"A book should serve as the axe for the frozen sea within us."
— Franz Kafka
Literature
Miffy at the Zoo.
London: Simon and Schuster, 2014. [Children's Illustrated] SIGNED FIRST THUS, a revised translation. Square octavo (16 x 16cm), 14 leaves, with text facing full colour illustrations by the author. SIGNED by the translator in black ink to copyright page at rear. Publisher's illustrated glossy paper-covered boards. A fine, as-new copy..... More
Bedlam Planet.
London: Sidgwick and Jackson. 1973. First UK Edition. Octavo. pp. 159. In publisher's blue cloth with silver titles to spine. In original pictorial dustwrapper in orange featuring a white spotted hand rising from a writhing mass of green. Author's bookplate to front pastedown, featuring an animation of himself assailed by..... More
The Crucible of Time.
New York: Ballantine Books. 1983. First US Edition. Octavo. pp. iv, 289. In publisher's quarter cream cloth with black paper-covered boards and gilt titles to spine. With original pictorial dustwrapper featuring planets in nebula-scape and a large spaceship. Author's bookplate to front pastedown, featuring an animation of himself assailed by..... More
From This Day Forward.
New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc. 1972. [Science Fiction Short Stories] FIRST US EDITION, AUTHOR'S OWN COPY. Octavo (22 x 15cm), pp.238 [2]. Publisher's black cloth with gilt titles to spine. With the pictorial dust-jacket featuring 'Friday 13' calendar date, priced at $5.95. Author's bookplate to front pastedown, featuring an..... More
Honky in the Woodpile.
London: Constable. 1971. First Edition. Octavo, pp. 222. Dark grey cloth with gilt titles to spine, in pictorial dustwrapper. Author's whimsical bookplate to front pastedown, some very light wear to the dustjacket, a fine copy. More
The Wrong End of Time.
London: Eyre Methuen, 1975. [Science Fiction]. SIGNED UK FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.[4]; 185; [1]. Publisher's green cloth, light green titles to spine, pictorial dust-jacket. Signed and inscribed on the title page: "For Frank | John Brunner | 1988 [peace sign]". Some light spotting to edges and to..... More
Unfinished Poems. "Musings" by William Cullen Bryant, and "Godfrey of Boulogne" by Henry D. Thoreau.
Boston, MA: The Bibliophile Society, 1907. [American Poetry] LIMITED PRIVATE PRESS EDITION. Large octavo (25 x 19cm), pp.[4] xxviii [4]. With a double-sided facsimile plate of the manuscript of each poem, and an engraving for each, together with the printed texts. One of 470 copies thus, finely printed on Japanese..... 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 Dancing Floor.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1937. [Adventure novel]. Octavo (19 x 14cm), pp. 311; [1], blank. Attractive reprint edition in publisher's blue cloth, pictorial jacket. A lightly handled copy with minor wear, 4/- roundel sticker to spine. Shows well. Set on the mysterious Greek island of Plakos, and featuring the character..... 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
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