Bethunes’ first auction at Webb’s in Newmarket takes place on Wednesday 14 July.

One of the highlights is a diary (pictured) of the Gallipoli Campaign and the Dardanelles, written by newspaper reporter Aubrey DeCoudrey Tronson. It’s a comprehensive account of WWI from a Kiwi point of view: Tronson was wounded at Chunuk Bair and describes the battle in great detail.

Other New Zealand highlights include J L White’s six-volume The Ancient History of the Maori (1887) and a first edition of Buller’s Birds of New Zealand.

Also confirmed is a collection of highly desirable books from the library of Sir Henry Kelliher, businessman and collector, including a complete set of Cook’s Voyages.

A large collection of hunting and fishing books will go under the hammer. There are several works by Banwell, including Highland Stags of Otago, plus fishing titles by T E Donne and Zane Grey. A selection of Barry Crump titles, some of them signed, will also ‘be of considerable interest’.

We especially like the look of the Victorian children’s books, such as The Vege-men’s Revenge from 1897:

This gruesome tale, with coloured renditions of the planting, chopping and eating of one ‘Miss Poppy’, nonetheless has a ‘happy ever after’ ending.

On 13 July, the day before the main Rare Book Auction, over 100 group and boxed lots are up for auction (at no reserve) at Webb's Penrose rooms. These lots are apparently ideal for dealer stock, library selections or for dressing a retail environment.

For an online catalogue of the main Rare Book, Map and Photography Auction, head here.