Shop — page 1 of 4

Corrected and emended copy, apparently with a view to reprinting in an improved version. Green wrappers marked and stained; later ex libris of David W H Walton to the flyleaf. The corrections begin on the verso of the title page and continue throughout the 24 page printed text. A heavy ink stain at the tail of the page runs right through. The corre… Read more…

Collection of comic skits inscribed by the author ‘Gracie Critchley from RCM January 1902" with a short poem written below. Very good in green cloth with gilt titles, all edges gilt, brown coated end papers. The boards are rubbed to the edges and spine. The text is crisp and fresh. Copies at Dundee and NLS only. Read more…

First edition of David M Crook's autobiographical account of his role as a Spitfire pilot in the Battle of Britain, signed during the brief interval between the book’s publication in 1942 and his death, when his spitfire plunged into the sea off Aberdeen in December 1944. Near fine book in near very good jacket, signed beneath the portrait frontisp… Read more…

A Nobel prize-winning physicist and Edinburgh University Professor presents his latest English translation to a fellow physicist. Born’s typed letter was sent from Bad Pyrmont in west Germany where he had retired after leaving his Edinburgh professorship in 1953. Writing to Professor Edward Neville da Costa Andrade in London, he says that ‘I have a… Read more…

Owned and elaborately annotated by a mid 19th century Knaresborough local - ’R Lofthouse’ - with corrections and enlargements to the printed text. Small octavo bound in publisher’s brown cloth, marked and stained; outer hinge splitting between upper board and backstrip; binding remains robust. The book is complete as issued but extensively improved… Read more…

Inscribed by the President’s former Special Assistant - and with an excellent letter written from the White House in September 1962 thanking friends in Houston where Kennedy had just given his speech declaring ‘we choose to go to the moon’. 6th printing of this memoir of the Kennedy years, warmly inscribed by Powers on the half title ‘To Claud and… Read more…

A contributor’s copy of a rare pre-war Cambridge periodical published by Selwyn College students though not found in any Cambridge collection. Octavo volume bound in quarter vellum over green cloth; Bill Pickard bookplate to first pastedown; overleaf a photograph of the ‘Elysium Publishing Association’ with names laid down opposite a manuscript ‘Br… Read more…

First edition of Virginia Woolf’s first major achievement as a novelist. Bound in mustard yellow cloth; good colour to the boards, a little fading to the spine; one tiny chip at the top of the spine label; rubbing to extremities; slight spine lean. Internally no ownership inscriptions; occasional spotting but a very good copy: pp290; 14 pages of ad… Read more…

Sir Hans Sloane’s great-nephew’s fourth edition, complete with his bookplate to the front pastedown of each volume and annotation regarding slavery in the ancient world. Attractive contemporary full calf, red speckled edges in very good condition. Pencil casemark above each bookplate and an earlier casemark in red ink crossed through in pencil. Vol… Read more…

Attractively inscribed copy of the 3rd impression ‘For Mr Leslie Bridgewater. Thanking him for one kindness after another - from Ethel Smyth 1939’ on the half title. A near fine copy, just a little spotting, in a very good jacket. The book’s printed dedication is to Smythe’s longterm friend Virginia Woolf. Bridgewater was a successful composer of l… Read more…

Complete set of Mackay's history of popular delusions such as Tulipomania and The South-Sea Bubble when "whole communities suddenly fix their minds upon one object, and go mad in its pursuit". The second edition; both volumes bound in publisher’s embossed brown cloth; rubbing to edges and particularly to lower corners. Top edge gilt and pleasingly… Read more…

24 separately published sermons bound into a single sammelband volume with the ownership inscription of an 18th century Lincolnshire woman. Small octavo sized volume, modern brown buckram and new endpapers (see 20th century pencil note to final pastedown ‘Bound Mr Liddon 16.XI.61.’) and a pencilled list of the imprints on the first flyleaf. Precedi… Read more…

Fascinating artistic correspondence, sketches and notes preparatory to the Presences of Nature exhibition held in Carlisle in 1982. The correspondence is all addressed to Neil Hanson, then Carlisle Museum Exhibitions’ Officer and the exhibition’s organiser who describes its aim ‘to assemble a substantial body of new work reflecting the beauty and v… Read more…

A superb presentation copy warmly inscribed by Bizet to the Parisian mezzo-soprano Marie Trelat and bearing what appear to be her performance markings in the roles of Carmen and Mercedes. Quarto (27x18cm) bound in quarter morocco over red textured paper-covered boards; gilt spine lettering. Bookseller’s label of ‘H Baron, Music and Books 136 Chatsw… Read more…

Grandson and last proprietor of the family publishing firm, here are 7 of Richard Bentley’s personal copies of his own books together with publishing memorabilia that stayed with him. Richard Bentley (1854-1936) was grandson and the last proprietor of the family publishing firm that carried his name, running it from 1893 until its dissolution in 18… Read more…

No institutional copy located of this shooting script which has revised pages from 3 drafts of the screenplay and saw use by a cast member. Blue card wrappers with letterbox opening; closed tear above this probably removing an additional label previously stapled to the cover. Tape repairs overleaf. Binding secured by two flattened brads. Title page… Read more…

First English edition of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s beloved children’s story, with watercolour illustrations by the author. Crisp and bright orange-brown boards with decoration in red and blue. A little spotting to the preliminary page; no ownership inscription; text is clean and bright and unmarked: a near fine copy. The jacket has the correct fir… Read more…

First edition of this landmark novel, signed on the title page by Mantel in her characteristic italic-style which dates from around the time of the book’s first publication in 2009. A good copy of the book which has been well read; slight spine lean and white marks to the front and back board. Small indentation to the foreedge. Internally the book… Read more…

Beautiful collectable condition examples of Virginia Woolf's two great essay collections to be published in her lifetime. The first volume is in first edition grey cloth-backed paper covered boards to Vanessa Bell’s design, a bright clean copy, internally unmarked, a near fine copy. The second volume is in publisher's green cloth which is brightly… Read more…

30 high quality books from nearly 3 centuries, annotated by their writers and readers including an American Presidential biography annotated by the subject’s mother; a British Prime Minister’s school text; dramatic prompt copies, review copies, books annotated for radio adaptation, a massively corrected proof by a popular novelist, an opera annotat… Read more…

A climate change duo: Eunice Foote’s pioneering 1856 paper on the absorption of thermal radiation by carbon dioxide and water vapour together with an autograph letter from John Tyndall, discoverer of the absorption of radiant heat by gases some 3 years later. Foote’s paper appears in The American Journal of Science and Arts. Second Series. Vol. XXI… Read more…

Uncommon third edition of this Edinburgh-printed cookbook with a strongly Scottish flavour. Rebound in plain dark calf during the twentieth century and with new endpapers. The two engravings precede the text, both browned and a couple of short marginal tears. The second plate has lost the top corner near the foreedge - not affecting the image. The… Read more…

Apparently showing early New England provenance, the first and only editions works by a defender of religious toleration in Massachusetts and back home in England. Contemporary calf, carefully repaired. The earliest, probably 17th century ownership inscription appears on the first flyleaf, making the book ‘The Gift of Mrs Werden of Westchester’ - a… Read more…

Three first editions of Olivia Manning's Balkan Trilogy. The Great Fortune is very good, a little spine lean, in a near very good jacket with a scar to the spine and tape marks on the front and rear flaps; The Spoilt City is very good in a near very good price clipped jacket with rubbing to the extremities; Friends and Heroes is near fine in a very… Read more…

Beautifully printed caricatures of the great actor of his day, Sir Henry Irving, illustrating his favourite recitation, Thomas Hood's 'The Dream of Eugene Aram’. 24 unnumbered pages printed red on black; near fine condition. A testament to the quality of print work possible in the late 19th century. Uncommon in trade. Read more…