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Dear Friend,
Happy New Year from chilly Yorkshire which will be hosting the York Book Fair on Saturday. We'll be offering a Velasquez-enthused journal by the British portrait painter, Oswald Birley; Voltairean pamphlets and the vellum-bound poetry of a lovelorn suitor to the soprano Jessie Rose which appeared on BBC Antiques Roadshow. As yet uncatalogued we'll also be bringing a newly acquired collection of archery books to the fair - see final image.
Best wishes,
Christian
THE GENTLEMAN’S RECREATION: In Four Parts; Viz Hunting, Hawking, Fowling, Fishing.. — Nicholas Cox; Nathaniel Rolls; Ichabod Dawks; William Sherwin; William Dolle; John Manwood — 1697
Nicolas Cox’s compendium of hunting, hawking, fowling, and fishing lore in one of the three variant imprints published in 1697. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Contemporary boards, sympathetically rebacked with a new spine, retaining the original endpapers. Extensively provenanced: ‘Ch: Parry 1742’ on the front pastedown looks to be the earliest owner followed by ‘Will.m Wilson’ who has inscribed the title page; ‘J. D. Wortley 1826’ on the first flyleaf and the 20th century bookplate of ‘James Fagan Schar…… Read more
A VOLTAIRE-INSPIRED PAMPHLET WAR - 8 IMPRINTS: La Voix du Sage du Peuple [with] Lettre de Turc a Son Correspondant a Constantinople [with] La Voix du Pretre [with] La Voix du Poete et Celle du Levite [with] La Voix du Fou et des Femmes etc — M de Voltaire — 1750
Voltaire’s ‘short explosive’ critique of clerical taxation with 7 further pamphlets which it inspired, most with false imprints in ‘Londres’ and ‘Utrech’. Duodecimo volume bound in contemporary polished calf, ‘Les Voix’ to the spine label. Marbled endpapers; an early owner has written ‘Recueil de Petites Pieces faites a L’occasion des affaires du clerge En 1750 Au Novembre du 10.’ Several of the pamphlets have the remnants of an owner’s name at the head of the title page but this was trimmed dur…… Read more
THE WORKS IN VERSE AND PROSE OF WILLIAM SHENSTONE — William Shenstone — 1768
Three delightfully bound volumes, Vols I & II in the third edition and Vol III in the second edition. Full tan calf with gilt decoration to the spine and a fillet to the boards; red and green spine labels. A little fading to the spine and the beginnings of wear to the head and tail of the outer hinges but a very good set. Marbled endpapers and green silk bookmarks; no suggestion of ownership. A frontispiece precedes Vols I & II; Map of the Leasowes, Halesowen (formerly Shropshire), Vol II; engra…… Read more
PELICAN DEVICE TO SPINE The Dramatic Works of Samuel Foote, Esq; to which is Prefixed A Life of the Author — Samuel Foote Esq — 1781
Handsome edition bound in full tree calf with an intriguing pelican device on the spine labels. Full tree calf; old repairs to the outer hinges (not affecting the endpapers). Pelican device framing the green spine labels relating to an unidentified family - ownership inscription of ‘W M Newton’ (?) on the front pastedown. Both volumes very good; in this collection each play has separate pagination and register and a separate dated titlepage: 'Taste', 5th ed., 1781; 'The Englishman in Paris', 4th…… Read more
A TOXOPHILIC CLASSIC The English Bowman or Tracts on Archery — Thomas Roberts — 1801
Crisp first edition of this classic account of the revival of archery, as a pastime, printed on blue paper. Half tree calf over marbled boards; bookplate to front pastedown; frontispiece and engraved dedication to the Prince of Wales, xlii, pp298 and Errata [2]. Minimal browning to an otherwise excellent copy. Acquired as part of a library of books relating to archery from the old West Riding of Yorkshire.… Read more
THE ‘FATHER OF FORENSIC MEDICINE’: Papers of Alfred Swaine Taylor — Alfred Swaine Taylor, Louis Penard — 1820-1880
Drawings, letters and polymathic notes on European languages by the British forensic toxicologist and early experimenter with photography. This collection amply demonstrates Taylor’s range of interests, researching and learning Italian, enquiring into monetary exchange rates, corresponding with European colleagues in his specialist field of medico-jurisprudence and developing his interest in photography - having published as early as 1840 on Fox Talbot’s invention of photogenic drawing. Alfred S…… Read more
NORWICH SCHOOL ETCHINGS: Liber Studiorum; A Series of Sketches and Studies by John Sell Cotman — John Sell Cotman — 1838
Large folio-sized collection (51x34cm) of soft-ground etchings depicting scenes on the Yare in Norfolk, in Postwick, ‘Thorp’, Lakenham into north Norfolk at Felbrigg, and further afield in Wales (10 castles), Duncomb Park in Yorkshire and Millbank on the Thames in London. Bound in red roan over pebbled red cloth; cloth reinforcement to inner hinges ensuring that this huge volume remains pleasingly intact. Yellow coated endpapers; foxing to engraved title page and early plates. Small hole at tail…… Read more
BOUND IN TIMBER BOARDS SALVAGED FROM H.M.S — Henry Slight — 1841
Tiny naval history volume bound in wood salvaged from the wreck of H.M.S. Royal George. This volume (8.8cmx5.7cm) has been refurbished with a green morocco leather spine and lettering and new endpapers. Old pencil inscription of ‘E.J. Hayward’ pp120 and four plates which illustrate the loss and salvaging of the vessel. A very good copy. The largest warship in the world at the time, the Royal George sank on 29th August 1782 while at anchor at Spithead with the loss of 800 lives. This wood dates f…… Read more
121 MARITIME ENGRAVINGS Praktikale Zeevaartkunde Theoretische Kennis voor Handel en Scheepvaart — Pieter le Comte — 1842
Beautifully illustrated guide to maritime science and theory, including navigation, from the final phase of sailing ships’ dominance over world trade. Contemporary green textured cloth-covered boards with paper library numbers on the spine. ‘Institution of Naval Architects... Scott Library Collection’ book plate to both pastedowns, no other library markings. Christies 6 Nov 1997 Lot 36 bookmark laid in (£322 hammer). A fresh attractive copy with the author’s signature of authenticity opposite pa…… Read more
MANUSCRIPT OF AN UNFINISHED WORK ON FINGER RINGS — Reverend James Beck — 1872
Unfinished and unpublished, a manuscript study of the history of finger rings written and researched by a scholarly Victorian clergyman in Suffolk. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Attractive quarto bound in half deep red morocco over cloth covered boards with gilt lettering. Blue endpapers and paper stock throughout; circular stamp of ‘Assay Office Library Birmingham’ on flyleaf. A sequence of pasted letters (about 10 pages in all) precede the manuscript, starting with a letter to Beck from Thomas Cliffor…… Read more
On The Origin of Species By Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life — Charles Darwin — 1892
A sharp example of the sixth edition of Darwin's Origin of Species in its original green sand-grain cloth binding. A near fine copy, the front and rear boards have panels blocked in blind, with gilt lettering to the spine. The green cloth is bright and unmarked with only the lightest rubbing at the head and tail of the spine. Internally the book is complete as issued without advertisements. Floral endpapers show some browning. Otherwise near fine internally. Overall a cracking good copy. Freeman…… Read more
SCANDALOUS CONTRACEPTIVE ADVICE The Wife's Handbook: How a Woman should Order Herself During Pregnancy, in the Lying-in Room, and after Delivery — Dr Henry Arthur Allbutt — 1899
Rare surviving example of the earliest book by an English doctor to describe contraceptive methods. The book is bound in printed wrappers with some spotting throughout. It describes itself on the cover as ‘Thirty-first Edition (290th Thousand). - 1899’. OCLC locates two examples of this edition at U Cal and McGill, none in the UK. Collates complete, pp64; terminal advertisements and further adverts printed on verso and recto of wrappers. Chapter Seven on preventing conception has not been censor…… Read more
Sense and Sensibility — Jane Austen, Reginald Brimley Johnson [Editor] — 1901
A beautifully designed 1901 version of Jane Austen's first novel, Sense and Sensibility. Light green boards with dark green and gilt decoration; top edge gilt, a little dusty; bookseller’s label ‘A & R Milne Aberdeen’ to first pastedown; a little spotting to preliminaries. Illustrated by C E Brock with a frontispiece to Vol I of Jane Austen as a young woman. This is the third edition from 1901, first published thus in 1898. A very good set.
‘THE VELASQUEZ ARE QUITE MARVELLOUS’ Year Abroad Diary of the Future Establishment ‘Portraitist Par Excellence’ — Oswald Birley — 1905
Oswald Birley’s painting-saturated diary written in the winter months of his year abroad in the Mediterranean which records his obsession with Velasquez who would go on to inspire the artist’s enormously successful practice, as well as offering an eye witness account of the Friday ceremonial of the penultimate Ottoman Sultan. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Small quarto manuscript book bound in half roan over marbled boards - rubbed but sound. All edges marbled; marbled endpapers. At one end of the MS is…… Read more
OPERA SINGER JESSIE ROSE’S BOOK OF LOVE POEMS - Written by a Lovelorn Suitor — Charles Sydney Buxton — 1908
A volume of love poetry written by a young Liberal politician who had fallen head over heels with the glamorous, newly single opera singer, renowned for her performances in Gilbert and Sullivan operas. A note laid into the volume reveals that it featured on BBC Antiques Road Show in February 2007. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Beautiful, bespoke vellum binding (19x14cm) with floral decoration to the spine and both covers. Working silver lock (and two keys) which opens to reveal marbled endpapers and on…… Read more
27th Annual Issue The Architect’s Compendium and Catalogue — John Edward Sears — 1913
Monumental illustrated catalogue of architectural merchants, manufacturers, makers and their products: a testimony to pre War British prosperity and productiveness. Small folio, 6cm across the spine in original publisher’s cloth, a little marked and worn. The contents have been collated and the 1034 pages appear to be complete, a couple of tape repairs; some loose gatherings. Around a dozen pages have been used as a scrap album with domestic adverts pasted onto the pages. Please see the images t…… Read more
HAIR, WIGS, BEARDS, ETC: A Home Made Scrap Book — Anonymous, Gabriel Shire Tregear etc — 1920
A home made scrap book offering advertisements for wigs, a coloured cutout and satirical print by Gabriel S Treagear showing a couple being accosted by a small black child ‘Please yor hono you’ve just dropt one of your viskers’. 12 items, [pp] 18, including an early 19th century advertisement for ‘Genuine Windsor Soap’ etc.
SIGNED The Marine Chronometer its History and Development — Rupert T Gould; Frank Dyson — 1923
Inscribed first edition from the author: ‘C A Jenkins from R T Gould 2.IV.37’ on the front pastedown. Original trade cloth binding, faded near foreedge and with a tear to the cloth at the tail of outer hinge between the spine and lower board with a little loss to the cloth. Frontispiece of John Harrison who features extensively in the text. A very good copy and uncommon thus. This book was acquired from a descendant of the recipient of the book.… Read more
PRESENTED TO ST EDMUNDS HALL, OXFORD Rowing — Guy Oliver Nickalls & Dr P C Mallam — 1939
Inscribed on the front flyleaf: ‘To the St Edmund’s Hall Boat Club [Oxford] with best wishes from Gully Nickalls 3 May 1939’. Bound in faded and marked blue cloth; some spotting to text, pp210 and adverts. Very good internally; overall good. Gully Nickalls (1899-1974) competed in the Olympics of 1924 and 1928 as well as rowing for Oxford. He became a leading figure in British rowing.… Read more
INSCRIBED TO GILBERT MURRAY Natalie Maisie & Pavilastukay: Two Tales told in Verse — John Masefield — 1942
Double presentation copy, first in the year of publication from the author to one of his oldest friends, inscribed by Masefield on the flyleaf: ‘For Gilbert Murray from John Masefield. April. 1942’ and then, acquired on Murray’s death, and given by a visiting American scholar to his landlady in Oxford. Blue cloth, some discolouration to boards; internally very good. Accompanying the book, a letter to Murray on Burcote Brook headed paper presenting ‘yes another’ book, signed in blue ink. Addition…… Read more
EDWARD BAWDEN’S COPY George Cruikshank: His Life and Work as a Book Illustrator — Ruari McLean — 1948
A study of one of the leading 19th century British book illustrators - owned by one of the 20th century’s leading British book illustrators. A near fine copy in brown cloth: inscribed ‘Edward Bawden’ on the first flyleaf with the printed ticket of his local Essex bookseller opposite, ‘John Briggs, Bookseller and Stationer, 118 High Street, Braintree.’ A later bookplate of ‘MMAB Doncaster’ appears on the pastedown. Laid in (by Bawden?) is an apparently unrecorded 1845 bifolium advertising flyer f…… Read more
SIGNED BY THE ‘BIRDMAN OF INDIA’ & ANNOTATED WITH SIGHTINGS The Book of Indian Birds — Salim Ali — 1944
An early edition inscribed opposite the title page: ‘Salim Ali 24 years later! 15 3/72’ - an allusion to the time elapsed since the he last saw the book’s owner, ‘Elizabeth A Robertson Oct. 1945’ who has inscribed the book on the previous page. Green publisher’s cloth with rounded corners, a little rubbed. This is the third edition of 1944, annotated by Robertson with notes written in the 1940s recording her sightings of many of the birds during her time in India - Robertson came from an intelle…… Read more
NIELS BOHR’S PERSONAL COPY OF HIS FRIEND’S MONOGRAPH: Nuclear Forces — Leon Rosenfeld [Niels Bohr] — 1948
Neils’ Bohr’s personal copy of his friend and longterm scientific collaborator’s attempt to sum up the ‘various properties of nuclear systems’. Large octavo size (26x19cm) bound in deep red buckram; slight fading to the spine but a good square copy of this work. Bohr’s ownership stamp appears at the head of the front flyleaf - this was Bohr’s typical way of marking ownership of his private library. We have not been able to find any other annotations to the book. Bohr’s work is cited several time…… Read more
THE BIOGRAPHER’S ANNOTATED COPY Letters to a Friend and M R James An Informal Portrait — Montague Rhodes - M R James, James Cox — 1956
James’s Letter to a Friend, with the ownership signature of his biographer, James Cox, and the writer’s annotations to those letters, made in preparation for his own scholarly work. Cox’s pencilled annotations include textual corrections and additions (p33, p189 etc), a system of little ticks, frequently inserted additional dates, seemingly relating to James’s travel and location (p60-1 etc) as well as information about other letters to the same correspondent (p63) or explanatory context - ‘anot…… Read more
THE MAGIC FARAWAY TREE — Enid Blyton — 1961
Eighth impression from 1961 of Blyton’s classic children’s novel. Bright red cloth-effect paper-covered boards; a little browning to text otherwise a very good to very good plus example. The jacket is good only, attractively bright in colour but with browned short tape repairs at the head and tail of the flat folds and the spine.
WITH A SKETCH BY THE POET Visions of the Bone Idol — John Hegley & Linda Leatherbarrow — 1983
Pleasingly inscribed on the verso of the upper card wrapper ‘To Egon love John Hegley’ with a sketch. Very good plus book, illustrated by Linda Leatherbarrow, with advert for a ‘Dog Nest’ on the lower cover and a photo of a dog loosely laid in. Hegley was born in 1953 in London and practises as poet, editor and comedian.… Read more
ARCHERY COLLECTION - Available Individually — Robert Elmer, Maurice Thompson etc, etc — 1900
Dr. Christian White
Christian White Rare Books
287 Leeds Road, Ilkley, LS29 8LL
07811 455398
info@christianwhiterarebooks.com
www.christianwhiterarebooks.com
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