"There are perhaps no days of our childhood we lived so fully as those we spent with a favourite book."
— Marcel Proust

See below our stock of Samuel Johnson First Editions, fine bindings, sets and other collectible material.
London: Printed for T. Cadell Jr. and W. Davies, 1796. THIRD EDITION, with additional prayers. Octavo, pp.[2] xxxii, 230 [2]. In contemporary mottled calf boards, recently re-backed in brown calf with raised bands and gilt titles to green label on spine. All edges marbled. Paper repair to top 1cm of..... More
London: Printed by W. Strahan, 1755. [Dictionary] FIRST EDITIONS. 2 volumes; Folio (42 x 27cm). Complete. Titles printed in black and red. Bound to style in full brown calf with red and green title labels, raised bands to spine, decorated in gilt and blind. Some expected spotting/toning from use; more-so..... More
London: John Bell [and] John Cawthorn, 1784-1807. [Shakespeare] JOHN BELL EDITION, later printings, mixed issue. 36 of 38 volumes. Duodecimo in half-sheets (16 x 10cm). Most volumes dated 1788 or 1803, with just a few intersectional exceptions. All volumes with two engraved title pages of varying dates ranging from 1784..... More
London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1817. [Letters] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.viii; 303; [1]. Contemporary brown half calf recently re-backed, with the original marbled boards and the original spine laid over. Gilt titles and decoration to spine. Light occasional spotting. Heavy wear to boards and original..... More