"Outside of a dog, man's best friend is a book. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
— Groucho Marx
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE (15 October 1881 – 14 February 1975) was an English author, and one of the most widely read humorists of the 20th century. His early novels were mostly school stories, but he later switched to comic fiction, creating several regular characters who have become embedded in the consciousness of generations growing up in the earlier part of the 20th century. They include: the feather-brained Bertie Wooster and his sagacious valet, Jeeves; the immaculate and loquacious Psmith; Lord Emsworth and the Blandings Castle set; the Oldest Member, with stories about golf; and Mr Mulliner. Wodehouse worked extensively on his books, sometimes having two or more on the go simultaneously. He would take up to two years to build a plot and write a scenario of about thirty thousand words. After the scenario was complete, he would write the story. Early in his career, Wodehouse could produce a novel in about three months, but in old age his production slowed to around six months.
During and after the First World War, together with Guy Bolton and Jerome Kern, Wodehouse wrote a series of Broadway musical comedies. These were an important part of the development of the American musical, and show Wodehouse to be a rather multi-talented fellow.
See below our stock of P. G. Wodehouse First Editions, fine bindings, sets and other collectible material.
George Newnes Ltd., London, Issue No 488, August 1931. [Literary magazine] This issue contains the ONLY appearance of Churchill's 'The American Mind and Ours', which was not collected in book-form. Also contains Wodehouse's story 'The Go-Getter' plus a Bulldog Drummond mystery by 'Sapper'. Original issue magazine format, approx. 9.5 x...... More
London: George Newnes, 1912, Vols. 43-44. [Literary journal] FIRST APPEARANCE of the first Professor Challenger adventure, with illustrations by Harry Rowntree (not included in the book-form edition, Oct.1912), plus a further Doyle story later appearing in 'Danger!' (1918). 2 volumes. Large octavo (24 x 18 x 9cm), bound in publisher's..... More
New York, NY: Brentano's, 1927. [Hungarian Drama] FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH. Octavo (20 x 14cm), pp.[8] 139 [1]. Publisher's brown cloth with titles blocked with designs in blue and green to spine and upper board. Fore-edge untrimmed. With the green dust-jacket titled in a darker green. Lightly browned throughout. Dust-jacket..... More
London: George Newnes, December 1939 to August 1940. [Literary Magazine] First appearance. Nine episodes from 'The Labours of Hercules' short stories collection as published in The Strand, in their original colour-illustrated paper covers, priced at 1s. each Octavo (25 x 19cm). With frequent illustrations, some in colour. Each issue stapled..... More
London: George Newnes, September 1924 to May 1925. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Six parts in their original colour illustrated paper covers, priced at 1s. Octavo (25 x 17cm), pp.[52] 215-318 [53-68]; pp.[64] 319-422 [65-80]; pp.[68] 423-530 [69-84]; pp.[96] 531-670 [97-132]; pp.[68] 319-424 [69-86]; pp.[52] 425-528 [53-68]. With frequent black and..... More
London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1932. [Literature/ Crime Fiction] FIRST APPEARANCES. Quarto (26 x 20cm), pp.674. Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Original magazine parts bound in a half-yearly volume of light blue cloth pictorially blocked in black to front covers, gilt to spine, all edges tinted blue. Ink name 'Alan..... More
London: George Newnes, Ltd., January-June 1932. [Literature/ Crime Fiction] FIRST APPEARANCE. Quarto (26 x 20cm), pp.628. Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Original magazine parts bound in a half-yearly volume of light blue cloth pictorially blocked in black to front covers, gilt to spine. Contents clean, light spotting to endpapers..... More
London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1936. [Literature/ Crime Fiction] FIRST APPEARANCES. Quarto (26 x 20cm), pp.672. Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Original magazine parts bound in a half-yearly volume of light blue cloth pictorially blocked in black to front covers, gilt to spine, all edges tinted blue. Contents clean and..... More
London: George Newnes, Ltd., 1937. [Literature/ Crime Fiction journal] FIRST UK APPEARANCE. Octavo magazine (26 x 19cm). Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Single issue, magazine format in colour illustrated paper covers. Original price 1 shilling. Contents clean but for light spots of foxing, promotional insert still present at rear..... More
London: George Newnes, Ltd., January 1917. [Literature/ humour / journal] FIRST UK APPEARANCE. Octavo magazine (26 x 19cm). Illustrated throughout in black and white. Magazine format in illustrated paper covers. Original price 6d. Contents clean, covers show some light handling, chipped to spine ends. Includes 'Supreme Moments in Detective Fiction'..... More
London: George Newnes, March to November 1905. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Nine parts in their original light blue paper covers, priced at 6d. Octavo (25 x 17cm), pp.[92] 241-360 [93-100]; pp.[92] 361-480 [93-100]; pp.[84] 481-600 [85-92]; pp.[72] 601-720 [73-84]; pp.[68] 120 [69-84]; pp.[56] 121-240 [57-72]; pp.[72] 241-360 [73-88]; pp.[100] 361-480..... More
London: George Newnes, Ltd., April 1914. [Literature/ humour / journal] FIRST UK APPEARANCE. Octavo magazine (26 x 19cm). Illustrated throughout in black and white. Magazine format in illustrated paper covers. Original price 6d. Various colour advertising inserts present, lacks one leaf of ads at front. Minor wear and spine roll..... More
London: George Newnes, December 1929 to June 1930. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Seven parts in their original colour illustrated paper covers, priced at 1s. Octavo (25 x 17cm), pp.[80] 664 [81-90]; pp.[32] 104 [33-40]; pp.[36] 105-208 [37-44]; pp.[36] 209-312 [37-44]; pp.[40] 313-416 [41-48]; pp.[32] 417-528 [33-40]; pp.[36] 529-640 [37-44]. With..... More
London: George Newnes, Ltd., March 1934. [Literature/ humour / journal] FIRST UK APPEARANCE. Octavo magazine (26 x 19cm), pp.336 [25-36]. Illustrated throughout in sepia and black and white. Single issue, magazine format in colour illustrated paper covers. Original price 1 shilling. Contents clean, promotional insert still present at rear, covers..... More
London: George Newnes, February 1936. [Literary Magazine] FIRST UK APPEARANCE. Octavo magazine (26 x 19cm). Illustrated throughout in sepia and colour. Single issue, magazine format in colour illustrated paper covers featuring a striking image of the Belgian detective in deep thought. Original price 1 shilling. Contents clean, creases to final..... More
London: George Newnes, July to December 1913. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Octavo (24 x 18cm), pp.iv; 802; viii. With frequent black and white, and occasional dichromatic, illustrations. Publisher's cyan cloth with gilt titles to spines and black titles and decoration to uppers, all edges speckled red, white endpapers. Contents clean..... More
London: George Newnes, July to December 1921. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Octavo (24 x 17cm), pp.iv; 590. With frequent half-tone illustrations, very occasionally in colour. Publisher's pale blue cloth with black and gilt titles to spine, and black titles and decoration to upper. Some toning and spotting to first and..... More
London: George Newnes, March to May 1917. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCES. Three magazines. Octavo (27 x 19cm), pp.50; 209-312; 51-58; pp.50; 313-416; 51-58; pp.40; 417-512; 41-48. Liberally illustrated in black and white throughout. Publisher's blue paper covers, titled in red and navy, and priced at 7d. Presented in a navy..... More
London: George Newnes, October and November 1910. [Literary Magazine] FIRST APPEARANCE. Two octavo magazines (27 x 19cm), pp.[84] 385-508 [12]; [85-108]; pp.[90] 509-636 [91-116]. With frequent in-text illustrations. Publisher's pale blue paper covers titled and illustrated in dark blue, stapled twice, and priced at 6d. Presented in a black fleece-lined..... More
London: George Newnes Limited, January - June 1920. [Literary journal] This volume contains Wells' revised and condensed version of The War of the Worlds with new illustrations. Large octavo (24 x 18cm), bound in publisher's light blue pictorial cloth. Contents clean, prize label to pastedown, binding carefully handled with some..... More
London: Barrie and Jenkins, No date [1971]. [Classic Humour] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp. 191; [1]. Publisher's blue cloth lettered in gilt to spine, illustrative dust-jacket with author's photograph to back designed by Osbert Lancaster with printed price of £1.60 to front flap. Book is clean and fresh..... More
London: John Bull, Novemer 12th, 19th, 26th, December 3rd 1955. [Classic Humour] FIRST APPEARANCE. Quarto (34 x 26cm). Four issues, quarto, newspaper format. Minor edge wear otherwise clean and bright. Contains the first four serial parts of Wodehouse' riotous new novel, a zany tale of love on the continent... More
London: John Bull, 29th September 1956. [Classic Humour] FIRST APPEARANCE. Quarto (34 x 26cm). Single issue, quarto, newspaper format. Minor edge wear otherwise clean and bright. Contains the first of the serial parts of Wodehouse' riotous new novel. More
London: George Newnes, [1925]. [Modern literature] FIRST EDITION. Octavo (19 x 13cm), pp.186. Publisher's red cloth, black titles to upper and spine. Toning, spotting, and marking/thumbing internally and to textblock edges. Boards toned and marked with heavy toning to spine. Good. Another hilarious tale from Wodehouse, this time involving a...... More
New York, NY: Continuum, 1980. [Classic Humour] FIRST EDITION, first impression. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.xii; 163 [1]. Publisher's blue cloth, gilt titles to spine. With the illustrated dust-jacket priced at $10.95, and re-priced to $7.95 with a sticker. Internally crisp and clean. Jacket shows some sunning to spine, and..... More