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Lot 511
Tolkien (J.R.R.). The Hobbit, Or There and Back Again, 1st ed., 1937, b & w illustrations by the author, single leaf advert. leaf at end, map endpapers, publisher’s ‘File Copy’ ink stamps to front map endpaper and front free endpaper, top edge stained green, original green cloth with blue wraparound illustration of Smaug and mountains, spine a trifle rubbed, 8vo. J.R.R. Tolkien’s award-winning fantasy novel was published on 21 September 1937, 1500 copies were printed and sold out by 15 December. Originally conceived in the late 1920’s-early 1930’s to entertain his three sons, Tolkien recalled in a letter to W.H. Auden in 1955: ‘All I can remember about the start of The Hobbit is sitting correcting School Certificate papers in the everlasting weariness of that annual task forced on impecunious academics with children. On a blank leaf I scrawled: “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” I did not and do not know why. I did nothing about it, for a long time, and for some years I got no further than the production of Thror’s Map. But it became The Hobbit in the early 1930’s...’. The book has gone on to sell an estimated 100 million copies worldwide since first publication and has never been out of print. Hammond A3. Believing that the best judge of children’s literature were children themselves it was the habit of Sir Stanley to pay the young Rayner a shilling (five pence) for each reader’s report. Teh ten-year-old Rayner was given the manuscript of The Hobbit by his father in 1936 and for which he wrote this positive report, the original of which is held at the University of Reading: “Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who lied in a hobbit-hole and never went for adventures, at last Gandalf the wizard and his dwarves perswaded him to go. He had a very exciting time fighting goblins and wrags, at alst they got to the lonley mountain; Smaug, the dragon who gareds it is killed and after a terrific battle with the goblins he returned home - rich! This book, with the help of maps, does not need any illustrations it is good and should appeal to all children between the ages of 5 and 9.” Sir Stanley duly went ahead and published the book in autumn of 1937. In honour of his services to Tolkien publishing the Tolkien Society presented Rayner with a 1936 King George V one shilling piece at the Tolkien centenary celebrations Oxford in 1992. The shilling is offered here with this lot. It is suspended in perspex set in a small wooden desk frame (13 x 15 x 6 cm) with a gilt plaque from the Tolkien Society front and back. Sadly, this is not the original shilling, Rayner admitting on receipt of this gift that the original had long since been spent on sweets. (2)
Lot 211
A French Louis Philippe mahogany, alabaster and gilt metal mounted cylinder desk, circa 1840, the architectural upper section with pediment decorated with classical maidens, pair of mirrored cabinet doors flanked by pilasters, opening to small drawers, revolving fall opening to an arrangement of small drawers and pigeon holes and sliding writing surface, three long drawers, block feet, 190cm high, 120cm wide, 65cm deep. Provenance: By family descent from Alexander Marshall Mackenzie(18481933). Mackenzie was a Scottish architect responsible for prestigious projects including the Isle of Man Banking Company in Douglas, Australia House and the Waldorf Hotel in London. He received royal patronage with the design of Crathie Kirk (1893) and was subsequently chosen by the Duke and Duchess of Fife (the Prince of Waless daughter Princess Louise) for the new Mar Lodge (1895).
Lot 844
An Edwardian satinwood, inlaid and decorated cylinder fronted writing desk, crossbanded in tulipwood, bordered with boxwood and ebony lines, the fall decorated with an oval musical trophy within ribbon tied surround, enclosing a fitted interior with small drawers, pigeon holes and pull out tooled leather inset writing surface, containing five short drawers below, on square tapered legs, terminating in castors, 91cm (3ft) wide, together with a desk chair of tub shaped outline, the triple splat back decorated with musical trophies, on cabriole legs.
Lot 874
An Art Deco walnut veneer kneehole desk, of recessed breakfront outline, the rectangular top with rounded corners and a moulded edge, inset with a divided panel of tooled leather, the frieze fitted with three drawers, the pedestals each fitted with three drawers and with an enclosed cupboard to the reverse, on moulded plinths, the top 183cm x 92cm.
Lot 713
A Victorian coromandel and brass mounted table desk, by S. Morden & Co London, the sloping top with brass fretwork spandrels inset blue jasperware style plaques, enclosing a fitted interior, signed as per title to lock plate, also inset retailer’s label for ‘ Howell James& Co, Regent Street, London’, 35 x 25 x 11cm, slight damage* Howell and James were founded in 1819 as silk mercers & retail jewellers, the original partners being John Howell and Isaac James. By 1838 the firm had become Howell, James & Co. with the partners now John Howell, William Sedgwick, Thomas Stroud and Henry Gillett although by 1855 the company was in the sole ownership of Gillett and in 1884 became a limited company known as Howell & James Ltd. The opening day of their annual ‘exhibition’ became one of the outings of the period attracting the cream of London society. They exhibited at the Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park, as well as the International Exhibition of 1862, the Paris Exhibition of 1867 and the London exhibition of 1872. The company were champions of the South Kensington School and included many items within their stock that came from this establishment, and included jewellery from designers such as C.L. Eastlake, M.D. Wyatt, F. Leighton, and L.F. Day at these various exhibitions. From 1876 they held popular exhibitions at their Regent Street premises showcasing the painted pottery produced by amateurs. One of their designers, the well- known L.F. Day had made a clock for the 1851 Great Exhibition and went on to design the company’s stand at the later 1878 Paris show. His Aesthetic clocks were a mainstay of Howell and James’s production, who had other prominent designers from the Arts & Crafts movement working alongside them including Thomas Harris and J. Llewellyn who left in 1889, taking many of the selling rights to Liberty & Co situated close-by in Regent Street
Lot 77
EDWARDIAN MAHOGANY DAVENPORT TYPE LADIES WRITING DESK, having arched pierced foliate freize to the raised back above three small centre drawers flanked by open shelves, tooled leather writing surface hinged to reveal sparsely fitted interior, three drawers to one side with opposing dummies, panel front standing on cabriole legs with ceramic castors. C1900. 21.5" Wide x 43" High x 22" Deep.
Lot 79
VICTORIAN WALNUT DAVENPORT DESK, having low solid gallery to the back, slope front with inset tooled leather writing surface, revealing four fitted drawers to the interior, pen drawer and four graduated moulded drawers to one side with opposing dummies, moulded cabriole front legs standing on bun feet with recessed castors. C1875. 20.5" Wide x 21" Deep x 33" High.
Lot 80
VICTORIAN MAHOGANY CYLINDER FRONTED WRITING DESK, the solid cylinder with turned knobs revealing birds eye maple fitted interior, slid out tooled leather writing surface with rising book stand centre on ratchet support, three drawers with turned knobs to each pedestal on platform supports on ceramic castors. C1880. 53" Wide x 30" Deep x 48" High.
Lot 82
VICTORIAN MAHOGANY KNEE HOLE DESK IN GEORGIAN STYLE, having moulded edge top and tooled leather writing surface above three panel moulded freize drawers, two blind panel doors to each pedestal with opposing dummy drawers and cupboards, standing on platform support with recessed castors. 34" Wide x 23.5" Deep x 29.5" High.
Lot 85
SMALL VICTORIAN MAHOGANY KNEE HOLE WRITING DESK, having moulded edge to the top with inset tooled leather writing surface, centre freize drawer flanked by four drawers to each pedestal on platform support with castors and a range of matching opposing dummy drawers. 38" Wide x 23.5" Deep x 29" High.
Lot 85A
VICTORIAN EBONIZED AND BRASS INLAID BONHEUR DU JOUR LADIES WRITING DESK, having three cabinets and three drawers to the recessed back. The base with centre freize drawers and writing slide, on vase shaped square legs with shaped cross over stretchers having gilt metal vase finial. Overall decorated with relief pietra jura type coloured hardstone inlaid panels of vases of fruit and foliage. C1875. 49" Wide x 24" Deep x 62" High.
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147561 item(s)/page