Sign in
Register
notifications_none notifications Alerts

We found 534325 price guide item(s) matching your search

Refine your search

Year

Filter by Price Range
  • List
  • Grid
  • 534325 item(s)
    /page

Forum Auctions
Lot 86

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)

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 353

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 307

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 435

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 317

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 230

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)

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 142

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 143

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 150

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 41

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 426

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 37

Utopia.- More (Sir Thomas) De optimo reip. Statu, deque nova insula utopia, 2 parts in 1 (the second being the complete part 1 only (of 2) of the Epigrammata, December, 1518), fourth edition, collation: a-s4 t u6 x-z A-I4 K6 L-T4 V6, Utopia title within woodcut architectural border by Hans Holbein (repeated on c1) and with woodcut vignette at head of d1 by Ambrosius Holbein depicting John Clement, Thomas More, Raphael Hythlodaye and Pieter Gillis, Epigrammata title within woodcut historiated border by Urs Graf, both parts woodcut historiated and decorative initials by Hans or Ambrosius Holbein and Urs Graf, and a woodcut printer's device at end, occasional contemporary ink marginalia, Utopia lacking b2 (map of Utopia verso) & b3 (Utopian alphabet recto), both supplied in good facsimile, occasional spotting or light staining, lightly browned, contemporary vellum, rebacked using contemporary vellum backstrip from another work, modern brown leather label to spine, lightly soiled and marked, small 4to (196 x 136mm.), Basel, [Johann Froben], [November & December, 1518].⁂ Fourth edition of Utopia. It is a reprint of Froben's edition published in March of the same year, which incorporated revisions by the author. Provenance: C.K. Ogden (book label to front pastedown). Literature: Adams M1757 & cf. M1756; Fairfax Murray, German, 304; Gibson 4; VD 16 M 6300.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 387

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 314

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 270

Beardsley (Aubrey) A Book of Fifty Drawings, one of 500 copies, light foxing to Sangreal plate, original pictorial red cloth, gilt, rubbed, spine faded, Leonard Smithers, 1897 § Wilde (Oscar) Salome, a Tragedy in One Act, Lane's third edition, light spotting to plates, original green cloth, uncut, slight damp-staining to lower outer corner of upper cover, John Lane, 1912; another edition, some foxing, original red cloth, upper cover with design in blind, uncut, dust-jacket rubbed, spine ends frayed, John Lane, 1930 § Pope (Alexander) The Rape of the Lock, "Bijou Edition", one of 1000 copies, original pictorial red cloth, gilt, staining to upper cover, Smithers, 1897 § Hind (C.Lewis, editor) The Uncollected Work of Aubrey Beardsley, number 38 of 110 deluxe copies on Japanese vellum, one or two plates becoming loose, upper hinge broken, original pictorial cream buckram, gilt, t.e.g., others uncut, slightly soiled, 1925, all a little rubbed, [Lasner 112, 59K, 59P, 105A, 177]; and a small quantity of others by or about Beardsley and his work including reprints of Early & Later Work and a bundle of ephemera (bibliographies, prospectuses, catalogues, Christmas card for The Savoy etc.), v.s. (sm.qty)

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 372

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 433

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 65

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 414

*** Please note, the description of this lot has changed ***McCarthy (Cormac) Blood Meridian, uncorrected proof, lacking title, pencil notes to half-title and occasional pencil marks to text and margins, original printed wrappers, publisher's printed publication information slip neatly taped to upper cover (as often), light sunning and faint foxing to spine, pencil name "Parker" to upper cover, an excellent example, 8vo, New York, 1985.⁂ The rare uncorrected proof of McCarthy's masterwork, only a handful of copies appear to have come to market. This copy appeared to belong to a Random House reader and as such contains a few working corrections as well as their early thoughts and impressions of the novel.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 366

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 430

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 96

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).

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 298

Chaucer (Geoffrey) The Canterbury Tales, 3 vol., number 168 of 500 copies on hand-made Riccardi paper, titles in blue and black, tipped-in colour plates after watercolours by Sir William Russell Flint, captioned tissue guards printed in red, original limp vellum, gilt, with ties, t.e.g., others uncut, some light yellowing or soiling to covers, with publisher's list (spotted) in modern board slip-case, joints rubbed, 4to, Philip Lee Warner for the Medici Society Ltd., 1913.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 319

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 318

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).

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 170

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 151

Masonic binding.- Preston (William) Illustrations of Masonry, twelfth edition, engraved frontispiece and 5 plates, one of which double-page, contemporary ink ownership name John Polley to front endpaper, plates lightly offset, occasional foxing, light water-stain to upper corner towards end, bound in contemporary black straight-grain morocco, most likely by John Lovejoy, upper cover tooled in gilt with Greek-key border enclosing numerous Masonic symbols, lower cover with one symbol to each corner within similar border, spine divided into six sections by Greek-key rolls, lettered in one, the others each with a masonic tool, marbled endpapers, g.e., highly skilful repairs to joints and corners, a few very light scuff-marks, otherwise excellent, 8vo, 1812.⁂ An attractive Masonic binding most likely by John Lovejoy, himself a Mason, identified through his distinctive tools. A similar binding by Lovejoy in red morocco can be seen in the Bodleian Library (Broxb. 75.18). One also appears in the Maggs Brothers catalogue 1075 Bookbinding in the British Isles, no. 260. The design on the upper cover matches an engraving used in the book, on which Lovejoy must have based his tools.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 385

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.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 108

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).

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 465

D'Oyly (Charles, 1781-1845) Temple view in India, brush and watercolour over pencil, signed in pencil in the lower right corner, additional signature and inscription to label attached to mount, sheet 155 x 230 mm (6 1/8 x 9 in), residual mount support affixed verso, some fading to pigments from light exposure, minor surface dirt, unframed [circa 1800-1840]; together with another watercolour of Indian fisherman setting out on boats, point of the brush, watercolour, signed, on thin card, 140 x 205 mm (5 1/2 x 8 1/8 in), hinged into mount, unframed, [bearing Archer nos. 518, and 69], [circa 1800-1840] (2)Provenance:From the Collection of the Late W.G. and Mildred Archer; thence by descent.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 329

Burroughs (Edgar Rice) Tarzan and the Lost Empire, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "Dear Charlie - Have been waiting for the author's copies of my latest. They just came today - Hope you like the story. You'll have to say you do any way. Ed 9-30-29. To Charles Albright, Los Angeles From Edgar Rice Burroughs, Los Angeles" to endpaper, frontispiece by A.W. Sperry, original cloth, light fraying to spine tips and corners, first issue dust-jacket with "salvery" on front flap, very light toning to spine, rubbing to spine tips and corners, a near-fine example, 8vo, New York, [1929].⁂ A lovely copy with a good, lengthy inscription by Burroughs dated just two days after publication.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 187

Darwin (Charles) The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals, first edition, first issue, 7 heliotype plates (3 folding), numbered in Roman, wood-engraved illustrations in text, lacking advertisements at end, occasional very light foxing, faint marking to title, contemporary calf, richly gilt spine in compartments and with black morocco label, upper cover a little soiled, light rubbing to extremities, preserved in custom half morocco drop-back box, [Freeman 1141; G&M 4975], 8vo, John Murray, 1872.⁂ "This is an important member of the evolutionary set, and it was written, in part at least, as a confutation of the idea that the facial muscles of expression in man were a special endowment" - Freeman p.141.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 199

Mining.- Alford (Charles J.) Three letters on the Australian mining laws, p.13 with marginal pen marks in red ink, rare, Sydney, Turner and Henderson, 1897 bound with Lizardi (Manuel) and Francisco Glennie. Opinión que al Sr. ingeniero D. Francisco Glennie presenta en consulta el licenciado Manuel Lizardi, title with small wood-engraved vignette of a miner, rare, Mexico City, Franciso Díaz de León, 1882 and 5 other early 20th century Mexican works relating to mining, together 7 works in 1 vol., some later pencil marginalia and passage marking, occasional spotting or mostly light staining / water-staining, contemporary calf-backed marbled boards, gilt spine in compartments, spine faded and with water-stain at foot, rubbed; and another containing 2 19th century Mexican mining works, 8vo (2) ⁂ A good group of rare mining works.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 266

Hampstead Bindery.- Phillips (Stephen) Marpessa, hand-coloured head- & tail-pieces and 5 plates by Philip Connard, a couple tiny marginal nicks to edges, exquisitely bound in russet morocco at The Hampstead Bindery, almost certainly by P.A. Savoldelli, the covers onlaid with green and light & dark brown morocco, repeatedly tooled with a leaf, small circles and dots to a concentric circular pattern within a wide diamond-shaped frame of small gilt dots and similar leaf pattern to corners, smooth spine lettered vertically in gilt and with onlaid green morocco leaves, small circles and dots, green morocco doublures tooled with small gilt circles within a border of gilt tendrils and poppies of inlaid peach & red morocco, endpapers with small gilt heart corner-pieces recto, signed 'The Hampstead Bindery' in gilt to foot of front free endpaper, gilt gauffered edges, doublures with slight fading to extremities, rubbed at corners and joints, a few small nicks along joints, upper joint skilfully repaired, small 4to (binding 133 x 110mm.), 1900.⁂ A stunning example of the work of the Hampstead Bindery. The earth-toned colour palette and leafy tools are a distinctive feature Savoldelli's work (see Maggs Bros. catalogue 1212 Bookbinding in the British Isles, no. 269). The Hampstead Bindery was founded by Frank Karslake, who later founded and promoted the Guild of Women Binders. The workshop closed around 1902. Provenance: 'E.S.W. from J.S.W. Santa Barbara Feb 14th 1909' (ink gift inscription to head of title).

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 389

Ishiguro (Kazuo) A Pale View of Hills, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to title, original boards, slight bumping to spine tips, dust-jacket, very slight fading to spine, light creasing to spine tips and corners, else fine, 8vo, 1982.⁂ The author's first novel.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 362

Dahl (Roald) The Twits, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "Happy Birthday Juliette love Roald Dahl, 11 march 1981" to endpaper, illustrations by Quentin Blake, original boards, dust-jacket, light sunning to spine, else fine, 8vo, 1980.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 358

Dahl (Roald) Danny the Champion of the World, first American edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "Lesley Love Roald Oct. 1975" to endpaper, illustrations by Jill Bennett, original cloth-backed boards, dust-jacket, light sunning to spine, spine ends a little creased, otherwise excellent, 8vo, New York, 1975.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 121

Macclesfield copy.- Parsons (Robert) The Cristian Directory, 'seauenth, and last Edition', title with 'IHS' woodcut device, woodcut initials, typographical ornaments, ruled in red throughout, very light browning, rust spot to M5, small rust hole to 2X7 affecting a couple of letters, handsomely bound in contemporary red morocco, gilt, covers with central gilt arms of Sir Kenelm Digby, spine gilt in compartments and with four raised bands, lettered in one compartment, the others with Digby cipher (KVD), small, neat and expert repairs to joint ends, lower cover with small worm trace to head, g.e., [STC 19354.9; Allison & Rogers 625], 8vo, [St Omer, English College Press], Printed with licence, 1633.⁂ A devotional work by the mastermind of the English mission, and one of the most demonised of all Jesuits. Bound in the arms of Sir Kenelm Digby (1603-1665), courtier, alchemist, bibliophile and leading English Catholic intellectual of his day. The book was also in the possession of Thomas Wentworth, Lord Cleveland (1591-1667), a noted royalist, captured and imprisoned in the Tower from late 1651. A year before his release he presented this volume, with others, to Humphrey Paynter, presumably the surgeon of that surname who was similarly imprisoned at the time for Royalist attachments.Provenance: Earl of Macclesfield ('North Library' bookplate); 'Cleaveland' (ink inscription to fore-margin of title); 'The Lord Cleveland gave this booke and some others unto Humphrey Paynter when the sayd Earl was a prysoner in the Tower of London July 1 1655' (ink inscription to front free endpaper); Shirburn Castle (embossed stamp to head of first three leaves).

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 297

Ashendene Press.- Thucydides. [History of the Peloponnesian War], translated by Benjamin Jowett, [one of 260 copies], printed in red and black with text in Ptolemy type, side-notes in Blado Italic, chapter headings designed by Graily Hewitt, initials by Eric Gill, original white pigskin, by the W.H.Smith bindery, spine titled in gilt and with seven raised bands, uncut, some very light soiling, spine slightly yellowed, [Hornby XXXVII; Franklin p.242], folio, Ashendene Press, 1930.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 28

Esoterica.- Guillermus Alvernus, Bishop of Paris. De fide et legibus, collation [a-o10], 139 ff. (of 140, lacking initial blank), 37-43 lines, Gothic type, initial spaces, f.45 with later ink marginalia and large ink smudges (text perfectly legible), occasional spotting or light staining, 19th century polished speckled calf by J. Mackenzie (small stamp to front free endpaper), gilt, spine in compartments and with red morocco label, head of spine with small chip and repaired, corners worn, rubbed and little marked, folio (273 x 183mm.), [Augsburg], [Günther Zainer], [1475-1476].⁂ A wide-margined copy of the first edition of one of the portions of William of Auvergne's Magisterium divinale, an explanation of the natural world, which was composed between about 1231 and 1236. Includes heresy, demonology, the errors of the Jews, the dangers of transvestism, superstition and magic, cults, the errors of Islam (especially in relation to astrology and sex), the causes of 'idolatories' such as witchcraft, conjuring, divination, and necromancy. Literature: BMC II, 323; Goff G-711; H 8317*; GW 11863; Bod-inc G-297; BSB-Ink G-471; ISTC ig00711000; Thorndike II, pp.219-20, 279-81 and chapter lii. Provenance: Bibliotheca Philosophica Hermetica (bookplate to front pastedown).

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 290

Rackham (Arthur).- Barrie (J.M.) The Peter Pan Portfolio, one of 500 copies signed by publisher and printing, from an edition of 600, 12 mounted colour plates by Arthur Rackham, captioned plate-guards with light creasing, but generally clean and fine interanlly, original half-vellum over sage green cloth, gilt, original silk ties to fore-edges, those at spine likely renewed, light mottling to upper cover, housed in original publisher's box, the lid with several neat and expert repairs and restorations, the lower portion entirely renewed with original lower cover laid onto base, preserved in custom half morocco drop-back box, large folio, [1912].⁂ Scarce in such good, fresh condition. The largest-format Rackham plates ever printed, this edition precedes the American by two years.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 374

Fleming (Ian) Diamonds are Forever, first edition, scattered spotting to fore-edge and endpapers, upper cover decorated in blind with silver diamond to centre, spine lettered in silver, patch of mottling to lower cover, dust-jacket, price-clipped, very slight toning to spine, spine ends and corners chipped, chipping to upper fore-edge, a few short nicks to head and foot with some light creasing, extremities rubbed, a very good copy, 8vo, 1956.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 422

Rowling (J.K.) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, first edition, first printing, usual light marginal toning, original pictorial boards, slight shelf-lean, small patch of sunning along top edge, dust-jacket, light creasing to head and foot, an excellent example overall, [Errington A2(a)], 8vo, 1998.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 248

Ukraine.- [Cathedral of Prince Vladamir the Saint of Kyiv (The)], first edition, printed in red and black, chromolithographed title, 42 plates, 2 of which double-page (one in colour and gilt), illustrations, some in colour and gilt, some after the designs of Viktor Vasnetsov and Mikhail Nesterov, decorative endpapers, light rusting to staples at gutter, occasional light offsetting, final few leaves with very small damp-stain to lower margin, original decorative cloth, gilt, highly skilful repairs to spine ends and corners, some very light rubbing to joints and extremities, else excellent, custom morocco-edged slip-case, folio, Kiev, Kulzhenko, 1898.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 483

Africa.- Lopes (Duarte) A Report of the Kingdome of Congo, a Region of Africa, first edition in English, translated by Abraham Hartwell, collation: [fleuron]4, *4, 2*2, A-2E4, woodcut device on title and arms to verso, 10 full-page woodcut illustrations, some shaved, lacking the 2 engraved maps, also lacking 2*2 and A1 (blank except signature 'A'), some light foxing, 18th century calf, gilt, worn, upper cover and endpapers detached, [STC 16805; Mendelssohn (1979) III, 163], 4to, Printed by John Wolfe, 1597.⁂ One of the earliest descriptions of Central Africa. First published in Italian in Rome in 1591, the English translation was made by Abraham Hartwell at the request of Richard Hakluyt.Lopez lived at Loanda from 1578 to 1587 before returning to Rome at the request of the King of Congo, Don Alvaro, in a vain attempt to interest Pope Sixtus V in the Congo. Pigafetta's compilation, derived from Lopez's notes, is largely devoted to the geography of the various provinces, the climate, the succession of native monarchs, and the relationship of the Portuguese with the Congolese that led to the growth of Christianity. De Bry and Purchas included extracts from this history in their collections of voyages.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 315

Brookner (Anita) Hotel du Lac, first edition, signed by the author on title, publisher's printed review slip loosely inserted, light marginal toning, original boards, dust-jacket, very light creasing to spine tips and corners, some surface wrinkling to laminate at spine, but a near-fine example overall, 8vo, 1984.⁂ One of the most difficult Booker titles to obtain signed, especially so flat-signed in this manner.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 206

Botany.- Allen (John Fisk) Victoria Regia; or The Great Water Lily of America, Boston, 6 chromolithograph plates by William Sharp, some worming, affecting first 4 plates, at blank margin of gutter head but also within image, worst affected frontispiece and plate 1, with only small holes within image continuing through to 2nd and 3rd plates, same worm holes also affecting letterpress title, dedication leaf, first few text leaves, front endpaper and plate paper guards, but no text loss, all worming with paper repairs, otherwise light damp-staining from gutter head, including to plates but most noticeable in margins and on verso, original printed boards, ?early reback in cloth, neat repairs upper cover corners, toned, water and other stains, a little rubbed, [Nissen BBI 16; Great Flower Books (1990) p.69], folio, for the author by Dutton & Wentworth, 1854⁂ A masterpiece of colour lithography. Allen's work on the giant lilies of the Amazon river is brought to life by William Sharp's large-format chromolithographed plates; recognised as some of the finest botanical images ever produced in America, they are also some of the earliest to employ the multi-stone printing process.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 386

Harbou (Thea von) Metropolis, first English edition, first issue with no mention of this work to list on page [7], light marginal browning, original cloth, decorated and lettered in gilt, spine slightly darkened, light rubbing to spine tips and corners, first issue dust-jacket with no mention of this work in list on lower flap, spine slightly browned, spine ends and corners a little chipped, short closed tear to foot of lower panel with some some creasing, a few small nicks to head, light rubbing to extremities, but an excellent example overall, 8vo, Reader's Library, [1927].⁂ First edition in English of this novelisation of the film of the iconic science fiction film of the same name with the superb art deco dust-jacket designed by Aubrey Hammond. A delicate production and difficult to find in good condition.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 18

Sweden.- Lindebladh (Swedish, active c.1720) and others. Collection of 15 original drawings and plans for shipbuilding and various associated architectural projects, including within the Karlscrona shipyard, including 3 signed and dated plans by Lindebladh from 1721, an original drawing after a plan by Fredrik Henrik af Chapman, indistinctly signed but dated 1778, an unsigned plan for the dock's lock entrance dated 1721, and two variant cross sections of a battery ship, one dated 'Strasbourg 1784', with two architectural plans for barrel storage, pen and inks, watercolours, some pencil, on various papers, various sizes between 440 x 280 mm (17 1/4 x 11 in), some losses, splits to old folds, handling creases, surface dirt and light browning, all unframed, [mainly 18th century or slightly later] (15)Provenance:Some with Carl Råbergh-Mannerskantz (1747-1817)Carl Axel Mannerskantz (1809-1888)Värnanäs Manor, Hallstorps socken, Småland, Sweden; by descent.⁂ This collection of plans and drawings may have been informed and collected by an engineer and architect working in the circle of Fredrik Henrik af Chapman, who in 1765 had begun to undertake his Architectura Navalis Mercatoria publication. Chapman's book contained 62 illustrations of ships and smaller vessels, both Swedish and foreign designs. Some of these were Chapman's own designs, but many were also types that he had seen during visits to foreign countries.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 47

Bible, Syriac. Kethabha dh-Ewangeliyon Kaddisha... Liber sacrosancti evangelii de Jesu Christo domino & deo nostro [and Pauli Epistolae XIIII., &c.], collation: a*-a5*⁴ a6*⁶ b-z⁴ A-L⁴: Aa* Aa** Bb-Vv⁴ Xx⁶; Pauli Epistolae bb-ll⁴ BB-LL⁴, title and a few ff. printed in red and black, 15 full-page woodcuts, final f. of Pauli Epistolae with woodcut ornament and 2 lines of text verso, otherwise blank, light browning to title and endpapers, occasional very light spotting or soiling, but an excellent copy overall, old catalogue description tipped onto front pastedown (for another copy), ink cataloguing note to front free endpaper, eighteenth century blind-tooled vellum, six raised bands to spine, ink manuscript title to second compartment, lightly rubbed and darkened, 4to (200 x 140mm.), [Vienna], [Michael Cymbermann], [1555].⁂ The first edition of the Syriac New Testament and first book printed in Syriac. Provenance: Schweinfurt, Otto Schäfer collection (OS 355), acquired in 1964 from G. Heilbrun.Literature: Adams B1797; Darlow & Moule 8947.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 402

Le Carré (John) A Small Town in Germany, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "For Robin Atthill, Who (literally) taught me English, & a care for words, & an ear for language. David." on title and additionally signed by the author at head of title, scattered spotting, light browning to endpapers, original boards, dust-jacket, price-clipped, light fading to spine, rubbing to spine tips and corners, near-fine otherwise, 8vo, 1968.⁂ An excellent association copy of Le Carré's fifth novel, inscribed to his English teacher at Sherbourne. Atthill (1912-94) did much to encourage the young Le Carré's literary ambitions, culminating in the young author writing for The Shiburnian and receiving the school's English Verse Prize in 1948, for "The Dream of the Deserted Island". Association copies of any of Le Carré's works are rare.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 359

Dahl (Roald) The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar and six more, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "To Jonna with love Roald Dahl. 30th Nov. 1984" to endpaper, some foxing to top edge, bookseller label "The Abbey Bookshop... Great Missenden Buckinghamshire" to front pastedown, original boards, dust-jacket, price-clipped with £5.95 price sticker to front flap, sunning to spine, light creasing to head, otherwise excellent, 8vo, 1977.⁂ Dahl's classic short story collection, the title story of which has recently been adapted for film by Wes Andersen. This copy with a bookseller's label from Dahl's hometown.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 203

Physics.- Alfven (Hannes) Niels Bohr, Max Born, Werner Heisenberg, Gerhard Herzberg, Wolfgang Pauli, Erwin Schrodinger and others. [A collection of c.850 physics papers], nearly all offprints, ranging from the early 1930s to the late 1950s, including many by Nobel Prize winners such as Alfven (21 papers), Bohr (5), Born (27), Heisenberg (17), Herzberg (25), Pauli (8), Raman (20), Schrodinger (40+), Tomonaga (19) as well as others like Bethe, de Broglie, Irene and Marie Curie, Tamm, around 30 papers signed by the author, some inscribed to or signed by Ralph Kronig, many in original wrappers (as issued), little light sunning to some, the odd spot or case of minor staining but overall clean, housed within five card boxes, v.s., v.d., 1930s-1960⁂ A superb and extensive collection. A full list of all papers available upon request. Provenance: from the library of Ralph Kronig (1904-1995), a German physicist, known for his discovery of electron spin and X-ray absorption spectroscopy.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 355

Dahl (Roald) James and the Giant Peach, later edition, signed presentation inscription from the author "To Ian" to endpaper, illustrations by Nancy Eckholm Burkett, ink ownership inscription to endpaper, original cloth, dust-jacket, light sunning to spine, spine ends and corners a little chipped, closed tear and small chip to foot of upper wrapper, large chip to head of lower wrapper, 4to, New York, [c.1972].

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 57

Bible, Greek.- He Kaine Diatheke [New Testament], 'Mazarin edition', half-title, fine engraved title by Claude Mellan depicting an angel inscribing an obelisk beneath title on a scroll carried by three putti, imprint in Greek at foot, engraved head- & tail-pieces and initials including large cul-de-lampe on verso of final leaf of text featuring arms of King Louis XIII, with final blank, some light browning and offsetting, occasional spotting, marginal soiling at beginning & end and water-staining to lower outer corner towards end, bookplate removed but with old ink shelf-mark to front pastedown, handsome contemporary red morocco tooled in gilt with central royal arms and rich roll-tooled border featuring fleurs-de-lys, spine gilt in compartments with title or fleur-de-lys and seven raised bands, inner gilt dentelles, g.e, rubbed and marked, upper cover a little stained, corners slightly worn, short split to head of upper joint, [D&M 4687], folio, Paris, Royal Printers, [1642].⁂ A handsome wide-margined copy of the magnificent edition "known as the 'Mazarin edition', since it appeared under the auspices of the great Cardinal" (D&M). It is the first edition of the Greek New Testament from the Imprimerie Royale, founded by Louis XIII in 1640. It is a substantial reprint, with a few alterations, of the New Testament printed by the Elzeviers in 1624, adding a 30-page appendix of Variae lectiones. The text was set in Garamond's Greek types, used by the Estienne dynasty of printers, and which subsequently became part of the type holdings of the Imprimerie Royale.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 232

Gillray (James) Disciples Catching the Mantle - The Spirit of Darkness Overshadowing the Priests of Baal, etching with hand-colouring, an excellent vibrant impression on wove paper without watermark, platemark 400 x 340 mm (15 3/4 x 13 3/8 in), sheet 425 x 365 mm (16 3/4 x 14 3/8 in), small minor repairs to margins, some surface dirt and browning, scraping to old adhesive visible verso, unframed, [BM Satires 10992], Hannah Humphrey, 1808.Provenance:Spanish Library, probably 19th century [crowned ink stamp verso, not in Lugt]Humphrey Minto-Wilson (1938-1951) [Lugt 1922a, red ink stamp verso]⁂ Satire showing William Pitt the Younger is borne upwards in a chariot of swirling clouds of flame drawn by four horses abreast, and snorting fire, while his eyes are fixed on a broad beam of light inscribed 'Immortality', numerous figures below,

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 367

Dahl (Roald) Going Solo, first edition, signed presentation inscription from the author on half-title, illustrations, original boards, small patch of staining to foot of spine, light creasing to spine tips and corners, near-fine otherwise, 8vo, 1986.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 513

Voyages.- Anson (George).- Thomas (Pascoe) A True and Impartial Journal of a Voyage to the South-Seas. . . Under the Command of Commodore George Anson, first edition, list of subscribers, from the library at Mount Congreve, Waterford with ink signature of Ambrose Usher Congreve to head of title & front free endpaper and engraved armorial bookplate of John Congreve, some light browning, contemporary calf with double gilt fillet border, rubbed, spine repaired, [Sabin 95437; Hill 1693; Palau 331781], 8vo, S. Birt [& others], 1745.⁂ A scarce account of the Anson expedition, preceding the official account by three years.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 413

McCarthy (Cormac) Child of God, first English edition, signed presentation inscription from the author to title, original boards, slight bumping to spine tips, dust-jacket, very light toning, light creasing to foot of spine, a fine copy, 8vo, 1975.⁂ McCarthy's second novel, this edition seemingly far more difficult to find inscribed than its American counterpart.

More details

Forum Auctions
Lot 67

Bound in the arms of the dedicatee.- Villette (Charles Louis de) Oeuvres, printed on 'Papier de Guimauve' [marshmallow], 20 samples of various kinds of paper made from plants and barks at end, some light spotting, marginal worm-holes to final few samples and rear free endpapers, handsomely bound in contemporary green morocco, gilt, covers with central gilt arms of the Marquis Ducrest, red morocco label to spine, very slight rubbing to spine ends and corners, tiny chip to upper corner, g.e.,12mo, Londres [but Montargis], [Claude Lequatre], 1786.⁂ Among the earliest European examples of printing on paper made from vegetable fibres. Dedicated to the Marquis Ducrest, chancellor of the House of Orléans. The dedication is written by Pierre Alexandre Léorier-Delisle, director of the Langlée paper mills near Montargis, in whose work Ducrest had taken a keen interest. The work was also issued on paper made from the bark of the lime-tree (ecorce de tilleul), with some copies seemingly also on blue and pink tinted rag-paper. Provenance: Denise Weil-Scheler (book-label).

More details
Loading...Loading...
  • 534325 item(s)
    /page

Recently Viewed Lots