"A book should serve as the axe for the frozen sea within us."
— Franz Kafka
John Buchan | First Editions
1875 - 1940
John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, GCMG, GCVO, CH, PC (26 August 1875 – 11 February 1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian and Unionist politician. Buchan served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation.
Buchan embarked upon his writing career at the same moment as his political and diplomatic careers, serving as a private secretary to the colonial administrator of various colonies in southern Africa. Indeed, Buchan produced propaganda for the British war effort in the First World War. When elected Member of Parliament in 1927 for the Combined Scottish Universities, Buchan instead spent the majority of his time writing - in this period, he produced The Thirty-Nine Steps, and other adventure fiction.
In 1935, John Buchan was appointed Governor General of Canada by King George V, upon recommendation from the Prime Minister of Canada, R. B. Bennett. He occupied the post until his death in 1940. Buchan proved to be a popular statesman, and was enthusiastic about the evolution of Canadian culture. In death, he received a state funeral in Canada, before his ashes were returned to the United Kingdom.
Buchan's 100 works include nearly thirty novels, seven collections of short stories, and biographies of Sir Walter Scott, Caesar Augustus, and Oliver Cromwell. The most famous of his books were the spy thrillers, for which he is now best remembered.
See below our stock of John Buchan First Editions, and signed copies.
Mr. Standfast.
London: Hodder and Stoughton. 1919. Advance proof copy. 8vo. Publisher's original plain brown wraps, slightly spotted with minor edgewear. Internally clean, unifom light toning to page block. A most unusual and scarce advance proof copy of Mr. Standfast, one of Buchan's scarcer Richard Hannay stories. Protected by a tailor-made brown..... More
The Courts of the Morning. A Richard Hannay novel.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1929. FIRST EDITION. 8vo. Publisher's light blue cloth (also issued in green cloth) with title and trim printed in black. Minor wear and discolour to cloth. Very good. A dramatic series of adventures which take place against the backdrop of a small South American Republic that..... More
![The Riding of Ninemileburn, in] Blackwood's Magazine No. MCLVIII [1158]. John BUCHAN](/pictures/thumb/49069BuchanBlackwood'sMagazine.jpg?v=1547505471)
[The Riding of Ninemileburn, in] Blackwood's Magazine No. MCLVIII [1158].
London: William Blackwood and Sons, April 1912. FIRST APPEARANCE. Large octavo, pp.[32], 445-496. In publisher's light brown paper wrappers with titles and contents to front cover. Some expected wear; small losses to spine; very good. The first appearance of a strange tale included in the published collection 'The Moon Endureth'..... More
![The Riding of Ninemileburn, in] Blackwood's Magazine No. MCLVIII [1158]. John BUCHAN](/pictures/thumb/53809.jpg?v=1558191951)
[The Riding of Ninemileburn, in] Blackwood's Magazine No. MCLVIII [1158].
London: William Blackwood and Sons, April 1912. [Weird tales] FIRST APPEARANCE. Large octavo, pp.[32], 445-496. In publisher's light brown paper wrappers with titles and contents to front cover. Some external wear, address stamp to upper, old tape to head and tale of spine; very good. The first appearance of a...... More
The African Colony. Studies in the Reconstruction.
Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1903. [History] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.xviii; 404. Publisher's blue cloth, gilt titles to spine, edges untrimmed, two folding maps printed in colour, blue coated endpapers. Reading lean, textblock generally bright and clean with just the occasional mark, some tearing and..... More
Augustus.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1937. [Ancient History] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (23 x 17cm), pp.356. With four photogravure plates including a frontispiece, and and folding map and genealogical table. Publisher's green cloth with gilt titles to spine and gilt device to upper board. Top edge gilt. Light spotting to edges. Slightly..... More
The History of the South African Forces in France.
London: Thomas Nelson and Sons, Ltd., no date [1920]. [First World War] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (24 x 16cm), pp.404. Publisher's blue cloth, titles in gilt to spine, gilt motif to upper board, light brown endpapers, fore and tail edges untrimmed. Illustrated with a colour frontispiece, seventeen further plates, and twenty..... More
![The Island of Sheep. [A Richard Hannay Novel]. John BUCHAN](/pictures/thumb/52494.jpg?v=1584533229)
The Island of Sheep. [A Richard Hannay Novel].
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1936. [Spy Thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.318; [2]. Publisher's green cloth with gilt titles to spine and gilt 'JB' monogram to upper board, map printed to front endpapers, pictorial jacket priced at 7/6. No toning, no spotting. An immaculate copy of the book..... More
![The Island of Sheep. [A Richard Hannay Novel]. John BUCHAN](/pictures/thumb/57292.jpg?v=1595436244)
The Island of Sheep. [A Richard Hannay Novel].
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1936. [Spy Thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.318 [2]. Publisher's green cloth with gilt titles to spine, gilt 'JB' monogram to upper board, and map printed to front endpapers. With the dust-jacket illustrated by Chesterman, priced at 7/6 to spine. Black ink ownership to..... More
The King's Grace. 1910-1935.
London: Hodder and Stoughton Limited, 1935. [Royalty] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (26 x 18cm), pp.285; [1] blank; [48] plates. Publisher's cream cloth, gilt titles to spine and upper, dust-jacket with printed price of 15/- net. With a colour frontispiece of King George V and 24 double sided black and white photographic..... More
Mr Standfast.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1919. [Spy thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo, pp.412. Publisher's mid-blue cloth, titled and ruled in dark blue, pictorial wrapper priced at 7shillings. A lightly used copy with minor edge spotting and bumping, jacket lightly edgeworn with a few minor tears. Overall a lovely bright copy. An attractive..... More
The Power-House.
Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1916. [Thriller]. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.x; 238. Publisher's red cloth, titles in black to spine and upper. Textblock browned as expected, endpapers to rear gutter split with the gauze showing through, binding still sound. Slight reading lean. A few small..... More
![The Thirty-Nine Steps [39 Steps], John BUCHAN](/pictures/thumb/50730.jpg?v=1584533210)
The Thirty-Nine Steps [39 Steps],
London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1915. [Espionage thriller]. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.253; [1]; [2], publisher's advertisements. Publisher's blue cloth boards with dark blue embossed lettering to spine and upper. Browning to page edges, though less than would normally be expected. Reading lean; spine sunned. Very good, in..... More
![The Thirty-Nine Steps [39 Steps]. John BUCHAN](/pictures/thumb/50953.jpg?v=1523894672)
The Thirty-Nine Steps [39 Steps].
Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1915. [Espionage thriller]. FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13), pp.253; [blank]; [2 of publisher's advertisements]. Publisher's mid blue cloth, titles in darker blue to spine and upper board. Re-cased with later white endpapers. Textblock somewhat toned as usual. Cloth shows well, slightly rubbed..... More
A Lodge in the Wilderness.
Edinburgh and London: William Blackwood and Sons, 1906. FIRST EDITION, Presentation Copy. Octavo, pp.[8], 378 [32]. With a printed label to front pastedown stating 'Sent by desire of the Author'. In publisher's aquamarine cloth with gilt titles to spine and upper board. Re-cased with neat repairs to hinges. Brown endpapers..... More
The Blanket of the Dark.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1931. [Historical Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.314; [6], advertisements. Publisher's green cloth, gilt titles, illustrated map endpapers, pictorial jacket priced at 7/6. A lightly used copy with clean page edges, discreet owner name, attractive wrapper has benefited from some discreet and well executed..... More
The Free Fishers.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1934. [Historical Fiction] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.320. Publisher's green cloth in pictorial jacket. A near fine copy of the book in a very good wrapper, toned to spine with some chips to crown and extremities. Historical adventure set in bleak Yorkshire; A Minister..... More
Huntingtower.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1922. REGULAR FIRST EDITION and VARIANT FIRST EDITION in publisher's TRIAL BINDING. 2 volumes. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.318; [2], blank. The regular binding in pale blue cloth titled and ruled in dark blue, the advance binding in mid blue cloth more heavily blocked in black..... More
Huntingtower.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, no date [1922]. [Classic adventure novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.318; [2], blank. Publisher's mid-blue cloth, titled and ruled in dark blue. Printed map endpapers. Owner name to flyleaf, full-colour upper panel to jacket tipped-in, moderate handling to cloth, spine gently toned. Very good..... More
The Moon Endureth. Tales and Fancies.
William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London 1912. A curious collection of strange tales from the acclaimed thriller writer and creator of gentleman spy Richard Hannay. FIRST EDITION, COLONIAL ISSUE. Octavo; pp.324 + 4 (ads). Publisher's slate grey cloth titled in gilt with silver moon to spine and similar monogram..... More
The Magic Walking-Stick.
London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1932. [Children's Literature] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.215 [1]. With six plates illustrated by Sale, including a frontispiece. Publisher's blue cloth with gilt titles to spine, and gilt JB monogram to upper. Black ink ownership to front pastedown and fly-leaf. A nice clean copy..... More
Castle Gay.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1930. [Adventure Novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp.320. Publisher's green cloth with gilt titles to spine. With the illustrated dust-jacket priced at 7/6. Very lightly browned throughout, with some light spotting and offsetting to endpapers. Minor chipping, bruising and closed tears to edges, with..... More
Greenmantle.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1916. [Spy Novel] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.x; 307 [1]. Publisher's green cloth with titles in gilt to spine and blind to upper board. Pencil ownership to flyleaf; light offsetting. Hinges split; rear hinge especially fragile. Rubbing to cloth, with gilt largely lost from..... More
Sick Heart River.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1941. [Spy Thriller] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.318 [2]. Publisher's green cloth with gilt titles to spine. With the blue dust-jacket illustrated by Bip Pares, priced at 8/3. Spotting and toning to edges; light offsetting to endpapers. Two tape burns to reverse of jacket..... More
![The Free Fishers, in Chambers's Journal. [7 Parts, first appearance]. John BUCHAN](/pictures/thumb/41242.jpg?v=1493310889)
The Free Fishers, in Chambers's Journal. [7 Parts, first appearance].
London: W. and R. Cahmbers. 1934. First magazine issue publication of Buchan's The Free Fishers, published in Chambers Journal between January and July 1934. Publisher's decorated orange paper wraps. Bright and clean, minor edgewear, very good indeed with some very minor chipping to spine ends and edges. A very bright..... More