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Lot 48

Demonology.- Exorcism.- Darrell (John) A True Narration of the Strange and Grevious Vexation by the Devil, of 7 Persons in Lancashire, and William Somers of Nottingham, first edition, small chipping and loss to title edges affecting odd letter, expertly laid onto tissue, scattered spotting and staining, trimmed, occasionally affecting headline and page number, R2 with small tears and tiny holes to fore-edge, S1 with small tears and small loss to fore-edge, occasionally affecting sidenotes, old repair to verso, lacking S2 (?final blank), nineteenth-century half-calf, rebacked retaining remnants of original backstrip, slight rubbing to corners, small 4to, 1600. ***  John Darrell, a puritan, was a self appointed Doctor of Divinity and self-proclaimed exorcist. Darrell claimed to have found many witches, and performed multiple exorcisms, though it was later found that he had in fact paid people to claim that they were possessed and that Darrell had subsequently cured them. William Somers was one of the people who later admitted that he was a fake who was working under Darrell's instruction.  For another work by Darrell see lot xx 

Lot 264

Egypt.- Carter (Howard) & A.C. Mace. The Tomb of Tutankhamen, 3 vol., first edition, photographic illustrations, ownership inscriptions to half-titles, light marking to endpapers, original pictorial cloth, light rubbing to spine ends, overall still bright, 4to, 1923-33.

Lot 306

*** Please note, the description of this lot has changed *** Jonston (John) Historiae Naturalis de Quadrupetibus Libri, engraved title, 80 engraved plates, Q4 with small portion torn away at lower corner (loss of letters; loosely inserted); Historiae Naturalis de Auibus Libri VI, engraved title, 62 engraved plates; Historiae Naturalis de Piscibus et Cetis Libri V, engraved title, 47 engraved plates; Historiae Naturalis de Exanguibus Aquaticis, woodcut device to title, 20 engraved plates; Historiae Naturalis de Insectis Libri III. de Serpentibus et Draconibus Libri II, 2 parts in 1, engraved title, with small tear and repair, 28 engraved plates, divisional title with woodcut device, 12 engraved plates, together 5 works in 1, all first editions, engraved plates after Mattheaus Merian, Caspar Merian and others, a few scattered plates or leaves with small closed tears, generally clean with occasional spots, occasional worming to lower margins, minor foxing or soiling, contemporary vellum with manuscript ink lettering to spine, back-strip peeling away along upper joint but joint itself firm, two closed tears to spine head, yapp edges worn, [Nissen ZBI 2132; 2132; 2133; 2134; 2135], folio, Frankfurt, M. Merian, 1650-53.*** First edition of this seminal work; not only did Jonston's enormous compilation become the standard seventeenth century encyclopaedia on natural history, but Merian's plates similarly became an illustrative cornerstone, extensively reprinted and copied for over a century.   

Lot 102

Hardy (Thomas) Far from the Madding Crowd, 2 vol., first edition in book form, first impression, wood engraved frontispieces and 9 plates only (of 10) by Helen Allingham, frontispiece to vol. 1 with small marginal tear and neat repair, scattered spotting, modern crushed morocco, [Purdy pp.13-18], 8vo, 1874. *** The first of Hardy's six great novels and the first set in the fictional area of Wessex. Initially published anonymously in monthly instalments in the Cornhill Magazine from January to December 1874, each with a full-page illustration and vignette initial by Helen Paterson (who became Helen Allingham during the run when she married the poet William Allingham in August 1874). In a later letter to Edmund Gosse, Hardy described her as "the best illustrator I ever had" (Purdy, p.13).

Lot 117

Churchill (Sir Winston Spencer) The Second World War, 6 vol., first edition, half-titles, folding maps and plates, vol.6 with light occasional spotting, the odd faint spot otherwise, modern red crushed half morocco, spines gilt in compartments with lion motif, double morocco spine labels, an attractive and bright set, [Woods A123(b)], 8vo, 1948-54.

Lot 24

Binding.- Mathematics.- Euclid. Euclidis Elementorum geometricorum libri sex priores, numerous woodcut diagrams in text, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, upper inner gutters / margins water-stained (just touching text), with minor paper loss at start and end (not affecting text), occasional mostly marginal water-staining, occasional spotting, lightly browned, hinges split, bound in a late 11th century German manuscript leaf from Saint Jerome's Adversus Pelagianos over boards, text in Latin in a Romanesque hand, 29 lines, spine with piece missing from head (just touching text) and some water-staining causing fading of text, some staining, rubbed, leaf 212 x 147mm., 17th century printer's waste used in binding, 8vo, Ingolstadt, Eder at the house of Elizabeth Angermaier, 1617.  *** A rare edition in commerce; here bound in an early manuscript leaf comprising the first section of the third part of St. Jerome's 5th century critique of Pelagius's theories. 

Lot 118

Adams (Douglas) The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, first edition, signed by the author on upper inner wrapper, The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy LP purchase slip from the publisher loosely inserted, very faint spots to upper fore-edge, otherwise very fine, almost mint, 8vo, 1979.*** The true first edition of this keystone of 20th century sci-fi literature, very rare in commerce, especially signed in this exceptional condition. The conceit was originally a radio series, broadcast in 1978 on BBC Radio 4, with Adams later developing the Hitchhiker's Guide into a "trilogy" of five books which sold more than fifteen million copies during his lifetime. Soon after this paperback release, the first hardback edition was released by Arthur Barker Publishers, noted by collectors for its appearance or lack of the "Capricorn One" advert on the rear panel.

Lot 111

Doyle (Sir Arthur Conan) The Hound of the Baskervilles, first edition, first issue with "you" for "your" on p.13, half-title, 16 plates by Sidney Paget, some edges lightly frayed, light toning to endpapers with contemporary gift inscription, original pictorial cloth, gilt, spine slightly sunned, spine ends and corners a little frayed, light rubbing, a very good copy overall, [Green & Gibson A26], 8vo, 1902. *** A clean copy of the best Sherlock Holmes novel, a Haycraft-Queen cornerstone.

Lot 105

Hardy (Thomas) The Trumpet-Major, 3 vol., first edition in book form, [one of 1000], half-titles, scattered faint spotting, original decorative red cloth bound at end, modern crushed morocco, [Purdy pp.31-35], 8vo, 1880. *** Hardy's epic novel set during the Napoleonic Wars, first published in monthly instalments in Good Words, from January to December 1880.

Lot 14

More (Sir Thomas) La Republica nuovamente ritrovata, del Governo dell'Isola Eutopia, first edition in Italian, translated by Doni, collation: A-G8 H4 complete, woodcut device on title, woodcut initials, foxing, ink crossing out on title, contemporary limp vellum, piece missing from middle of spine, preserved in modern vellum drop-back box, 8vo (147 x 93mm.), Venice, 1548.*** Rare at auction, the last copy we can trace appearing in 1944. Literature: Edit16 CNCE 49218.

Lot 107

Hardy (Thomas) The Mayor of Casterbridge, 2 vol., first edition in book form, half-titles, publisher's advertisements at end, scattered spotting, original blue cloth bound in at end, modern crushed morocco, [Purdy pp.50-54], 8vo, 1886.

Lot 181

Lawrence (T.E.) Seven Pillars of Wisdom, first trade edition, spotting to first few pages, ownership inscription on front free endpaper, original buckram, rubbed and faded, custom-made leather dust-jacket, sewn at edges (some loss) a little frayed at edges, spine faded, 4to, 1935. *** A curious leather dust-jacket, expertly made but without mention in records as far as we can tell.  

Lot 235

Fry (Roger) Twelve Original Woodcuts, second impression, 12 plates, printed on alternate rectos, advertisement leaf at end, toning to title, original wrappers, one or two spots, creased at edges, spine a little toned, [Woolmer 13; Greenwood p.68], 8vo, Hogarth Press, 1921. *** See previous lot for details: a rare second impression of this Omega Workshop item.In a letter of 2 December 1921, Virginia Woolf noted that "the first edition of Roger's woodcuts sold out in two days, and another [is] to be printed, folded, stitched and bound instantly" - Letters, II, p.495. The second impression was printed on superior paper stock, without the titles of the woodcuts. Though the size of the impression is unknown, we can trace few examples of this impression in commerce. 

Lot 175

Isherwood (Christopher) Goodbye to Berlin, first edition, light marks to endpapers, original cloth, light strip fading to spine ends, dust-jacket, expert repairs to tears and fraying extremities, in effect an excellent and sharp copy, [Woolmer 451], 8vo, Hogarth Press, 1939.

Lot 120

Banks (Iain M.) The Wasp Factory, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to title, original boards, rubbing to spine tips and corners, dust-jacket, very slight sunning to spine, else fine, 8vo, 1987.

Lot 280

Japan.- Perry (Matthew Calbraith) Narrative of the Expedition of an American Squadron to the China Seas and Japan, Performed in the Years 1852, 1853, and 1854, under the Command of Commodore M.C. Perry, 3 vol., first edition, edited by Francis L. Hawks, vol. 1 with 87 lithographed plates (most tinted), 3 colour facsimiles of Japanese woodblock prints (2 folding), 6 maps (2 folding), and numerous wood-engraved illustrations, vol. 2 with 27 plates, of which 18 hand-coloured, 16 diagram plates, 16 maps (most of these at rear, creased with a few repairs to folds or tears), vol. 3 with 352 wood-engraved star charts, scattered plates working loose, some foxing, original cloth, spines gilt but sunned and faded, tears to joints and spine ends, generally a bit worn, [Hill 1332; Sabin 30968], 4to, Washington, Beverley Tucker, 1856.*** First edition, 'senate issue' of Perry's account of his historic voyage to Japan during which he was instrumental in the treaty which 'opened' Japan to the west. Here present the supressed colour plate of nude bathers, often missing. 

Lot 222

Wentworth (Patricia) The Astonishing Adventure of Jane Smith, first edition, light browning on endpapers, light coth, a little marked, dust-jacket, expertly retouched and restored along edges and spine head, in effect an excellent and bright copy, 8vo, 1923. *** Wentworth's first crime novel, rare in this condition. 

Lot 103

Hardy (Thomas) The Hand of Ethelberta. a Comedy in Chapters, 2 vol., first edition in book form, [one of 1000], half-titles, wood engraved frontispieces and 9 plates, advertisements at end, scattered spotting, original red cloth bound at end, modern crushed morocco, 1876; A Laodicean; or. the Castle of the De Stancys, first English edition in book form, 3 vol., one or two faint spots, morocco by C. J. Sawyer, rebacked, gilt inner dentelles, lightly rubbed edges, 1881; Wessex Tales, 2 vol., first edition in book form [one of 750], half-titles, one or two faint spots, original green cloth bound at end, modern crushed morocco, 1888, [Purdy pp.20-23; 36-40; 58-60]; and other first editions by the same, 8vo (12).

Lot 260

China.- Ellis (Henry) Journal of the Proceedings of the Late Embassy to China, first edition, portrait frontispiece, 7 hand-coloured aquatint plates, 3 engraved maps, of which 1 folding, folding map with very short tear and light creasing to inner edge (no image loss), some spotting at beginning and end, some light soiling to title and verso of final f., maps lightly offset, single-page maps foxed, contemporary mottled calf, red morocco spine label, spine ends and foot of upper joint worn, spine and extremities rubbed, [Abbey, Travel 536; Hill 542 "This edition...is much prized"], 4to, for John Murray, 1817. *** Provenance: Ferguson of Wraith (bookplate).  

Lot 99

Dickens (Charles) Barnaby Rudge, 1871; The Old Curiosity Shop, later printings, Sir David Attenborough's copies with his pencil ownership inscriptions on front free endpapers, other pencil ownership inscriptions on half-title, later cloth preserving original covers and spines laid down, a little rubbed and stained; and 2 others, including a first edition in book form, first printing of Pickwick Papers in handsome morocco, 8vo (4)

Lot 116

Frazer (Sir James George) The Golden Bough: A Study in Magic and Religion, 12 vol., mixed reprints, frontispiece, half-titles, a few leaves unopened, edges spotted, endpapers browned at margins, original pictorial cloth, gilt, t.e.g., spine ends very lightly bumped, original dust-jackets, vol.2 lower cover with a few small stains, some spines with patches of soiling, some corners and spine ends slightly bumped, one or two with minor chips, 8vo, Macmillan and Co., 1930-36. *** Frazer's landmark anthropological study of magic and religion, greatly enlarged from the original 1890 first edition published in 2 volumes. A lovely fresh set, the covers bright and clean, preserved in the scarce dust-jackets. 

Lot 251

America.- Blome (Richard) The Present State of His Majesties Isles and Territories in America, first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece, 7 folding maps after Robert Morden and plate of sundials, 6pp. advertisements at rear, large folding map of Jamaica with repaired tear, light browning and damp-staining, 18th century speckled calf, arms of George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham to upper cover, rebacked, spine worn, joints cracked, [Sabin 5972], 8vo, Printed by H. Clark for Dolman Newman, 1687.*** First edition of this important 17th century account of the American colonies and West Indies. The folding maps show Bermuda, Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey, New England and New York, Jamaica (with inset of the Gulf of Mexico showing the Florida coast), Barbados, and Northwest America.

Lot 98

[Dodgson (Charles Lutwidge)] "Lewis Carroll".  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, second (first published) edition, first issue, half-title, frontispiece and illustrations by John Tenniel, some foxing, original pictorial cloth, gilt, recased, spine ends chipped, corners bumped, a little stained and soiled, g.e., endpapers renewed but also preserving original blue endpapers, the front with contemporary inscription dated Christmas 1866, preserved in modern cloth drop-back box, 8vo, 1866.*** The first issue with p.30 incorrectly numbered '3', an error which was corrected for the second issue.

Lot 304

DNA.- Crick (Francis Harry C.) The Astonishing Hypothesis: The Scientific Search For The Soul, first American edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Lisa Jardine "For Lisa with love from Francis" on title, original cloth-backed boards, dust-jacket, short closed tear to lower panel foot, otherwise excellent, 8vo, New York, [1995]. *** Lisa Anne Jardine CBE HonFRS FRHistS (1944-2015) was a British historian of the early modern period.

Lot 176

James (M.R.) Ghost Stories Of An Antiquary, first edition, 16pp. advertisements dated "November 1904", occasional spotting to margins, frontispiece and 3 plates by James McBride, spotting to half-title and endpapers, ink stamp to front free endpaper, original buckram, yapp edges, very light toning to spine, a near-fine example, [Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature, 1973, pp.100-105; Tymn 3-125], 8vo, 1904.*** A superb copy of M.R. James' first collection of ghost stories. 

Lot 19

Marmitta (Giacomo) Rime, first edition, collation: A4 A-Z a-c4 complete, title with large woodcut vignette, woodcut initials, some browning and light foxing, contemporary Italian morocco elaborately gilt, wide intersecting line border, enclosing central shaped compartment built up with small tools including fleur-de-lys, circles, and semicircles, surrounding the lettering: " ove ha vera virtu suo albergo fido" on upper cover and "ben che basso et humile venir m’affi do" on lower cover, edges gilt, rubbed and repaired, with contemporary spine laid down, restored at edges, 4to (208 x 152mm.), Parma, Seth Viotto, 1564.*** Rare work in a splendid contemporary binding.Provenance: Leo S. Olschki (bookplate)Literature: Adams M-623; Gamba 1509.

Lot 136

Childers (Erskine) The Riddle of the Sands, first edition, half-title, folding frontispiece map and 3 plates, 4pp. advertising at end, bookplate to front pastedown, original pictorial cloth, lower joint repaired, spine ends and corners a little worn, rubbing to spine and extremities, a very good example overall, 8vo, 1903.*** First edition of the first modern spy-thriller, Childers' pre-war classic would influence the likes of Ambler, Greene and le Carré. Difficult to find with the ship on the upper cover bright and unrubbed like the present example. 

Lot 190

Maugham (William Somerset) On a Chinese Screen, first English edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "For Sydney Schiff from W. Somerset Maugham, in recollection of a pleasant hour" to front free endpaper, foxing to endpapers, bookplate of Christian Heuer to front pastedown, original cloth, slight fraying to spine tips, extremities a little bumped, light rubbing, dust-jacket, very light toning to spine, slight chipping to spine tips and corners, extremities a little rubbed, a near-fine example, slip-case, [Toole Stott A28b], 8vo, 1922.*** A lovely copy of Maugham's classic account of his trip along the Yangtze River, inscribed to the writer and translator Schiff (the real name of Stephen Hudson). Schiff/Hudson would complete Scott Moncrieff's translation of Proust and, in 1922, would famously host a dinner for several of the leading figures of the Paris art and literary scene, the only occasion that Joyce, Proust, Picasso, Diaghilev and Stravinsky would all meet together. 

Lot 101

Hardy (Thomas) A Pair of Blue Eyes, 3 vol., first edition in book form, with 'c' misaligned in 'clouds' p.5 vol. 2, half-titles, bound without advertisements (as often), scattered spotting, modern crushed morocco, [Purdy pp.8-13], 8vo, 1873. *** Scarce first edition of Hardy's third novel, the first to bear his name as author. It was published as a serial in 'Tinsley's Magazine' between September 1872 and July 1873.

Lot 289

Russia.- Sauer (Martin) An Account of the Geographical and Astronomical Expedition to the Northern Parts of Russia...By Commodore Joseph Billings, first edition, half-title, folding engraved map frontispiece, 14 engraved plates, map with very short tear at inner edge without loss, half-title and verso of final f. lightly browned, very light offsetting, spotting to Sig. 2H, occasional spotting or light soiling elsewhere, but overall good, modern antique-style boards, spine a touch browned, some soiling, wear to corners, upper joint split at foot, cloth slipcase, [Hill 1528; Sabin 77152], 4to, A. Strahan, 1802. *** The first account of the Billings expedition, sent out from Siberia to the north Pacific on the appointment of Catherine the Great. Sauer travelled as voyage secretary and historian.

Lot 192

Maugham (William Somerset) Ah King, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Fred Bason on front free endpaper, bookplate of Christian Heuer to front pastedown along with some earlier residue, original cloth, light rubbing to extremities, dust-jacket, spine ends and corners a little chipped, closed tears to foot of upper joint and upper panel, neat tape repairs to head of spine verso, extremities rubbed, a very good example, 1930; and 2 other first editions by V.S. Pritchett and Cecil Lewis, 8vo (3)*** The first is a good association copy inscribed from the author to his close friend and bibliographer Fred Bason (1907-73).

Lot 124

Boulle (Pierre) The Bridge on the River Kwai, first English edition, translated by Zan Fielding, signed presentation inscription from the translator on half-title, light foxing to first few pages and fore-edge, original boards, dust-jacket, light nicks and chips to edges, light surface marking to lower panel, 8vo, 1954.

Lot 164

Freeman (R. Austin) The Surprising Experiences of Mr Shuttlebury Cobb, first edition, original pictorial cloth, dust-jacket, few repaired tears along lower flap and panel, some creasing and discolouring to flaps, still in effect a sharp example, 8vo, 1927.

Lot 305

DNA.- Watson (James D.) A Passion for DNA, first English edition, signed presentation inscription to  Stephen Keynes on half-title, original boards, dust-jacket, a fine copy, 8vo, [2000]. *** Inscribed to Stephen Keynes, great grandson of Charles Darwin, and nephew of John Maynard Keynes.  

Lot 179

Kavan (Anna) Ice, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "Not meant to be science fiction. And there are unauthorized alterations, please remember. Love from Anna" on front free endpaper, original boards, excellent, dust-jacket, light creasing to extremities, very light chips to spine ends but overall an excellent or near-fine example, 8vo, 1967. *** The landmark and last novel from Kavan before her death in 1968. The haunting and surreal work is often labelled as science fiction, but without any named characters or firm setting, the reader is left unsettled, with the narrative regularly interrupted by dreams and hallucinations. Rare in such condition. 

Lot 248

Officina Serpentis.- Plato. Tres Epistolae Platonis, one of 7 copies printed on vellum, the 6 initials gilt by Hanns Thaddaus Hoyer, from an edition of 340, 45 pp., printed in the Greek Tischendorft typeface by Schelter & Gieseck and in the German Elzevier-Cursive by Gentzsch & Heyse, some light marginal staining, rarely affecting text, original russet crushed morocco, gilt, ruled in blind, slight rubbing to spine ends and raised bands, spine lightly sunned, housed in cloth-backed slip-case with vellum edges, folio, Berlin, Officina Serpentis, 1926. *** A stunning example of manuscript proficiency that highlights typographic expertise, Officina Serpentis' edition of three letters from Plato to his friends and colleagues simultaneously honours and modernises the customary Early Modern mise-en-page. The stylistic harmony of the printing underscores the thesis behind the selection of these three particular letters; previously questioned for their authenticity of authorship, the unification and aesthetic exaltation of these writings posits their genuine linkage to Plato. This edition is also the first continuous use of the Tischendorft typeface.

Lot 295

Voyages.- Nicol (John) The Life and Adventures of John Nicol, Mariner, first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece, lacking half-title, frontispiece with small repair to upper inner corner (causing small abrasion mark to title upper margin), frontispiece very lightly offset, some spotting to frontispiece and title, contemporary half calf over marbled boards, rebacked preserving original gilt backstrip with thistle motif, corners repaired, shallow chip to spine head, covers rubbed, [Ferguson 875; Sabin 55241], 12mo, Edinburgh, Blackwood, 1822. *** Includes accounts of his visit to the Hawaiian Islands and life aboard a South Sea Whaler, also contains one of the only accounts of the "Second Fleet" voyage to Australia carrying 245 female convicts.

Lot 234

Fry (Roger) Twelve Original Woodcuts, first edition, [one of 150 copies], review slip with autograph insertions in Virginia Woolf's hand loosely inserted, 1p. advertisements at end, light toning strip to title and rear endpaper, original handmade paper wrappers, light creasing to edges, [Woomer 13; Greenwood p.68], 8vo, Hogarth Press, 1921. *** The last title hand-printed by the Woolfs at the Hogarth Press. Including a rare review slip with Virginia's trademark purple ink."Roger again last night, scraping at his woodcuts while I sewed; the sound like that of a large pertinacious rat. We live in stirring days." - Virginia Woolf, Diary, 12 April 1921.A rare Omega Workshop work, printed two years after the experimental design studio founded in 1913 by Roger Fry shut down in 1919. "At this moment all my time is spent in stitching Roger Fry's woodcuts. We sold our first edition in 2 days, and now have to provide a second in a hurry. It is very encouraging, but I wish we had a capable woman on the premises." - Woolf, letter to Violet Dickinson, 6 December 1921.  

Lot 64

Cervantes Saavedra (Miguel de) The Life and Exploits Of the ingenious gentleman Don Quixote de la Mancha, 2 vol., first edition of the "Jarvis" translation, translated by Charles Jervas (misspelled "Jarvis"), engraved portrait of the author by George Virtue and 68 plates by Gerard van der Gucht after John Vanderbank, including the Life of Cervantes with title dated 1738, vol.1 with "Supplement to the Translator's Preface" by William Warburton, some light browning and occasional spotting, a few leaves lightly soiled, eighteenth century bookplates, contemporary calf, gilt-ruled, spines gilt in compartments, double red morocco spine labels, spines lightly soiled and ends bumped with some loss, joints very slightly cracked, slightly rubbed, 4to, J. and R. Tonson, and R. Dodsley, 1742. *** A remarkably preserved first edition of the "Jarvis" translation, the most scholarly and accurate English translation of the Quixote at the time, to become the most frequently reprinted version until about 1885.The present copy contains the "Life" in an unusual variant of 88 pages rather than the 90 seen in other copies; it appears much the same, but with reset type often adding one extra line of text to each page compared to the other.

Lot 226

Woolf (Virginia) The Waves, first edition, foxing to first few pages and endpapers, original cloth, a few small holes to spine with slight discolouring, dust-jacket, spine lightly faded, very faint spotting to covers, overall a bright and excellent copy, 8vo, Hogarth Press, 1931.

Lot 225

Wheatley (Dennis) The Devil Rides Out, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "I see that this is a 1st Edition and there are awfly [sic] few of these about now as it has been reprinted six times already, D.W." on title, advertisements for Spring 1935 at rear, the odd spot, light marking to endpapers, original cloth, light edge-spotting, light bumping to spine tips and corners, otherwise excellent, 8vo, 1934.*** Wheatley's classic horror novel, scarce inscribed. 

Lot 57

Hartley (Dorothy) Food in England, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "To a good pupil - D. Hartley" on front free endpaper, a little spotted throughout, original cloth, soiled, dust-jacket, one or two light spots, 1" portion of loss to lower panel foot, very neat repaired tears to spine head, 4to, 1954. *** Exceptionally rare signed. 

Lot 296

Voyages.- Seemann (Berthold) Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Herald During the Years 1845-51..., 2 vol. in 1, first edition, half-title to vol. 1 (little soiled), tinted lithographed frontispieces and folding map at end, lacking advertisements and vol. 2 half-title, frontispieces very slightly offset, margins toned, later half calf, spine and extremities rubbed, [Hill 1546; Sabin 78867], 8vo, Reeve and Co., 1853. *** A narrative of a voyage around the world for the purpose of compiling a hydrographical survey of the Pacific Ocean, including exploration of most of the west coast of America, Hawaii, the Galápagos, Alaska and the Bering Strait. Seeman was the naturalist on board. 

Lot 127

Bramah (Ernest) The Specimen Case, first edition, light browning to endpapers, ink gift inscription to front free endpaper, original cloth, some very light mottling to covers, small chip to upper cover, dust-jacket priced at 7/6, spine ends and corners chipped, chip to upper joint and lower fore-edge, a few short closed tears to head with some creasing, extremities a little rubbed, 8vo, [1924].*** A very good copy of this anthology of Bramah's detective stories. 

Lot 110

Doyle (Sir Arthur Conan).- Newnes (George) The Strand Magazine, vol.1 January to June, first edition, very light foxing to first few pages, original pictorial boards, spine very lightly faded, dust-jacket, broken down joints held together lightly with masking tape verso, light chips to extremities and spine ends, lightly toned, still overall remarkably sharp, 1891; and two others, including another wrappered issue of the Strand Magazine, no.126, vol.21, featuring an article about Arthur Conan Doyle by Captain Trevor, 1901 and an early edition of Doyle's The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes, 1929, 8vo & 4to (3)  *** Exceptionally rare in the dust-jacket, we cannot find another example at auction. Includes Conan Doyle's first story published in the magazine, "The Voice of Science". 

Lot 237

Séguy (E.A.) Floréal: Dessins et Coloris Nouveaux, first edition, title, half-title and 17 (of 20) colour pochoir plates only, loose as issued, most with tissue-guard laid down to verso, lacking no.1, 5 & 18, no.9 with small patch of water-staining affecting image, a few with short marginal tears or frayed edges, some light foxing to margins, lacking portfolio case, folio, Paris, A. Calavas, [c.1925]. *** In these stunning semi-abstract designs, Emile-Allain Seguy uniquely combines Art Nouveau and Art Deco styles. The pochoir technique in particular, popular in France at the turn of the 20th century, allows the artist to capture the vibrancy of colour of the flora that visually underpin this work. 

Lot 170

Greene (Graham) & Hugh Greene. The Spy's Bedside Book, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the authors "Alan Cooke from Hugh Greene | Graham Greene September 1975" on front free endpaper, original cloth, dust-jacket, light creasing to extremities, otherwise an excellent copy, [Wobbe A36], 8vo, 1957. *** Alan Cooke (1926-1994)  produced and directed a 13-part series on Greene's short stories. 

Lot 152

Fallada (Hans) The Drinker, first edition, light toning strip on endpaper, original boards, dust-jacket, price-clipped, evenly toned, some marks to lower panel, corners and spine ends very slightly nicked, still excellent overall, 8vo, 1952.*** Originally published Der Trinker, the posthumously-published novel by German writer Hans Fallada was first started in 1944 after he was imprisoned in a criminal asylum for the attempted murder of his wife. It is autobiographical in diary form, and tells the story of a man in the grip of alcoholism. Fallada originally wrote the manuscript in code, so as to encrypt the contents of the manuscript against detection by asylum staff and officials. 

Lot 186

Lewis (C.S.) The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, first edition, small neat ink ownership inscription on map endpapers, faint light spotting to first few pages, original boards, spine faded, ends a little toned, dust-jacket, a little tender with very neat repairs and retouches along edges, heavier to spine and ends, still in effect a tight copy, 8vo, [1952]

Lot 253

America.- Mathews (Alfred E.) Pencil Sketches of Montana, first edition, 31 tinted lithograph plates, of which 4 are folding, some light spotting, marginal stain to first dozen or so leaves/plates, original green cloth, stamped in gilt and blind, corners rubbed, covers with some stains, [Howes M414; Streeter sale 4:2230; Graff 2710; Smith 6603], 4to, New York, Published by the Author, 1868.*** Rare and important series of fine lithographs depicting Montana in its natural splendour before the major influx of settlers.An inscription on front free endpaper reads: "To Mrs General Meagher With the best wishes of James Gibson, Virginia City Montana, Jan 1st 1869." The recipient is presumably Elizabeth Meagher (nee Townsend), the second wife of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish Nationalist and leader of the Young Irelanders in the rebellion of 1848. He was convicted of sedition and sentenced to death, later commuted to transportation to Australia. He escaped and made his way to America, joining the US Army and rising to the rank of Brigadier General, fighting in the Civil War and leading the Irish Brigade. After the Civil War he was appointed by President Andrew Johnson as Montana's Territorial Secretary of State. He died in 1867 in rather mysterious circumstances, drowning in the Missouri River after falling from a steamboat at Fort Benton. It is unclear whether he fell as a result of weakness from dysentery, of being drunk; or perhaps he committed suicide or was even murdered by political opponents in Montana. We have been unable to ascertain more information on the donor, James Gibson.

Lot 130

Burgess (Anthony) A Clockwork Orange, first edition, original boards, very faint spotting to fore-edge, dust-jacket, very faint fading to spine, fractional marks to extremities, an extremely sharp and near-fine example, 8vo, 1962. *** A good association copy, from the library of Peter Janson-Smith, the author's literary agent (note of provenance included). 

Lot 193

[McNeile (H.C.)], "Sapper". Bull-Dog Drummond at Bay, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "to Michael and Janet from H.C. McNeile" and dated in year of publication on front free endpaper, original cloth, spine browned, dust-jacket, laid down, expert repairs and retouching, in effect a sharp copy, 8vo, 1935.

Lot 309

Physics.- Einstein (Albert) Die Grundlage der allgemeinen Relativitätstheorie, first edition, journal issue, in Annalen der Physik, fourth series, vol.49, No.7, pp.769-822, edited by W. Wien and M. Planck, chapter title page very slightly browned, otherwise bright and clean, elsewhere in book some creasing, one paperclip stain, library label of Carnegie Institute of Technology to front free endpaper, bookplate overstamped "withdrawn", ink markings to rear pastedown, library cloth, 8vo, Leipzig, Johann Ambrosius Barth, 1916. *** The first appearance in print of a cornerstone of Einstein's research, "the authorized version of Einstein's general theory of relativity. The theory's impact upon twentieth-century science and thought can hardly be overstated" (Norman 695).

Lot 168

Graves (Robert) I, Claudius, first edition, original boards, dust-jacket, a few short closed tears and nicks to edges, neat restoration and retouching to spine ends and edges, in effect a bright copy, 8vo, 1934.

Lot 228

Wyndham (John) The Day of the Triffids, first edition, original cloth, very light fading to spine, dust-jacket, light retouching and neat restoration to spine ends and joint corners, still in effect an excellent copy, 8vo, 1951.

Lot 108

Hardy (Thomas) The Woodlanders, 3 vol., first edition in book form, [one of 1000], half-titles, vol. 1 with advertisement at end, scattered faint spotting, original green cloth bound at end, modern crushed morocco, [Purdy pp.54-57], 8vo, 1887. *** Originally published in 'Macmillan's Magazine' between May 1886 and April 1887. According to Purdy, Hardy sometimes singled out 'The Woodlanders' as "the best and his own favourite among his novels."

Lot 302

Presentation copy to Charles Darwin.- Carret (Jules) Le Déplacement Polaire, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Charles Darwin 'A notre illustre maitre Ch. Darwin, Hommage de profond respect' to half-title, small pencil notes to margin, rear endpaper and pastedown, three neat single-line markings to margins, folded colour map at rear (torn, most of page loose), some foxing, original printed cloth, spine sunned, very lightly rubbed in places, Paris, F. Savy, 1877.*** A rare example of a book from Darwin’s library, with an interesting scientific association.Jules Carret (1844-1912) here presents his 1877 work to Charles Darwin, with a friendly respectful inscription.  Books from Darwin’s library are extremely rare to the market, the vast majority of the library having been removed to Cambridge University by his son Francis in 1908. Both the neat pencil single line markings to margins and the endpaper notes (page numbers accompanied by the odd comment), are consistent with markings found in other books from Darwin’s library [many digitised on the Biodiversity Heritage Library]. The primary interest of the scattered entries here present seems to be coral and coral reefs. For example, on p.85 the pencil line marks a question posed by Carret which follows a reference to ‘M. Darwin’ -  asking how is that atolls [a ring-shaped coral reef] rise above sea level, develop vegetation and become habitable? And the pencil note on the rear pastedown likewise refers back to p.85. Meanwhile the rear endpaper note also points to, ‘coral reefs 200’.Letters between Darwin and his son, George Howard, from November 1878, reveal their correspondence and presumable acquaintance with Carret. Writing directly onto an offprint of Carret's May 1878 paper on the causes of polar displacement, Darwin wrote 'If the author has not sent you this you may possibly like to have it', while George replied that he had received the pamphlet 'both from himself [Carret] & you, & I don’t think his ideas will work at all—tho’ he must be a cleverish man to get so deep' [letters accessible online at the Cambridge University 'Darwin Correspondence Project']. With overlap on certain research points, both George Darwin and Carret were also publicly referencing each other around this time.

Lot 6

[Mauburnus (Johannes)] Rosetum exercitiorum spiritualium et sacrarum meditationum, edited by Johannes Speyser, collation: [*]6 a-c8 d e6 f8 g6 h-l8 m-p6.8 q-y6 z8 A-S6, double column, full-page woodcut of a chiromantic hand to b6v, initial spaces with guide-letters, final f. blank, narrow section cut from front free endpaper to remove inscription, library ink stamp to lower margin of title and in a few other margins, a few small wormholes in text, mostly at ends, some staining (see in particular Q1&2), marginal water-staining, some spotting or finger-marking, lightly browned, early manuscript fragments used in binding, contemporary blind-stamped pigskin over wooden boards, lacking metal clasps and corner-pieces, soiled, rubbed and marked, folio (291 x 195mm.), [Basel], [Jacobus Wolff, de Pforzheim], [1404 [i.e. 1504]].  *** Rare edition at auction of the principal devotional work of Jan Mombaer (1460-1501). He was an Augustinian friar of Brussels, who was part of the ‘devotio moderna’ movement, calling for religious reform. He was one of the first to insist that Thomas à Kempis was the author of the Imitatio Christi, and not Jean Gerson. The present work was said to have influenced St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. A variant exists with the correct date in colophon.Provenance: ‘Henricus Koboltus Juris Canonici Doctor’ (contemporary ink inscription to front pastedown and his signature to lower margin of title); ‘ex libris M. Georgii ?Stanglmayr…’ (contemporary ink inscription to head of title); St. Joseph’s, Blackrock (20th century ink stamps).Literature: VD 16 M 1623.

Lot 227

Wyndham (John) The Day of the Triffids, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "To Tony V. Cooper, with the best wishes of John Wyndham (John Beynon Harris) 22-8-51" on front free endpaper, lightly spotted, original cloth, lightly marked, spine ends a little faded, dust-jacket, 1" tears along lower joint and across lower panel, chips and fraying to spine ends and extremities, still a sharp copy, 8vo, 1951.*** John Wyndham's classic post-apocalyptic novel, signed by him over three months prior to publication. 

Lot 191

Maugham (William Somerset) On a Chinese Screen, first edition, bookplate on endpapers, modern crushed dark green morocco, panelled in gilt with corner-pieces, spine gilt in compartments, marbled endpapers with gilt turn-ins, very light rubbing to corners, a very attractive copy, 1922; and a first American edition of Casuarina Tree, 4to & 8vo (2) 

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