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Dear Friend,
Until December 1st we're delighted to offer 40 books and manuscripts at more than a third off their original price. Just say if you need more images or information.
Best wishes,
Christian
HALLEY’S COMET PROPHETICAL PAMPHLET The Mystery of Ambras Merlins, Standardbearer Wolf and last Boar of Cornwal — ‘Lover of his Country’s Peace’ — 1683
Rare prophetical pamphlet published after the appearance of Halley’s Comet a year before. 4 page folio text with caption title and imprint from colophon. Small woodcut on last page depicting a ‘Flagg figured with a White Wolf’. 4 pages. Toning to paper edges and a couple of brown spots, otherwise a very good copy bound in modern quarter calf over marbled boards with additional blanks to bulk out the volume. This is the dated version of the pamphlet - ESTC R10135 - (11 locations); the undated ver…… Read more
A SATIRE ON SCOTTISH COVENANTERS The Whigs Supplication or, the Scotch-Hudibras. A Mock-Poem in Two Parts — Samuel Colvil — 1751
Satire on the Scottish Presbyterian covenanters, ending with a Latin version of the final 36 English lines. Very pretty polished calf with case mark indicated by two circular morocco spine labels; minor loss of leather close to the upper joint between spine and front cover, adjacent to lowest label; speckled edges. Casemark repeated in ink on the front pastedown; book labels of J R P Forrest, Edinburgh (thought to be Sir James Forrest, 1Ts Baron of Comiston) and above that the calling card of ‘M…… Read more
SCOTTISH & IRISH PEERAGE CASES BEFORE THE HOUSE OF LORDS: Case of Sir Robert Gordon, Bart Claiming the Title, Honour and Dignity of Earl of Sutherland [&] The Case of the Right Honourable Arthur Annesley Viscount Valentia... Earl of Anglesey — Robert Gordon, Earl of Sutherland; Arthur Annesley Mountnorris — 1769
A dozen 18th century imprints relating to Peerage Cases heard before the House of Lords concerning succession of the Scottish Earls of Sutherland and the Irish Earl of Anglesey. Items 1-8 relate to the counter claims of Robert Gordon, a descendant of the 1st Earl of Sutherland and Elizabeth Sutherland Leveson-Gower who won the case to become 19th Countess of Sutherland in her own right. The final 4 imprints (no. 12 unrecorded) relate to Arthur Annesley who was deemed by the Irish House of Lords…… Read more
A COMPANION TO THE MAGDALEN-CHAPEL Containing the Hymns Psalms Ode and Anthems, used there, Set for the Harpsichord Voice German-Flute or Guitar — ‘Eminent Masters’ — 1800
Rare collection of psalms and hymns printed for the Chapel of the Magdalen Hospital in Southwark in London ‘for the Reception of Penitent Prostitutes’. One of the reformed prostitutes is depicted in the frontispiece - the young women who sung these hymns were shielded from view in the octagonal chapel from behind a curtain. The Magdalen Chapel became one of the most fashionable places of worship in Georgian London. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Small quarto in contemporary sheepskin, recently refurbishe…… Read more
SHEPHERD’S VIEWS OF AND AROUND REGENT’S PARK: 37 COLOURED VIEWS IN A FINE BINDING — Thomas H Shepherd — 1827
A selection of 37 window-mounted, hand coloured views around Regent’s Park in a super-luxurious bespoke Sotheran’s binding. Chunky square format (25x25cm) bound in crushed red morocco with gilt lettering, raised spine bands - a little fading to the spine. Marbled endpapers with red morocco turn-ins and slight off-setting to the marbling. Card leaves prefaced by the title page to: Metropolitan Improvements or London, in the Nineteenth Century: Being a Series of Views. from which these images are…… Read more
BILL OF SALE OF THREE SLAVES. State of Louisiana, City of New Orleans. 6th December, 1833. Presented by Mr J R Fulton — William Boswell, ‘Jouran’, ‘Elias’ and ‘Scye’ — 1833
A bill of sale for ‘Three Slaves’ - in fact three enslaved children of 15, 14 and 13 - who were sold by Roswell Beebe, future benefactor of Little Rock in Arkansas, to John Gusman, owner of huge tracts of land on the west side of the Louisiana river Bayou Bonfouca. Prepared for and signed by the New Orleans notary William Boswell, the document records the result of the auction sale and the sums involved as well as detailing the age, abilities and characters of the three youths at the centre of t…… Read more
YOUNG ARTIST’S TOUR JOURNAL OF BELGIUM & HOLLAND IN 1850: ‘Pen and Pencil Scraps from Belgium by Robert Taylor Pritchett’ — Robert Taylor Pritchett — 1850
An artist’s tour journal of his exploration of Belgium and Holland in 1850. Robert Taylor Pritchett (1828-1907) would later become a favourite artist of Queen Victoria and illustrate Darwin’s Voyage of the Beagle but in these images we accompany the young traveller from Dover (seen looking up from the port) via Calais and into the Low Countries which formed the source of paintings that he would exhibit the following year at the Royal Academy. Much later in his career Pritchett would also go on t…… Read more
VINDICATING ADMIRAL GAMBIER - WITH A LETTER TO BULWER LYTTON Memorial, Personal and Historical or Admiral Lord Gambier.... Second Edition — Georgiana Dering, Lady Chatterton — 1861
Excellent presentation copy given to her friend the novelist Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton by the author, Georgiana, Lady Chatterton, in an effort to vindicate the reputation of the subject of her book, her mother’s brother, Admiral Gambier. As well as being inscribed on the author’s behalf, a letter laid in from Georgiana Dering unpacks her reasons for writing this study, explaining them as an attempt to recover Gambier’s posthumous reputation and to persuade Bulwer Lytton to write favourably of Gam…… Read more
‘BALL AT DORCHESTER HOUSE RATHER DISAPPOINTING’: Aristocratic Diary by the Future Father of two Dukes of Portland — William George Frederick Cavendish Bentinck (1856-1948) — 1878
Avowedly private journal of an English aristocrat, recent Cambridge graduate, Mayfair-resident, avid ball and theatre-goer and, paradoxically, future husband of the socialist and suffragist Ruth St Maur from whose union sprang the 8th and 9th Dukes of Portland. Known by his third given name, Frederick - William George Frederick Cavendish Bentinck (1856-1948) - was a member of the immensely wealthy family of the Dukes of Portland but was training as a lawyer at the time of this diary. His future…… Read more
THE HISTORY OF CLERKENWELL by the late William J Pinks — William J Pinks; Edward J Wood — 1881
Expensively produced 19th century history and guide to this area of north London in the augmented second edition. Decorative publisher’s cloth binding over bevel-edged boards, red edges to text block; faded to spine with scuffing at head and tail of spine. Black coated endpapers; cracking to inner hinge before the first fold-out map by Pickburn. Collates: xx, pp800 - voluminous and extensively illustrated (200 steel engravings). Uncommon to find this volume still in its original, rather pleasing…… Read more
‘NO LIVING MAN WHOM WE MEN IN AMERICA FEEL A GREATER DEBT TO’ Illustrator William Hatherell’s Album of Professional Correspondence including a Famous Copy Letter from Thomas Hardy — [William Hatherell] Dean Cornwell; Charles Dana Gibson, Richard Harding Davis, Edward Russell, Thomas Hardy, Florence A Kirkpatrick etc — 1899
The artist William Hatherell’s collection of letters and documents relating to his work as an illustrator in the 1890s-1920s. Among c70 items is Hatherell’s retained copy of a famous letter to him by Thomas Hardy praising his 1895 illustrations for Jude the Obscure, which the novelist wrote ‘to express my sincere admiration for the illustrations of “Jude at the Milestone”. The picture is a tragedy in itself & I do not remember ever before having an artist who grasped the situation so thoroughly……… Read more
HONEYMOON SKETCHBOOKS OF THE RENOWNED CHILDREN’S WRITER & HER HUSBAND, Author of Little Grey Rabbit and Sam Pig — Alison Uttley; James Uttley — 1911
Two sketchbooks drawn and painted by the children’s author Alison Uttley and two by her husband James whose early death, she would later claim, inspired and necessitated Uttley’s prolific output. The first sketchbook records Alison Uttley’s honeymoon with James Uttley when they travelled along the south coast of England and matches the third item in this collection which is her husband’s sketch book from the same trip. Charmingly there are several images which simultaneously record the same scen…… Read more
A Pedigree of the Families Luck and Lock — Edward John Luck — 1900
Privately printed family history with biographies and photographs of family members. Red crushed roan binding; heraldic bookplate; 48 pages of text interleaved with blanks for photographs and additional card blanks with further images to the rear. Inscribed on the front flyleaf: ‘J Lowther Bouch from E.J.L.’ A little grubby along the top of some pages. The text includes a section on the relationship of the philosopher John Locke to the wider family. A rare work that was only ever intended for pr…… Read more
‘LONGING FOR A BIT OF SCOTLAND’: Diary of the Preeminent Scottish Servant of Empire & Scottish Footballer in the First Ever International Football Match with England — Sir William Alexander Baillie Hamilton — 1907
Twelve year diary (1907-1919) of a distinguished Scottish servant of the British Empire, who represented Scotland as an international footballer in the very earliest of all competitive matches with England in 1870 - and loathed his ministerial boss, the young Winston Churchill. Scion of the aristocratic Baillie-Hamilton family (Earls of Haddington) William Alexander Baillie-Hamilton (1844-1920) rose to become one of the most powerful figures at the Colonial Office in the years preceding the Grea…… Read more
ZAEHNSDORFF BINDING Letters of Lady John Russell (Georgiana Byng) To Her Husband 1798-1801 — Georgian Elizabeth (Byng) Russell — 1913
Super-plush and most uncommon private edition of these letters written between two members of one of Britain’s great Whig dynasties, found here in a presentation binding of crushed red morocco by Zaehnsdorff. Near fine binding, fractional rubbing to extremities; red silk doublures, signed ‘Zaehsdorff 1913’; half title precedes the window-framed, hand-coloured frontispiece of the author, with tissue guard. viii, pp138; one letter reproduced in facsimile. OCLC locates Stanford, Duke, BL, Oxford on…… Read more
FROM ONE HUNGER STRIKER, INSCRIBED TO ANOTHER: Days of Fear — Frank Gallager [Andrew McDonnell] — 1928
Movingly inscribed first edition from the author to another of the (at first) 65 Irish Volunteers in Dublin’s Mountjoy Prison who demanded Prisoner of War status. Accompanied by mounting demonstrations across Ireland, the British government capitulated and many of these prisoners were released before greater harm was done. This printed edition of Gallagher’s prison diary of these extraordinary days in Irish history has been inscribed on the front flyleaf: ‘To Andrew McDonnell in memory of these…… Read more
PRESENTATION COPY FROM ISAAC ROSENBERG’S SISTER: Poems by Isaac Rosenberg — Isaac Rosenberg — 1922
Inscribed first edition of Rosenberg’s collected poems, a volume which was published after the poet’s death on the western front in the last months of the First World War. As a posthumously published work, there can never be a copy inscribed in the author’s hand, adding to the allure of this volume. Rosenberg’s youngest sister Rachel Lyons, nee Rosenberg, has written on the front pastedown: ‘22/8/62 To Dr S Sacks with compliments from (Mrs) Ray Lyons (Sister) of the poet Isaac Rosenberg. Killed…… Read more
PRESENTATION COPY FROM WINSTON CHURCHILL’S STEP-FATHER The Life and Letters of Admiral Cornwallis — George Cornwallis West — 1927
Smart copy of the life of Nelson’s friend Admiral William Cornwallis written and inscribed by Winston Churchill’s step-father, a man just 16 days older than his distinguished stepson. The subject of the biography, Admiral Cornwallis, an ancestor of the author, was the brother of the defeated British general at Yorktown, Charles Cornwallis, and himself Commander in Chief of the Channel Fleet during the Napoleonic Wars. Bound in bright blue buckram, square and unmarked. Spotting to the foreedges a…… Read more
'ROUGH SKETCHES - C W ANDERSON 41 WASH[ington] Sq[uare] NEW YORK CITY’: A Portfolio of Drawings — Clarence William Anderson — 1930
Portfolio of signed comic and suggestive sketches by the Nebraskan born artist Clarence Anderson, compiled while living in Washington Square in New York City. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: The sketches are housed in an ‘Anchor Clasp Envelope’ on which Anderson has written ‘Rough Sketches C.W. Anderson 41 Wash[ington’ Sq[uare] New York City.’ Old repairs to edges of the envelope. Anderson’s drawings are on thin paper (22x18cm), executed in black ink apparently as preparatory drawings for publication in a…… Read more
DRAWINGS & DOODLES BY THE ARTISTIC SUPER-COUPLE: FRIDA KAHLO & DIEGO RIVERA ON THEIR WAY OUT OF DETROIT — Frida Kahlo - Carmen Rivera; Diego Rivera — 1933
Inscribed with drawings and doodles by the artistic super-couple Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera at the unveiling of Rivera’s newly completed masterpiece, the Detroit Industry Murals at the city’s Institute of Art, early in 1933. With these drawings into a child’s autograph album, made a few days before their departure for New York City, Kahlo and Rivera marked the close of a period of great artistic achievement for them both. Just three days before these drawings were created Rivera finished his i…… Read more
XI OLYMPIADE, BERLIN - 1936: Olympic Photo Album with Signatures of Swimmers from the Olympic Pool — Olympics — 1936
Ninety two photographs documenting the experience of an ordinary German family that attended the Berlin Olympics of 1936 with American swimmers in the pool, athletics in the newly built stadium and adoring crowds giving Hitler the Nazi salute. The photographs feature the opening ceremony and athletics events such as the hurdles as well as dressage which took place at the Olympiade in Berlin. The latter part of the album documents the swimming and diving competitions and water polo with close-ups…… Read more
‘I HAVE SENT PROOFS TO MOROCCO’ Mogreb-El-Acksa: A Journey in Morocco — R B Cunninghame Graham — 1928
Annotated editorial copy with a letter from the Scottish politician and author, in which the adventurer explains that he has sent proofs for his next book from London to Morocco so that he might correct them while in the field. Original publisher’s cloth, ragged at head of spine, black lettering - a good copy of this first cheap edition. With a letter from Cunningham Grahame tipped on to the front flyleaf: written from 7 Sloane Street in London to his ‘Amigo’, stating that he has ‘sent proofs to…… Read more
DIARY OF THE FIRST BRITISH COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE IN JAMAICA: 1945 recording his work on adult education and the development of the Jamaican Library Service. — Hugh Paget — 1945
An insight into the day-to-day life of Hugh Paget in Kingston, Jamaica including swims in the pool before breakfast, weather updates, lunch and cocktail parties at the Myrtle Bank Hotel and trips to the Palace Cinema. Education and library meetings are noted alongside dealings with Sir Harry [Governor of Jamaica]. News of the death of Hitler is recorded on May 1st 1945. Paget documents his trip back to London in July, meetings at Oriel College, Oxford and December trips to The Gambia, Portugal,…… Read more
MULTIPLE WINSLOW FAMILY INSCRIPTIONS Mayflower Heritage A Family Record of the Growth of Anglo-American Partnership — D Kenelm Winslow — 1957
First edition inscribed by three members of the Winslow famly on the half title. A presentation inscription ‘To Major J W Whitlock... 19 Dec 1957’ is followed by the signature of Terence H Winslow ‘direct descendant of “Pilgrim” Edward 1595-1655’; the author and John Winslow ‘Son of the Author and Crew-man in “Mayflower II”’. A near fine copy of the book in a very good plus jacket.… Read more
INSCRIBED The Uses of Literacy — Richard Hoggart — 1957
A signed first edition of Richard Hoggart's career-making study of ‘Aspects of Working Class Life with special reference to publications and entertainments.’ Orange-brown cloth, near fine; a little spotting to the text, inscribed in blue ink, warmly, on the title page. In a good jacket, complete but nicked and with short tears close to the edges; some browning and soiling to the jacket, not affecting the book itself. Not price-clipped. Very uncommon thus.
NOISILY INSCRIBED My Brother Aquarius: Poems by Stephen Tennant — Stephen Tennant — 1961
Eccentrically inscribed by its eccentric, nay decadent, author. Quarto sized book bound in blue cloth with gilt lettering, a little rubbed. Tennant has decorated the front flyleaf with his effusive inscription ‘for Rupert Lord’ adding verses from the Persian and ‘A very ancient saying Oriental I think. I love it.’ The book is otherwise unmarked apart from a few brown spots. Tennant also contributes multi-hued frontispiece. Altogether a delightful object.… Read more
CARRY ON CLEO - The Production Archive & Screenplay Belonging to the Film’s Scriptwriter — Talbot Rothwell - Dennis Norden, Frank Muir — 1963
A 10 page manuscript extract from Talbot Rothwell’s original screenplay for Carry on Cleo together with his hilarious typescript proposal/ synopsis of the movie and a full ‘First Draft’ typescript screenplay which contains perhaps the earliest appearance of the oft-voted funniest ever line, ‘Infamy, infamy, they’ve all got it in for me.’ Talbot Rothwell, the in-house screenwriter of the Carry On movies, has long been known to have drawn on scripts given to him by Frank Muir and Dennis Norden (wh…… Read more
ERIC IDLE’S OWN PROGRAMME RECORDING HIS ‘PROFESSIONAL COMEDY DEBUT’ - Just Wild about Henry — Eric Idle - Steven Frears, Michael Pennington etc [Henry Miller] - Cambridge University Theatre Company — 1963
Broadside programme from the estate of former Python Eric Idle which he describes as marking his ‘professional comedy debut’. Directed by Steven Frears no less at the Edinburgh Festival in 1963 this was also the British premier of Miller’s surreal and only play. A single sheet (25x15cm) printed on both sides; a little browned otherwise fine. Recently sold by Eric Idle to a US bookdealer and thence to us. Otherwise unrecorded. Frears’ Edinburgh production was mounted on a specially built revolvin…… Read more
CULTURAL REVOLUTION TRIP TO CHINA RECORDED BY A JEWISH REFUGEE FROM 1930S AUSTRIA — Ernst Billig — 1965
A minutely observed manuscript travel diary of a research and sightseeing trip to China and the Soviet Union, ending with a nostalgic visit to Vienna, that offers glimpses of a personal history shaped by the Holocaust. Succinctly, but with close detail, Billig documents cultural, industry-focused and academic visits to cities and provinces, including dignitaries met and receptions attended. In China, he notes, for example: - the People’s Red Star Commune, 40km south of Peking, with an overview o…… Read more
First Love Last Rites — Ian McEwan — 1975
Near fine first edition of McEwan’s debut collection. Square binding with sharp corners, no inscriptions, a fine book with a little dustiness along the top edge making it near fine. In a very nearly fine jacket, not price clipped. A pretty classy launch to McEwan’s literary career.
‘THE CREATION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL’: Manuscript of a Speech by former Prime Minister Harold Wilson — Harold Wilson — 1981
Written by the former Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson, this is the first section of a speech which he delivered - and then revised for subsequent reuse - around the time of the publication of his book-length account of ‘the creation of the State of Israel’. A lifelong and unwavering Zionist, Wilson wrote into his 1981 publication, Chariot of Israel, his own involvement in Israeli history during his period as Prime Minister overlapping with the Six Days War. This archive comprises the first p…… 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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