"If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all. "
— Oscar Wilde
Catalogue 49 - Winter 2017
A range of highlights in all fields.
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Recueil de Plans de Batailles, Sieges et Combats, Arrives dans les Expeditions Memorables de la Guerre de Sept Ans, pour Servir A L'Intelligence des Oeuvres Posthumes de Frederic II, Roi de Prusse.
Amsterdam: J. G. Treuttel, 1789. [Seven Years War] DUKE OF GRAFTON'S COPY. Folio (42 x 27cm), pp.[4] followed by 19 plates. Contemporary marbled boards, paper covered spine designed to look like speckled calf, printed paper label to spine. Introductory text in French, text to plates in either English or French... More about Recueil de Plans de Batailles, Sieges et Combats, Arrives dans les Expeditions Memorables de la...
The City of the Saints, and Across the Rocky Mountains to California.
London: Longman, Green, Longman, and Roberts, 1862. [American Travel]. SECOND EDITION, identical to the First. Octavo (23 x 16cm), pp.xii; 707. With 10 wood engraved plates including a frontispiece and two folding maps. Nine further illustrations in-text. In publisher's blue pebble grained cloth, re-backed during the twentieth century, with original... More about The City of the Saints, and Across the Rocky Mountains to California
The Saint in Miami. A New Complete Novel.
London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1941. [Crime fiction]. PROOF COPY. Octavo (18 x 12cm), pp.254 [2]. In publisher's brown paper covers with titles to cream label on front cover. Heavily browned paper stock; binding delicate but holding. 'Proof' written in black ink to top left of front cover, later scored out... More about The Saint in Miami. A New Complete Novel
SIGNED Wartime Postcard of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, seen with his Daughter Mary.
[1940s]. Photographic postcard, taken from a full-length image 'Enemy overhead Winston Churchill and his daughter Mary scan the skies above southern England, July 1940', boldly signed by the subject near the top margin. Some minor creasing and handling, autograph faded in part. Very good, in common mount and elegant gilt-bevelled... More about SIGNED Wartime Postcard of Prime Minister Winston Churchill, seen with his Daughter Mary
The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church, According to the use of the Church of England: Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, pointed as they are to be Sung or Said in Churches.
Cambridge: John Baskerville, 1761 [1762]. 'PRIDE AND PREJUDICE' ASSOCIATION. Third impression of the FIRST BASKERVILLE EDITION, owned by the family of Bishop Porteus (1731-1809), notable Abolitionist, Church reformer, and basis for the character of Mr. Collins in Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice'. Large octavo (25 x 17cm), unpaginated. In contemporary... More about The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and other Rites and Ceremonies...
The Peerage of Ireland: or, an exact Catalogue of the present Nobility both Lords Spiritual and Temporal, with an Historical and Genealogical account of them, containing the Descents, Creations and most remarkable Actions of them, their Ancestors, and some of their Monuments; also the Titles of Honour they now enjoy, both here and in England, their Preferments, and the time of their Promotions, with their Marriages and Issues, continued to this Time; with their Paternal Coats of Arms, and of the Archiepiscopal and Episcopal Sees, and the time of their Consecrations and Translations of each Family in Blazon, with their respective Arms, Crests, Supporters and Mottos; the whole collected from the most authentick Histories, Pedigrees, choice Manuscripts, Certificates, and other Records of this Kingdom. [Together with] The Signification of most Things that are born in Heraldry, with the Explanation of their Natural Qualities, and of those Persons that they ought properly to be born by.
Dublin: Printed by Thomas Hume, 1724 - 1725. FIRST EDITIONS. Two volumes bound as one. Folio (32 x 21cm), pp.[16]; 260; [14]; 86; [10]. In recent brown speckled full panelled calf, with raised bands and gilt titles to red label on spine. Blue ink library stamp to title page and... More about The Peerage of Ireland: or, an exact Catalogue of the present Nobility both Lords Spiritual and...
The Works of Charles Darwin. Edited by Paul H. Barrett and R. B. Freeman.
London: William Pickering, 1986-1989. [Science / Evolution] THE COMPLETE WORKS, Pickering Masters Series. Octavo, 29 volumes. Handsomely bound in dark green half morocco over green cloth boards, raised bands and gilt titles to spine, top edges gilt. The complete works in 29 volumes edited by Paul H. Barrett and R.... More about The Works of Charles Darwin. Edited by Paul H. Barrett and R. B. Freeman
The Christmas Books. Being; A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man.
London: J.M. Dent and Co., 1905 and 1907. [English literature]. FIRST BROCK-ILLUSTRATED EDITION. 5 volumes, octavo (18 x 12 x 15cm). With illustrations in colour by Charles Brock. Finely bound in full deep red morocco with raised bands, gilt decoration and gilt titles to spines, marbled endpapers; top edges gilt... More about The Christmas Books. Being; A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle...
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centenary 1859-1959.
London: John Murray, 1959. [Family history and retrospective]. FIRST EDITION. Quarto (35 x 28cm), pp.[2] 136 [4]. Filled with reproductions of black and white photographs, letters and other clippings. In publisher's red cloth with silver titles to spine and silver family crest to upper board. Textured cream endpapers. With original... More about Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centenary 1859-1959
[Manuscript letter describing the miraculous survival of a storm at sea during the South African Spiritualist Tour of 1928].
1st November 1928. ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT LETTER WRITTEN BY SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE'S SECOND WIFE. Written in black ink over both sides of two sheets of headed note paper from the R.M.S. Windsor Castle, Union-Castle Line. With the original envelope addressed to a Mrs. Hewitt of London, SW7. Stamp and postmarks..... More about Manuscript letter describing the miraculous survival of a storm at sea during the South African...
Social Security No. 438-10-1408.
New York, NY: A Milestone Book, Comet Press Books, 1958. [Psychological memoir]. SIGNED FIRST EDITION. Octavo (21 x 14cm), pp.[6] 73 [1]. SIGNED by the author in blue ink to title page, dated 24th November 1959. In publisher's black cloth with gilt titles to spine. Green endpapers. With original cream... More about Social Security No. 438-10-1408
James Bond. The Paradise Plot. Original Comic Strip artwork, signed by the Illustrator.
Copyright, Glidrose 1981-2. A three-strip panel, being board number 256 drawn in pen and ink on artboard, with pasteover sections of text. Twice SIGNED by John McLusky, firstlly beneath central illustration and again, to revese side, together with adoodled '007' motif, below his 6-linehand-written description. In a simple matt black... More about James Bond. The Paradise Plot. Original Comic Strip artwork, signed by the Illustrator
Ian Fleming: The Book Collector.
London: Queen Anne Press, 2017. Ten monographs, SIGNED LETTERPRESS EDITIONS, being the FIRST SEPARATE PRINTING. 10 vols., slim octavo (26 x 18cm), limited variously to 60 or 120 copies, each hand-numbered and signed by James and Fergus Fleming. Finely printed on 150gsm Bockingford paper and bound in black flock-paper covers... More about Ian Fleming: The Book Collector
The Works of H. R. Haggard. Including: King Solomon's Mines, She, Montezuma's Daughter, The Spirit of Bambaste, Cleopatra, Alan Quatermain, The People of the Mist etc.
New York, NY: McKinlay, Stone and Mackenzie, no date [circa 1900]. 20 volumes; octavo. With frontispiece illustrations. Bound in recent dark green half morocco with matching cloth sides, gilt titles on black squares and gilit tooling on red squares to spine. Top edges gilt. Neat ownership inscriptions, to the title... More about The Works of H. R. Haggard. Including: King Solomon's Mines, She, Montezuma's Daughter, The...
Ireland: Its Scenery, Character, etc.
London: How and Parsons, 1841-43. FIRST EDITION. In three volumes. Small Quarto (26 x 18cm), pp.[4] xii, 435 [3]; pp.viii, 468 [2]; pp.[2] viii, 512 [2]. With 68 steel-engraved plates, including maps and a frontispiece to volumes I and III, as well as numerous in-text wood engravings. In recent green... More about Ireland: Its Scenery, Character, etc
![The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Containing the Antient [Ancient] and...](/pictures/thumb/49288.jpg?v=1510224384)
The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Containing the Antient [Ancient] and Present State of it, Civil and Ecclesiastical; Collected from public Records, and other the best Authorities, both Manuscript and Printed: and Illustrated with Maps, and Views of Antiquities, Seats of the Nobility and Gentry, etc.
Canterbury: Printed for the Author, by Simmons and Kirkby, 1778. [Kentish history]. FIRST EDITION. In four volumes. Folio (41 x 26cm), pp.[4] xii, clii, 580, 42 [2]; pp.[4] 817 [1], 72; pp.[4] ii, 765 [1], 51 [3]; pp.vi, 788, 46 [2]. Complete with all 167 copper engraved illustrations, including county... More about The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent. Containing the Antient [Ancient] and...
The History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688.
London: Printed for Cadell and Davies [etc.], 1818. FINE CONTEMPORARY BINDING, New Edition. In eight volumes. Octavo (22 x 14 cm). With a short account of the author's life by himself, and a letter from Adam Smith to William Strahan. In contemporary speckled calf with raised bands, gilt titles to... More about The History of England, from the Invasion of Julius Caesar to the Revolution in 1688
The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm. With 76 illustrations by W. Heath Robinson.
London: John Lane, The Bodley Head Ltd., 1933. FIRST EDITION. Large octavo. Publisher's orange cloth hardcover, blocked in black, illustrated endpapers, blue topstain, in original dust-wrapper. Coloured frontispiece and full page and in text line drawings throughout. Some edge-spotting to heavy paper, sunned to spine beneath wrapper, some chips/loss to... More about The Incredible Adventures of Professor Branestawm. With 76 illustrations by W. Heath Robinson
Confidence.
London: Chatto and Windus, 1880 [1879]. FIRST UK EDITION, preceding the first US edition. In two volumes. Octavo, pp.[2] 309 [1]; pp.[2] 253 [1]. Missing half-titles and publisher's catalogue. In recent tan half calf with raised bands, gilt titles to contrasting red and green labels to spines, and marbled boards... More about Confidence
The General History of Ireland.
London: Printed by J. Bettenham for B. Creake, 1723. FIRST EDITION IN ENGLISH. Folio, pp.[8], vi, xxiv, [10], 563, [3], 12. With a frontispiece copper engraving of King Brian Boru, a folding map of Ireland, a folding map of 'The Travels of the Scythians till they arrived in Ireland', 28... More about The General History of Ireland
Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Rendered into English Verse by Edward Fitzgerald. With Decorations by Fish.
London: John Lane, The Bodley Head. 1922. FIRST FISH ILLUSTRATED EDITION. Quarto (29 x 3.5 cm). With 19 fine, tissue-guarded colour plates throughout, illuminated with silver and gold, and one illustrated title page. First letter of each verse decorated in rich orange and black. Handsomely bound in quarter vellum over... More about Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. Rendered into English Verse by Edward Fitzgerald. With Decorations by Fish
The Bombay Edition of the Works of Rudyard Kipling. [Set of writings / novels / poems including: The Jungle Book, Kim, Wee Willie Winkie, Just So Stories, Captain Courageous, Rewards and Fairies, Stalky and Co, Puck of Pook's Hill, Rewards and Fairies, etc.]
London: Macmillan and Company, 1913-1938. LIMITED EDITION, SIGNED by the author in volume I to half title. Complete in 31 volumes; large 8vo. (25 x 132cm). Finely bound in deep red half morocco, raised bands and gilt rules to spines, matching cloth sides, top edge gilt, others untrimmed. Printed from... More about The Bombay Edition of the Works of Rudyard Kipling. [Set of writings / novels / poems including:...
[Correspondence with the Duke of Marlborough concerning an affair between Edith Finch, Lady Aylesford, and George Spencer-Churchill, later the 8th Duke].
None. 1876-1890. ORIGINAL LEDGER WITH COPIED MANUSCRIPT LETTERS FROM THE DUKE'S BIRMINGHAM SOLICITOR. Quarto (29 x 24cm), with letters written in black ink to a single side of 214 numbered leaves, out of a total of 1000. Delicate leaves akin to tracing paper. In original tan half calf with dark... More about Correspondence with the Duke of Marlborough concerning an affair between Edith Finch, Lady...
A Narrative of the Campaign of the British Army in Spain, Commanded by His Excellency Lieut.-General Sir John Moore, K. B. etc. etc. etc. Authenticated by Official Papers and Original Letters.
London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1809. THIRD EDITION, First in octavo. Octavo, pp.[2]; xx; 388; 136; [2]. With two folding maps, each with hand-coloured marches and battle positions, as well as a large appendix with letters, etc. In later horizontal-grained brown calf boards, recently re-backed in brown calf with gilt... More about A Narrative of the Campaign of the British Army in Spain, Commanded by His Excellency...
A Dictionary of Chemistry, Exhibiting the present State of the Theory and Practice of that Science, its Application to Natural Philosophy, the Processes of Manufactures, Metallurgy, and numerous other Arts dependant on the Properties and Habitudes of Bodies, in the Mineral, Vegetable, and Animal Kingdoms. With a Considerable Number of Tables, Expressing the Elective Attractions, Specific Gravities, Comparative Heats, Component Parts, Combinations, and other Affections of the Objects of Chemical Research.
London: Printed for G. G. and J. Robinson, 1795. FIRST EDITION. In two volumes. Quarto, pp.viii, 576; pp.[2], 577-1132. With two plates showing various apparatus and two tables of useful Chemical symbols, at the rear of volume II. Contemporary tree calf, re-backed with original spine laid down, corners repaired. Gilt... More about A Dictionary of Chemistry, Exhibiting the present State of the Theory and Practice of that...