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Click here to subscribeHuxley (Aldous) Brave New World, first edition, some faint spotting, some surface tearing to rear pastedown, original cloth, slight shelf-lean, light creasing and toning to spine, rubbing to spine tips and corners, dust-jacket, repairs and restorations to spine and extremities, part of text portions at head and foot of spine supplied in excellent facsimile, in effect an excellent example, 8vo, 1932.
James (M.R.) The Collected Ghost Stories, first edition, slight foxing to endpapers, original cloth, dust-jacket by John Case, light toning to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped, closed tear to head and foot of lower joint with some light creasing, 2 small chip to upper fore-edge, a few short nicks to head and foot of panels, a very good example overall, [Tymn 3-124], 1931; and 11 others, James, v.s. (12)SRN: This lot does not contain the copy of More Ghost Stories in a dust-jacket as pictured in the catalogue
Grahame (Kenneth) The Wind in the Willows, first edition, half-title, misbound after title, frontispiece by Graham Robertson, a little frayed at fore-edge, a few other ff. likewise so, contents leaf with small paper repairs, spotting, endpapers renewed, twentieth century olive morocco, with pattern of willow leaves in gilt to covers and spine, red morocco labels to spine, a small scuff to upper cover, spine lightly sunned, t.e.g., 8vo, Methuen and Co., 1908.
Hardy (Thomas), A.H. Evans and T.H. Tilley. Play scripts for individual parts for 'The Hardy Players', comprising 'The Mellstock Quire' 10 parts [1910]; 'The Woodlanders' 9 parts [1913]; 'A Desperate Remedy' 7 parts [1922]; 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' 20 parts [1924]; Mumming Play [?The Play of St.George] 1923, together 47 parts, typescripts, some in red & black, some with additions or corrections in manuscript, underlinings in red ink, occasional spotting or soiling, some with ink stamp of Dramatic Typing of Covent Garden, stapled in coloured wrappers varying as to play, one part in 'Tess' lacking wrappers, another with upper wrapper torn, rubbed and soiled, a few creases, [Purdy Appendix VI p.351], most oblong 8vo last 4to, [?Dorchester], [1910-24].⁂ Fascinating group of scripts for mostly minor parts (but including both Tess and Angel Clare) in adaptations of Hardy's Wessex novels. In 1908 the Dorchester Debating and Dramatic Society performed a dramatisation of Hardy's Trumpet-Major, and produced a different story each year until 1924, apart from during and just after the First World War. In 1916 they became 'The Hardy Players', with the early works adapted by A.H.Evans and later on by T.H.Tilley, a local builder and stone mason. Hardy wrote only the scripts for The Queen of Cornwall, Tess of the d'Urbervilles and the mumming play of St.George for The Return of the Native but made suggestions for scenarios etc. and attended rehearsals. The plays were performed by amateurs in Dorchester with some performances in Weymouth and/or London. On the 100th birthday of the last remaining Hardy Player, Norrie Woodhall, whose sister Gertrude played the original Tess and whose mother had inspired the original character, she requested that the tradition should be revived. As a result 'The New Hardy Players' formed in 2005 and continue to celebrate Hardy's work.
Chatsworth copy.- More (Sir Thomas, Saint) Epigrammata, first separate edition, collation: a-n4 o6 (a signed x, as in other copies consulted), title within fine historiated woodcut border by Hans Holbein the younger, woodcut historiated initials, large woodcut printer's device to final verso, water-stained, occasional spotting, lightly browned, late 18th / early 19th century mottled calf, gilt, rebacked, preserving original backstrip in compartments, little worn at ends, corners worn, rubbed and little marked, small 4to (200 x 146mm.), Basel, [Johann Froben], 1520.⁂ The Chatsworth copy of the first separate and best edition of More's Epigrams, revised by him, and with the addition of 13 new epigrams. He reworks material from classical writers, biblical texts, traditional jests, and Aesop's fables, and translates two near-contemporaneous English love lyrics. Provenance: Edmund Pulleyn (contemporary ink inscription at foot of final verso); 'codicis estis possesor nomine dritos.' (contemporary ink inscription at head of final verso); The Dukes of Devonshire (Chatsworth bookplate to front pastedown, Bookcase 135, Shelf C). Literature: Adams M1753; Gibson 57; VD 16 M 6296.
Bowen (Marjorie, editor) Great Tales of Horror, first edition, ink ownership inscription to head of title, original cloth, some insect damage and rubbing to covers, dust-jacket, short nick to head of lower joint and foot of upper fore-edge, some light creasing, an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1933.⁂ With contributions by Bowen, Machen, Blackwood, Le Fanu and Wells. Rare with the dust-jacket in such superb condition.
German (Sir Edward, composer, 1862-1936) Overture to Much Ado About Nothing, autograph music score, initialed and dated 'EG Jan 30/98' at end, 62pp., various corrections and additions in pencil, blue pencil and red ink, first f. browned and a little chipped at upper margin, some toning and light soiling, contemporary cloth-backed wrappers, paper label to upper cover with title and name of composer in ink (in another hand) and 'Full Score' above, covers chipped and worn and detached, 1898; and 3 pieces of related ephemera, including a contemporary programme for Much Ado About Nothing at St. James's Theatre, King Street with music by German, and 2 press photographs, v.s. (score 380 x 280mm.) (4)
Dahl (Roald) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, first English edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to endpaper, occasional minor internal marking, original glazed pictorial boards, very light sunning to spine, some fraying to laminate at spine ends and along upper joint, slight bumping to spine ends with light wear at head and foot of lower joint, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1967.⁂ Among the rarest Dahl editions to find signed, we can only trace one other copy at auction.
Mathematics.- Euclid. Elementorum Geometricourm Libri Tredecim, first edition in Arabic, title in Latin and Arabic, text entirely in Arabic, woodcut decorations and numerous diagrams, title trimmed and laid down, lacking 4ff. (pp.17-24), some ff. browned, occasional spotting, upper hinge broken, contemporary vellum, folio, Rome, In Typographia Medicea, 1594.⁂ "Possibly the most remarkable of all printed editions of Euclid" (Thomas-Stanford). Important and rare, despite the faults in this copy, it is from the more complete of the 2 issues, having all 13 chapters and ending on p.454 (as opposed to 12 chapters and only 400pp.). It was printed at the press established in Rome by Ferdinando de' Medici under the auspices of Pope Gregory XIII, devoted to Eastern languages and overseen by mathematician and head printer Giovanni Battista Raimondi.Literature: Adams E990; Honeyman 1015; Mortimer Italian 175; EDIT 16 CNCE 18366.
Adams (Douglas) [The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series], 5 vol., comprising The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, jacket first state with "Capricorn One" advertisement on rear panel, very slight sunning to spine, slight toning to lower panel, 1979; The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, jacket with very slight creasing to head, 1980; Life the Universe and Everything After, ink ownership stamp to title, half-title and front free endpaper, jacket with light toning to spine, spotting to flaps, closed tear to head of upper fore-edge, light creasing to head, indentations to lower panel, 1982; So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish, jacket with slight creasing to head of spine, 1984; Mostly Harmless, signed by the author on title, light toning to margins, 1992, first editions, original boards, dust-jackets, a near-fine set, 8vo.⁂ A superb set of the author's classic science fiction comedy series. The first volume is especially rare in the first state dust-jacket.
Wordsworth (William) Poems, edited by Matthew Arnold, bound in handsome crushed brown morocco, gilt, by Ramage, covers intricately tooled in gilt with vertically-pointed central wheel and similar fans to corners all within decorative border, spine gilt in compartments, ivory silk moiré doublures and flyleaves, inner gilt dentelles with small crescents, g.e., 1906 § Adams (Estelle Davenport) and A.C.Swinburne. Sea Song and River Rhyme, first edition, later crushed dark turquoise morocco, gilt, by Stikeman & Co., covers ruled in gilt with small ornaments to corners, spine gilt in compartments, t.e.g., others uncut, preserved in roan slip-case with pull-off top (rubbed, top edge detached), 1887; and another in a Bayntun binding, 8vo (3)
[Browning (Elizabeth Barrett)] An Essay on Mind, with other Poems, first edition, mixed issue with "found" on p.75 and page number on pp.24 & 148 misaligned but p.12 correctly aligned, without half-title as issued, a fine copy bound in later charming crushed brown morocco, gilt, by Rivière & Son, covers with border of heart-shaped leaves tooled in gilt, spine titled in gilt with compartments of small leaf spray and five raised bands, turn-ins with interspersed small gilt leaves, t.e.g., others uncut, [Barnes A2; Hayward 238], 8vo, James Duncan, 1826.⁂ A delightful copy of the poet's second, but first published, book, preceded only by the very rare Battle of Marathon, which was privately printed by her father in an edition of just 50 copies in 1820.
William Beckford's copy.- True Mannor and Forme (The) of the Proceeding to the Funerall of the Right Honourable Robert Earle of Essex and Ewe, first edition, title within typographic border and with small woodcut of a crown, large woodcut head-piece and floriated initial, engraved portrait frontispiece by W. Marshall, 6 woodcut armorial banners, large folding woodcut of his catafalquw in procession, one full-page white on black woodcut of the lying in state, a few leaves shaved just affecting pagination or signature and catchword, Printed for Henry Seale, 1646; bound with Elegie upon the most lamented death of the Right Honourable and truly valiant, Robert Earle of Essex, &c. (An), 4pp., 'Finis' at foot of final page trimmed with loss, n.p., n.d., together 2 works in 1, 19th century blue morocco, gilt, by Lewis, joints slightly rubbed, g.e., [Wing G5 and G3;not in Pforzheimer or Grolier], 4to ⁂ Rare, first and only edition of this attractively illustrated description of the funeral procession of Robert Devereux, 3rd Earl of Essex, whose father the second Earl was executed by Queen Elizabeth in 1601. Essex was made Captain-General of the Parliamentarian armies at the outbreak of the civil war but had mixed success on the battlefield and died after suffering a stroke after hunting at Windsor in 1646. This work describes and illustrates the pomp and ceremony of the state funeral he was awarded. This copy lot 966 in the sale of William Beckford's library in 1883.
McCarthy (Cormac) [The Border Trilogy], 3 vol., comprising All the Pretty Horses, signed presentation inscription from the author to Philip Murray on half-title, 1992; The Crossing, limited edition signed by the author, 1994; Cities of the Plain, limited edition signed by the author, 1998, first editions, original boards, dust-jackets, slight creasing to spine tips and corners, else fine, Alfred A. Knopf, 8vo.⁂ A superb set of McCarthy's acclaimed trilogy, the first volume of which brought him to mainstream critical attention, here signed to his friend, the collector Philip Murray.
Chagall (Marc).- Goll (Claire) Journal d'un Cheval, number 133 of 150 copies on Rives, from an edition limited to 200, printed in red & black, 2 etchings (portraits of the author and artist) and 5 lithographs by Chagall including cover, 3 printed in bistre and one in grey, loose as issued in original pictorial wrappers with colour lithograph by Chagall to upper cover, uncut, glacine wrapper, original pictorial board folder with ties and wood-engraving by Robert Blanchet to upper cover, [The Artist and the Book in France p.327], 4to, Paris, Éditions Manuel Bruker, 1952.⁂ First published in 1922 by the socialist journalist and friend of Chagall, the story is of a left-wing activist seen through the eyes of a horse.
Napoleon.- Houssaye (Henry) Napoléon Homme de Guerre, first edition, out-of-series copy on Japon (limited to 5 copies with 4 additional states), from an edition limited to 215, etched frontispiece and illustrations by Charles Morel, this the author's own copy with original watercolour portrait, 7 additional states of the etching, 2 unused etchings and 4 leaves of text printed with unused illustrations, bookplate of the author, bound in magnificent red morocco inlaid with intricate mosaic pattern tooled in gilt, by Joly fils, covers with quintuple gilt fillet border surrounding panel with all-over diaper pattern of small inlaid black morocco lozenges tooled with alternate imperial eagles and laurel wreaths in gilt, all within gilt lattice with small circles at intersections, spine titled in gilt and with inlaid compartments and five raised bands tooled in gilt, inner gilt dentelles, red silk doublures and flyleaves, signed at foot of front turn-in, original printed wrappers bound in, g.e., preserved in half red morocco chemise, spine gilt with imperial eagle motifs, marbled board slip-case, 12mo (c.160 x 115mm.), Paris, 1904.⁂ A stunning binding on a unique copy of this Napoleonic work, with much additional material.
Ocean Liner.- Two photograph albums of the Greek Line T.S.S.Olympia, 86 gelatin silver prints, c.220 x 290mm. or vice versa, each stamped W.Wralston, Glasgow on verso with negative number in pencil, mounted on 43 blank leaves with corner mounts, captions in black ink below, a couple of corner mounts missing, contemporary cloth faux snakeskin ring-binders titled in black on upper cover, rubbed, a few leaves loose, oblong folio, [Glasgow], 1953.⁂ Fascinating record of the luxurious and ultramodern interiors of the Clyde-built passenger ship T.S.S. Olympia in the year of its maiden voyage, with upholstery designed by Tibor Reich and the interior design by Emmanuel Lazaridis. Unpopulated by either passengers or staff, the precision of the large black & white photographs complements the bold post-war contrasts and angles, such as in the jazzy 'Mycenaean' and 'Derby' rooms. Vibrant upholstery and geometry in the 'Bookworm' reading room and 'The Scribe' writing room are balanced against a classic wood-panelled library and card room. Other photographs record the gymnasium, children's play areas 'Wonderland' and 'Neverland', cabins, and even a First Class 'stateroom toilet'. Having changed hands and been renamed several times, the ship was finally broken up in early 2010.
America.- California.- Palou (Francisco) Relacion Historica de la Vida Y Apostolicas Tareas delVenerable Padre Fray Junipero Serra..., first edition, second issue, with 'pro' catchword at end of Index, engraved plate and folding map (small tear at inner margin, a little frayed at edge), contemporary vellum, manuscript title in ink to spine, stain lower joint head, remnants of ties, top edge branded with a design of an encircled globus cruciger, housed within modern wrap-around covers, inside rexine slipcase, [Hill (2004) 1289; Howes P56, "c"], small 4to, Mexico City, Don Felipe de Zuniga y Ontiveros, 1787.⁂ Outstanding work on early California. Recounting not only Fr. Serra's missionary work, the book is noted for its detailed insight to the various Indian tribes, their manners and customs, as well as topographical description. The map is also perhaps the first printed with a boundary line between Lower and Upper California.
Golding (William) [To the Ends of the Earth: A Sea Trilogy], 3 vol., first editions, Rites of Passage and Fire Down Below signed by the author on half-titles, original boards, dust-jackets, slight creasing to head and foot, Rites of Passage with very slight creasing to spine, a fine set, 8vo, 1980-89.⁂ Godling's celebrated trilogy exploring class and human savagery onboard a ship bound for Australia, the first title in the series was awarded the Booker Prize in 1980.
Waugh (Evelyn) Remote People, first edition, plates, slight cockling to pages, scattered foxing, neat ink ownership inscription to endpaper, original cloth, light fading to spine tips, dust-jacket, light browning to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped, touching printed text at head of spine, extremities a little rubbed, an excellent copy, 8vo, 1931.
Burgess (Anthony) A Clockwork Orange, first edition, light spotting to fore-edge, front free endpaper corner clipped, original boards, first issue dust-jacket with wide flaps, price-clipped, light toning to spine, short closed tear to head of upper panel, patch of soiling to lower joint, light marking to lower panel, a little rubbed at head and foot, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, 1962.
Gillray (James) The Pigs possessed;-or- The Broad Bottom'd litter running headlong into ye sea of perdition [and] "More pigs than teats", -or- the new litter of hungry grunters, sucking John-Bulls-old-sow to death, two works, etchings with original hand-colouring, each sheet approx. 410 x 302 mm (16 1/4 x 12 in) and 300 x 485 mm (11 3/4 x 19 in), the first mentioned trimmed with thread margins or just into the platemark, the latter with wide margins, both with minor surface dirt and browning, light handling creases, unframed, [BM Satires 10719; 10540], Hannah Humphrey, 1806-1807 (2)
Homosexuality.- Burton (Sir Richard Francis) Terminal Essay to "The Thousand and One Nights", mimeographed typescript in purple ink, out-of-series copy from an edition limited to 50, slight insect damage to inner margin of title, restitched in original printed blue wrappers, bookplate of Robert Booth to front inside cover, a little rubbed, upper cover slightly creased and stained, rebacked, 4to, for private circulation only, 1901.⁂ Burton's rare and notorious essay on "pederasty", originally issued as part of his translation of The Arabian Nights, "produced for private circulation among Scholars and Students of Sexual Psychology" to accompany John Addington Symonds's essay A Problem in Greek Ethics. The essay was the first openly published discussion of male homosexuality in English and in it Burton proposes the geographical existence of a "sotadic zone...which I hold to be geographical and climatic, not racial". This consisted of the area around the Mediterranean, the Levant, much of Asia, and the Americas.
Gothic novel.- Embarrassed Lovers (The); or, the History of Henry Carey, ESQ. and the Hon. Miss Cecilia Neville. In a Series of Letters, 2 vol., first edition, contemporary ink ownership inscriptions to each vol. bookplates removed from pastedown, some very light soiling to first few pages, contemporary calf, spines gilt with red morocco spine labels, a little rubbed, joints cracked but holding firm, [Summers, A Gothic Bibliography, p.308], 8vo, for W. Lane, 1775.⁂ Exceedingly rare epistolary novel. We can trace no other copies ever sold at auction, with none listed on Library Hub.
American Revolution.- Town and Country Magazine (The), or Universal Repository of Knowledge, Instruction and Entertainment, vol. 3-6, 8 & 9 only, engraved plates, the odd spot or very light toning, but generally crisp copies, contemporary mottled calf, spines richly gilt in compartments and with red morocco labels, a few small chips to spine ends and labels, some wear to corners, lightly rubbed, still a handsome set, 8vo, for A. Hamilton, 1771-77; sold as a periodical, not subject to return (6)⁂ Volume 6 containing an account of the Boston Tea Party at pp.54-55: "But behold, what followed! A number of resolute men, dressed like Mohawks, or Indians, determined to do all in their power to save their country from the ruin which their enemies had plotted, in less than four hours emptied every chest of tea on board the three ships...". Also a full-page woodcut "America in Flames" (including spilled tea-pot), and the first meeting of Continental Congress at pp. 671-2. Volume 8 contains the engraved plate "A View of New York, Governors Island, the River &tc from Long Island" along with reports on "The Present State of America", "A Detail of the Battle at Long Island" &tc. The periodical ran from 1769-96, aimed at the upper echelon of London Society.
Colebrooke (Sir Henry Thomas) A Grammar of the Sanscrit Language, vol. 1 [all published], first edition, text in English and Sanskrit, 4pp. errata at end, ink ownership inscription and stamp of College of Fort William to verso of title (some show-through), title repaired at gutter, p.185 torn at inner margin, light browning, a little heavier at points, some small marginal worming, with some old tape repairs at beginning and end, single tiny wormhole within text of last c.50 leaves, becoming very small worm trace towards end, modern half calf over marbled boards, spine gilt, small folio, Calcutta, Printed at the Honorable Company's Press, 1805.⁂ "The first European work to be based on the indigenous linguistic tradition" (ODNB). Colebrooke, a noted Orientalist, first arrived in India in 1782. Devoted to the study of Sanskrit, he was appointed as honorary professor of Hindu law and Sanskrit at Fort William College in Calcutta in 1801.
δ Elimithar (Elluchasem) "Ibn Butlan". Tacuini sanitatis, first edition, collation: A-M⁶ N O⁴ P⁶, with final blank leaf P6, title printed in red and black, tables and some side-notes printed in red, 40 woodcut strips by Hans Weiditz to foot of leaves, illustrating plants, animals, fruits, cookery, humours, diseases &tc, frequent contemporary underlining and annotation in red and brown inks, some skilful restoration to margins, affecting a few annotations, a few small wormholes within text throughout, some very light browning and occasional faint spotting, some faint marginal damp-staining and soiling, eighteenth century vellum-backed gilt patterned boards, possibly a remboitage, spine darkened and with early ink title to head, lightly rubbed, folio (310 x 200mm.), Strasbourg, Johann Schott, 1531.⁂ Rare treatise on health, with delightful woodcuts by Hans Weiditz. Written in the eleventh century, Ibn Butlan's guide to good health, known as 'Taqwim al Sihha' in Arabic, had been circulating in manuscript copies during the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries under the Latin title 'Tacuini sanitatis' or 'Tables of Health'. This is the first printed edition. It lays out six elements necessary for good health and avoiding stress: food and drink, air and climate, activity and rest, sleep and wakefulness, the secretion and excretion of humours, and states of mind, i.e. the emotions. Provenance: Luzerne County Medical Library (ink-stamp to title); "Duplicate, 6/10, 1911. Surgeon General's Library" (ink note to foot of title).Literature: Adams I11; Cagle 243; Durling 2520; Vicaire 323-325; Simon BB 633; Wellcome 1996. δ This lot is sold subject to Artists Resale Rights, details of which can be found in our Terms and Conditions.
[Fielding (Henry)] The Historical Register, for the Year 1736, [second edition], 48 pp., some headlines trimmed with slight loss, tear to foot of title, repaired to verso, soiled, printed: and sold by J. Roberts, [1737]; bound after Stage (the) the High Road to Hell: being an Essay on the Pernicious Nature of Theatrical Entertainments, lacks half-title, last leaf repaired to verso, title slightly stained and with dates in ink at foot, printed by W. Nicholl and J. Williams [1767]; bound after Some Reflections on the Management of a Theatre, ?lacking half title, foxed, printed for J. Cooke, [c. 1735]; bound with another similar work, together 4 works in 1 vol., later half calf, rubbed, 8vo ⁂ The second edition, published in the same year as the first, of Fielding's satire on contemporary social events which caricatures Colley Cibber amongst others, ESTC claims that the first edition (41 pages as opposed to 48 pages here) is pirated and was published with a false imprint, all four works are scarce and seldom appear at auction.
Bosse (Abraham) Traicté des Manieres de Graver en Taille Douce Sur l'Airin, first edition, 21 full-page engraved plates on 14 ff. including 2 additional engraved titles, dedication f., and 16 engraved plates, most printed on rectos and versos of the leaves, numbers 5 and 6 repeated as usual, front endpapers browned at margins and front endpapers working loose, contemporary speckled calf, joints cracked but holding firm, corners rubbed, 8vo, Paris, Bosse, 1645.⁂ Scarce first edition of the first treatise on intaglio printmaking. Bosse was a prolific engraver and author of several works on the arts of painting, drawing, and perspective. His treatise on the intaglio techniques, dedicated to "Messieurs les Amateurs" of the arts of engraving and etching, contains a lengthy and detailed series of instructions touching every aspect of engraving with a burin and etching on both hard- and soft-grounds.
Rushdie (Salman) Midnight's Children, first edition, first issue on American sheets, signed by the author and by jacket artist Bill Botten on title, the odd spot, original cloth-backed boards, upper and lower edge lightly sunned, dust-jacket, spine and lower panel a little sunned with small patch of soiling to foot, light creasing to spine ends, original printed warparound band with similar uniform sunning at spine, an excellent copy, 8vo, 1981.⁂ Rushdie's most famous work, the winner of the Best of the Booker prize in 2008.
Mountaineering.- Hunt (John) The Ascent of Everest, first edition, signed by the author, Sir Edmund Hillary, and other members of the team who assisted the ascent on half-title, photographic plates, illustrations, original cloth, spine ends very lightly bumped, dust-jacket, evenly toned, chips and nicks to extremities and spine ends, still overall an excellent copy, 8vo, 1953.⁂ An exceptional copy in remarkable condition. In addition to Hillary and Hunt, this copy is also signed by Michael Ward, Charles Wylie, George Band, George Lowe, Alfred Gregory, James 'Jan' Morris, John Jackson, H. H. Emlyn Jones, Mike Westmacott, and Hamish Nicol.
Hemingway (Ernest) A Farewell to Arms, first edition, first issue with Scribner's seal to title verso and without legal disclaimer, square of light browning to front pastedown straying onto front flap, original cloth with gilt labels to upper cover and spine, fine, first issue dust-jacket priced at $2.50 and with "Katharine Barclay" to front flap, a hint of creasing to head of spine, very light rubbing but a truly fine copy overall, preserved in half-morocco drop-back box, 8vo, New York, 1929.⁂ A remarkable example of one of Hemingway's key novels, rare in such superb condition and among the best fiction to come out of the First World War.
Breton (André) Le Revolver á Cheveux Blancs, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Paul Léautaud to half-title, book-label of Pierre Bergé loosely inserted, original printed wrappers, light creasing and toning to spine, spotting to covers, otherwise excellent preserved in custom chemise and slip-case, 8vo, Paris, 1932.⁂ A good association copy of this collection that includes one of Breton's most popular poems "L'Union Libre", inscribed to the writer and critic Paul Léautaud.
Russia.- Le Prince (Jean-Baptiste) Divers Ajustements et Usages de Russie..., 61 etched plates on 58 sheets incorporating various suites including pictorial titles, a few with aquatint, foxing, mostly marginal, first title browned, nineteenth century half roan, a little rubbed, 4to, [?Paris], [early 19th century]; sold as a collection of plates, not subject to return⁂ Le Prince (1734-81) was a student of the painter François Boucher and was one of the first artists to use aquatint in his engravings, possibly inventing the technique. Between 1758 and 1763 he travelled extensively throughout Russia in the employment of Catherine the Great.
Christian cabalistic literature.- Pistorius (Johannes) Artis Cabalisticae: Hoc Est, Recondite Theologiae Et Philosophiae, Scriptorum, Vol.1 only [all published], first edition, collation: ):(4 α-γ6 δ4 a-z A-Z Aa-Ff6 Gg Hh4 Ii-Ll6 Mm4 Nn-Pp6 Qq4 Rr-Zz AA-OO6, Roman, Hebrew, Greek and italic letter, title and verso of final f. with woodcut printer's device, a few woodcut diagrams, woodcut historiated and decorative initials, small repairs to outer margin of first few ff., very small hole in final f. with loss of 1 letter, wormhole turning into trace as proceeds from around p.700 to end, some spotting and staining, mostly lightly browned, occasionally heavier, contemporary vellum, yapp edges, upper cover with central small gilt crowned letter F, lower cover with central small gilt arms, remains of ties, some staining and soiling, folio (301 x 210mm.), Basel, Sebastian Henricpetri, [April, 1587].⁂ First edition of this great compendium of Christian cabalistic literature. A planned second volume containing Jewish cabalistic works was never realised. Pistorius turned from Lutheranism to Calvinism, and then in 1558 entered the Catholic Church, becoming a priest in 1591, then vicar-general of Constance until 1594. He was an imperial councillor, cathedral provost of Breslau, Apostolic prothonotary, and in 1601 confessor to the Emperor Rudolph II. Literature: Adams P1315; Caillet 8702; VD 16 P3034.
Blake (William).- Gay (John) Fables, 2 vol. in 1, first Stockdale edition, first issue with long "s" in text, engraved frontispiece of Gay monument, vignette titles and 67 plates, including 12 by William Blake, list of subscribers at end, some foxing and offsetting, later bookplate of John Paley of Ampton, contemporary calf, rubbed, rebacked, new red morocco label, corners repaired, 8vo, John Stockdale, 1793.⁂ The first edition to contain the plates by William Blake.
Durrell (Lawrence) [The Alexandria Quartet], 4 vol., comprising Justine, jacket with light sunning to spine, short closed tear with creasing to foot of lower panel, 1957; Balthazar, jacket with chip to head of spine, light toning to spine and upper panel, short nicks to head and foot of lower panel, 1958; Mountolive, jacket price-clipped, 1958; Clea, signed by the author, jacket with light toning to spine, light marking and soiling to panels, 1960, first editions, original cloth, dust-jackets, minor chipping to spine tips and corners, an excellent set, 8vo.⁂ A bright set of Durrell's acclaimed novel cycle.
Trocchi (Alexander) Young Adam, first English edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to Glasgow University crossed through and re-inscribed by the author to Victor Lownes on endpaper, original boards, slight bumping to spine tips and corners, dust-jacket, shadowing from removed price sticker to front flap, rubbing and minor chipping to spine tips and corners, a few short nicks to head and foot of panels with resultant creasing, light rubbing to extremities, small mark and light surface soiling to rear panel, a very, bright copy, 8vo, 1961.⁂ Trocchi's first book published in England (published 7 years previously at The Olympia Press, Paris), inscribed to Playboy executive Victor Lownes. Trocchi embodied the counter-culture life and lifestyle, he was involved with the Beats and the Situationists, his lifelong heroin addiction brought his almost as much notice as his writing. The effect of habitual strong drug use may well explain the haphazard nature of the present inscription, presumably intended for, but ultimately never gifted to, his alma mater.
Shakespeare (William) The Winters Tale, from the second folio, the complete play, comprising 14 leaves (pp. 277-303, verso blank), occasional foxing and marginal toning, small burn-hole to final leaf but not affecting text, modern russet morocco-backed marbled boards by Maurin, a little rubbed, folio, by Tho. Cotes, for Robert Allot, 1632.⁂ One of Shakespeare's last plays which was first published in the first folio edition of 1623.
Bible, Russian. Evangelie Iisusa Khrista, 510ff., 4 engraved plates (one at start of each Gospel), text in Church Slavonic, printed in red and black within woodcut border, partly on blue paper, small marginal worming to first and last few ff., small puncture mark to first c.10ff., some light staining, a few marginal chips or short tears, one leaf torn with very small loss, wear to endpapers, elaborate contemporary silver-plated brass over wooden boards, in ornate bas-relief, upper cover incorporating five hand-painted oval porcelain medallions, depicting the Resurrection of Christ held within a monstrance cornered by the Four Evangelists, lower cover depicting a Biblical scene, most likely the Presentation at the Temple, four protruding screw fixtures to lower cover with some restoration, metal clasps, folio (binding 530 x 330mm.), Moscow, November 1783.⁂ A striking example of 18th century Russian craftmanship. According to a statement on the first page, these Gospels were printed on the orders of Catherine the Great in November 1783, for distribution by Christmas.
Dahl (Roald) Dirty Beasts, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "To Lesley Love Roald Dec. 1983" to endpaper, illustrations by Rosemary Fawcett, original pictorial boards, very slight fading to spine light bumping to spine tips, else fine, 4to, 1983.⁂ Rare signed. This collection of rhymes by Dahl was conceived as a follow up to Revolting Rhymes.
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 & black, all by the author, very occasional finger-soiling but a clean copy generally, 2pp. advertisements, original pictorial cloth, slight shelf-lean, light toning to spine, minor fraying to spine tips and corners, small mark to upper cover, but an unusually bright and fresh copy generally, 8vo, 1937.
Edward Alleyn's copy.- Knox (John) An Answer to a great nomber of blasphemous cauillations written by an Anabaptist, first edition, with final errata leaf, title leaf tipped-in a touch high and a little frayed at edges, Edward Alleyn's copy with his ink ownership inscription 'Edward Alleyn 1605' to head of title, a few headlines trimmed with loss of text, very occasional contemporary ink underlining or passage-marking, light browning and some very faint spotting, occasional light soiling, final few leaves frayed at lower outer corner, errata with early ink inscriptions to verso, later calf, slight bowing to covers, a few ink marks, rubbed, [STC 15060], 8vo (155 x 95mm.), [Geneva], Printed by Iohn Crespin, 1560.⁂ An impassioned defence of Calvin and the doctrine of predestination, almost certainly the copy of Edward Alleyn (1566-1626), one of the leading figures of Elizabethan theatre. As a member of the Lord Admiral's Men, Alleyn was the first actor to play Doctor Faustus, Tamburlaine, and Barabas in The Jew of Malta, parts which were probably written for him. In 1605, Alleyn bought the memorial estate of Dulwich from Sir Francis Calton, establishing a school which he called 'Alleyn's College of God's Gift', now Dulwich College. The archive of Dulwich College contains an impressive selection of documents in Alleyn's hand (digitised through the Henslowe-Alleyn Project). While his signature does seem to differ quite widely, the inscription here most closely resembles the more informal signatures found in Alleyn's personal letters, in particular MS1 Art9 & Art11, which include his characteristic trailing letter 'n'. Provenance: John Webb (ink name to verso of errata leaf); Richard Smith 'Bought out of the Reverend Mr Marsh's Library 1786' (ink inscription to front free endpaper); John Pearson 1810 (various ink inscriptions to endpapers and to upper cover).
Vale Press.- Coleridge (Samuel Taylor) The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, one of 210 copies on paper, printed in red and black, wood-engraved decorative border to first leaf of text and large initials by Charles Ricketts, bound in crushed brown morocco, gilt, by Hatchards of Piccadilly, upper cover with swirling border of lily of the valley in onlays of white & green calf tooled in gilt and outer background of small gilt dots, lower cover with double gilt fillet border, spine titled in gilt between compartment with floral motif in gilt at head & foot and two raised bands, turn-ins ruled in gilt, signed at foot of front turn-in, t.e.g., others uncut, [Watry B23], 8vo (c.195 x 130mm.), [Vale Press], 1899.⁂ Striking Art Nouveau binding.
Burnett (W. R.) Iron Man, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "Dear Jean, this is one I'd like to see remade as a picture" to verso of dedication, original cloth, light toning to spine, extremities a little rubbed, dust-jacket, light toning to spine, spine ends and corners chipped, affecting imprint at foot, splitting to head of joints, chipping and creasing to head, extremities rubbed, 8vo, New York, 1930.⁂ A good association copy inscribed by Burnett to the director Jean Negulesco. Burnett was in the process of adapting his Little Caesar for the 1931 Mervyn Le Roy film and was clearly trying to attract Hollywood interest in his latest novel. Ultimately Iron Man would be directed by Todd Browning but Negulesco would direct an adaptation of Burnett's I Wasn't Born Yesterday as the 1946 film Nobody Lives Forever.
Burnett (W. R.) Saint Johnson, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author facing title, decorative endpapers, original cloth, light fraying to spine tips and corners, dust-jacket, light toning to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped, short nick to foot of upper panel, an excellent copy, 8vo, New York, 1929.⁂ Burnett's third novel, rare signed and in the dust-jacket. Adapted for film four times, three times as Law and Order (1932, 1940 and 1953) and once as Wild West Days (1937).
[Hardy (Thomas)] Under the Greenwood Tree, 2 vol., first edition, [one of ?500 copies], half-titles, foxing and soiling, small stain to title of vol.2 (with similar stain to half-title of vol.1, presumably half-titles exchanged during restoration), G8 of vol.1 (pp.95/6) torn and frayed at edges (tear rather crudely repaired), with contemporary ink inscription "Mrs Reginald Smith Stafford Rectory Dorchester 1873" to front pastedowns, seemingly an ex-library copy with faint traces of stamps or labels, original green cloth with bevelled edges, covers with Oxford frame in black, recased and repaired (vol.1 apparently rebound preserving original cloth over boards and spine), rubbed, vol.1 cockled and stained, rear endpapers renewed, [Purdy p.6], 8vo, Tinsley Brothers, 1872; sold not subject to return⁂ Interesting association copy of Hardy's second novel, published anonymously, and rare to find in the original cloth. It sets the rustic tone of many of his future works. Geneviève Smith was the wife of Rev.Reginald Smith, rector of West Stafford, with whom Hardy is known to have dined in January 1874. There he was put in the uncomfortable position of being waited on by James Pole, the butler at Stafford House and the father of maid Cassie Pole whom James believed had been jilted by Hardy. Following the dinner Hardy wrote to Mrs. Smith, admiring her "varied knowledge & experiences, which are of the precise kind that has a peculiar charm for all engaged in such pursuits as mine...having been denied by circumstances until very lately the society of educated womankind, which teaches men what cannot be acquired from books, and is indeed the only antidote to that bearishness which one gets into who lives much alone". 6th January 1874. Millgate. Thomas Hardy: A Biography, 1982 p.149.According to family belief the schoolboy Hardy was once offered a glass of milk at the rectory; as an adult he went on to become a friend of the family particularly the son Boswell, a teacher at Harrow.
Alken (Henry).- Paul (Sir John Dean) A Trip to Melton Mowbray, set of 14 scenes on 12 strips, first state with Fuller imprint, all finely hand-coloured aquatints by Henry Alken after J.D.Paul, c.90 x 6630mm. overall, mounted on blank leaves, very occasional spotting or soiling, engraved label mounted on leaf at beginning as title, bound in handsome later crushed olive green morocco, by Rivière & Son, with triple gilt-ruled border, spine gilt in compartments with floral motif and five raised bands, g.e., inner gilt dentelles, very slightly browned and rubbed at edges, one or two scratches, upper joint repaired, [Abbey, Life 488; Bobins 1309; Schwerdt III p.3; Siltzer p.193; Snelgrove p.128-129; Tooley 363], narrow oblong folio, S. & J.Fuller, 1822.⁂ Issued as both separate prints for binding/framing or conjoined as a continuous panorama on a drum. Melton Mowbray has been closely associated with fox-hunting since the 18th century. Sir John Dean Paul, Bt. (1775-1852) was from a family of bankers and amateur sporting artists.
Antiquities.- V[ogel] (J.P.N.M.) Collection des Pierres Antiques dont la Chasse des Ss.Trois Rois Mages est enrichie dans l'Eglise Metropolitaine a Cologne, engraved pictorial title by Dupuis and 12 plates, 4 folding, [Bonn, Imprimerie Electorale de la Cour], [1781] § Boucher (François) Livre de Vases, pictorial title and 11 plates, title browned, [Berlin Kat. 1063], Huquier, n.d. bound with 4e. Suite de Vases d'après Petitot et autres, pictorial title and 11 plates, plate 9 trimmed at outer edge and remargined, Basan, n.d. and Vien (Joseph Marie) Suite de Vases composée dans le Goût l'Antique, pictorial title and 12 plates, one numbered in manuscript, [Berlin Kat. 1075], 1760, together 3 works in 1 vol., all engraved throughout, Paris § Fauris Saint-Vicens (J.-F.-P.) Recueil de divers Monuments d'Antiquités trouves en Provence, 19 engraved plates on 17 leaves, Paris, Debure, 1805 § Recueil d'Antiquités Romaines ou Voyage d'Italie..., engraved throughout with title and 60 plates, 2 double-page, contemporary ink signature to title, one plate torn, another loose, [Berlin Kat. 478], Paris, Basan, [c.1770], all with some soiling or browning, occasional spotting, contemporary half calf or sheep, rubbed, 4to & small folio (4)⁂ The first work describes the great reliquary kept in Cologne Cathedral, known as the Shrine of the Three Kings, built at the end of the 12th century and attributed to Nicolas of Verdun.
Doyle (Sir Arthur Conan) The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, first issue with 'Miss Violent Hunter' in the last sentence on p.317 and without name to street sign on upper cover, small ink mark to upper cover, light surface soiling, extremities a little rubbed, 1892; The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, some light rubbing, 1894, first editions, illustrations by Sidney Paget, light foxing, original pictorial cloth, lettered in gilt, a bright, near-fine set overall, g.e., preserved in custom drop-back box, [Green & Gibson A10a & A14], 8vo (2)⁂ A superb set of the complete Sherlock Holmes short stories. Rare in such condition.
Napoleon.- [Sergüzest hülâsa tercümesi: Afrika Cezayirinden Santa Elene nam cezireden vasil olup ol tarafda cezire bend olan Bonaparta'nin sergüzestini sâmil Fransevîyu'l-ibare bir kita risalenin ...], [Ottoman Turkish], first Turkish edition, previous owner's ink inscription to free endpaper, occasional ink-stamps, one or two partially erased, tiny marginal worming towards end, contemporary calf-backed boards, defective backstrip but holding firm, rubbed, 8vo, Cairo, 1247, [1831].⁂ Rare. Only two copies on World Cat at Cornell University Library and Bogaziçi University Library. A first-hand account of Napoleon Bonaparte, telling the story of his first year on St. Helena, describing daily life there, as well as including sections on Napoleon's history. "The memorial portrays Napoleon as a liberal conduit of the French Revolution, and the book was to become a vademecum for European liberals like Heine. Stendhal's protagonist from his novel Scarlet and Black (1830), Julien Sorel, is the quintessential model of this sort of liberal figure obsessed with Napoleon and his Empire, the Memorial always in his hand." (Hicks)
Graves (Robert) I, Claudius [and] Claudius the God and his Wife Messalina, 2 vol., first editions, some scattered spotting, original cloth, some mottling to covers, dust-jackets, light toning to spines, 1 or two short closed tears to head and foot, creasing and minor fraying to spine tips and corners with neat tape repairs to verso, scattered spotting, excellent copies overall, 8vo, 1934⁂ Graves' celebrated Claudius novels, rare in the dust-jackets in such good condition.
Doves Bindery.- Swinburne (Algernon Charles) Songs before Sunrise, first edition, ink note "wedding present" dated 1911 to front free endpaper, bound in crushed crimson morocco, gilt, by the Doves Bindery, designed by T.J.Cobden-Sanderson, covers tooled in gilt with diaper pattern of interlocking diamond shapes containing alternating heart-shaped flower and Tudor rose with dots at points, spine titled in gilt with same design in compartments and five raised bands, turn-ins ruled in gilt with leafy ornaments at corners, g.e., signed "The Doves Bindery 18 C-S 98" at foot of rear turn-in, slightly rubbed with small scratch to edge of upper cover, joints a little worn and cracked, 8vo (c.185 x 130mm.), 1871.
McCarthy (Cormac) Outer Dark, 1970; Child of God, 1965, first English uncorrected proofs, original wrappers, fine copies, 8vo (2)⁂ Uncorrected proofs of these two early McCarthy titles. Rare, we can trace no other examples on the market. These copies from the collection of Philip Murray, collector and friend of McCarthy.
Norfolk.- Neville (Alexander) De furoribus Norfolciensium Ketto Duce, first edition, first issue, 2 parts bound as 1 vol., titles within elaborate woodcut borders, engraved arms of Archbishop Parker to versos, first title trimmed at head, partially removing old signature, Evelyn copy with later bookplate, lacking 2 genealogy tables (as usual), first gathering and 2D5-2D6 becoming loose but holding firm, small wormhole to 2D6 (final ff.) and final free endpaper, faint spotting and staining, mostly to endpapers, contemporary limp vellum, title in manuscript to spine, rubbed and worn, small wormhole to both covers, [STC 18478], 4to, Henry Binneman, 1575.⁂ This, the first issue, includes the famous passage speaking of the laziness of the Welsh levies and comparing them to sheep, which at the insistence of an offended government was excised from later issues. Includes a description of the city of Norwich and its antiquities, to which is added a list of its mayors and sheriffs.
Bibiena (Ferdinando Galli) L'Architettura Civile, 5 parts in 1 vol., first edition, woodcut decoration on title, woodcut initials and decorations, full-page engraved portrait and 72 plates, errata leaf at end, all leaves guarded, water-stain to upper and lower margin throughout, some soiling, a few short tears, contemporary vellum, worn and rebacked, early ink writing to both covers, [Berlin Kat. 2628; Fowler 134, variant title mentioning Bologna; Millard Italian 45], folio, Parma, Paolo Monti, 1711.⁂ "The five parts of this work treat of geometry, civil architecture in general, perspective, painting, theatrical scenes and the mechanics of lifting and moving objects. As an author Ferdinand is perhaps the most important of the five members of the great Italian architectural family of Galli da Bibiena, known for their theater designs and decorations in the full baroque style". (Fowler).
Foyle copy.- [Shakespeare (William)] Macbeth. A Tragedy: With all the Alterations, Amendments, Additions, and New Songs. As it is now Acted at the Theatre Royal, a few tiny holes to gutter from previous binding, D1 paper flaw/repair affecting one or two letters, H2 small chip to lower margin, very light browning and a few light spots, final leaf lightly soiled and with headline shaved, bound in speckled calf by Coverly & Sons, spine richly gilt, a little rubbed at spine ends and corners, joints starting but holding firm, marbled endpapers, a handsome copy, [Wing S2932; Pforzheimer 914], 4to, for Hen. Herringman, and are to be sold by Jos. Knight and Fra. Saunders, 1687.⁂ The fourth quarto edition. The second edition of this adaptation by Sir William Davenant, which was first published in 1674.Provenance: W.A. Foyle, Beeleigh Abbey (burgundy morocco bookplate).
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