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Hughes (Langston) The First Book of Rhythms, first edition, first printing, signed presentation inscription from the author "For the Tom Johnsons - sincerely - Langston Hughes, New York, May, 1954" to front free endpaper, illustrations by Robin King, ex-library copy with bookplate to pastedown, original cloth, remnants of library label and tape, dust-jacket, short tears to extremities, spine faded with library label, 4to, New York, 1954.⁂ Thomas O. Johnson was a dentist and friend of Hughes whose practice was in Harlem.

Molluscs.- Lister (Martin) Exercitatio anatomica in qua de Cochleis, maxime terrestribus, et limacibus agitur, first edition, initial imprimatur f., 8 engraved plates (5 folding), some light soiling to title but a very good, clean copy generally, 18th century panelled calf, some rubbing and splitting to joints, [Wing L2520], 8vo, Sam Smith & Benj. Walford, 1694.⁂ The first book devoted to the study of snails, scarce at auction.

Bible, Greek.- Divinae Scripturae, nempe veteris ac novi testamenti [graece], double column, Greek text, Latin footnotes, title and verso of otherwise blank final f. with woodcut printer's device, a few marginal tears or losses, some spotting or foxing, lightly browned, new endpapers, contemporary calf, rebacked, corners repaired, covers rubbed and scuffed, [VD16 B 2578], Frankfurt, Heirs of Andreas Wechel, 1597 § Hammond (Henry, editor) Novum testamentum domini nostri Jesu Christi, 2 parts in 1 vol., first edition, commentary double column, titles in red and black and with large engraved printer's device, woodcut head- and tail-pieces, some spotting and soiling, contemporary panelled calf, spine in compartments and with later gilt and red morocco label, joints splitting, but holding firm, corners worn, rubbed, Amsterdam, Georg Galletus, 1698; and 2 others, 17th century Bible and related, folio (4)

Certaine Sermons of Homilies [&] The Second Tome of Homilies, 2 works in 1 vol., black letter, first title within woodcut architectural border, woodcut initials and headpieces, first part with final blank f., [STC 13659 & 13675], John Bill, 1623 § Ross (Alexander) Pansebeia [graece]: or, A View of all Religions in the World, 2 parts in 1 vol., third edition, engraved portrait frontispiece, printer's device to title and 17 portraits, 3A1 blank apart from signature, contemporary calf, rebacked and recornered in 19th century morocco, rubbed, [Wing R1973 & Wing R1945], for John Saywell, 1658 § Sparrow (Anthony) A Collection of Articles Injunctions, Canons, Orders, Ordinances, and Constitutions Ecclesiastical, with other Publick Records of the Church of England, partly black letter, engraved frontispiece, divisional titles, collation and page numbering erratic but seemingly all present, contemporary calf, rebacked and recornered in 19th century morocco, some light surface wear to covers, [Wing C4093A], R. Norton, 1661; and 13 others, religion, v.s. (16)

Greene (Graham) Stamboul Train, uncorrected proof copy, some splitting to hinges but holding firm, original printed wrappers, light sunning and creasing to spine, some creasing to corners, light rubbing, but very good generally, preserved in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 1932; Stamboul Train, first edition, second issue, a few scattered spots, original cloth, faint creasing to spine, light bumping to head and foot, rubbing to tips of spine and corners, 1932, housed together in custom slip-case, 8vo (2)⁂ The rare uncorrected proof that almost led to a lawsuit for the publishers and forced Greene to make a handful of last-minute changes. We can trace only one other copy.Greene completed Stamboul Train in the first half of 1932 and was informed that autumn that the Book Society had selected it as their Book of the Month for December, the first time any of his novels had been given such an accolade and likely to guarantee some 10,000 sales. With this in mind, Heinemann ordered 15,000 copies to be printed. Greene was at his Chipping Campden home when he received a call from the publisher that the writer J. B. Priestley had read one of the proof copies of Greene's novel and was threatening to sue for what he saw as a vicious parody of himself in the character of Q. C. Savory. Greene was a junior writer at the firm at that time and had little choice but to acquiesce to the publisher in their insistence that he change the name of the character as well as a few key characteristics. The printed books had their covers removed and the necessary pages substituted. Copies with the unaltered text therefore only survive in the tiny number of surviving proofs or the handful of copies of the first edition that had been circulated prior to the changes.

With manuscript notes by the author.- Gray (Thomas) An elegy written in a country church yard, third edition (with the first printing of the 'red-breast stanza'), title printed within 2 bands of funereal emblems, 1 repeated as a head-piece, advertisement f., B1 partially repaired tear within text, but with loss of only a quotation mark, some foxing and staining, early 20th century half morocco gilt, rubbed, [Rothschild 1058], 4to, Printed for R. Dodsley in Pall-mall, and sold by M. Cooper in Pater-noster-row, 1751.⁂ Loosely inserted are 4pp. of autograph Latin notes by Gray giving biographical details of classical figures. A pencilled note at the foot of the first page of these reads 'These mss were from the Penn sale London...1872...and subsequently...at the C.W. Frederickson sale in 1897'.

Erigena (Johannes Scotus) De Divisione Naturae Libri Quinque, Div Desiderati. Accedit Appendix ex Ambiguis S. Maximi Graece et Latine, 2 parts in 1 vol., first edition, text partly double-column in Greek and Latin, title with engraved vignette, occasional light foxing or minor soiling, contemporary calf, spine gilt, extremities a little rubbed, [Wing J747], folio, Oxford, 1681.⁂ First edition of the best-known work of the 9th century Irish philosopher.

France.- Besançon.- Chifflet (Jean-Jacques) Vesontio, civitas imperialis libera, sequanorum metropolis, 2 parts in 1, first edition, engraved additional pictorial title with arms of the town, 2 folding plates, a folding plan and illustrations, worming, mostly marginal, but a little within platemarks and occasionally just touching text, occasional spotting or light staining, lightly browned, 19th century marbled boards with red morocco corners, rebacked using some of original red morocco over calf in compartments, gilt, upper joint splitting, but holding firm, a few nicks, rubbed, Lyon, Claude Cayne, 1618 § Dupuy (Pierre) Traitez concernant l'histoire de France: scavoir la condamnation des Templiers, avec quelques actes, title with woodcut ornament, engraved portrait, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, later brown pencil underlining and passage marking, occasional spotting, contemporary calf, spine in compartments, later gilt calf backstrip with red leather label loosely inserted, rubbed, [Caillet 3424 & cf.3427], Paris, chez Edme Martin, 1685; and 13 others, 17th & 18th century French History, v.s. (15)⁂ The first mentioned is one of the first works on the town. Chifflet (1588-1660) was born in the town and was a physician, diplomat and botanist.

Vossius (Gerardus Joannes) De quatuor artibus popularibus, de philologia, et scientiis mathematicis, 3 parts in 1, first edition, general and sectional titles, each with woodcut printer's device, part 1 with 'Lectori' f. at end, part 2 with errata f. at end, occasional spotting, lightly browned, contemporary calf, rebacked, corners repaired, Amsterdam, Joannes Blaeu, 1650 § Language.- Vossius (Gerardus Joannes) Etymologicon linguæ latinæ, first edition, double column, title in red and black and with woodcut printer's device, X3 short paper flaw at foot, within text, but without loss, some spotting and mostly light staining, including some red marking to title from colouring of edges, new endpapers, contemporary calf, rebacked, corners repaired, [Willems 1295], Amsterdam, Louis & Daniel Elzevier, 1662; and 2 others, Vossius, v.s. (4)

American Revolutionary War.- West Indies.- Castéra (Jean-Henri) Odes, first edition, half-title, title with woodcut floral ornament, woodcut head-piece and small ornaments, some spotting and light staining, contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, green corners, spine gilt and with red leather label, head of spine chipped, rubbed, 12mo, Amsterdam & Paris, Bailly, 1785.⁂ Rare, with WorldCat recording only two copies in the UK (BL and Brotherton) and three in the USA. Written in the West Indies it includes verse relating to the American Revolutionary War (the collection begins with 'A La Victoire 1781') and its place of writing ('A La Frégate La Fée, sur son depart de Saint-Domingue', for example).

Greene (Graham) The Lawless Roads, first edition, second issue with plain photographic illustrations, cut signature of the author to endpaper, attractive modern red crushed half morocco, spine gilt in compartments, 8vo, 1939.

Spinoza (Baruch) Opera posthuma, Quorum series post Praefationem exhibetur, 2 parts in 1, first edition, general title with woodcut ornament, second part with half-title, a few woodcut illustrations and diagrams in text, woodcut decorative initials, 3pp. errata at end, as often without the portrait frontispiece, later pencil underlining, occasional spotting and light staining, lightly browned, contemporary speckled calf, spine in compartments and with later gilt and red leather label, joints just starting, but holding firm, rubbed, particularly the joints, [Caillet 10309; Norman 1988; PMM 153; Van der Linde 22], small 4to, [Amsterdam], [Jan Rieuwertsz], 1677.⁂ First edition of Spinoza's posthumous works, which 'have served, then and since, with the Tractatus Theologico-Politicus, to immortalize his name' (PMM).

Holy Land.- Amico (Bernardino) Trattato delle piante & immagini de sacri edifizi di Terra Santa disegnate in Jerusaleme, second edition, engraved architectural title, 34 double-page sheets of engraved plates and plans by Jacques Callot, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, stained, including some water- and damp-staining, a few splits to folds, some spotting and finger-marking, contemporary speckled calf, rebacked, gilt spine in compartments and with black leather label, corners repaired, [Atabey 20; Berlin Kat. 2782; Blackmer 31; Fowler 19], small folio, Florence, Piettro Cecconcelli, 1620 [colophon dated 1619]. sold not subject to return. ⁂ First published in 1609, this second edition is the first to include plates engraved by Jacques Callot, who was commissioned by Cosimo II de Medici. The author, a Franciscan prior, lived in the Holy Land from 1593 to 1597, during which time he surveyed its ancient sacred buildings, particularly those of Jerusalem.

Botany.- Theophrastus. De Historia plantarum libri decem, first edition edited by Joannes Bodaeus à Stapel, double column, text in parallel Greek and Latin, fine engraved pictorial title, numerous woodcut botanical illustrations in text, woodcut decorative initials, small worm trace at foot of first few ff., diminishing in size as proceeds, last half or so with a couple of small wormholes to upper margins, turning into a trace to last few ff., 3H5 short tear within text with minor loss, 5N3 short tear to lower corner, just touching 1 letter, occasional spotting and light staining or water-staining, contemporary vellum, spine in compartments and with later gilt filets, small black floral motifs and a green morocco label, covers with blind-stamped arabesque centre-pieces, lacking ties, piece of vellum missing from spine, a few small nicks, little stained and marked, [Hunt 240], folio, Amsterdam, Hendrick Laurensz, 1644.⁂ One of the best editions of Theophrastus.'It is interesting not only because of the brilliance of the editing, but, curiously enough, to the American botanist as well, for involving in the discussion certain species from Virginia, other parts of the New World, and Asia. The illustrations of these plants have been largely overlooked in botanical history, because of their incidental presence in a work which might not be expected to contain anything of the sort. Some were merely borrowed from l'Ecluse or de Lobel, but others seem original in this work.' (H.H. Bartlett in Fifty-five Rare Books, quoted by Hunt).

Greene (Graham) It's a Battlefield, first edition, original cloth, light sunning to spine, second issue dust-jacket by Youngman Carter priced at 3/6 on spine, light sunning to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped, some rubbing and creasing to head and foot, some light surface soiling to lower pane, but a very good, bright copy overall, preserved in custom drop-back box, 1934; and the first American edition of the same, 8vo (2)⁂ Greene's first political novel, much influenced by Conrad after whom one of the characters in named. Following publication a murder took place in London that was notably similar to that depicted in the novel and for several days afterwards Greene feared arrest.

Greene (Graham) The Man Within, first edition, original cloth, very slight fading to spine, two short splits to head of spine, dust-jacket, spine browned, spine ends and corners chipped with repairs and reinforcement to verso, a good copy otherwise, preserved in custom lidded box, 8vo, 1929.⁂ Greene's first novel, the success of which allowed him to pursue a full-time career as an author.

Europe.- Richardson (Gabriel) Of the State of Europe. XIIII Bookes. Containing the Historie, and Relations of the Many Provinces Hereof, first edition, title with woodcut device, woodcut initials and headpieces, rust hole to 2L4 affecting 1 or 2 letters of text, occasional minor worming to margins, heavier towards end, worm hole to text running through several gatherings towards end, 18th century red half morocco, gilt, spine gilt in compartments, some bumping to corners and light rubbing to extremities, [STC 21020], folio, Oxford, [J. Lichfield], for Henry Cripps, 1627.

Thomas Henshaw's copy.- French language.- [Ménage (Gilles)] Les Origines de la langue françoise, first edition, title with large engraved printer's device, dedication with engraved head-piece and historiated initial, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, 3pp. errata at end, final blank with Henshaw's ink autograph list of books cited in the work, later pencil underlining and additions to afore-mentioned list, sig. Pp misbound, Hhh4 lower blank corner torn away, some spotting and staining, new endpapers, contemporary mottled calf, gilt, rebacked, corners repaired, small 4to, Paris, Augustin Courbé, 1650.⁂ First edition of the first etymological dictionary of the French language. Provenance: 'Ex libris Hen. Proby jun' and in Henshaw's hand 'ante:quam hunc dono dedit Tho. Henshaw, 1656:'.

Hanway (Jonas) Virtue in Humble Life, containing reflections on the reciprocal duties of the wealthy and indigent, the master and the servant, 2 vol., first edition, engraved frontispieces (lightly offset onto titles), occasional light browning, modern calf, J.Dodsley, 1774; and 4 others, Hanway and others, moral advice, 8vo (6)⁂ Scarce first edition of this wide-ranging work that includes the author's thoughts on the state of prisons and prisoners, the plight of chimney sweeps and the entertainments of London.

Greene (Graham) The Basement Room and other stories, first edition, neat ink ownership inscription to endpaper, second state red cloth, fading to tips of spine and corners, dust-jacket priced at 3/6 and ill-fitting as issued, spine ends and corners chipped, a few short closed tears with light creasing to head and foot, some light rubbing to extremities, but overall a very good and bright example of a delicate jacket, 8vo, 1935.⁂ Rare in the fragile silver jacket which often suffers from surface wear causing the lettering to become obscured but remains bright in the present case. The dust-jacket remained the same between the two states, however the second state red binding was significantly larger that the first, rendering the jacket ill-fitting and leaving noticeable creasing along the flaps.

Voyages.- Hanway (Jonas) An Historical Account of the British Trade over the Caspian Sea: with a Journal of Travels from London through Russia into Persia, 4 vol. in 3, first edition, vol.3 & 4 with half-titles, all with engraved frontispieces, 15 engraved plates and 10 folding maps, vol.1 & 2 with engraved vignettes as chapter headings, 3 maps with tape repairs to verso, occasional foxing, light offsetting, a few early or later ff. with minor marginal chipping or short tears, bookplate to vol. 2 endpaper "Presented by Mrs. K. M. Pinsent, great, great niece of Jonas Hanway", modern calf, red and black morocco labels to spines, 4to, [Goldsmiths' 8801; Keynes p.144; Kress 5268], 4to, Dodsley, 1753.⁂ In 1743 Hanway, then a merchant, went into partnership with Mr Dingley, based in St. Petersburg which led to Hanway's travelling in Russia and Persia. The present work is Hanway's account of his journey to Astrabad and his return. The trip was arduous; Hanway had his goods seized before being partially restored to him, he also suffered attacks from pirates, illness and long stints in quarantine.

Poole (Matthew) Synopsis criticorum aliorumque s. scripturae interpretum, 4 vol. in 6, first English edition, occasional very light browning, some light soiling but a very good, clean copy generally, contemporary speckled calf, rebacked and recornered in 19th century morocco, [Wing P2853], folio, Cornelius Bee, 1669-76.

India.- Lockyer (Charles) An Account of the Trade in East India: Containing Rules for good Government in Trade, Price Courants, and Tables, only edition, later endpapers, contemporary panelled calf, rebacked in later calf, gilt, [Goldsmiths' 4707], 8vo, the Author, 1711.⁂ Provides a wealth of detail about the economic life of Asia, and includes the first ever use of the word "ketchup", p. 128: "Soy comes in Tubs from Jappan, and the best Ketchup from Tonqueen [Vietnam]".

Remarque (Erich Maria) All Quiet on the Western Front, first English edition, half-title, publisher's promotional flier loosely inserted, original buckram, light browning to spine tips, slight bumping to corners and extremities, first issue dust-jacket, priced at 7s. 6d., loss and small tears to edges, expertly restored and repaired, a little rubbed, 8vo, 1929.

[Greene (Graham) and Ronald Matthews], "Sheila Cousins". To Beg I am Ashamed, first American edition, original boards, light fading to spine, light fraying to spine ends, dust-jacket, price-clipped, light toning to spine, spine ends and corners chipped, a few small chips or tears to head and foot of panels, upper panel verso with tape repair to head, slip-case, New York, 1938; To Beg I am Ashamed, first French edition, original printed wrappers, creasing to spine, covers a little soiled, light creasing and a few neat repairs to extremities, card chemise, Paris, Obelisk Press, 1938; To Beg I am Ashamed, first Indian edition, original cloth, fading to spine ends, dust-jacket, price-clipped, spine ends and corners a little chipped, some chipping and splitting to upper fore-edge, lower panel with some surface tearing, slip-case, Kitabistan, Allahabad, 1940; and 2 others, an 8th impression French edition and a pirated edition, 8vo (5)

Shakespeare source book.- Montemayor (Jorge de) Diana of George of Montemayor: translated out of Spanish into English by Bartholomew Yong of the Middle Temple Gentleman, first edition in English, title and woodcut ornament within elaborate woodcut border, woodcut decorative initials and tail-piece, title with margins restored, G4 tear within text, without loss, T6 marginal paper flaw at head, a few marginal tears and ink stains, water-stained throughout (mostly light brown, but occasionally darker, particularly in margins at end), some other staining, lightly browned, lacking pastedowns, later reversed calf, spine in compartments, spine repaired, rubbed and scuffed, [STC 18044; Bartlett 265], small folio, Printed by Edm. Bollifant, impensis G[eorge]. B[ishop]., 1598.⁂ Shakespeare source book owned by a 17th century woman. 'The ultimate source for The Two Gentleman of Verona was Diana by J. de Montemayor, which Shakespeare could have read in a French translation (1578), or possibly in B. Young's English version, not published until 1598, but made some sixteen years previously' (Kenneth Muir, The Sources of Shakespeare's Plays). 'The story of the shepherdess Felismena, beginning on page 54, is certainly the story of Proteus and Julia in Two Gentlemen of Verona, while Twelfth Night also shows points of resemblance' (Bartlett, Mr. William Shakespeare). Provenance: 'This book is Anne Warrenes' (17th century ink inscription to front free endpaper. An Anne Warren of Dover married Edward Boys in 1621. The name 'Boys' features on the final leaf, supporting a possible identification); 'William Davenport his booke' (17th century ink inscription to outer margin of Ff4).

Shaw (George Bernard) An Unsocial Socialist, first edition, first issue with "Author of The Confessions of Byron Cashel's Profession" to title and no appendix, hinges weak, original red cloth, gilt, a little rubbed and soiled, spine slightly faded, 8vo, 1887.⁂ The rare first issue of Shaw's second novel and a nice association copy. Ink inscription and address of "Mrs Walter Crane" [ie Mary Crane] on front free endpaper. Walter Crane married Mary Andrews in 1871 and after a sojourn in Rome returned to London in 1873 living first in Wood End and then at Beaumont Lodge, Shepherd's Bush (the address she has written in this book). In 1914 Mary Crane was found dead on a railway track at Kingsnorth in Kent, apparently having committed suicide. Walter Crane was devastated and died just 3 months later. Walter Crane and Shaw were closely associated through the Arts and Crafts movement and the Fabian Society. On p.65 the author writes "Don't lose heart, ladies" said Smilash. "She may be drowned or murdered for all we know. Anyone may send a telegram in a false name. Perhaps it's a plant. Let's hope for your sakes that some little accident - on the railway for instance - may happen yet." Considering the nature of Mary Crane's probable suicide this foretelling is particularly ominous.

American Midwest binding.- Diodati (Giovanni) Pious and learned annotations upon the Holy Bible. Plainly expounding the most difficult places thereof, fourth edition, engraved portrait frontispiece, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, portrait trimmed, laid down and wormed, title upper margin trimmed and laid down, occasional worming, mostly at start, a few tears and small burn holes, stained and browned, spotting, pastedowns made from sheets of Pittsburgh Gazette (c.1806), early 19th century American blind-tooled panelled calf, central panel with initials of David Phillips ('D' on upper cover and 'P' on the lower cover) and various other tools (including ?leaves), spine with five blind-ruled bands with heart tool at head and foot and ?leaf tool in other compartments, repaired and restored, wormholes, rubbed, [Wing D1508], folio (binding 290 x 195mm.), Printed by Tho. Roycroft, for Nicholas Fussell, 1664. sold as a binding and not subject to return. ⁂ An early 19th-century American Midwest binding. Provenance: Wyllys Pierson (1728-1810) son of Rev. John Pierson. Moved to Western Pennsylvannia c.1774 (ink inscription to foot of final verso); David Phillips (1742-1829) born in Wales in 1716 and emigrated to America in 1755. Ordained Pittsburgh 7th April, 1781. In 1812 the First Baptist Church of Pittsburgh was formed by Rev. Edward Jones under the direction of Rev. Phillips. The latter baptized Sidney Rigdon (1793-1876), who later became an important leader of the Latter Day Saint movement (ink inscription to foot of final verso, stating that book bought from Pierson in 1783).

Le Carré (John) The Honourable Schoolboy, first edition, signed by the author on title, plain endpapers, original boards, light bumping to spine ends, dust-jacket, price-clipped, some rubbing and light creasing to head and foot, near-fine otherwise, 8vo, 1977.⁂ The second title in the Karla trilogy. There are two issues with either map or plain endpapers, seemingly without any established primacy.

Thomas Henshaw's copy.- Ryer (André du, translator) L'Alcoran de Mahomet. Translaté d'Arabe en François, first edition in French, title with woodcut royal arms, errata f., occasional pencil underlining and passage marking, T4 torn at head with loss of text, some spotting or staining, lightly browned, contemporary mottled calf, rebacked (burgundy morocco spine label loosely inserted), lower edges little worn, rubbed, small 4to, Paris, Antoine de Sommaville, 1647.⁂ Rare first French edition of the Koran, translated by the celebrated French orientalist Du Ryer. Provenance: 'Henshaw' and 'Achete a Paris, pour 6 francs, Le 19 de Septem:, 1647' (ink signature and inscription to front free endpaper). We know that from late 1644 Henshaw was a travelling companion of John Evelyn on the Continent, and that he came back to England from Paris in 1650, or possibly earlier.

Greene (Graham) England Made Me, first edition, original cloth, light fading to spine, faint ring-mark to upper cover, but a very good copy generally, 1935; and the first American edition of the same, 8vo (2)

Astrology.- Campanella (Giovanni Domenico, known as Tommaso) Astrologicorum Libri VI. In quibus Astrologia, omni superstitione Arabum, & ludæorum eliminata, physiologicè tractatur, 2 parts in 1, first edition, title in red and black and with woodcut printer's device, woodcut diagrams and tables in text, last f. of first part blank (Gg4), a1 of second part 'printer to reader', woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, some spotting and staining, lightly browned, later endpapers, contemporary limp vellum, later gilt and dark green morocco label to spine, small 4to, Lyon, for Jacques, André & Mathieu Prost, 1629.⁂ Rare first edition of this work by the Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, theologian, astrologer, and poet. He spent 27 years in prison for conspiring against the Spanish rulers of Calabria. During this time he wrote most of his important works, including his defence of Galileo during his first trial, to whom he also wrote before his second trial.

[Hanway (Jonas)] A Journal of Eight Days Journey from Portsmouth to Kingston upon Thames; through Southampton, Wiltshire, &c...To which is added, An Essay on Tea, 2 vol., second edition, engraved folding frontispieces, occasional foxing or light soiling, modern crushed morocco, H. Woodfall & C. Henderson, 1757 § Pugh (John) Remarkable Occurrences in the Life of Jonas Hanway, first edition, folding engraved map, occasional spotting, modern calf, for the Author, 1787; and 4 others, 8vo (7)

China.- Thomson (John) Illustrations of China and Its People, 4 vol., first edition, 96 photographic plates, tissue-guards, 2 with tears, letterpress descriptions interleaved, scattered spotting, original decorative cloth, expertly rebacked, gilt, a.e.g., slight bumping to edges, folio, 1873-74.⁂ John Thomson (1837-1921) was a pioneering Scottish photographer, who was one of the first known photographers to travel to the Far East and document the people, landscapes and artefacts of the Chinese culture. He settled in Hong Kong in 1868 and established a studio in the Commercial Bank building, spending the next four years travelling extensively. He visited various remote and almost unpopulated regions, where many of the people he encountered had never seen a Westerner before, let alone a camera.

Optics.- Rubens (Peter Paul).- Aguilon (François d') Opticorum libri sex Philosophis iuxta ac Mathematicis utiles, first edition, half-title, fine engraved title and 6 head-pieces by Theodor Galle after Peter Paul Rubens, numerous woodcut diagrams and illustrations in text, woodcut decorative initials and tail-pieces, final f. with large woodcut printer's device recto otherwise blank, occasional spotting or light staining, lightly browned throughout, new endpapers, contemporary calf, rebacked in a modern light brown morocco in compartments, gilt and with a black morocco label, corners repaired, covers rubbed and scuffed, [Norman 25; NLM/Krivatsy 92; Martin Kemp, The Science of Art, 1990, pp. 101-104], folio, Antwerp, widow and sons of J. Moretus in the house of Plantin, 1613.⁂ As well as providing a compendium of classical and modern works on optics, he describes his original theory of binocular vision (later disproved) and for the first time his invention of the horopter. This is one of only seven books known to have been illustrated by Rubens, a friend of the publisher Balthasar Moretus. D'Aguilon's colour theory and his prescriptions for the mixing of colours are known to have been used in Rubens's paintings.

Greene (Graham) The Little Steamroller, first edition, illustrations by Dorothy Craigie, browning to endpapers, original pictorial boards, light rubbing and bumping to spine ends and corners, dust-jacket, price-clipped, spine ends and corners a little chipped, tear along upper joint with neat tape repair to verso, upper panel with short tear and creasing to head and foot, a very good, bright copy, 4to, 1953.

Greene (Graham) The Living Room: a Play in Two Acts, uncorrected proof copy, bookplate to inside front cover, ink date to endpaper, original printed wrappers, light toning to margins, 1953; The Living Room: a Play in Two Acts, first edition, original cloth, dust-jacket, front flap clipped at head with 7s. 6d. price present at foot, very light sunning to spine, closed tear to head and foot of upper panel with some creasing to head, but an excellent example overall, 1953; and 2 others, the first French and American editions of the same, 8vo (4)

Greene (Graham) Brighton Rock, first English edition, publisher's review slip loosely inserted, a few scattered spots to edges, original cloth, spotting to spine, otherwise excellent, early issue dust-jacket with reviews to flaps and lower panel, 4/6 price sticker to front flap, light toning to spine, neat repairs and restorations to extremities, in effect an excellent example, preserved in custom lidded box, 8vo, 1938.⁂ An early jacketed copy of Brighton Rock. Many of the reviews quoted appeared in 1939 so this jacket likely dates from around 1940. Copies in the first issue jackets are famous rare and valuable, we can trace no like examples in an early jacket.

Philosophy.- Hornius (Georgius) Historiae philosophicae ll. VII. Quibus de origine, successione, sectis & vita philosophorum ab orbe condito ad nostram aetatem agitur, first edition, title with woodcut printer's device, woodcut head-pieces and decorative initials, title soiled and with small chip at head, occasional spotting and staining, new endpapers, contemporary mottled calf, rebacked, corners repaired, [Willems 767], Leiden, Jean Elzevier, 1655 § Stanley (Thomas) Historia Philosophiæ Orientalis, title with woodcut ornament, woodcut head- and tail-pieces and decorative initials, later pencil markings to index, contemporary mottled calf, spine in compartments and with later gilt and red leather label, rubbed, Amsterdam, Widow Swart, 1690; and 3 others, Philosophy, including 2 vol. Laertius, Amsterdam, 1698 (not collated), v.s. (5)

Le Carré (John) Call for the Dead, first edition, ex-library copy with ink stamps to front and rear pastedowns, title, half-title and front free endpaper, occasional foxing and marking, mostly marginal and fairly light but heavier to pp. 15-18, original boards, light marking to spine, dust-jacket, spine ends and corners a little chipped with some tissue repairs to verso, light discolouration to spine tips, corners and small patch at head of upper panel, but a remarkably bright and excellent example generally, 8vo, 1961.⁂ The author's first novel, an ex-library copy but with the dust-jacket in unusually good condition.

Le Carré (John) The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, first edition, signed by the author on printed card loosely inserted, very light small stain to p.8/9, original variant brown boards, dust-jacket, spine slightly faded, some very minor chipping to spine tail, small repair to front panel with tape repairs verso, still an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1963.⁂ Rare in the variant brown boards, likely a trial binding.

[Brontë (Charlotte)] "Currer Bell." The Professor, a Tale, 2 vol. in 1, first edition, half-titles, advertisement leaf at end vol. 1., 8pp. and 16 pp. advertisements dated November 1858 at end vol. 2., scattered faint spotting, original blind-stamped cloth, gilt, sunned spine, slight bumping to corners, small loss to spine foot, backstrip beginning to split at spine extremities, but holding firm, [Smith p.162], 8vo, 1857.

Scheuchzer (Johann Jacob) Kupfer-Bibel in welcher die Physica Sacra, 4 vol., first edition in German, vol.1 with half-title and engraved frontispiece, fine mezzotint portrait, 759 engraved plates (of 760), one partially hand-coloured, a few folding, occasional browning and foxing, marginal stain to several leaves in vol.2, contemporary calf, rebacked and corners repaired, folio, Augsburg & Ulm, 1731-35.⁂ Monumental work undertaken by the polymath Scheuchzer, attempting to marry the scriptures with the sciences, including paleontology, zoology, biology, astronomy and geology. The plates are after drawings by Johann Melchior Fuessli and are set within borders, often allegorical, by J.D. Preissler.

Milne (A. A.) Winnie-the-Pooh, first edition, illustrations by Ernest Shepard, pictorial endpapers, occasional light marking or soiling, light browning to endpapers, original green pictorial cloth, gilt, t.e.g., light damp-staining to covers and spine, spine ends and corners a little bumped, dust-jacket, browning to spine, spine ends and corners chipped affecting first word of title at head of spine, creasing to head and foot, light surface soiling, extremities rubbed, 8vo, 1926.

Barrie (J.M.) Peter and Wendy, first edition, frontispiece and plates by F. D. Bedford, endpapers lightly browned, original pictorial cloth, gilt, dust-jacket, spine lightly faded, spine ends and corners lightly frayed, but still overall a very bright and crisp example, 8vo, 1911.⁂ After Peter Pan was originally encountered in Barrie's The Little White Bird, the popularity of the section prompted him to write a further children's story. This edition tells the popular version of the tale featuring Wendy Darling and Nana the dog, while the final chapter of the novel, entitled, "When Wendy Grew Up", sees Peter visiting a grown up Wendy, part of the story which had not appeared in the play or earlier versions of the story.

Churchill (Winston S.) A History of the English Speaking People, 4 vol., first edition, maps, faint spotting to first few leaves, uniform half-morocco, gilt, t.e.g., [Woods A138(a)], 8vo, 1956-58.

Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, first edition, signed by the author on dedication p., a few early pp. with light marginal creasing, original pictorial boards, spine ends a little bumped, dust-jacket, spine ends a little creased, light rubbing to spine tips, but near-fine otherwise, 8vo, 2000.

Greene (Graham) The Lawless Roads, first edition, first issue with yellow map endpapers, photographic illustrations tinted blue, the spine lettered in gilt and top edge stained yellow, photographic plates, neat contemporary ink ownership inscription to endpaper, original cloth, spine a little darkened, light surface soiling to covers, spine ends a little bumped, dust-jacket, price-clipped, light toning to spine, 2 small puncture marks, spine ends and corners a little chipped, some splitting to upper fore-edge, a few small surface abrasions, but a very good example overall, preserved in custom slip-case, 8vo, 1939.⁂ The rare first issue with a number of differences in the production between this and the second issue (see next lot). The Lawless Roads is Greene's account of his 1938 trip to Mexico, a visit that would also provide the basis for The Power and the Glory.

Kerouac (Jack) Desolation Angels, first English edition, near contemporary decorative black calf with hand-painted upper panel by the Cottage Bindery, gilt, housed in near contemporary drop-back box, red morocco spine label, gilt, 8vo, 1966.

Fleming (Ian) Diamonds are Forever, first edition, very occasional light marking, original boards with diamond motif, spine ends a little bumped, some light markings, dust-jacket, price-clipped, light browning to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped, short splits to head and foot of joints, light creasing to head and foot, extremities a little rubbed, 8vo, 1956.

Greene (Graham) The Name of Action, bookplates to endpaper and pastedown, recased, spine ends repaired, corners bumped rubbed, facsimile dust-jacket, 1930; It's a Battlefield, very light fading to spine, 1934; Confidential Agent, spotting, light fading to spine, spine ends bumped, 1939, first editions, original cloth; and a first edition Ministry of Fear, 8vo (4)

Darwin (Charles) The Movements and Habits of Climbing Plants, second edition, revised, but, first edition in book form, half-title, illustrations, unopened, cracked hinge, 32pp. publishers advertisements at end, original cloth, faint mottling to extremities, slight bumping to spine extremities, [Freeman 836], 8vo, 1875.⁂ This first appeared in volume 9 of the 'Journal of the Proceedings of the Linnean Society of London' in 1865, and was also printed as a pamphlet and offprint in the same year.

Greene (Graham) Loser Takes All, uncorrected proof copy, original wrappers, light creasing to spine and head of upper cover, 1955; Loser Takes All, first edition, original cloth, light rubbing to tips of spine and corners, dust-jacket, light toning to spine and panel margins, spine ends and corners a little chipped, chipping to head of upper panel, 1955; and 2 others, the promotional film edition and the first American edition, 8vo (4)

Byzantine architecture.- Wheler (Sir George) An account of the churches, or places of assembly, of the primitive Christians; from the churches of Tyre, Jerusalem, and Constantinople. Described by Eusebius, first edition, 5 folding engraved plates, lacking final 3 blank ff., plate 2 with repaired tear, with very minor loss, foxing and some staining, lightly browned throughout, modern calf-backed marbled boards, spine in compartments and with red leather label, [Atabey 1330; Blackmer 1788; Wing 1606], small 8vo, Printed by S. Roycroft, for R. Clavell at the Peacock at the west-end of S. Pauls, 1689.⁂ Rare to find with all plates present. 'An especially interesting work for its period. At this time very few antiquaries were interested in Byzantine architecture' (Blackmer). Provenance: Dr. Jos. Smith (18th century engraved armorial bookplate).

Greene (Graham) Brighton Rock, first English edition, some light marginal toning, publisher's compliments slip with additional ink inscription laid onto endpaper, original cloth, very light sunning to spine, minor bumping to spine ends and corners, otherwise excellent, 8vo, 1938.

Fleming (Ian) Casino Royale, first edition, spotting to edges and endpapers, original boards, faint mottling to upper cover, light bumping to tips of spine and corners, first issue dust-jacket, spine ends and corners a little chipped, spotting and light browning to lower panel, light creasing to head and foot, light rubbing to extremities, a very good example overall, 8vo, 1953.⁂ A very good, unsophisticated example of the first James Bond novel. Increasingly difficult to find not price clipped and unrestored.

Greene (Graham) Stamboul Train, first edition, first issue with Q.C. Savory to pp. 77, 78, 82, 98 and 131, some very light scattered foxing, minor splitting to upper hinge but holding firm, original cloth, some very light fading to spine, rubbing and minor fraying to tips of spine and corners, some light mottling and splash marks to covers, preserved in custom morocco-backed drop-back box, 8vo, 1932.⁂ The rare first issue, one of only a handful of copies distributed prior to the changes forced on Greene by the publishers (see previous lot).

Lapland.- Schefferus (Joannes) Lapponia id est regionis Lapponum et gentis nova et verissima descriptio, first edition, engraved additional pictorial title (dated 1674), printed title in red and black and with woodcut vignette, folding engraved map, woodcut illustrations in text, some full-page, errata f. at end, some underlining and passage marking in brown or ordinary pencil, single small wormhole to inner gutter of around first half of the work, little offsetting to map, foxing, occasional staining, lightly browned, later vellum, flat gilt spine in compartments and with black stamped floral motifs and a black leather label, yapp edges, little marked and stained, small 4to, Frankfurt, Johann Andreae for Christian Wolff, 1673.⁂ First edition of the first comprehensive study of the Sami people, and for long the most important source of information on Lapland and its inhabitants.

Herbert of Cherbury (Edward, Lord) The Life and Raigne of King Henry the Eighth, first edition, engraved portrait frontispiece by T. Cecill, title in red and black, occasional light browning, the odd patch of soiling, contemporary calf, 19th century reback, rubbing and surface wear, [Wing H1504], E. G. for Thomas Whittaker, 1649; and Sanderson's Compleat History, lacking the first portrait, folio (2)

Hobbes (Thomas) Thomae Hobbes Angli Malmesburiensis Philosophi Vita, edited by R[ichard] B[lackburne], first collected edition, engraved portrait of Hobbes, lacks A1-2 (blanks), contemporary mottled calf, rebacked, gilt label, joints and spine slightly rubbed, [Macdonald & Hargreaves 93; Wing H2268], 8vo, Carolopoli. apud Eleutherium Anglicum [colophon, London, apud Guil. Crooke], 1681.⁂ With commendatory verses by Abraham Cowley, Ralph Bathurst and John Aubrey.