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Dear Friend,
As we speak, Chelsea Old Town Hall is being readied for this week's Book Fair. We'll be there with an unpublished manuscript epic on the Battle of Waterloo, a first edition of Eric Ravilious's High Street and Michael de la Noy's reports from the literary front line in 1980s London. His letters really are the last thing in high camp literary gossip. Do let us know if you need a complimentary ticket for the fair.
Best wishes,
Christian
BRITWELL COURT COPY, LATER OWNED BY LYTTON STRACHEY: The History of That Most Eminent Statesman Sir John Perrott — Richard Rawlinson [Lytton Strachey] — 1728
Lytton Strachey’s copy, formerly the Britwell Court copy, owned by Samuel Christy Miller. Large octavo bound in contemporary speckled calf with a gilt double fillet and shell motifs to the corners of the boards in gilt; remnants of a spine label; red speckled edges to the text block. Some cracking to the leather over the outer higes. Dora Carrington’s bookplate for Lytton Strachey appears on the front pastedown; in pencil above is written, probably by a bookseller: ‘Large paper copy: The Christi…… Read more
The Dunciad with Notes Variorum and the Prolegomena of Scriblerus. Written in the Year, 1727 — Alexander Pope — 1732
Early edition of Pope’s Dunciad in contemporary calf with faded gilt lines to the spine and blind panelling to the boards; red speckled edges to text block. Bookplate of ‘Thomas Lediard’ to the front pastedown (1685-1743, diplomat, stage designer and latterly Agent and Sureyor of Westminster Bridge, resident in Smith Square). Cracking to paper over inner hinges; owl frontispiece: collates complete pp264; final flyleaf (of two) removed leaving stub. John Barber’s declaration (p226) dated 1732. OC…… Read more
SHAKESPEARE’S PLAYS PERFORMED AT DRURY LANE - with An Essay on Oratory — William Shakespeare — 1773
A single volume selection of plays bound up from John Bell’s 1773 Shakespeare edition including an Introduction to Shakespeare’s Plays containing An Essay on Oratory and a Dedication to David Garrick. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Half calf over marbled boards in good condition only showing extensive wear to the 6 panelled spine which has worn to the lower half revealing the binding beneath. Titled PLAYS 2 in gilt over red ground. Corners and edges a little knocked and scuffed as expected. Traces of pre…… Read more
THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, and Administration of the Sacraments — [Church of England] — 1791
Prettily bound eighteenth century Cambridge Book of Common Prayer in red goatskin with gilt edges. Small octavo in full leather binding with gilt decoration, faded to the spine; book label of ‘Rev J L Saywell’ (author of History of Northallerton); handwritten ‘Evening Prayer’ to the final leaf. A very good copy, pleasing and unsophisticated.… Read more
1790s CURATED COLLECTION OF AQUATINTS & ENGRAVINGS OF WELSH, SCOTTISH & ENGLISH SCENES: ‘Views in Great Britain’ — [James Baker etc] — 1795
A charming 1790s compilation album of aquatints and engravings, many taken from James Baker’s Picturesque Guide through Wales and the Marches of 1795. Small quarto (16.5x21cm) in red straight grain morocco with an elaborate border to the boards; wide raised bands to the spine; all edges gilt. Marbled endpapers with trace of a removed bookplate to the front pastedown. 83 pencil numbered pages - the final 3 are drawings, the rest engravings and aquatints. First section of the collection alternates…… Read more
THE COMPLETE SYSTEM OF ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCING, Containing all the Figures ever used in English Country Dancing — Thomas Wilson — 1820
A beautifully unsophisticated example of this very scarce English dancing manual found here in the publisher’s original paper covered boards with printed spine label. Printed on high quality wove paper, the text and plates are in excellent condition, many leaves unopened. Publisher’s binding of brown paper over boards, chipping to the paper covering and cracking along paper covering outer hinges. Binding entirely sound. Collates in line with OCLC 35049803, date taken from frontispiece: [3] vi-xx…… Read more
COPY OF AN MS ACCOUNT OF SIR RICHARD LOWTHER’S EXPENCES DURING HIS IMPRISONMENT IN THE TOWER IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN ELIZABETH — [Richard & Elizabeth Lowther] W.D. - Unidentified Antiquary — 1830
Scholarly transcript from the early 19th century of Sir Richard Lowther’s accounts during his imprisonment in the Tower of London for his involvement in the Duke of Norfolk’s plot to marry Mary Queen of Scots and supplant Elizabeth I. A landowner in Westmorland, Lowther was briefly custodian of Mary Queen of Scots after she landed in England in 1579 and this manuscript was copied in the late 1820s from one then held by at Lowther Castle whose whereabouts is now uncertain (Lowther Castle’s treasu…… Read more
Utopia and History of King Richard III - First American Edition — Thomas More; Gilbert Burnet - translator — 1834
First American edition of More's masterpiece which appeared as Volume IX of The Library of Old English Prose Writers in 1834. Half black morocco over marbled boards, a little rubbing to the leather, spine labels not present. Internally, marbled endpapers, a little toning to the text which is complete with the general title page and vignette followed by Utopia's title page, text, and Richard III. A little toning to the paper stock otherwise a very good copy. Thomas More's alternative world as dep…… Read more
A MASTER PRINTER’S FAMILY TOURS SCOTLAND & ENGLAND: Manuscript Journal with Illustrations, Which Includes a Visit to the Family’s Ancestral Spottiswoode Estate in the Scottish Borders — [George Andrew Spottiswoode] — 1860
An English and Scottish tour manuscript seemingly written by the master printer George Andrew Spottiswoode at a moment of flux for the fabled nineteenth century printing family of Spottiswoode, and their Longman cousins who accompanied them on the second part of the trip. Compiled just as the company’s 30 year monopoly as the King’s Printer was expiring, this three month trip took Spottiswoode and his family members (possibly including his mother and sister) to an irritatingly book-less Malvern,…… Read more
The Scarlet Letter: A Romance — Nathaniel Hawthorne — 1851
Scarce pirated 1851 Routledge London edition of Hawthorne's classic novel. Half burgundy cloth over marbled boards (binder’s ticket of ‘G Parker Stationers Kirkdale, Ripon’ to lower pastedown). Spotting to preliminaries; early gift inscription to title page: ‘A Staples to S Hoy’. Old paper repair to verso of title page in gutter at tail of page. Collates complete: iv, pp252, small square of paper missing from tail of last leaf in gutter, touching first couple of letters of the last line of text…… Read more
UNPUBLISHED 19th CENTURY MANUSCRIPT VERSE EPIC: Waterloo: A Poem in Ten Books by George Allsop — George Allsop — 1860
Unpublished full length verse epic poem on the subject of the Duke of Wellington’s decisive defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo. Although Waterloo became the subject of short poems written in its aftermath by writers such as Walter Scott and Lord Byron, we can find no similar enterprise to George Allsop’s full length treatment of the battle. In this ambitious literary project Allsop has adopted the conventions of epic poetry by depicting two heroes of national, almost legendar…… Read more
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall — Anne Bronte — 1870
Controversial at the time of its publishing The Tenant of Wildfell Hall is considered one of the first feminist novels, depicting a woman's flight from an abusive marriage to protect herself and her child, and challenging the patriarchal laws of the time. This 1870 edition is a very pleasing copy in very good condition. Green intricately embossed Victorian binding incorporating a decorative border front and rear, a central golden cartouche-like design to upper board and gilt lettering to boards…… Read more
ART NOUVEAU-STYLE Wuthering Heights and Agnes Grey — Ellis Bell; Acton Bell; Emily Bronte: Anne Bronte — c. 1890
Subject of the latest big screen adaptation, Wuthering Heights, in a single volume edition containing both novels by both Emily and Anne Bronte. Undated but estimated 1890s or early 1900s with decorative slightly art nouveau-style green boards with bevelled edges and gilt titling in good condition. Spine sunned, minimally pushed to top and tail. Decorative floral design endpapers front and rear remain in good condition. Previous ownership details record ‘JW Browne, Lower Holme, Keighley’ in penc…… Read more
FIN DE SIECLE MYSTICAL STORY TELLING: Impressions: A Tribute by Ecila — ‘Ecila’ - Alice J — 1898
A remarkable and mystical unpublished short story written in April 1898 by a young woman called ‘Ecila’ - presumably a reversal of her actual name, Alice - which presents as a sort of adolescent fever dream in which the young woman is led through a mystical landscape, distracted by Sensuality and finally arrives at a vision of the Goddess Truth. The identity of ‘A[lice] J’ as she signs herself at the end of the text may be recoverable but we have not managed to do so. Small octavo (11.5x18c,) 7…… Read more
Bacon's Large Print Map Of London and Suburbs With Guide — GW Bacon & Co Ltd — c. 1905
Red embossed cloth covered boards in good condition measuring 19.5 cm x 12 cm; a little age toned to edges; containing 60 pp. Guide to London and large colour folding linen backed map measuring 83.5 cm x 72 cm divided into half mile squares and showing underground and electric railways. No date is evident but the advertisements within the Guide show typeface and clothing consistent with the 1905 - 1910 period. GUIDE TO LONDON: In very good condition. Double page spread advertisement for Chas Bak…… Read more
LAVISHLY REPRODUCED ILLUSTRATIONS: Poems of Pleasure — Ella Wheeler Wilcox — c.1910
A delightful copy of Ella Wheeler Wilcox's Poems of Pleasure, her collection of poems which capture the joy of living and was first published in 1888. This volume is undated, c1910. Hardback in very good condition, bound in rust coloured cloth with ornate gilt decoration to spine and upper board. Slightly bumped to corners. The book is printed on thick hand-made paper with pages untrimmed to fore-edge; top edge gilt. Gorgeous decorative endpapers in very good condition. Reproduced from a hand-il…… Read more
The Death of Cleopatra & Other Verses — James A Mackereth — 1920
Textured card wrappers with title label to front in overall good condition. Age toned as expected, a little browned and shelf worn to edges. Spine nicked to top exposing small section of binding beneath. Endpapers clean. Front free endpaper contains a signed inscription in the hand of the author reading ‘To Senid and John [Windle]and Peter and Theo’ dated 1921. Contains 9 poems. From the library of the Windle family who lived in the Colne and Bradford areas of Yorkshire. 93 pp.
SCARCE LIMITED EDITION EARLY SCIENCE FICTION - The Time Journey of Dr Barton - An Engineering and Sociological Forecast based on Present Possibilities — John Hodgson; Olive Schreiner — 1929
First edition scarce science fiction novel described as a fictionalised discussion of capitalism, technocrats, and robotics originally circulated privately during 1927, given as the basis of a public lecture in London and serialised in The Star Review in 1929. This limited edition is numbered 229 and signed by the author John Hodgson Xmas 1929. The story follows Dr. Barton as he travels to the year 3927, where he encounters a utopian society of eight billion people who work only one month per ye…… Read more
SHEPHERD‘S GUIDE - Bentham and District Sheep Marks Guide — Joseph Robinson, J S Towers — 1932
Unrecorded shepherd’s guide compiled by the Bentham and District NFU covering the central area of the Yorkshire Dales including Austwick, Horton in Ribblesdale, Ingleton and the Forest of Bowland. Card wrappers, discoloured and lightly soiled, a Preface and 2 page guide to the marks is followed by 80 pages detailing those marks, village by village. The central gathering has pulled. Otherwise good condition. Printed shepherd’s guides have been produced since the 19th century but we can locate no…… Read more
High Street Written by J M Richards Illustrated by Eric Ravilious — J M Richards; Eric Ravilious — 1939
First edition, first impression of this delicious evocation of the long-vanished English high street. Illustrated with lithographs by Eric Ravilious just before the beginning of the second war which would claim both Ravilious and the lithographed stones that were used to produce this book and whose loss made it impossible to reprint in this form. This is a bright, very good copy of the book; a little rubbing to edges and light wear to the head and tail of the spine. Internally very clean; owners…… Read more
‘THE CRUX OF THE WHOLE THING’: GEOFFREY HILL’S ANNOTATED COPY OF Night Thoughts — David Gascoyne — 1956
Elegiac theologian Geoffrey Hill’s annotated copy of this work by the surrealist David Gascoyne, a fellow English poet half a generation older. Red cloth-effect paper binding over boards; very good in a near very good jacket, chipped along the top edge of the front panel. Hill’s blue biro ownership inscription to the front flyleaf; annotated early on with a system of black biro crosses, exclamation marks and maringal lines; there are references to other texts and poets in the annotation: ‘New Ro…… Read more
The Atrocity Exhibition — J G Ballard — 1970
First edition, first impression in publisher’s black cloth effect paper covered boards, sharp corners, just a trace of spine lean. Spotting to text block edges; internally clean and unmarked. A near fine copy in a near fine jacket with a little fading to the red lettered spine and some browning to extremities. A lovely square copy of this remarkable book on ‘The irrational violence of the modern world’.
‘MUST DASH – just got a BIG book contract!’: Literary Letters from Michael de La Noy to Iain Finlayson — Michael De La Noy [Iain Finlayson] — 1987
Gossipy, bitchy and fabulously camp, Michael De La Noy’s 43 literary letters to his friend, fellow writer and biographer Iain Finlayson lurch between joyful glee and utter despair at the modern world while displaying all his qualities of vulnerability, generosity, lovability and supreme wit. Written from the front line of London literary life, these letters are a name-dropper’s delight. In June 1986 he writes of a Hampstead dinner party: ‘John Brain[e] was there blind drunk as usual, and a perfe…… Read more
‘BILL [WILLIAM BURROUGHS] WAS OUTRAGEOUS WITH HIS KIF-CHOPPING MACHETE...’ A Writer’s Research Archive on his Book Length Study of Tangier — Allen Ginsburg, Edmund White, Paul & Jane Bowles, William S Burroughs, Cecil Beaton [Iain Finlayson] etc — 1985
A remarkable collection compiled by Iain Finlayson while writing a history of ex-patriate life in the Moroccan city of Tangier with, as its centre-piece, a vitriolic four page letter from Allen Ginsberg, written in a spirit of barely suppressed fury, in which the poet responded to some of Finlayson’s claims about himself and his time in Tangiers. Furiously discarding Finlayson’s account of the publication and legal travails of his poem Howl, and accusing him of reducing his lover Pete Orlovsky t…… Read more
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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