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Click here to subscribeFleming (Ian) On Her Majesty's Secret Service, first edition, original board, spine lettered in silver, white ski-track motif to upper cover, slight bumping to spine tips, dust-jacket, faint creasing to head of spine, light rubbing to extremities, but a bright, fine copy overall, with the spine lettered bright, housed in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 8vo, 1963.
Fleming (Ian) You Only Live Twice, first edition, second state with "March 1964" on copyright p., original boards, silver lettering to spine, Japanese characters in gilt to upper cover, dust-jacket, light creasing to head and foot, very short tear to head of upper panel, else fine, housed in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 1964; The Man with the Golden Gun, first edition, second state plain boards, lettered in gilt on spine, dust-jacket, very small patch of browning to head of lower joint, minute spot to foot of lower panel, but a fine, bright example generally, housed in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 1965; and a near-fine copy of Octopussy and the Living Daylights, 8vo (3)
Grass (Günter) The Tin Drum, first English edition, signed by the author on title, original boards, slight bumping to spine ends and corners, dust-jacket, price-clipped, light toning to spine, closed tear with creasing to head of lower joint, corners a little chipped, light toning and soiling to panels, an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1961.
Greene (Graham) A Burnt-Out Case, first edition, presentation copy inscribed by the author, upper hinge a little weak, original cloth, dust-jacket slightly dulled to spine, rubbed at head of spine and slightly foxed to lower panel, 8vo, 1961.⁂ The inscription on front free endpaper reads: "For Lenny with love from Graham. 1961"
Greene (Graham) The Comedians, first edition, presentation copy signed by the author, slight crease to right margin through much of book, foxing to fore-edge extending into margin occasionally, ink inscriptions to front free endpaper, original cloth, dust-jacket very slightly rubbed at head of spine, 1966; and a signed copy of The Quiet American (reprint), 8vo (2)⁂ The author's inscription (beneath two other inscriptions) reads: "For Doctor Cynthia with good wishes from Graham Greene. Dec. 1966."
Herbert (Frank) Dune, first English edition, original boards, slight bumping to head of spine, dust-jacket, 2 patches of surface abrasion and internal tear to spine, spine ends a little creased, laminate lifting to upper joint, a bright and excellent example overall, original publisher's wraparound band (closed tears to upper joint and fore-edge, short nick to head), 8vo, 1966.⁂ The scarce first English edition of this science fiction classic, especially rare with printed wraparound band.
Hughes (Langston) The Langston Hughes Reader, first edition, presentation copy inscribed to Thurgood Marshall, original cloth-backed boards, dust-jacket with several defects and creases, 8vo, New York, 1958.⁂ A superb association copy. The inscription reads: "Especially for His Honour Judge Thurgood Marshall - Well Done! - You did it!! Sincerely, Langston. Harlem, October, 1961." Marshall himself has also signed the book on the half-title.Thurgood Marshall (1908-93) was the first African-American to serve on the Supreme Court, appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1967. He was a prominent Civil Rights lawyer who argued (and won) many cases relating to racial segregation in schools, most notably the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954. Hughes and Marshall met while students at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, living for some time in the same dormitory together.This book would presumably have been given to Marshall when President Kennedy appointed him to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in October 1961.
Isherwood (Christopher) Sally Bowles, first edition, ink ownership inscription of John Rayner to endpaper, slight rubbing to spine tips and corners, dust-jacket, slight browning to spine, spine chipped at foot, portion of spine at head torn, some light marking and surface soiling to panels, a very good copy overall, 8vo, 1937.
Ishiguro (Kazuo) A Pale View of Hills, first edition, signed by the author on title, publisher's printed promotional flier and ticket to a Cheltenham Literature Festival event with the author loosely inserted, light scattered spotting to endpapers, ink date to rear endpaper, original boards, light edge spotting, small bump to foot of spine, else fine, dust-jacket, very slight sunning to spine, light rubbing to spine tips and corners, else fine, 8vo, 1982.⁂ Ishiguro's first novel.
Ishiguro (Kazuo) The Remains of the Day, first edition, signed by the author on title, Booker Prize 1989 bookmark signed by Ishiguro and loosely inserted, original boards, dust-jacket, a mint copy, 8vo, 1989.⁂ A superb copy of this Booker Prize winner, basis for the classic 1993 Merchant & Ivory film adaptation.
Kerr (Judith) The Tiger Who Came to Tea, first edition, colour illustrations by the author, light soiling to 2pp., very light toning to endpapers, original pictorial boards, light bumping to spine ends and corners, light toning to cover margins, dust-jacket, light toning to panels and spine, closed tear to foot of upper joint, creasing to spine tips and corners, short nick to head of upper panel, a near-fine example otherwise, 4to, 1968.⁂ Judith Kerr's first book and her most beloved. Rare, especially so in the dust-jacket; we can trace only one such example at auction and no copies available online.
Larkin (Philip) A Girl in Winter. A Novel, first edition, original cloth, light fading to spine, extremities a little rubbed, dust-jacket, neat and expert repairs and restoration to head and foot, repaired tear to lower flap, some light surface soiling, but in effect a bright and excellent copy, 8vo, 1947.⁂ Larkin's second and final novel, scarce in the dust-jacket.
Le Carré (John) Call for the Dead, first edition, second impression, signed presentation inscription from the author "good luck with your new novel!" to title, gutter at p. 7 cracked and weak, beat ink ownership inscription to endpaper, original boards, light sunning to spine, second impression dust-jacket, light browning to spine, some marginal toning and ink inscriptions to panels, 1 or 2 small nicks and some light creasing to head and foot, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1961.
Le Carré (John) The Spy Who Came in From the Cold, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "I send you my warmest wishes on your 65th, & my strict advice to pay no attention to the occasion, but continue as if nothing had happened..." to endpaper, ink ownership inscription of recipient to endpaper, some slight edge spotting, original blue boards, slight shelf-lean, sunning to foot of spine, mark to foot of lower cover, dust-jacket, very slight sunning to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped and rubbed, slight marking to lower flap, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1963.⁂ Le Carré's third novel with an unusually lengthy and warm presentation inscription.
Le Carré (John) The Looking-Glass War, first edition, signed by the author on title, original boards, dust-jacket, closed tear to rear panel, two short tear to head of upper panel, light sunning to foot of upper panel and base of spine, rubbing to top edge, but an unusually bright copy generally, 8vo, 1965.
Haskell (Arnold. L.) Ballet Panorama, first edition, half-title, plates and illustrations, signed by Margot Fonteyn and Robert Helpmann to verso of frontispiece, 32pp. catalogue for Batsford Books at end, handsome crushed dark blue goatskin by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, multi-coloured onlays and gilt in the shape of dancers to both covers, spine with stylised title in gilt, g.e., matching goatskin-edged slip-case, 8vo, Batsford, 1938.
*** Please note, the description of this lot has changed ***Martin (George R. R. ) A Game of Thrones, first edition, some marginal toning, original boards, dust-jacket, neat and expert repairs and restorations to spine tips and corners, 8vo, Harper Collins/Voyager, 1996.⁂ A near-fine copy of the true first edition of the first in the A Song of Ice and Fire Series.
Obama (Barack) Dreams From My Father, first edition, signed by the author "Dream big dreams!" on title, ticket for April 25, 2011 White House Easter Egg Roll loosely inserted, original cloth-backed boards, dust-jacket, faint creasing to spine tips, a mint copy, 8vo, New York, 1995.⁂ Barack Obama's first memoir, published when he was only 34 and still practicing civil rights law in Chicago.
O'Casey (Sean) The Silver Tassie, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Joe Cummins on endpaper, portrait frontispiece, light browning to endpapers, original cloth-backed boards, spine a little browned, 8vo, 1928.⁂ Joseph Cummins worked as a surgeon at the Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, where O'Casey was treated for an ulcerated cornea when in his early twenties. Cummins took a personal interest in the young writer and the two remained friends afterwards.
Orwell (George) Animal Farm. A Fairy Story, first edition, neat ink ownership inscription to front pastedown, original cloth, slight sunning to upper and lower edge, dust-jacket, Searchlight advertisement printed in red on verso, minor chipping to corner tips, light rubbing to extremities, but a near-fine example overall, 8vo, 1945.⁂ A superb example of Orwell's classic satirical allegory. Rare in such good condition. Orwell struggled to find a willing publisher, eventually Secker and Warburg obliged after it was rejected by Gollancz (Orwell's usual publisher) as well as Faber and Faber and Jonathan Cape.
Orwell (George) Nineteen Eighty-Four, first edition, endpaper collage of Orwell's eyes, small compartments to front pastedown revealing the Queen and George Washington's faces, binder's "Certificate of Authenticity" leather label to rear pastedown, modern olive morocco in jacket design with skull buttons and white lettering "Winston Smith" to the left breast, onlayed prosthetic eye to chest, title and date lettered in white on lower cover, 8vo, Secker and Warburg, 1949.⁂ This copy number 86 of 100 specially-bound copies. The compartments in the front pastedown conceal a ten shilling Bank of England note and an old one dollar bill.
Orwell (George) Nineteen Eighty-Four, first edition, light spotting to endpapers and occasionally elsewhere, original cloth, light sunning to spine and cover margins, red dust-jacket, spine largely supplied in good facsimile, neat repairs and restorations to head and foot, light rubbing, but in effect a bright, attractive copy, 8vo, 1949.
Owen (Wilfred) Poems, first edition, portrait frontispiece, tissue-guard, usual light browning to title and frontispiece, endpapers with light browning and some faint surface abrasions, original cloth, paper label to spine partially restored, light creasing to covers, spine ends and corners a little bumped and slightly frayed, some light surface soiling, sm. 4to, 1920.⁂ The most important book of poetry from the first world war. Owen was killed one week before the armistice was signed in 1918.
Rand (Ayn) Atlas Shrugged, first edition, original cloth, first issue dust-jacket with "10/75" code to front flap, price-clipped, very slight toning to spine, spine ends and corners chipped, some light creasing and minor fraying to head and foot of panels, light rubbing to extremities, a very good example overall, 8vo, New York, 1957.
Rhys (Jean) Quartet, first American edition, very light toning to endpapers, original pictorial cloth, small dent to head of upper cover, minor fraying to spine tips, faint rubbing, near-fine overall, 8vo, New York, 1929.⁂ Rhys' scarce first novel, a partially autobiographical account of her affair with Ford Madox Ford, published in the UK as Postures.
Rhys (Jean) Voyage in the Dark, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to endpaper, original cloth, light sunning to spine, dust-jacket, neat and professional restoration to spine ends and corners, repaired horizontal repair to lower panel, neat repairs and some light retouching to extremities, in effect a bright and excellent example, 8vo, 1934.⁂ An inscribed copy of Rhys' classic modernist novel. Presentation copies of Rhys' early works are rare, we can trace no other presentation copy of this work at auction.
Rosen (Michael) We're Going On a Bear Hunt, first edition, signed by the author on title, illustrations by Helen Oxenbury, ticket to see Rosen speak at the 2017 Hay Festival loosely inserted, original boards, slight bumping to spine tips, dust-jacket, neatly price-clipped, slight toning to spine, minor chipping to spine tips and corners, small nick to head and foot of upper panel, tear with creasing to head of rear panel, faint creasing to head and foot, an excellent example overall, oblong 4to, Walker Books, 1989.⁂ A modern children's classic, rare in the dust-jacket, especially so signed.
Rowling (J.K.) The Harry Potter Gift Set, 2 vol., comprising Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, fourth printing, signed by the author on half-title, jacket with extremely light fading to spine, fold heads lightly bumped, 1997; Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, seventh printing, signed presentation inscription from the author to half-title, 1998, first editions, original pictorial boards, dust-jackets, overall near fine, in original pictorial card slipcase (light sunning to spine, minor scuffing to corners), 8vo⁂ The first collected edition of these two works, released just prior to the publication of The Prisoner of Azkaban. Scarce signed.
Sacks (Oliver) The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, first English edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Anthony and Catherine Storr "with gratitude & affection (and remembrances of a lovely evening together) Oct 25/85" to endpaper, original boards, dust-jacket, spine sunned, light creasing to head and foot, otherwise excellent, 8vo, 1985.⁂ A good association copy of Sacks' most popular book, inscribed to the psychiatrist and Anthony Storr and his former wife, the children's author Catherin Storr.
*** Please note, the description of this lot has changed ***Sassoon (Siegfried) Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man, first edition, 1928; Memoirs of an Infantry Officer, first edition, jacket with near and expert repairs and restorations to spine tips and corners, 1930, original cloth, dust-jackets, 8vo (2)⁂ Excellent copies of the first two volumes of Sassoon's autobiographical trilogy, without Sherston's Progress.
Sassoon (Siegfried) Memoirs of an Infantry Officer, first illustrated edition, one of 320 copies signed by the author and artist, illustrations (many colour), pictorial endpapers, cover design, dust-jacket and slip-case by Barnett Freedman, original pictorial cloth, t.e.g., others uncut, dust-jacket with a few tiny nicks to top edge and slight fading to spine, original pictorial board slip-case a little rubbed, 8vo, 1931.⁂ An excellent copy of this superbly illustrated edition of Sassoon's classic memoir of WW1.
Stoker (Bram) Dracula, first edition, later issue with "The Shoulder of Shasta" advertisement f., 4 titles listed to half-title verso, without 16pp. advertisements at end, Graham Greene's copy with his ink ownership inscription to front free endpaper, endpapers a little spotted, original yellow cloth, lettered in red, slight shelf-lean, spine slightly darkened, slight bumping and minor fraying to spine tips and corners, very light surface soiling, but a bright and excellent copy, preserved in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 8vo, Westminster, Archibald Constable & Co., 1897.⁂ An attractive copy of a key horror novel with a remarkable literary provenance. While Greene was not a writer of horror fiction, the influence of the genre in his writing is clearly apparent in his almost other-worldly villains.; both Brighton Rock's Pinkie and Harry Lime of The Third Man appear to be invulnerable and hold a hypnotic influence over those they command. Provenance: Bought from Gekowski by Clive Hirschhorn, April, 1990 (sold, his sale, Bloomsbury Auctions, 25th October, 2012, lot 366).
Thompson (Hunter S.) Hell's Angels, first English edition, original cloth-backed boards, dust-jacket, price-clipped, minor chipping to corner tips, chip to head of lower panel, closed tear and patch of surface tearing to head of upper panel, rubbed, still a very good example of a scarce jacket, preserved in custom drop-backed box, 8vo, 1967.⁂ The scarce first English edition of Thompson's classic work of gonzo journalism. This edition is far scarcer than the American true first edition, Thompson allegedly assumed that the book first appeared in Britain as a paperback as he'd never seen a hardback copy.
Tolkien (J.R.R.) A Middle English Vocabulary, first edition, first impression, original printed wrappers in first state without advertisements printed on front free endpapers, light rubbing to edges, spine splitting and fraying with portions missing to ends, 8vo, Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1922.
Tolkien (J.R.R.) The Hobbit, first edition, first impression, frontispiece, one plate and 8 illustrations, including 7 full-page, map endpapers printed in red and black, all by the author, 2pp. advertisements, 1 plate detached, light marking and soiling to margins, lower split but holding, light foxing and marking to endpapers, remains of library labels to rear pastedown, original pictorial cloth, shelf-lean, spine darkened, bumping and fraying to spine ends and corners, remains of label to foot of upper cover, light soiling, 8vo, 1937.
Warhol (Andy) The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again), first edition, signed and inscribed "To Marguerite ?much love Andy Warhol" with a large soup can drawing "Campbell's Reused Asparagus Soup" in black felt tip pen to half-title, original red cloth-backed yellow boards, dust-jacket, single very small mark to upper panel, some very slight creasing to head and foot, light spotting to top edge verso, otherwise near fine, 8vo, New York & London, 1975.⁂ A rare copy inscribed with the asparagus soup doodle, rendered more unusual by the addition of "reused". Dedicated to Marguerite Littman, Warhol's close friend with whom he often stayed in London, who modelled for his Polaroid portraits in New York between 1976-85, and whom it is said, partially inspired Truman Capote's famous character Holly Golightly, in Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Waugh (Evelyn) Waugh in Abyssinia, first edition, abrasion to pastedowns, original cloth, slight shelf-lean, light bumping and fraying to spine tips and corners, first issue dust-jacket, without the usual pastedown to front flap, slight toning to spine, neat repairs along joints and fore-edges, spine ends and corners a little chipped, closed tear to head of upper panel, neat repairs to front flap, rubbed, still in effect an excellent example, 8vo, 1936.⁂ A rare dust-jacket in first issue. Waugh took a keen interest in the exact presentation of this volume and was horrified to discover that the text on the front flap of the dust-jacket had been printed without his approval. In a diary entry dated 17th October 1936 he notes: ""Went to Longman Green to find they had composed a blurb giving exactly the impression of W. in A. which I had tried to supress"". After some debate with Longman's, it was agreed that a piece of card with new text would be pasted over the front flap.
Waugh (Evelyn) Brideshead Revisited, first edition, bookplate to front free endpaper, light spotting to endpapers, original cloth, slight shelf-lean, light sunning to spine tips, dust-jacket, light browning to spine and lower panel, spine ends and corners chipped, some splitting to lower joint, a few small nicks with light creasing to head of lower panel, some light surface soiling, but a very good copy overall, 8vo, 1945.
Woolf (Virginia) Kew Gardens, third English (limited) edition, number 210 of 500 copies signed by author and artist, woodcut decorations throughout by Vanessa Bell, original decorative colour boards after Bell, light browning to spine, splitting to joints, laminate and tape repair along spine causing some lifting and tearing to foot of upper cover, light wear to corners, light rubbing and surface soiling, [Kirkpatrick A3c; Woolmer 155], 4to, Hogarth Press, [1927].⁂ The first quarto edition of this work with Bell's illustrations expanded to cover every page. Scarce signed by both contributors.
Woolf (Virginia) Walter Sickert: a Conversation, first edition, initialed by the author and signed by Walter Sickert and Vanessa Bell with a quote "Life is colour" and the date crossed through and supplied in roman numerals on title in unknown hand, ink ownership inscription "William Bellows. Gloucester. 11.i.35" with later ink ownership inscription of E. E. ?Pullin below, original pictorial wrappers after Vanessa Bell initialed by Bell, "From W. B." to head of upper wrapper, light marking and toning to spine and covers, [Kirkpatrick A20a; Woolmer 355], 8vo, Hogarth Press, 1934.⁂ A remarkable copy, signed or initialed by each contributor, we can trace no like example. William Bellows (1873-1942), son of the printer and lexicographer John Bellows. He became joint-manager of his father's printing firm in 1902.
Hughes-Stanton (Blair).- Graves (Ida) Epithalamion, number 7 of 50 special copies on Japanese vellum signed by the author and artist, from an edition of 330, full-page wood-engravings by Blair Hughes-Stanton, original half morocco by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, t.e.g., others uncut, board slip-case, small folio, Colchester, Gemini Press, 1934.⁂ The first of only two books issued by the Gemini Press, established by Ida Graves and Blair Hughes-Stanton after the latter's departure from the Gregynog Press having left his wife Gertrude Hermes. Despite being unable to marry this was a celebration of the couple's union. Only half the edition was sold and in 1970 Hughes-Stanton sold the remaining sheets to the Basilisk Press who reissued the work in 1980.
Modigliani (Amedeo).- Frène (Roger) Les Nymphes, first edition, one of 130 copies, signed presentation copy from the author, 5 illustrations by Modigliani, one with slight stain, occasional minor spotting, uncut in original printed wrappers, edges a little tanned, 8vo, Paris, 1921.⁂ Modigliani's only book illustrations. This is one of the 120 copies on papier japon ancien. The inscription on the half-title is to fellow poet Jean Pellerin (who died in July 1921) and reads: "A l'excellent poete Jean Pellerin, en temoignage de haute sympathie litteraire, Roger Frène".
Nevinson (C. R. W.) The Great War Fourth Year...with an Essay by J. E. Crawford Flitch, first edition, colour frontispiece "Banking at 4000 feet" signed by the artist in pencil, 24 plates, signed presentation inscription from Flitch to "my good friend Don Pedro" to front free endpaper, dated Dec 1919, the odd spot, endpapers with some toning and scattered spotting, original cloth-backed boards, spine and corners lightly rubbed, custom slip-case, 4to, 1918.⁂ Nevinson joined the army in the autumn of 1914 and went to Flanders as a mechanic and driver. Though invalided in 1916 he became one of the great war artists, producing some of the most unflinching and harrowing images of the conflict.
Pissarro (Lucien) Wood Engravings, number 95 of 175 sets with an accompanying booklet on Pissarro's wood-blocks by David Chambers, 29 wood-engravings tipped into 20 card mounts, loose as issued, text with illustrations, original printed wrappers, together in original cloth drop-back box, Oxford, 1981 § Haberly (Loyd) The Antiquary..., number 77 of 100 copies, hand-coloured woodcuts by the author, original morocco, gilt, spine slightly faded, slip-case, Long Crendon, Seven Acres Press, 1933 § Williams (Charles) Heroes & Kings, out-of-series copy from an edition limited to 300 on hand-made paper, wood-engravings by Norman Janes, original pictorial cloth, gilt, Sylvan Press, 1930 § Dyer (John) Grongar Hill & other Poems, number 42 of 50 specially-bound copies on hand-made paper, signed by the editor and artist, from an edition limited to 150, hand-coloured wood-engravings by John Petts, original scarlet morocco, by Zaehnsdorf, spine gilt, Argraffwyd yng Nghymru, Grongar Press, 1977 § M'Alpine (John) Genuine Narratives...of the Most Interesting Exploits and Singular Adventures, edited by Thomas Rae, letter P of 26 specially-bound copies with an additional suite of proofs on Japanese Hosho paper, from an edition limited to 226, wood-engravings by Kathleen M. Lindsley, proofs tipped into card mounts and loose in pocket at end, John Prebble's copy with his bookplate, original calf, spine very slightly faded, preserved in slip-case, Greenock, Black Pennell Press, 1985, all but the first t.e.g., others uncut; and another, v.s. (6)
Robertson (W. Graham) Old English Songs and Dances, first edition, signed presentation copy from the author to the publisher William Heineman inscribed on front free endpaper, illustrations by the author printed in colours by Edmund Evans, a good clean copy, original cloth-backed pictorial boards, rubbed, 1902 § Kauffer (E. McKnight) The Art of the Poster, first edition, original cloth-backed boards, dust-jacket, rubbed and soiled, frayed and slightly defective, 1924 § Jones (Barbara) The Unsophisticated Arts, first edition, original cloth, a good copy in original pictorial dust-jacket, 1951 § Wanklyn (Joan) Guns at the Wood: a Record of St John's Wood Barracks, number 240 of 500 copies signed by the author/artist (this copy for Henry Nicholls Esq.), illustrations by the author, original cloth, preserved in original wrapper, 1972, plates and/or illustrations, some colour, folio & 4to (4)
Whittington Press.- Bosley (Keith, translator) The Song of Songs, unique made-up copy signed by the translator and artist (from the various editions), from an edition limited to 206, illustrations by Richard Kennedy, original russet morocco, upper cover with line of warriors in gilt at foot, t.e.g., others uncut, spine slightly faded, Andoversford, 1976 § Kennedy (Olive, translator) Letters from a Portuguese Nun, number XII of 25 specially-bound copies with an additional suite of prints and signed by the translator and artist, from an edition limited to 235, illustrations by Richard Kennedy, original pictorial vellum, gilt, additional prints loose in original cloth folder, together in slip-case, 1986, Andoversford, Whittington Press; and 2 others illustrated by Kennedy for the press, 4to (4)⁂ The first is made up of title and consecutive leaf on hand-made paper containing pieces of pressed flowers (from the edition limited to 6 copies) with text from the ordinary edition of 165 copies, together in the special binding (35 copies).
Agatha Walker (1888-1980): a painted wax statuette, Jean Forbes-Robertson in the role of Peter Pan, 1930, inscribed, dated and signed in monogram to the plinth 34cm high. This wax figurine is modelled on the actress Jean Forbes-Robertson (1905-1962) in the title role of J M Barrie's 1904 children's play 'Peter Pan'. Jean Forbes-Robertson first played the part at the Gaiety Theatre, Christmas 1927, and subsequently became one of the best-known actresses associated with the role, playing it at the Garrick Theatre, 1928/1929; at the St James's, 1929/1930; and at the Palladium for five consecutive Christmases, from 1930 until the end of the 1934/35 season. Other actresses took the part subsequently at the Palladium, but Jean Forbes-Robertson returned to play it for the last time there for the 1938/39 season. This is one of several wax figurines modelled by Agatha Walker in the 1920s and 1930s, mostly of actors and actresses in costume for roles in successful productions on the London stage. There had been a craze for ceramic figurines of performers in the 19th century and Walker attempted to revive this tradition with her limited edition sculptures. They were modelled from life in plaster and coated with a fine wax layer which was then coloured. In 1931 there was an exhibition of her wax figures at the Fine Art Society.
Sir William Dugdale: ‘Monasticon Anglicanum: A history of the abbies and other monasteries, hospitals, friaries, and cathedral and collegiate churches... in England and Wales.’, London: Longman, Hurst [&c.], 1817-1830, 6 volumes in 8 (volume 6 is in 3 parts/volumes), engraved additional titles and 242 plates (see footnote), many double-page, plates rather spotted; together with DUGDALE, SIR WILLIAM: ‘The History of Saint Paul's Cathedral, in London.’, London: Lackington, Hughes [&c.], 1818, 67 engraved plates, some double-page, [BAL RIBA 934]ONE OF 50 LARGE PAPER COPIES, WITH PROOF PLATES, together 9 volumes, folio (473 x 315mm.), half-titles, list of subscribers in volume 1, nineteenth-century dark blue morocco gilt by J. Wright (the volume of St. Paul's uniformly bound by Ramage), gilt edges. Provenance: probably Henry Perkins (1778-1855), a subscriber to a large paper copy, with initials "HP" on upper cover of each volume, sale by Gadsden, Ellis & Co., 3 June 1873, lots 396 and 387 (but see footnote). All indications are that this copy belonged to Henry Perkins, though the copy sold at his library sale (see provenance) was described as being bound in purple morocco by Herring, possibly in error. As is often the case Monasticon Anglicanum is without the plate of a Benedictine nun at p.451 in vol.2. It is presumably omitted as it appears to be a duplicate of the same plate which is present at p.436 vol.1.This new edition of Monasticon Anglicanum, the work of John Paley, Sir Henry Ellis and the Rev. Bulkeley Bandinel, greatly expanded the first edition of 1655 by drawing on records in the Tower of London and the Cottonian collection. It contains an enormous amount of information on the history of English religious houses and incorporates the charters of foundation, donation and confirmation granted to religious establishments. The fine engraved plates include plans and views of abbeys, cathedrals, monasteries and priories as well as engravings of costumes and seals. From the collection of Father Peter Harris, with his bookplates to front pastedowns (9)
Winston S. Churchill, 2 titles: 'Marlborough. His Life and Times.', London, George G. Harrap & Co Ltd, 1934-1938, 4 volumes, volume 1 November 1934, new edition, revised, volumes 2-4 1934-1938, 1st editions, 1st impressions, portrait frontispiece to each volume, 99 additional plates, 14 facsimiles of letters, and 182 maps and plans, several folding, collated complete/as called for, uniform original purple cloth, spines lettered in gilt, Marlborough crest gilt to front covers, top edges gilt, in the "Limited Presentation Edition" dust wrappers (worn, some small part losses/tape repairs). Churchill's biography of the first Duke of Marlborough, his ancestor who led British forces to victory against Louis XIV, "took its place at once among the classics of historical writing. As the story of his ancestor's leadership of a grand alliance to prevent the domination of the continent by a single power, it was also a source of inspiration to Churchill in his campaign against appeasement" (ODNB). Cohen A97.2(I-IV).a; Langworth pp. 166-8; Woods A40(a); together with 'Lord Randolph Churchill', London & New York, Macmillan, 1906, 1st edition, 2 volumes, frontispiece portraits to each volume + 16 plates, collated complete/as called for, ex Wolverhampton Girls' School Library, inkstamps verso of title pages and to half title of volume 2, else no other lib markings to leaves/leaves clean/VGC, original red cloth, spines lettered and ruled in gilt, lib markings removed from spines, ruling continued to boards in blind, front covers lettered in gilt with the Churchill family crest stamped in gilt, edges untrimmed. Churchill's great biography of his father Lord Randolph Churchill (6)
Winston Churchill: 'The Major Works of Sir Winston Churchill. Centenary First Edition', London, Hamlyn Publishing Group, 1974, 'centenary first edition', 25 volumes, each with tipped in photographic frontis of Churchill, comprising 'My Early Life', 'The World Crisis', 5 vols, 'The Second World War', 6 vols, 'Marlborough', 4 vols, 'History of the English Speaking Peoples', 4 vols, 'Lord Randolph Churchill', 2 vols & 'War Speeches', 3 vols, uniform burgundy morocco gilt, Winston Churchill monograms to front covers, silk end papers, all edges gilt (25)
Winston S. Churchill: 'The River War. An Historical Account of the Reconquest of the Soudan. Edited by Col. F. Rhodes. Illustrated by Angus McNeill, Seaforth Highlanders.', London, Longmans, Green & Co, June 1900, 1st edition, 3rd impression, 2 volumes, "Only 140 copies of the third printing were ever made available. it is far and away the scarcest of the first-edition printings" (Ronald I. Cohen, Churchill bibliographer), ex Prahran library, photogravure portrait frontispiece to volume 1 + 4 other portrait plates (lacks frontis of Kitchener to volume 2, else complete), one full-page photogravure to the text, 50 wood-engravings to the text by Angus Neil, 23 colour maps and battle plans, all but 3 folding (folding map vol.I facing p.146 "The Dervish Empire" with neat tape repair), 11 maps to the text of which 2 full-page, recased, retaining original publisher's dark blue cloth, with lettering and pictorial decorations to spines and front covers in gilt, replenished end papers and pastedowns, volume I with publisher's 32pp catalogue of adverts at end. This was Churchill's second book, after The Story of the Malakand Field Force (1898). "Overcoming the objections of Kitchener, the commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force, Churchill obtained a temporary posting with the 21st lancers, and arrived in the Sudan in time to take part in the celebrated cavalry charge at the battle of Omdurman (2 September 1898), in which the regiment galloped by accident into a hidden ravine crammed with armed men. Churchill, who shot and killed at least three of the enemy with his Mauser pistol, was cool and courageous but lucky to survive a bout of hand-to-hand fighting in which 22 British officers and men were killed. [In The River War] the story of the campaign is firmly embedded in a remarkably sympathetic history of the Sudanese revolt against Egyptian rule" (ODNB). Churchill himself graphically described his account as "a tale of blood and war". Cohen A2.1.d; Langworth pp. 27-29; Woods A2(a) (2)
Thomas Tredgold: 'The Principles and Practice and Explanation of the Machinery of Locomotive Engines...Completing Division A. And Forming the First Volume of the New Edition of Tredgold on the Steam Engine', London, John Weale, 1850, 41 engraved plates of steam engines/locomotives as called for, (of which 40 multi folding), including Stephenson's Rocket etc, large 4to, old half calf gilt, 'The Principles and PRactice and Explanation of the Machinery Used in Steam Navigation; Examples of British and American Steam Vessels...', London, John Weale, 1851, vol.II, Part.I, text volume, 340,42,52,20,5,[1]pp, large 4to, old half calf gilt (2)
John Hunt (1910-1998): 'The Ascent of Everest. 40th Anniversary Edition', London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1993, limited edition (332/500), numbered, signed by ten surviving members of the 1953 British Everest Expedition, including John Hunt, Charles Evans, Griffith Pugh, George Band, Alfred Gregory, George Lowe, Michael Westmacott, Charles Wylie, Michael Ward and Edmund Hillary, commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the First Ascent on 29th May, 1953, foreword by John Hunt, colour photographic frontis + black & white maps/ills. as called for, original half blue morocco gilt, gilt blocked illustration on front cover, top edge gilt, slipcase
Margaret Gowing: 'Britain and Atomic Energy 1939-1945', London, Macmillan & Co, 1964, 1st edition, the personal copy of Sir Henry Hallett Dale (1875-1968), Nobel Laureate and President of the Royal Society, signed & inscribed to him by the author to verso of half title "Sir Henry Dale, in gratitude and admiration, Margaret Gowing, September 1964", with Dale's ownership signature to front pastedown, and additionally loosely inserted are Dale's copy letters to Winston Churchill and Churchill's scientific adviser, Lord Cherwell, 11th May 1944, concerned with setting up a meeting between Churchill and Niels Bohr, which is referenced in pages 346-366 of the book. Niels Bohr was on a par with Einstein as a theoretical physicist, and after the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938, Bohr was acutely aware of the theoretical possibility of making an atomic bomb, though he considered the practical difficulties so prohibitive as to prevent the realization of a bomb until well after WW2 could be expected to end. In September 1943 word reached Bohr that he was about to be arrested by the Germans, and he fled Denmark to Sweden. From there, he was flown to Britain, where he joined the British Tube Alloys nuclear weapons project, and was part of the British mission to the Manhattan Project. Taking part for several weeks at a time in the work in Los Alamos, New Mexico, to develop the atomic bomb, he made significant technical contributions, notably to the design of the so-called initiator for the plutonium bomb. His most-important role, however, was to serve, in J. Robert Oppenheimer’s words, “as a scientific father confessor to the younger men.” Bohr became convinced that the existence of the bomb would “not only seem to necessitate but should also, due to the urgency of mutual confidence, facilitate a new approach to the problems of international relationship.” The first step toward avoiding a postwar nuclear arms race would be to inform the ally in the war, the Soviet Union, of the project. He was conscious of the likelihood of tension between Russia and the Western Allies after the war, but he believed the atomic bomb was something so big that it could be the means of promoting confidence and co-operation between nations. Furthermore, Bohr believed it would be disastrous if Russia should learn on her own about the bomb, and knowing the competence of the Russian physicists Bohr felt certain, like many leading scientists when they considered the point, that the margin of time before the Russians were able to construct a bomb themselves would be very small. In this backdrop of deep concern with the unique situation with which an atomic bomb would confront the world, Bohr was desperately anxious to meet Churchill and receive any suggestion from him on the subject. Sir Henry Dale was the President of the Royal Society and a member of the Tube Alloys Consultative Council. He was an old friend of Bohr's and during his visit to England Bohr had told Dale about his hopes and fears, these conversations taking place in the most secret place the men could think of, on iron park chairs in the middle of the biggest expanse of grass in Hyde Park. Dale was also greatly concerned with the deeper implications of the bomb and he wrote to the Prime Minister begging him to see Bohr on the question of international control. After outlining Bohr's credentials, Dale concludes his letter to Churchill "...It is my serious belief that it may be in your power even in the next six months to take decisions which will determine the future course of human history. It is in that belief that I dare to ask you, even now, to give Professor Bohr the opportunity of brief access to you". Bohr was unable to convince Churchill of his viewpoint, however, instead being suspected by Churchill of spying for the Russians, and came away from the meeting greatly disappointed at the way the world was apparently governed, with small points exercising a quite irrational influence. After the war, Bohr persisted in his mission for what he called an “open world” between nations, continuing his confidential contact with statesmen and writing an open letter to the United Nations in 1950. Original cloth gilt, dust wrapper (with 55s net price still intact). Together with a printed book of words of remembrance for Henry Hallett Dale by Lord Alexander Todd, in English & German, published Heidelberg, Verlag Lambert Schneider, 1968/69, original wraps. Provenance - from the estate of Lord Alexander R. Todd (1907-1997), British biochemist who who also became a Nobel Laureate and PResident of the Royal Society, and married Dale's daughter, a distinguished Scientist in her own right (2)
Hans Holbein: 'The Dance of Death', London, Privately Printed, 1916, limited edition, (one of 250 copies only), profusely illustrated throughout with enlarged facsimiles of Holbein's famous woodcut designs executed by Hans Lutzelburger, from the first complete edition published at Lyons in 1547. With the French text, accompanied by an English verse translation, edited, with a preface, by Frederick H. Evans. Original paper covered boards, printed paper label to spine
Thomas Robert Malthus: 'An Essay on the Principle of Population; or, a View of its Past and Present Effects on Human Happiness; with an Inquiry into our Prospects Respecting the Future Removal or Mitigation of the Evils which it Occasions. A New Edition, very much Enlarged.', London, printed for J. Johnson by T. Bensley, 1803, 2nd edition, the 'great quarto edition', the first to bear Malthus's name, substantially enlarged, rewritten, and re-titled, "In 1803 Malthus published a greatly expanded second edition of the Essay, incorporating details of the population checks that had been in operation in many different countries and periods. Although nominally a second edition, it was regarded by Malthus as a substantially new work. He did not claim originality for the idea that population tends to outrun the food supply. In the preface to the second edition he stated that in writing the first edition he had deduced the principle of population from the writings of David Hume, Robert Wallace, Adam Smith, and Richard Price, but that in the intervening period he had become aware that much more had been published on the subject. He nevertheless believed that even more remained to be done, especially in describing the means by which populations are checked and in drawing out the practical implications of the principle of population. In the second edition, he made clear what was only implicit in the first, that prudential restraint should, if humanly possible, be 'moral restraint' - that is, delayed marriage accompanied by strictly moral pre-marital behaviour, although he admitted that moral restraint would not be easy and that there would be occasional failures. Whereas in the first edition he had said that all the checks to population would involve either misery or vice, in the second edition he attempted to lighten this 'melancholy hue' (Essay on the Principle of Population, 1st edn, 1798, iv) and 'to soften some of the harshest conclusions of the first essay' (2nd edn, 1803, vii) by arguing that moral restraint, if supported by an education emphasizing the immorality of bringing children into the world without the means of supporting them, would tend to increase rather than diminish individual happiness" (ODNB). The first edition, published anonymously, is now a great rarity. This second was the result of much criticism, as well as the great success of the first; further correspondence with Godwin; and travels abroad, on the continent and in Scandinavia, along with reading of travel literature, which resulted in numerous new case studies being added (see Watkin Tench's copy, below). There are more comparisons with other countries and Malthus places a new emphasis on moral or 'natural restraint' (he is opposed to contraception and abortion); allowing that it is possible for such restraint to be practised, Malthus thus reviewed what was 'too gloomy a view of human nature in his first essay' (New Palgrave).The pessimist line, with its origins in Hume, Smith and Godwin, extended from Malthus to Ricardo, to James Mill and his son John Stuart, to Darwin and Wallace, even to Marx and Engels, the utopians who were driven to condemn Malthus, but were themselves prophets of doom and of the 'misery of the working classes', in what was arguably an age of remarkable economic and social development (Norman). viii,[4],610pp, title page and some leaves of preface and contents with tidemark to inner margin (not affecting printed text of title page), pp1/2 with small part loss at tope corner just affecting printed page numbers, pp42, the first word on line 12 "a" of "accounts" affected by small black mark, else some sporadic light spotting/foxing to some leaves throughout, mainly marginal, otherwise leaves generally clean/VGC. Quarto, professionally rebound paper covered boards, printed paper label to spine. Hugely influential work by Thomas Robert Malthus (1766-1834), the towering English cleric, scholar and influential economist in the fields of political economy and demography
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