography, which produces a remarkably clear, larger-than-life, stop-action image. From the bud brimming with nectar and the unfolding of petals to the beauty of full bloom and then, after fading and shrinking, the fall of the corolla, the photographs reveal flowers as they have never been seen before." Dustjacket in very good condition with only general light rubbing, a little shelf wear at spine and a couple of lightly bumped corners. There is minimal foxing to inside of dustjacket. The covers are dark green board with the title in silver along the spine. Light bumping of corners. The text is very clean and crisp with no annotations. A giftcard has been attached to the front pastedown endpaper. It is in-keeping with the style of the book and has no inscription inside. The photographs are in excellent condition and are just breath-taking. Most are full page… Read More

Numbered Special Edition #4043 "Scent of the sea, the stars at night like a thousand watchfires above the ocean, the wind screaming in the rigging. This is a book of extraordinary adventure, and one man's questing spirit to challenge against all odds. Round the world yacht racing is considered by many to be the world's most dangerous sport. Peter Blake has won not only the two most coveted circumnavigation trophies, the Whitbread and the Jules Verne, but also in 1995 the legendary America's Cup." The dustcover is in very good condition. There is general surface rubbing, some fading along the spine and margins of the back. There is a small tear (2cm) at the top of the back. Slight bumping to corners. The covers are blue board with the title in silver on the front and spine. There is bumping to the corners and light shelfwear. Internally the text is very clean, no marks and there is no sign of ageing to the pages. There are no annotations to the text. The previous owner's name is written neatly on the… Read More

First edition. "No death in the middle years of the 20th century affected the New Zealand climbing community more than the loss of John Harrison in the Mount Rolleston tragedy of June 1966. John was one of the most admired climbers of his generation. His loss was felt keenly not only because of his achievements as a mountaineer in New Zealand and overseas, but also because his character and personality endeared him to people of all walks of life. He was a member of a significant generation of New Zealand climbers. Growing up through the years of World War II, this generation, after the war's end, completed the exploration of the New Zealand mountains and ascended the last of the country's unclimbed peaks. This was also the first generation of New Zealand climbers to test their mettle, in many numbers, on mountains overseas. This book describes not only his life and climbing career, but also sets his life and career in the broader context of the history of New Zealand mountaineering. More broadly still… Read More

Signed first edition. " Learning to ride a bicycle is a rite of passage engrained in the childhood memories of most New Zealanders. The joy and freedom associated with mastering that magic combination of balance, steering and speed is unforgettable. From that moment, young pedallers have followed various two-wheeled paths - road and track racing, mountain biking, cycle commuting and more. This book explores them all and in doing so fills a key gap in our history." ( from the Prologue) The cover is in very good condition. There is light surface rubbing and minor bumping of the corners. The text is is extremely good condition, there are no annotation or signs of ageing. There are numerous photos, colour and black & white, throughout, many which are full page. Signed on the half title page by S. Kennett dated February 2005. We are happy to provide further photos and information on request.

First edition. Colin Fraser " is one of the many men who have been captivated by the complex and unpredictable nature of avalanches, by their enormous destructive power, and by their capriciousness, by which, for example, an avalance may come down a given slope only once in 500 years." This book originates from the personal library of the late Arnold J. Heine QSM, ONZM, Polar Medal. The dustcover shows general surface rubbing. There is shelfwear and wear along the top edge. There is a small tear (1cm) at front top right corner. There is some fading of text on the back of the dustcover. The dustcover is price clipped with a new price label affixed. The covers are green with the title in gilt on the spine. The corners are slightly bumped and there is some shelfwear. The text is very clean with a small amount of foxing on a few pages. There are no annotations other than previous owner name ( A. J. Heine) written on the front free endpaper. There is some discolouration of the outer page margins. There… Read More

Second edition. (First edition 1936.) "This book is an attempt to describe and explain the prime causes of snow phenomena so that the reader will be able to understand them when he meets them, and thus, by thinking out the sequels for himself, acquire experience with greater ease and in a manner hitherto impossible for him."This book originates from the personal library of the late Arnold J. Heine QSM, ONZM, Polar Medal.The dustcover is not present.The covers are blue cloth, the colour is still good but there are small light coloured marks all over. The title is in gilt lettering on the spine. There is some shelfwear. There is some movement between the block and the front cover.The text is very clean. There are no annotations other than the previous owner's name ( A. J. Heine) on the front free endpaper.There are both diagrams and black and white photos, all of which are in a good condition. There is a photographic foldout frontispiece.This is still an important reference book that is hard to find.We… Read More

First edition. Number 308 of limited edition of 1000. " Original material, never widely available before, reveals the major contribution such clubs have made to New Zealand society. As tramping, climbing and ski-ing developed so rescue organisations were formed, which very early on were involved with helping people who belonged to no club. At the same time members were exploring the bush and mountains, building huts, and establishing effective systems for administation." This book originates from the personal library of the late Arnold J. Heine QSM, ONZM, Polar Medal. The dustcover is in very good condition. There is fading along the spine and a margin of the front. There is general light surface rubbing, some shelfwear and some wear at the crown of the spine. The covers are dark green cloth with no title. The corners are bumped and there is some shelfwear and wear at the crown of the spine. There is a small ding into the leading edge of the front and back covers (

First UK edition. "King was a man of rare cultivation and with an enormous zest for life, and his vigorous book is filled with freshness and sensibility, with delight in nature and wild life, and with whimsical and humourous observations." This book originates from the personal library of the late Arnold J. Heine QSM, ONZM, Polar Medal. The dustjacket has light general fading but more so along the spine, there is a tear at the crown (2.5cm) and shelfwear, noteably at the spine. There is a discoloured patch on the back of the dustcover. The dustcover is not price-clipped. The covers are yellow board with the title in red on the spine and the front. The spine is a little faded and there is shelfwear and light bumping of the corners. The endpapers show some ageing and the front pastdown has an inscription of the previous owner's name ( A. J. Heine). Internally the pages are aged around the outer edges but are remarkable free from foxing throughout. There are no annotations. There are a number of full… Read More

Signed first edition. " As expedition climbers, Rod Hall and Gary Ball formed the most dynamic and accomplished mountaineering partnership New Zealand has ever seen. With 47 international expeditions between them, to some of the highest and remotest peaks in the world, they ventured to all seven continents." "This vibrant, widely researched and profusely illustrated story takes the reader on a complex and colourful journey through the lives of two remarkable New Zealanders." This book originates from the personal library of the late Arnold J. Heine, QSM, ONZM, Polar Medal. The dustjacket is in very good condition. There is light fading down the spine with general light surface rubbing. The covers are dark blue and are in very good condition, with the title on the front and spine in silver. There is one minor blemish on the front cover and there is light shelf wear. The text is in pristine condition with no annotations. There are many colour photographs throughout the book which are also in excellent… Read More

Signed first edition. "Antartica has always loomed large in the collective consciousness of New Zealanders; as a backdrop to heroic exploration and legendary 'Kiwi' ingenuity, as a source of fascinating scientific discoveries and as an inspiration for poetry and art. This book is a celebration of the landscape, history, science and adventure of Antartica and of the many men and women who have responded to the 'call of the ice'". This book originates from the personal library of the late Arnold J. Heine QSM, ONZM, Polar Medal. (see photo 3.) It is signed by the author on the title page with a dedication to Arnold Heine dated 27 September 2007. There is a Heine Library bookplate attached opposite the title page. The dustcover has very light surface wear with minimal bumping of the corners. The covers are light blue with the title in gilt on the spine. There is very light shelfwear. The text is in very good condition with no annotations, or ageing of the pages. There are many photos throughout, the… Read More

Signed first edition. "This book results from a long interest and experience in the mountains by both authors. Recently they have spent four summers collecting, describing and drawing plants from most alpine regions in New Zealand to produce a book that will please and instruct all who are interested in New Zealand alpine flora." The dustjacket shows wear around the margins and the corners are bumped. There are 2 small tears (largest 2cm) at the crown of the spine and one small tear at the top margin of the back. The dustjacket is not price-clipped. The black covers are in good condition with the title in gilt lettering on the spine. There is minimal shelf wear. The text is very clean with minimal ageing of the pages. There are no annotations to the text. The numerous excellent illustrations are in very good condition. The maps on the end pages show slight foxing and ageing. Signed by the author on the title page, and with a gift inscription by the author. We are happy to provide further information… Read More