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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.
Results 1 - 24 (of 24)
![Item #49069 [The Riding of Ninemileburn, in] Blackwood's Magazine No. MCLVIII [1158]. John BUCHAN](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/49069BuchanBlackwood'sMagazine.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&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
![Item #53809 [The Riding of Ninemileburn, in] Blackwood's Magazine No. MCLVIII [1158]. John BUCHAN](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/53809.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&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
Scholar Gipsies.
London: John Lane at The Bodley Head, 1896. [Literature] FIRST EDITION, rare in jacket. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[12] 206 [2] 16, advertisements. Illustrated with seven highly evocative etchings by D.Y. Cameron, including a tissue-guarded frontispiece and title page. Publisher's oatmeal cloth boards decorated and titled in brown, brown cloth..... 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
The Dancing Floor.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, no date [1926]. [Mystery Thriller] SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.311 [9]. SIGNED by the author in black ink to title page. With a frontispiece map of the island. Publisher's blue cloth with black titles to spine and upper. With the pictorial dust-jacket priced..... More
![Item #57292 The Island of Sheep. [A Richard Hannay Novel]. John BUCHAN](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/57292.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&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
![Item #63177 The Island of Sheep. [A Richard Hannay Novel]. John BUCHAN](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/63177.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&v=1699031781)
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. Presented in a bespoke fleece-lined black half morocco clamshell box..... 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
Sir Quixote of The Moors. Being Some Account of an Episode in the Life of the Sieur de Rohaine.
London: T. Fisher Unwin, 1895. [Literature] FIRST EDITION. Duodecimo (20 x 12cm), pp.188 [4]. Red publisher's cloth, pictorial design blocked in colour and titles in black to upper and spine. Fore edge untrimmed. Interior lightly toned, with the odd mark here and there. Toning and faint offsetting to endpapers. Cloth..... More
The Courts of the Morning. A Richard Hannay novel.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1929. [Spy Thriller] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo, pp.405 [8]. Publisher's light blue cloth (also issued in green cloth) with title and trim printed in black, map endpapers. In original pictorial dust-jacket. Some very light offset to flyleaves, minor toning to spine; a gently handled copy..... 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
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
![Item #41242 The Free Fishers, in Chambers's Journal. [7 Parts, first appearance]. John BUCHAN](https://harringtonbooks-co-uk.cdn.bibliopolis.com/pictures/41242.jpg?width=320&height=427&fit=bounds&auto=webp&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
The Power House.
London, William Blackwood. 1916. First Edition. 8vo. Publisher's red cloth, sunned to spine. Inner joint started, contents a little toned as usual A cheaply produced 'shilling' novel- this is a very good example. More
To Catch A Spy. An Anthology of Favourite Spy Stories Edited and Introduced by Eric Ambler.
London: The Bodley Head, 1964. [Anthology] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.224. Publisher's brown cloth, gilt titles to spine, dust-jacket designed by Michael Harvey, priced at 16s. Contents and edge of text block clean. Book is lacking free endpaper else fine, in a near fine, price-clipped jacket with a...... More
The Spy's Bedside Book. An Anthology edited by Graham Greene and Hugh Greene.
London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1957. [Spy Anthology] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] 256 [2]. With occasional in-text illustrations. Publisher's cream cloth (at least three colours were used), illustrated dust-wrapper. No inscriptions. Very good indeed, in similar price clipped jacket with sunned spine (as usual). An intriguing mix of factual..... More
The Spy's Bedside Book. An Anthology edited by Graham Greene and Hugh Greene.
London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1957. [Spy Anthology] PRESENTATION COPY, given by the author Hugh Greene to A.H. Warren., M.B.E. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] 256 [2]. Second printing. With occasional in-text illustrations. Publisher's blue cloth, illustrated dust-wrapper. With accompanying T.L.S. and related news clipping. Previous owner's detail discreetly inked to flyleaf..... More
The Spy's Bedside Book. An Anthology edited by Graham Greene and Hugh Greene.
London: Rupert Hart-Davis, 1957. [Spy Anthology] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.[2] 256 [2]. With occasional in-text illustrations. Publisher's blue cloth lettered in silver to spine (at least three colours were used), illustrated dust-wrapper, price clipped. No inscriptions. Some very light spotting to flyleaf, a gently used copy with..... More
The Spy's Bedside Book. An Anthology edited by Graham Greene and Hugh Greene. With An Introduction by Stella Rimington.
London: Folio Society, 2006. [Spy Anthology] FIRST EDITION THUS, first printing. Octavo (20 x 15cm), pp.261; [1], blank; [1], order form; [1], blank. With illustrations by Nick Hardcastle. Publisher's decorated blue cloth, tan endpapers, in tan slipcase. Fine throughout. An intriguing mix of factual and fictional pieces, including contributions from..... More
The Spy's Bedside Book. An Anthology edited by Graham Greene and Hugh Greene. With An Introduction by Stella Rimington.
London: Folio Society, 2006. [Spy Anthology] FIRST EDITION THUS, first printing. Octavo (20 x 15cm), pp.261; [1], blank; [1], order form; [1], blank. With illustrations by Nick Hardcastle. Publisher's decorated blue cloth, tan endpapers, in tan slipcase ('Jack' bulldog paperweight not included). Fine throughout. An intriguing mix of factual and..... More
Northern Numbers, being representative selections from certain living Scottish Poets. First Series.
Edinburgh: T.N. Foulis, 1920. [Scottish Poetry] FIRST APPEARANCE. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[2] 130 [4]. Publisher's blue quarter cloth with gilt titles to spine, and brown titles to grey paper over boards. Top edge toned; others untrimmed. Black ink gift inscription dated Christmas 1921 to flyleaf. Some weakness to binding..... More
Best Secret Service Stories.
London: Faber and Faber, 1960. [Anthology of spy stories] SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.256. Publisher's deep red cloth with titles in yellow to the spine, typographic dust jacket priced at 15s. With presentation note to the flyleaf; Peter & Rosemary / from / John Welcome / [underline]..... More
Results 1 - 24 (of 24)