First edition first printing. Original black cloth with emerald lettering to spine and front panel, in the G. K. Chesterton illustrated dustwrapper. Including twenty-one drawings by Chesterton. A fine, bright copy, the binding square and firm, the green topstain unfaded, the contents clean without inscriptions or stamps. In the near fine, complete, dustwrapper, showing just a little light soiling and minor rubbing to edges and folds. Priced 7/6 net to the spine, and stamped 'First Impression' to both spine and front panel. A particularly lovely copy; scarce in the dustwrapper.

In the dedicatory 'head-piece' addressed to Maurice Baring prefacing 'The Emerald', Belloc writes that "you have often urged me to write a detective story, because (you assured me) they have gigantic sales. I promised you I would, on condition there was nothing to find out. Here it is." The review of the book in 'Country Life' (August 21, 1926) confirms that "no mystery is made of how the famous emerald of the Empress Catherine, the treasured heirloom of the De Bohun family (alias Bones), disappeared when it was being shown one night to a slightly disreputable house party [...]. The tale (really a version of that fine old game "Slippery Ann") thus depends for its effect entirely on the telling, and Mr. Belloc tells it in his raciest and most ironic style. Mr Chesterton's pictures are pure delight, and greatly add to the book's prospects of "gigantic sales"."

First edition. 8vo. Publisher's original blue paper-covered boards with printed paper title label to the spine. Page edges untrimmed. 8pp. section of publisher's advertisements tipped in before the front endpaper. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with a little wear to the extremities and short cracks to the ends of the joints. The contents with a neat contemporary owner's name in ink to the head of the title page and a small contemporary library stamp to the foot, as well as some light scattered foxing to the preliminary pages and edges of the textblock, are otherwise clean and bright throughout. An excellent example, uncommon in the original boards.

An account of the author's travels in Italy and Sicily between 1818 and 1821, based on a travelling scholarship and further tours in the region conducted shortly after he took his MA from St John's College, Cambridge. The work focusses on religious practices, ceremonies and customs, as well as containing sections on "charms", "the burial of the dead", "agriculture", "the towns, houses, utensils, &c." and "the ordinary habits, food, and dress of the Italians and Sicilians", in addition to "miscellaneous coincidences of character between the ancient and modern Italians".

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original orange cloth with black titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. An excellent near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth bright and fresh. The contents are clean throughout and without foxing, or previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed and nicked dustwrapper that has a very small chip at the head of the spine and a couple of tiny short closed tears. Correctly priced 7s 6d net to the front flap. Housed in a bespoke quarter black morocco solander case. A lovely example without repair or restoration.

The true first edition of this scarce locked room mystery. Although dated 1939 on the copyright page, the UK edition was released for sale on the 19th December 1938. The American publication under the title "Murder for Christmas" followed in February 1939.

Original manuscript in black ink, contained in an unlined notebook. 198pp. Contemporary full calf, boards and spine ruled in gilt, "In Memoriam" in gilt to the upper board, with original matching calf dustwrapper. Locking clasp to fore-edge (lacking key). Inner pockets to the front and rear. Marbled endpapers. Decorative interlacing device in red and blue ink to the first page. The book is completely full, with every page filled out in manuscript. Within the text there is also a plan of the interior of the 'Clotilde' (the vessel in which the trio sailed down the Nile), 13 small pencil diagrams of Egyptian Hieroglyphic inscriptions, and, loosely laid in, a copy of the Clotide's log. Condition is very good, the binding square and firm with rubbing to the extremities. The contents with some faint offsetting and a splash mark to the final two pages are otherwise in very good order and clean throughout. The original leather jacket is quite rubbed with wear to the spine and extremities.

A wonderfully detailed travel journal documenting a lengthy tour through Egypt, including a several week voyage down the river Nile, written by the anonymous travelling companion of siblings William and Julia Chafyn-Grove. The narrative begins in London, from where the party sets sail to Calais, travelling via Paris and Marseilles and then on to Alexandria, where they commence their journey down the Nile to Luxor. Extensive commentary is provided regarding the places visited, including Cairo ("its narrow and dark streets crowded with people, camels and donkeys...[with] mosques and minarets" all around), Beni Suef, Minya, Beni Hasan, Manfaiut, Gerga, Luxor, Thebes, and Aswan, amongst many others, as well as of numerous ancient sites and their history. The journal also offers meticulous descriptions of the landscapes,people (both Europeans and Egyptians), food, costumes, and objects observed, in addition to day by day details of the progress of the vessel itself. At the rear, the book includes a copy of the "articles of agreement between William Chafyn-Grove & Mohammed El Adli, Alexandria Nov. 3rd 1863" stating that "Monhammed El Adli agrees to accompany W.C.G., Miss G. & friend & one male & one female servant as Dragoman, guide, interpreter & general servant on a journey up the Nile... for a period of not less than three months". Amongst the details in the agreement is a comprehensive consideration of the party's gastronomic needs: "Mohammed El Aldi is... to provide all provisions in a liberal manner as for first class passengers. He is to supply not less than three dishes of meat for breakfast, besides tea, coffee, bread, butter, marmalade & jams; for luncheon cold meat, & for dinner, besides soup, cheese & desert not less than four plates of meat. He is to furnish vegetables, fruits, game, poultry, meat, bread, butter, biscuits, cheese etc. Fresh bread is to be baked every day in the European fashion". A lengthy and unusually assiduous narrative of a journey of significant duration, the journal provides a rich and intimate account of Egypt, and European perceptions thereof, during the mid-nineteenth century.

Limited edition, number 7 of 50 copies printed. Signed by the author-artist. Publisher's original full vellum with titles in gilt to the upper board and spine, in original card slipcase. Top edge gilt, the others untrimmed. Printed on Batchelor's hand-made paper and printed at the Shakespeare Head Press. A lovely fine copy, the binding square, firm and bright. The contents with a couple of very minor faint dots of foxing to the preliminary pages are otherwise wonderfully clean and bright throughout and remain free from any previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. The slipcase with a little wear and a touch of splitting in places is otherwise in good order. An excellent copy.

Signed by Thomas Derrick in black ink to the limitation page. A beautifully produced rendition of the Biblical parables of The Prodigal Son, The Unjust Steward, The Two Sons, The Pharisee and the Publican, and The Good Samaritan, by the artist Thomas Derrick (1885-1954). After training at the Royal College of Art, Derrick predominantly worked as an illustrator, although also produced murals, stained glass and poster designs for the London Underground. A convert to Roman Catholicism, here he presents five well-known Biblical parables in a contemporary 1930s setting, bringing them to life with his characteristically bold, breezy line.

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original black cloth with red titles to the spine and heart motif to the upper board, in the author designed Kenneth Lewis illustrated dustwrapper. An excellent very near fine copy, the binding firm, the cloth and titles fresh and bright. The contents with just a hint of spotting to the front endpaper are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the very lightly rubbed dustwrapper that has a tiny nick at the upper front spine fold and a slightly dusty rear panel but remains bright and without tears. Not price-clipped (correctly priced 10s 6d net to both the front and rear flap). A superb example, without repair or restoration.

The author's first book, introducing the British secret agent 007, James Bond. Of the 4728 copies of the first edition bound for sale, only 3000 carried this first state dustwrapper. Much, as many as half of the first printing went into the public library system. (Gilbert A1a 1.1)

First edition, first printing [first state]. Original black cloth with silver titles to the spine and gilt to the upper board, in the Richard Chopping illustrated dustwrapper. A near fine copy, the binding firm and the cloth, silver and gilt bright and fresh. The contents with spotting to the closed text block edge are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed and spotted original dustwrapper that retains some pink colour to the flower illustration on the spine and is without loss or tears. Not price-clipped (16s net to the front flap). An attractive example.

[Gilbert A12a (1.1)].

First edition, first impression. One of 500 copies hand-printed and bound by Leonard and Virginia Woolf at The Hogarth Press. Signed and inscribed by the author. 8vo. Original blue marbled paper wrappers with printed paper title label to the front cover (the label in the third state of three, without priority of issue). Pages entirely unopened. A very good copy indeed, the binding firm with a little wear and light toning to the extremities. The contents with a hint of dust-soiling to the head of the pages are otherwise clean throughout.

Signed by E. M. Forster in black ink on the title page, with a strike through the printed name, and additionally inscribed by Forster to the front endpaper "Alexis and Jill / with Morgan's birthday greetings and gratitude / Nov. 26th 1960". Alexis Peter Vlasto (1915-2000) was a British historian, philologist and pioneer of Slavonic studies. Having entered King's College, Cambridge in 1937 to study modern and medieval languages, in 1939 he was headhunted to work at the British code breaking establishment Bletchley Park, where he was placed on secondment to undertake "war work". There, he was given charge of the Japanese Army Air Force section, where he would aid in cracking the Japanese Army Air Force code system 3366. Whilst at Bletchley Park Vlasto also renewed his acquaintance with the young musicologist, Hilda Joan "Jill" Medway, like him seconded from Cambridge. By the end of the war the pair were married, with the wedding taking place on 19th March 1945, less than two months before VE day. Following the war, they remained in Cambridge, where Jill taught music and enthusiastically promoted the early music revival and Alexis worked alongside the renowned linguist Elizabeth Hill to establish the Cambridge University Department of Slavonic Studies, which opened in 1948. An honorary fellow of King's since 1946, Forster spent a significant amount of his time at the college, largely residing there for the final decade of his life, and it was here that he developed a friendship with the Vlastos. An excellent association copy of E. M. Forster's metaphysical Mediterranean tale. (Woolmer 9; Kirkpatrick A6).

First edition. 4to. Large paper copy. Sir Edward Poynter's copy. Contemporary green half morocco over green marbled boards, ruled in gilt. The spine with five raised bands, compartments ruled in gilt and with titles in gilt. All edges red. Marbled endpapers. Bookplate of the artist Sir Edward J. Poynter to the front pastedown. Illustrated with 82 engraved plates (including one coloured aquatint by F.C. Lewis), maps and plans, as well as numerous engraved vignettes, all with original tissue-guards. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with a little rubbing to the boards, a small scuff to the foot of the spine, wear to the corners and cracking to the rear hinge. The contents with occasional light spotting to page margins and the odd old annotation in pencil are otherwise clean and bright throughout. An attractive copy.

A sumptuous large paper copy of the first edition of the best-known work by the classical archaeologist and illustrator Sir William Gell (1777-1836). Superbly illustrated throughout with a generous number of meticulously executed engravings, the work forms the earliest full account in English of the archaeological digs at Pompeii. Pleasingly, the present copy belonged to the prominent British artist, and president of the Royal Academy, Sir Edward John Poynter (1836-1919), best known for his historical paintings, particularly works portraying romanticised imaginings of the classical world, including "Faithful Until Death" (1865), his portrait of a Pompeian solider steadfastly guarding his post as the city around him is destroyed. (Blackmer 666).

Pen and ink and watercolour over pencil depicting a young Indian woman wearing a red sari with necklaces, earrings and bangles, standing in front of an open arched doorway and surrounded by foliage bearing red flowers and orange fruits. 34 x 24cm. Framed and glazed. The painting is in excellent, clean condition with no apparent faults. The colours remain bold and bright. The painting is accompanied by the original sale catalogue: "Catalogue of Water-Colours illustrating The Fairy Book, Indian Myth and Legend, Folk Tales of Bengal [etc.] by Warwick Goble" at the Dudley Galleries, Piccadilly, January 1914. Original printed wrappers with prices added in contemporary manuscript; an excellent near fine example with just a little marking to the rear cover. The present watercolour is listed as number 96 in the catalogue and priced at 15 guineas.

An original watercolour illustration for 'The Story of the Rakshasas' from the collection 'Folk Tales of Bengal' by the Rev. Lal Behari Day, published by Macmillan in 1912. Warwick Goble (1862-1943) was one of the leading artists of the Golden Age of Illustration, providing vibrant suites of illustrations to numerous lavish gift books and illustrating works as diverse as Charles Kingsley's 'The Water Babies' and H. G. Wells' 'War of the Worlds'. A specialist in Japanese and Indian themes, the present watercolour is an excellent example of Goble's work, illustrating the tale of the Rakshasi - a cannibalistic being which takes the form of a beautiful woman in order to lure its victims - in Bengali author Lal Behari Day's (1824-1892) pioneering collection of folk and fairy tales, which formed one of the first attempts to collect and preserve such stories from the region.

First UK edition, first printing. The publisher's retained copy. Original red cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding square and firm, the contents, with just a few spots to the text block edges, "file copy" stamped on the front pastedown (and also going on to the front flap of the dustwrapper), and "F103" written on the front free endpaper in pencil, are otherwise clean throughout. Complete with the original lightly rubbed dustwrapper which has some short closed tears to the spine and flap folds, and has "file copy" stamped and "W.H.121" written in pen on the rear panel. Not price clipped (21/- net to the front flap). Scarce.

This bestselling semi-autobiographical novel about a teenage girl's experiences in a psychiatric hospital was turned into a film in 1977 and a play in 2004. Provenance: From the archive of the publisher Victor Gollancz.

First edition, first printing. Inscribed by the author. Publisher's original blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in the Donald Green illustrated dustwrapper. An excellent near fine copy, the binding firm and the cloth and gilt fresh. The contents with a little toning of the paper stock are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. There is just a hint of spotting to the closed text block edge. Complete with the very lightly nicked dustwrapper that remains without fading or loss. Not price-clipped (15s net to the front flap).

Inscribed by the author in black ink on the title page " For David ..... / from / Graham Greene". A previous recipient's name in the author's hand has been crossed through. A scarce signed and inscribed first edition of Greene's 1958 black comedy, adapted the following year into a film directed by Carol Reed, starring Alec Guinness as James Wormald, vacuum cleaner salesman turned MI6 operative.

First edition, first printing. Signed by 14 of the authors and illustrators: Horowitz, Lumley, Ross, Foreman, Kerins, Hughes, Mooney, King-Smith, Strachan, Lawrence, Brouwer (with a small drawing), Morpurgo, Browne, and Rowe. Original green cloth with gilt titles to the spine and upper board and a colour Quentin Blake illustration print to the upper board. With and introduction by HRH the Princess Royal. Illustrated throughout. A lovely fine copy, the binding square and tight, the contents clean and bright throughout. Complete with the slightly nicked and creased original glassine wrapper.

Limited edition, number 73 of 250 copies. Sold on behalf of Farms for City Children, this wonderful, uncommon collection features stories for children about the countryside by a wide variety of writers and illustrators.

First edition. Two volumes. 4to. Publisher's original quarter green cloth over paper-covered boards with printed paper title labels to the spines. Page edges untrimmed. Illustrated with two engraved maps (one folding) and 13 engraved plates, of which two are aquatinted by F. C. Lewis. Contemporary engraved armorial bookplate for William Holmes Brookfield to the front pastedown of each volume. A very good copy, the bindings square and tight with a little wear to the extremities. The contents with a later bookplate to the front pastedown of volume one, the ownership signature of the author William St Clair to the front pastedown of each volume, some light scattered foxing and a little dampmarking to the plates in volume two (which is not particularly obtrusive) are otherwise in very good order throughout. A most attractive, unsophisticated example.

"Hughes travelled in the Mediterranean and Greece in 1813-14 as tutor to Richard Townley Parker. They visited Spain, Italy, Sicily, Greece and Albania. Hughes and Parker arrived in Preveza late in 1813; they were joined on their Albanian tour by C.R. Cockerell, who spent about two months with them. Most of the book is in fact devoted to a description of this part of their travels, and 10 of the 12 engravings are after drawings by Cockerell illustrating sites in Epirus. This work is one of the major sources of information about Ali Pasha. Hughes was a confirmed philhellene. He was one of the early members of the Philmuse Society, probably subscribing when he was in Athens in 1814, and later he became a member of the London Greek Committee. The massacre of the Greeks of Chios Island in 1822 provoked his Address to the People of England in the Cause of the Greeks, 1822 which was violently anti-Turkish and aroused considerable controversy." (Blackmer). (Blackmer, 842; Abbey, 203; Weber 86; Pine-Coffin, 813i).

First edition, first printing. Late 19th Century Full navy blue morocco by Zaehnsdorf. Titles in gilt and five raised bands to the spine. Gilt inner dentelles and marbled endpapers. Publisher's original cloth spine bound in at the rear. Top edge gilt. Half title and 26pp publisher's adverts (dated Feb. 1857)retained, as issued. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm with a few light marks or scratches to the rear board. The contents with some finger marks and the occasional foxing spot to the margins are otherwise clean throughout.

A tremendously influential novel that introduced the genre of British School Stories to a much wider audience. P. G. Wodehouse, Terry Pratchett, Frank Richards, George Macdonald Fraser and J. K. Rowling have all acknowledged its influence in their own writing.

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original blue cloth illustrated in gilt to the upper board, titles in gilt to the spine. All edges gilt. Illustrated with 8 full page plates and numerous drawings throughout the text. Decorated title page and tail piece vignettes. Black coated endpapers. A very good or better copy, the binding square and firm with some rubbing to the spine hinges and a touch of wear and bumping at the spine tips and board corners with a tiny bit of fraying. The cloth and gilt are clean and bright with slight fading to the spine. The contents, with a little light foxing, primarily to the prelims but occasionally and faintly throughout, are complete and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. An attractive example in entirely original condition, scarce thus.

The first and scarcest volume in Andrew Lang's beautifully produced Colour Fairy Book series. The stories include: The Bronze Ring; Prince Hyacinth and the Dear Little Princess; East of the Sun and West of the Moon; The Yellow Dwarf; Little Red Riding Hood; The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood; Cinderella or the Little Glass Slipper; Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp; The Tale of a Youth Who Set Out to Learn What Fear Was; Rumpelstiltskin; Beauty and the Beast; The Master Maid; Why the Sea Is Salt; The Master Cat or Puss in Boots; Felicia and the Pot of Pinks; The White Cat; The Water-lily / The Gold-spinners; The Terrible Head; The Story of Pretty Goldilocks; The History of Whittington; The Wonderful Sheep; Little Thumb; The Forty Thieves; Hansel and Gretel; Snow-White and Rose-Red; The Goose-girl; Toads and Diamonds; Prince Darling; Blue Beard; Trusty John; The Brave Little Tailor; A Voyage to Lilliput; The Princess on the Glass Hill; The Story of Prince Ahmed and the Fairy Paribanou; The History of Jack the Giant-killer; The Black Bull of Norroway; The Red Etin.

First edition. The printer's retained copy. Publisher's original blue cloth stapled covers. A very good copy the binding firm and the cloth bright. The contents with "Office Copy" inscribed on the inside front cover and stamped with "Jarrolds Factory Book Dept" in red on the half title (with penciled number annotation). Other than the occasional finger mark to the margins the contents are clean throughout.

Quite a scarce Winnie The Pooh item. The book was printed by Jarrold and Sons, Ltd in Ipswich, this being their retained copy. On publication the book was issued with a pictorial box and 7 cut out figures (not retained). "Pooh goes Visiting" is one of several titles from "The Story-Folk Series," a collection of plays for children to participate in.

Second impression. Signed by the author. Publisher's original black cloth with titles in green to the upper board and spine, in dustwrapper. A better than very good copy, the binding square and tight with a little faint spotting to the boards, minor bumping to the corners and a touch of wear to the extremities. The contents with minor toning to the endpapers and a few small dots of foxing to the edges of the textblock are otherwise wonderfully clean and bright thoughout. Complete with the very good dustwrapper which has a little marking, two minor tears to the front panel (repaired verso with tape), a small scuff to the spine (likewise repaired verso), and some fading to the spine/left-hand edge of the front panel. Not price-clipped ($2.00 to the front flap).

Signed by Jawaharlal Nehru in black ink to the front free endpaper "Jawaharlal Nehru / Oct 1949". A selection of writings on the life and teachings of Gandhi, collected from the speeches and publications of Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), India's first Prime Minister and Gandhi's designated political heir. Born in Allahabad, Nehru studied at Cambridge and then worked as a lawyer serving in the Allahabad High Court. He joined the Indian Congress Committee in 1918, during which time he was greatly influenced by Gandhi. Imprisoned several times by the British, in 1929 he was elected president of the Indian National Congress, and then, in 1947, as Prime Minister of the newly independent nation. During his 17 years in office, he promoted parliamentary democracy, secularism, science and technology, reorganised states on a linguistic basis, brought the dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir to a peaceful solution, and, in international affairs, successfully followed a policy of neutrality during the Cold War. Nehru's leadership - spanning a period longer than any other Indian Prime Minister to date - ultimately served to fundamentally shape India's development as a modern nation and carried forward the legacy of Gandhi's ideals. An uncommon title signed.

First edition, first printing. Signed by Tenzing Norgay. Publisher's original blue cloth with gilt Himalayan Club emblem to the upper board and titles in gilt to the spine, in dustwrapper. Map endpapers. Illustrated with numerous black and white photographic plates, maps and sketches. A better than very good copy, the binding square and firm with minor bumping to the spine ends. The contents with the impression of Tenzing's signature going through to the title page and three or four tiny spots to the fore-edge of the textblock are otherwise in very good order, clean throughout and free form any previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the better than very good dustwrapper which has a small nick to the foot of the upper joint and a little wear to the extremities.

Signed and inscribed by Tenzing Norgay in blue ink to the rear of the frontispiece "To / Gareth L. Pawlowski / Tenzing / 5/3/71". The autobiography of the Nepali-Indian Sherpa mountaineer, most famous for being one of the first two individuals to reach the summit of Mount Everest, which he accomplished alongside Sir Edmund Hillary on 29th May 1953. An uncommon title signed.

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original green cloth with silver titles to the spine, in the photographically illustrated dustwrapper. A better than very good copy, the binding square and firm with a minor bump to the bottom corner of the upper board. The contents with a little cracking in places are clean throughout and without previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the near fine dustwrapper which has some light marking and very minor wear to the extremities. Not price-clipped (12s. 6d. net to the front flap).

Publisher's original green cloth with red titles to the spine. Top edge red. in dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding firm, the spine and board edges a little faded and marked. The contents, with a tiny bit of spotting to the text block edges, prelims, and endpapers, are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the rubbed and creased dustwrapper which has some short closed tears to the edges and one longer closed tear (without loss) to the foot of the faded spine. Correctly priced 10/- net to the front flap.

Contains the author's essays Shooting An Elephant; A Hanging; How The Poor Die; Lear, Tolstoy And The Fool; Politics vs. Literature: An Examination Of Gulliver's Travels; Politics And The English Language; Reflections On Gandhi; The Prevention Of Literature; Second Thoughts On James Burnham; Confessions Of A Book Reviewer; Books vs Cigarettes; Good Bad Books; Nonsense Poetry; Riding Down From Bangor; The Sporting Spirit; Decline Of The English Murder; Some Thoughts On The Common Toad; A Good Word For The Vicar Of Bray. 7,530 copies printed (Fenwick D.3)

First edition, first printing. Inscribed presentation copy. Original black cloth with white lettering to the spine, in the dustwrapper designed by Tony Russell. A very near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean throughout. Minor bumping to spine tips. In the near fine dustwrapper, showing a little rubbing and minor crumpling to the upper spine area, and a light diagonal crease to the upper corner of the front panel. There are a few tiny light marks visible to the spine where laminate and paper have separated a little. Not price-clipped ($5.95 to the front flap). A scarce signed copy of the great athlete's memoir.

Inscribed by the author in black ink to the front free endpaper, " To Joe - / My Best to you / always -/ May god bless / Jesse Owens / 36 Olympics". Owens famously won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games held in Berlin. 'Blackthink' is a memoir as well as a personal meditation upon the racial struggles of twentieth-century America.

First edition thus, fourth issue overall, with first edition sheets and cancel title page. Publisher's original card wrappers with a Vorticist design by Dorothy Shakespear in black to the front cover, in original glassine dustwrapper. Fore-edge and bottom edge untrimmed. A very good copy indeed, the binding square and firm with some faint spotting to the covers and a little dust-soiling to the bottom edge of the front cover. The contents with a contemporary previous owner's name in pencil to the head of the title page are otherwise clean and bright throughout. Complete with the scarce original glassine wrapper which is a little chipped and torn. An excellent example.

The first and only issue of Pound's collection of Imagist poetry with the Vorticist cover designed by his wife, the artist Dorothy Shakespear (the fourth issue of the collection overall). Only 400 copies were printed. (Gallup A8d).

First edition, first printing. 4to. Publisher's original red card wrappers with titles in black to the upper cover and spine. Page edges untrimmed. Illustrated with 40 black and white plates reproducing the original manuscripts of the poems. Contained with a custom-made red cloth solander box. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with a touch of minor cracking to hinges, the covers potentially reattached to the textblock at some point in the past, and a small bump to the foot of the spine. The contents with some occasional faint spotting are otherwise in very good order, clean throughout and remain free from any previous owners' inscriptions or stamps.

Produced at Pound's own expense, this collection of the thirteenth-century Italian poet Guido Cavalcanti's works comprises the poems in Italian, facsimiles of the original manuscripts, Pound's English translations of several of the poems, as well as his broader commentary. Only around 500 copies were printed. (Gallup B27).

First editions, first printings. Ten volumes. Publisher's original cloth with titles in white or gilt to the spine, all in dustwrappers. A near fine set, the bindings square and firm, the contents clean throughout. All are without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Light spotting to the top edge of 'Sound the Retreat'; minor pushing to the spine tips of three volumes. The dustwrappers are generally bright, clean and better than very good, showing just minor rubbing to edges and folds. 'The Sabre Squadron' has a 2 cm closed tear and associated crease to upper edge of the fold between front panel and flap; 'Fielding Gray' is a little toned; 'The Judas Boy' shows some minor fading to the spine; 'Come Like Shadows' shows a little surface scuffing and an area of light crumpling to the front panel. 'The Sabre Squadron' and 'Places Where They Sing' are neatly price-clipped; 'Come Like Shadows' has been clipped and re-priced with the publisher's own label. Altogether, a very attractive complete set of Raven's great sequence of novels.

"Alms for Oblivion' is a series of novels, all telling separate stories but at the same time linked together by the characters they have in common. Soldiers, dons, men of business, politicians, writers and plain shits are drawn, in the main, from the Upper and Upper-Middle Classes, which Simon Raven regards with an especial affection and contempt." (from the jacket of 'Come Like Shadows').

First edition. Inscribed by the author to John McDiarmid. 4to. Publisher's original grey paper-covered boards with printed paper title label to the spine. Page edges untrimmed. Illustrated with 28 black and white etched plates. An excellent near fine copy, the binding square and tight with minor cracking to the head of the joints and a little wear to the extremities. The contents with a previous owner's (early twentieth-century) bookplate to the front pastedown, light offsetting from the plates to the facing text pages and faint spotting to the edges of the plates are otherwise wonderfully clean and bright throughout. The plates themselves remain bold and fresh. A superb copy, entirely in its original state.

Inscribed by John Richardson in black ink to the half title page "To John McDiarmid Esq. / from his friend The Author". The first part this monumental work on the natural history of the Arctic by Sir John Richardson (1787-1865), the Scottish doctor, naturalist and Arctic explorer who served on Sir John Franklin's Arctic expeditions of 1819-22 and 1825-27 as ship's doctor and naturalist. Whilst in the Canadian Arctic as part of Franklin's overland expeditions, Richardson recorded his extensive observations and collected a large number of plant and animal specimens. On his return to England, following the second expedition, he began, with assistance from the naturalists William Swainson and William Kirby, to write his four-volume work of natural history, first published as individual volumes between 1829 and 1837. This present volume, dedicated to mammals, was the first to appear, with a second volume (concerning birds) published in 1831, followed by subsequent volumes on fish and insects, all superbly illustrated by Thomas Landseer. A key member of Franklin's team, Richardson aided in the mapping of a substantial area of the Canadian Arctic, in addition to making one of the most significant contributions to the understanding of the natural history of the region. Notably, following the infamous disappearance of Franklin's doomed 1845 Arctic expedition, Richardson also later travelled alongside John Rae in 1848-9 in search of his lost comrades on one of the subsequent (unsuccessful) rescue missions. The recipient of the present volume is most likely John McDiarmid (1790-1852), the influential Scottish journalist and author, popular in contemporary Scottish literary circles, who came from Richardson's hometown of Dumfries and was only three years his junior.

First edition, first printing. Two volumes. Large 8vo. Signed manuscript letter by Captain Scott tipped-in. Publisher's original navy blue cloth with titles in gilt to the upper boards and spines. Top edges gilt, the others untrimmed. Title pages printed in red and black. Illustrated with a photogravure frontispiece to each volume, 6 other photogravure plates after original sketches by Dr E. A. Wilson, 18 coloured plates (16 from drawings by Wilson), 260 full-page and smaller illustrations, including numerous plates from photographs taken by Herbert G. Ponting and other members of the expedition, 11 folding panoramas, and 8 folding maps. 3pp. manuscript letter in ink from Captain Scott to Mrs. [Marian] Noble on embossed headed notepaper for 56, Oakley Street, Chelsea Embankment, dated 9.1.08, tipped-in on the front free endpaper of volume two. Printed portrait photograph of Scott captioned "Unpublished Photograph by Wilson Noble" affixed to the half title of volume one. A very good set, the bindings square, firm and bright with a touch of rubbing to the joints, minor wear to the spine ends (including a small nick to the head of volume one), a faint crease to the spine of volume one and a little bumping and wear to the corners. The contents with the engraved bookplate of Leonard Noble to the front pastedown of each volume, a contemporary news cutting affixed to the front endpaper of volume one, a 3cm tear to the foot of the same page, and light scattered foxing are otherwise in very good order throughout.

An extensively illustrated account of Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova expedition to the South Pole, during which Scott and four of his compatriots lost their lives attempting to navigate their return across the polar ice. Based upon the letters and diaries which were discovered alongside the men's bodies, the present work provides an intimate narrative of their journey, including their discovery that the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen had beaten them to the pole, as well as Scott's famous description of Captain Oates's decision to walk out into the snow for the final time. It also contains the men's last letters to their families and friends, amongst which is Scott's final public address: "We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last ... Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for." In the manuscript letter contained within the present copy, Scott writes to family friend Marian Noble, wife of the barrister and Conservative politician Wilson Noble (1854-1917), regarding a photograph she has recently sent him: "I am most grateful for the photograph you so kindly sent me. Though one or two have moved the general group and most of the likenesses are excellent, and I shall value the memento highly". He goes on to thank Marian again "for my pleasant visit to Park Place and for all your kindnesses", with a postscript adding that "my mother sends her kindest regards - she is very well but finds these very cold days rather trying", unlike her son it would seem! It is not known to which photograph Scott is referring, however, also tipped-in to the present copy is another photograph by Wilson - a portrait of Scott himself - which was later used by his daughter, Evelyn Noble, as part of a flyer for a chain letter campaign by the 'English Girls' Fund' to raise money for a Scott memorial in 1913 (which ultimately raised £225 from over 4,000 contributors). Following his death, Scott had become a national icon, and such drives to memorialise both him and his expedition team, as well as to raise money for their bereaved families (as Scott had implored) were widespread. A nice association copy. (Rosove, 290.A1; Spence, 1056).

Nine volumes. Octavo. Handsomely bound in contemporary full diced russia with gilt tooling and titles to the spine and rolled gilt rules to the boards and turn-ins. All edges marbled. Each volume with a silk page marker. Illustrated with 37 engraved plates after original designs by Henry Fuseli, including two engraved by William Blake (Romeo and Juliet, Henry VIII). A very good set indeed, the bindings square and firm with minor rubbing and wear to the joints, a little bumping to the corners and a dent to the head of the upper board of volume IV. The contents with a discrete ninenteenth-century French ink ownership stamp for "A.A. Beaujour, Rots" to each title page and the very occasional dot of foxing are otherwise clean and bright throughout. A splendid set.

A most attractive edition of Shakespeare's works, with a wonderful suite of illustrations by the Romantic artist Henry Fuseli, including two engraved by William Blake.

Third edition. Handsomely bound in contemporary full diced calf, the boards ruled in gilt, the spine with four raised bands, compartments decorated in gilt and with red morocco title label lettered in gilt. Ownership inscription and introductory note by the author William St Clair in pencil to the front free endpaper. A very good copy indeed, the binding square and firm with a little rubbing to the joints and corners. The contents with a contemporary owner's name in ink to the front free endpaper, the occasional light pencil annotation to page margins and very faint spotting to the preliminary pages are otherwise in very good order and clean throughout. An attractive copy.

An early pirated edition of Shelley's great verse drama (the third edition of the work overall). The first edition, consisting of 250 copies, was printed in Italy in 1819, with a second edition published in 1821 (making it the only work to go into a second edition during the poet's lifetime). Buxton-Foreman writes that the present edition is "a curious and somewhat uncommon little book, prettily but roughly printed from the second edition" (Buxton-Foreman, The Shelley Library, p.93). Only three institutional copies of this edition are recorded in Copac (Oxford, Eton, and Univ. Leeds). Provenance: from the library of William St Clair (1937-2021).

"First American edition". 12mo. Publisher's original plain grey paper-covered boards. Page edges untrimmed. Pencil ownership inscription and notes by the author William St Clair to the front and rear pastedowns. Contained within a custom-made early twentieth-century quarter blue morocco slipcase with five raised bands and titles in gilt to the spine. A very good copy, the upper board nearly detached and with a little wear to the extremities. The contents with a later nineteenth-century previous owner's name in pencil to the front free endpaper, scattered pencil annotations and occasional light spotting to the preliminary pages are otherwise in very good order. The slipcase with some fading and rubbing to the spine is otherwise very good. A nice, unsophisticated example.

An early pirated edition of Shelley's Queen Mab, the poet's first major work and one of the most influential radical texts of nineteenth-century, widely popular amongst the politically-engaged working classes and often referred to as "the Bible" of the Chartist movement. The preface of the present edition explains that due to the suppression of the work in Britain, and in the wake of the prosecution of its English publisher William Clark, it hoped to provide "extensive circulation to the principles contained both in the poem and in the notes" and enable the work to "come into the hands of all classes of society". Although claiming to be an American publication, however, this edition was in fact surreptitiously printed in London by William Benbow, with the true first American edition not appearing until 1831. Piracies such as Benbow's were ultimately the reason that Queen Mab was able to find such a wide readership and to make a such significant impact on the development of radical and working class political movements in nineteenth-century Britain. Provenance: from the library of William St Clair (1937-2021).

First edition, first printing. Original red cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, in the dustwrapper designed by John Rowland. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean without inscriptions or stamps. Minor rubbing to spine tips, the lower tip a little pushed; small dink to the upper outer corner of the front panel. In the bright, clean dustwrapper, a little faded to the spine with minor rubbing to spine tips and corners. Not price-clipped (15s. net to the front flap).

Shute's post-apocalyptic novel focuses on a group of characters in Melbourne, awaiting the arrival of deadly radiation from a nuclear war that took place a year earlier. It was adapted for the 1959 film directed by Stanley Kramer, starring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire and Anthony Perkins.

Five volumes. First UK editions, first printings. Individually inscribed and dated association copies. Original red cloth with gilt lettering to black labels to spines, in dustwrappers. A better than very good to near fine set, the bindings square and firm, the pages clean, without inscriptions or stamps. The black topstains remain unfaded to all five volumes. Each volume with illustrated endpapers, photographic frontispieces (there is a light oil stain to the verso of the first volume's frontispiece), and multiple illustrative and photographic plates throughout. Minor pushing to spine tips (with a little fading to the tips of Vols. 2 and 5). The dustwrappers, all elaborately illustrated by H. Cowdell, are complete and unclipped, with occasional rubbing, a few nicks and short closed tears to edges and folds; the earlier volumes show a little more wear and toning. The first two volumes are moderately faded to the spine. Priced between 15s. and 21s. net to front flaps. An attractive uniform set of this classic autobiography, with each volume individually and warmly dedicated to the author's long-standing housekeeper and friend, Miss Noble.

Each of the five volumes is warmly inscribed to Miss Noble, the author's much-loved housekeeper at his home in Carlyle Square, just off the King's Rd. The first volume is inscribed in black ink to the half title, "For / dear Miss Noble / with best wishes / from her friend / the author, / Osbert Sitwell / March 25 1945". Each volume is similarly dedicated (Vol. 4 adds "gratitude for many thousands of kindnesses"), though the volumes were clearly given to their recipient individually upon publication, each volume individually dated in the year of publication (Vol. 2: July 15 1946; Vol. 3: April 16 1948; Vol. 4: May 20 1949; Vol. 5: Sept. 6 1950). Philip Ziegler, in his 1998 biography of Sitwell, notes that Miss Noble took over from Mrs Powell, the previous incumbent, around 1930. She clearly became something like a member of the family over the years until, in 1963 when, as Ziegler has it "she was now over eighty and could never remember what day it was and who, if anyone, was coming for lunch or dinner. She was also parsimonious on Osbert's behalf, and was apt to expect to find 1914 prices still ruling in the butcher's or the baker's, would often return empty-handed from a shopping expedition. It was partly the impossibility of getting rid of this loved, loyal but embarrassingly inefficient retainer which convinced Osbert that it was time to leave Carlyle Square [for a flat in Kensington Church Street]". All but the final volume, 'Noble Essences' was first published in the US, with the UK editions following soon afterwards. "In its scope and its performance it will surely remain as one of the main literary memorials of its time" (Edwin Muir, 'The Observer'); "Much has happened since 'Left Hand, Right Hand!' first appeared in the mirifical spring of 1945; but there has been nothing in the field of imaginative prose to challenge the opinion that Sir Osbert Sitwell's autobiography must always be regarded as one of the wonder-works of the twentieth-century." (John Russell, 'The Sunday Times). (Philip Ziegler, 'Osbert Sitwell' [London: 1998]; Fifoot OA34b, OA38b, OA40b, OA42b, OA48a).

First UK edition, first printing. Inscribed presentation copy. Original blue cloth with silver lettering to the spine, in the dustwrapper designed by Nicholas Flower, with a photographic portrait of the author (by Bruno of Hollywood) to the rear. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean without inscriptions or stamps. There is a very light crease visible to the cloth of the spine panel (not affecting the binding); upper and fore-edges of the page block little dusty. The clean, bright, neatly price-clipped dustwrapper is a little rubbed and nicked to spine tips and corners. A sharp copy.

Inscribed by the author in black ink to the front free endpaper, "To Franca and Justin - / in friendship and / deepest affection - / Always - / Jacki S / 11/6/66". Known previously as an actress for stage and screen, 'Valley of the Dolls' was Susann's first novel, and was one of the fastest and biggest selling novels of the twentieth-century. It was adapted for the 1967 film directed by Mark Robson and starring Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke, Sharon Tate, Susan Hayward and Lee Grant.

First edition, first printing. Inscribed by Stephen Tennant. Original blue paper-covered boards with a beige cloth spine, black titles to the spine and upper board along with an illustration of doves. A very good or better copy, the binding square and firm, a little darkened to the board edges and the spine. The contents show some offsetting to the endpapers, a previous owner's name to the front free endpaper (above Tennant's inscription), a pen underlining of 'Wilsford' on the contents page by a previous owner to highlight the connection to Tennant's inscription, and a few very infrequent spots throughout, but are otherwise clean.

Inscribed in pink ink by Stephen Tennant, the author's son, on the front free endpaper, reading: "To / Glen and Angela / with / love from Stephen / and Wilsford". Pamela Wyndham, later Lady Glenconner, was one of the sisters immortalised in the John Signer Sargeant Painting "The Wyndham Sisters", who moved in aristocratic and artistic circles. She married Edward Tennant, the 1st Baron Glenconner, and with him in 1904 commissioned Detmar Blow, the last disciple of John Ruskin, to build Wilsford Manor, which there is a poem about in this collection (p.87) and which Stephen anthropomorphises in his inscription. Stephen, known as an eccentric socialite and a 'Bright Young Thing', inherited the house, which he famously loved, and it is there that he entertained his many famous friends, including Rex Whilstler, Cecil Beaton, Siegfried Sassoon, Edith Sitwell and Nancy Mitford. He lived at Wilsford until his death in 1987.

First English edition, first printing. Publisher's green cloth over bevelled boards, illustrated in black, white and gilt. All edges gilt. Illustrated title page and 79 full page steel engravings. Tissue guard to the frontispiece. An excellent better than very good copy, the binding firm with a little rubbing and bumping to the spine tips and corners. The contents with two previous owner's names (dated 1912 and August 1966) to the front endpaper, the latter owner's small bookplate to the upper left corner of the front pastedown, are otherwise clean throughout. The inner front hinge is slightly tender and cracked but holding.

A very attractive example of the first edition in English, translated by W. J. Gordon and published in October 1896, preceding the first American edition by just over a year. This is the "deluxe" issue binding with bevelled boards and extra gilt blocking, there was also a "standard" issue on lighter boards with only the titles in gilt. (Bleiler).

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Original blue cloth with gilt lettering to the spine, in dustwrapper. A very near fine copy, the binding square and tight, the contents clean without inscriptions or stamps. Very light spotting to fore- and upper page block edges. In the near fine dustwrapper. As is often the case with this volume, the red lettering on the spine has substantially faded (it remains decipherable); the author's name, printed in black, is unfaded. Upper and lower edges are darkened and a little rubbed (c. 3 mm) where the laminate has receded from the edges. There is a small patch near the fold between spine and front panel where the laminate has lifted, though it remains unbroken. Not price-clipped (30s. net to the front flap). A bright, sharp copy.

Signed by the author in black ink to the title page. The priest, theologian and classicist Ronald Knox, friend to G. K. Chesterton and Hillaire Belloc, appointed Waugh as his literary executor. This biography, written with the approval of Knox (who died in 1957), was clearly a labour of love and joins the same author's study of Edmund Campion (another Catholic priest) as one of his rare excursions into biographical writing. 'His book is not only a scrupulous portrait. It is also a notable contribution to the history of English Catholicism [...]' (from John Raymond's 'Sunday Times' review).

First edition, first printing. Inscribed by the author. Original grey cloth with blue titles to the spine. In the dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding square and firm, the spine and extremities toned, the board corners and spine tips a little worn. The contents, toned and slightly spotted to the text block edges and lightly spotted to the prelims and infrequently to the internal margins, are otherwise clean. Complete with the supplied lightly rubbed and nicked first printing dustwrapper that is a little faded to the spine and the top of the front panel. Not price clipped (8s. net to the front flap).

Inscribed by the author in black ink to the half title, reading "To D. B. Rogers / with all the best wishes in the / world. From H. G. Wells / Aug. 1. 42". A fascinating political text which details Wells' thoughts on why a socialist restructuring of the world is needed, how it can be brought about, and what he believed would happen following its implementation, with many of his concerns with the state of the world being issues that we still face today. The topics covered range from the economy and law and order to arts and crafts and love. Written in the last few years of his life, it retains a fightingly optimistic and practical approach to the future of human civilisation, whereas his final book, Mind at the End of its Tether (1945), while not necessarily pessimistic, presents a quietly accepting attitude, at one point suggesting it may not be a bad thing if humans were to make way for a different species.

Fifteenth edition. Graham Greene's copy. Publisher's original green cloth with gilt titles to the spine. An excellent near fine copy, the binding square and firm and the cloth bright and fresh. The contents with just a few foxing spots to the prelims and closed text block edge are otherwise clean throughout. An attractive example.

With the autograph ownership inscription "d.d.H. Graham Greene" to the top left of the front endpaper, and that of his older brother Raymond Greene in bolder ink below. Graham's ownership presumably dates from his Balliol College days, around the publication date of his poorly received volume of poetry Babbling April.

First edition, one of 1,000 unnumbered copies. Attractive early twentieth-century Art Nouveau binding of quarter blue morocco over marbled boards, the spine with five raised bands ruled in gilt, compartments decorated with gilt pomegranate tree motif and with titles in gilt. Top edge gilt. Tricolour silk page marker. Illustrated with an engraved title page, four plates by Ricketts and numerous illustrations in the text. A very good copy indeed, the binding square, firm and bright with a hint of fading to the spine. The contents with toning to the endpapers and some light scattered spotting are otherwise in very good order and remain free from any previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. The plates by Ricketts are, as usual, quite faint due to the printing method (see Mason, Bibliography of Oscar Wilde, 347). A splendid copy.

The first edition of this book of fairy tales by Oscar Wilde, beautifully illustrated in the Aesthetic Movement style by Charles Ricketts and his partner Charles Shannon.