First edition, first printing. Publisher's original burgundy cloth with white titles to the spine, in the Peter Edwards illustrated dustwrapper. A superb very near fine copy, the binding square and tight, the cloth bright and fresh. The contents, with a neat previous owner's bookplate to the top left corner of the front pastedown (hidden by the dustwrapper flap), are otherwise clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the fine original dustwrapper that is very slightly creased at the base of the spine. Not price-clipped (13s 6d net to the front flap).

The second volume of the author's masterful African Trilogy, preceded by 'Things Fall Apart' (1958) and concluded with 'Arrow of God' (1964). Widely considered the father of modern African literature, Chinua Achebe (1930-2013) was the recipient of the Nigerian National Merit Award, Nigeria's highest accolade for intellectual achievement. In 2007 he was awarded the Man Booker International Prize for lifetime achievement.

First edition, first printing of the Hugh Thomson illustrated edition. Original green cloth with titles and peacock design in gilt to the upper board and spine. All edges gilt. Illustrated with 160 line drawings by Hugh Thomson throughout the text, including the tissue guarded frontispiece. An excellent better than very good copy, the binding firm with only light bumping at the spine tips and a touch of fraying at the corners, the cloth clean and the gilt bright. The contents are clean and bright throughout, without the foxing that often plagues this title and free of previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. The inner front hinge is cracked but holding.

An attractive example, in entirely original condition, of this most desirable illustrated edition of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.

First edition, first printing of the first published fantasy book written by an Inkling. Original red cloth with illustration in yellow and black to the upper board, titles in black to the upper board and spine. With a partial dustwrapper. Illustrated with 8 colour plates and numerous drawings throughout the text by Gilbert James. A very good copy, the binding firm with a little bumping at the spine tips and corners, the cloth a darkened at the spine ends. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the remnants of the original dustwrapper in several pieces comprising most of the front and rear panels and flaps but lacking the majority of the spine.

The rare first edition of the philosopher, author, poet and critic Owen Barfield's first book. Part parable, fable and fairy tale The Silver Trumpet is proven to have influenced the writing of fellow Inklings C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. The author's lifelong friendship with C. S. Lewis began when the two met in 1919 as undergraduates at Oxford University. Lewis first read Barfield's story in manuscript and recorded the following in his diary entry for October 20, 1923: "… I began to read Barfield's faery tale 'The Silver Trumpet' in which with prodigality he squirts out the most suggestive ideas, the loveliest pictures, and the raciest new coined words in wonderful succession. Nothing in its kind can be imagined better". It was thanks to Lewis that the Tolkien family also read the story. In a letter to Barfield dated June 28, 1936, Lewis wrote: "I lent The Silver Trumpet to Tolkien and hear that it is the greatest success among his children that they have ever known. His own fairy-tales, which are excellent, have now no market: and its first reading – children are so practical! – led to a universal wail 'You're not going to give it back to Mr. Lewis, are you?' All the things which the wiseacres on child psychology in our circle said when you wrote it turn out to be nonsense. 'They liked the sad parts,' said Tolkien, 'because they were sad and the puzzling parts because they were puzzling, as children always do'. The youngest boy liked Gamboy because 'she was clever and the bad people in books usually aren't.' The tags of the Podger have become so popular [as] to be almost a nuisance in the house. In fine, you have scored a direct hit".

First edition, first printing. Original black cloth lettered and ruled in silver to the spine, in the dustwrapper with Sue Linney's illustration of the author to the front panel. A very near fine copy, presenting as unread, the binding square and firm, the contents clean throughout. A little pushed to spine tips, and slightly toned to the upper edge of the page block. In the dustwrapper, lightly creased to spine tips. Not price-clipped (£27.50 net to the front flap). A lovely copy.

George Barker must be the longest serving Faber poet. His first volume was published by the firm in 1935 when the poet was just twenty-two years old (freshly discovered by T. S. Eliot, who remained a staunch supporter and admirer), the final volume arriving in 1992, a year after the poet's death. In addition to the work published by Faber, this generous volume (weighing in at over eight hundred pages) contains the poems published by smaller presses, as well as previously uncollected work. It has been meticulously edited (at Barker's request) by Robert Fraser (who has since written the definitive biography) in collaboration with the poet. Reviewing the book on the Channel Four television programme, 'Book Choice' (12 June, 1987), Harold Pinter claimed that "read[ing] these poems is like watching somebody walking from line to line effortlessly, as if on water. No richer volume of collected poetry has been published in years." (Robert Fraser, 'The Chameleon Poet': A Life of George Barker' [London: 2001]).

First edition, first printing. Signed by the author. Original black cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. A fine clean, square and tight copy with a tiny bump to the top edge of the upper board. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the very lightly rubbed and creased dustwrapper that remains without fading, loss or tears. Not price-clipped (£9.95 net to the front flap).

Signed by the author in blue ink to the title page.

First edition of [in the words of the Poe bibliographer James R. Canny] "A phoney book & phoney drawings". Publisher's original black cloth with gilt illustration to the upper board. Illustrated with a tipped in portrait frontispiece and 17 full page illustrations of which only four drawings are actually by Aubrey Beardsley, the remaining 13 being forgeries previously exhibited, published (and probably drawn) by the New York bookseller H. S. Nichols. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm with a little wear at the extremities, the cloth and gilt bright and fresh. The contents with mild toning to the paper are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owners' marks.

An astonishing publication of fraud, forgery and incompetence (not limited to the compiler's inability to correctly spell the name of either Poe (everywhere), or Beardsley (in the spurious attribution of 'Self-portrait of Aubrey Bearsley dying').�Seemingly produced in a limited edition of 107 copies for members of The [fictitious] Aubrey Beardsley Club, this example is numbered 73 to the limitation page. Given the less than honourable production values, the limitation statement probably shouldn't be relied upon. (Lasner, Mark Samuels: A Selective Checklist of the Published Work of Aubrey Beardsley, 80c & 222; Heartman and Canny: A Bibliography Of First Printings Of The Writings Of Edgar Allan Poe).

First edition, first printing of the Bechers' first photobook. Inscribed presentation copy. With a typed letter signed. Publisher's dark blue cloth with white titles to the upper board and spine, in dustwrapper. Text in German, English and French. Illustrated with photographic plates in black and white throughout. An excellent near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth and titles bright and fresh. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owners' marks. Complete with the lightly rubbed dustwrapper that has a touch of toning and two tiny closed tears, without loss. Scarce in presentation state.

Inscribed in black ink by Bernard Becher on the front endpaper "for John - from Bernard and Hilla / 14.12.79". Loosely inserted is a typed letter signed by Bernard Becher to John Unkovic thanking him for all his help, advising "Hilla is still in New York. She is in Düsseldorf and we will then start work on the show for Pittsburgh... With the same post I am sending you one or our books". The recipient was a lawyer working for Reed, Smith, Shaw and McClay in Pittsburgh, who was assisting the Bechers with their participation in an upcoming group show "Exploration in the 70's" running from April 12 - May 4, 1980 at Pittsburgh Plan for Art. An original illustrated catalogue from the exhibition is included (with John C. Unkovic acknowledged as a contributor in the preface). A seminal photographic work and the first monograph on the Bechers. (Parr and Badger, vol II, 261; Roth 194-195).

First edition, first printing. Original pictorial laminated boards, in dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding firm, the boards ever so slightly bowed, the edges and corners lightly rubbed. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the lightly rubbed original pictorial dustwrapper which has a crease next to the spine on both the front and back panels, a short closed tear to the foot of the spine, and a second short closed tear to the top of the front panel. Not price clipped (3s. 6d. to the bottom of the front flap).

All first edition points present as called for in the Tony Summerfield Illustrated Bibliography Part Three (p.80).

First edition, first printing. Original pictorial laminated boards, in dustwrapper. A near fine copy copy with very minor rubbing and bumping to the board extremities. The contents are clean and bright throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the original lightly rubbed and creased pictorial dustwrapper which is a touch faded to the spine. Not price-clipped (3s. 6d. to the bottom of the front flap).

All first edition points present as called for in the Tony Summerfield Illustrated Bibliography Part Three (p.40).

First edition, first printing. Original blue cloth lettered and ruled in gilt to spine and front panel, in the publisher's original glassine wrapper. Frontispiece reproducing of a page from the diary. A very near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean throughout. In the glassine wrapper, a little rippled (as usual) to the spine panel. A sharp, attractive copy of a scarce volume in its original cloth.

Clough's poems, described by Robert Lowell as "the truest expression in verse of the moral and intellectual tendencies, the doubt and struggle towards settled convictions, of the period in which he lived", have taken time to achieve the attention they deserve. These diaries cover the poet's time at Balliol and then Oriel College between 1838 and 1848, when he resigned his fellowship at the university. As Alan G. Hill writes in his review of the volume ('The Review of English Studies', February 1992), "the Oxford Diaries [...], commonly held to enshrine the secrets of his inner life, are published [here] virtually in their entirety", allowing "the most formative phase of Clough's life [to be] opened up to fuller scrutiny". The volume is meticulously edited and introduced by Anthony Kenny.

First English edition, first printing. Original two-tone red and white cloth with green foil titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. Illustrated throughout with beautiful full page colour illustrations by Gerard Hoffnung. A near fine copy, the binding firm, the spine with a little light bumping. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the original illustrated dustwrapper which is a little rubbed and creased to the extremities and has some dustiness and light marking to the panels. Not price clipped (16s to the bottom of the front flap).

An English translation of Colette's text based on her libretto for the Ravel opera 'L'enfant et les sortilèges'. Hoffnung loved the opera from childhood and created illustrations for it of his own accord and was later able to show them to Colette, prompting her to adapt the libretto for a book.

First UK edition, first printing. Publisher's original pictorial laminated boards, without dustwrapper was issued. Illustrated with line drawings throughout by Michel Simeon. A lovely fine copy, the binding square and firm and the the fragile laminate film intact. The contents are clean and bright throughout and without previous owners' marks.

A superb example of a notoriously brittle production. The first British printing of this classic of children's literature and the first edition to feature illustrations by Michel Simeon, which remained the standard up until 1990. Quentin Blake first illustrated the book in 1995. The story was first published in America in 1961 by Alfred A. Knopf, with illustrations by Nancy Ekholm Burkert.

First UK edition, first printing. Publisher's original green cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in the Hans Tisdall illustrated dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding square and firm. The contents, with spotting to the edges of the text block spreading to a few page margins, are otherwise clean and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the very lightly rubbed dustwrapper that is slightly faded to the spine. Not price-clipped (16s to the front flap).

Lampedusa's only novel, published in Italian in 1958, a year after the author's death. The novel won the prestigious Strega Prize.

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original red boards and black cloth spine with titles, in dustwrapper with a photographic portrait of the author by Jerry Bauer to the rear panel.�An excellent near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean throughout and without previous owners' marks. Complete with the lightly rubbed dustwrapper that whilst without fading, loss or tears is mildly toned to the upper panel edges. Not price-clipped ($9.95 to the upper front flap).

"We tell ourselves stories in order to live. The princess is caged in the consulate. The man with the candy will lead the children into the sea. [...] Or at least we do for a while. I am talking here about a time when I began to doubt the premises of all the stories I had ever told myself [...]". So begins 'The White Album', one of the great American books of the 1970s and a fitting successor to 'Slouching Towards Bethlehem' (1968). The essays here survey the complexity and range of American culture in the late sixties and seventies, from the autobiographical title essay (covering Black Panther meetings, a Doors recording session, and buying dresses with Charles Manson's girls), through essays on Georgia O' Keefe and Doris Lessing, and a series of travelogues. "A slant vision that is arresting and unique [...] Didion might be an observer from another planet – one so edgy and alert that she ends up knowing more about our own world than we know ourselves" (Anne Tyler).

First edition, first printing (with 'Ihad' misprint on page 7). Original blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. A near fine copy, the binding square and tight, the contents with a neat ownership inscription to the front pastedown are otherwise clean throughout. Complete with the lightly rubbed and price-clipped original dustwrapper that is a little toned to the spine and has faint marks to the flaps.

(Gallup A64a).

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original red cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding firm and square. The contents, with a neat ownership inscription to the front pastedown, are otherwise clean throughout. Complete with the lightly rubbed dustwrapper that is a little toned to the spine. Not price clipped (12s 6d to the bottom of the front flap).

(Gallup A70a).

First edition, first printing. Original green cloth with titles in brown to the spine and an illustration in brown to the upper board, in dustwrapper. Top edge brown. Illustrated endpapers. Illustrated throughout in black and white by Caney. A very good copy, the binding firm, the spine and extremities a little faded, the spine tips and board corners lightly bumped. The contents, with a previous owner's inscription to the front free endpaper, are otherwise clean throughout. Complete with the original illustrated dustwrapper which is price-clipped, lightly rubbed and creased, and a little toned to the spine and extremities.

The seventh in the 'Jill' series of pony books.

Second impression. Original green paper-covered cloth with titles in black to the spine and an illustration in black to the upper board, in dustwrapper. Illustrated throughout in black and white by Caney. A very good copy, the binding square and firm, with a faint mark to the top edge of the lower board. The contents, with a few light spots to the text block edges, are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the original illustrated dustwrapper which is lightly rubbed and nicked, has a few short closed tears to the edges and a small chip to the foot of the spine. Not price clipped (8s 6d to the bottom of the front flap).

The fourth in the 'Jill' series of pony books.

First edition, first printing. Original orange cloth with titles in green to the spine and an illustration in green to the upper board, in dustwrapper. Top edge brown. Illustrated endpapers. Illustrated throughout in black and white by Caney. A very good or better copy, the binding firm and clean, with a tiny split to the cloth at the foot of the spine, the contents clean and bright throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the original illustrated dustwrapper which is a little rubbed, nicked and spotted and has a few short closed tears to the edges. Not price-clipped (9s 6d to the bottom of the front flap).

The fifth in the 'Jill' series of pony books.

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original brown cloth with green titles to the spine and an illustration to the upper board in green, in dustwrapper. Top edge green. Illustrated throughout in black and white by Caney. A near fine copy, the binding firm and square with minor bumping at the top corners. The contents, with one faint spot to the text block fore-edge, are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed and creased original dustwrapper which is a little darkened at the spine and has a couple of water marks at the front spine fold. Not price-clipped (9s 6d net to the front flap).

The eighth in the 'Jill' series of pony books.

First edition, first printing. Original orange cloth with titles in green to the spine and an illustration to the upper board, in dustwrapper. Top edge brown. Illustrated throughout in black and white by Caney. A fine copy, the binding square and tight, the contents clean throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the original dustwrapper which is a little rubbed to the extremities, a touch toned to the spine, and has some nicking to the head of the spine, a few tiny closed tears to the edges and a small chip to the top corner of the upper panel. Not price clipped (9s 6d to the bottom of the front flap).

The sixth in the 'Jill' series of pony books.

First edition, first printing. The author Gareth Adamson's copy. Original beige cloth with titles in red to the spine and upper board, in dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding firm and square, the cloth a little rubbed and toned. The contents, with Gareth Adamson's bookplate to the front pastedown, a previous owner's inscription to the front free endpaper, and spotting to the text block edges, are otherwise clean. Complete with the rubbed, nicked, creased dustwrapper that shows some quite heavy dustiness, particularly to the rear panel, and residue from tape (no longer present) to the underside. The spine is also a touch faded. Not price-clipped (7s. 6d. to the bottom of the front flap).

A collection of short stories from the highly regarded travel writer (and older brother of Ian Fleming), this example from the collection of the author Gareth Adamson who along with his with Jean is best known as the creators of the 'Topsy and Tim' children's book series.

First edition, first printing. Original orange cloth with silver titles to the spine, in the George Adamson illustrated dustwrapper. Endpapers illustrated with maps. A near fine copy, the binding firm, the spine with a very slight lean. The contents, with a couple of faint spots to the bottom of the text block edge and light offsetting to the half-title, are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the original lightly rubbed and creased dustwrapper which has a short closed tear to the top of the front panel. Not price clipped (12s. 6d. to the bottom of the front flap). An attractive example.

The sequel to Garner's acclaimed children's fantasy novel 'The Weirdstone of Brisingamen'.

First edition, first printing. Original two-tone blue and red cloth with silver titles to the spine, in the Charles Keeping illustrated dustwrapper. Illustrated throughout in black and white by Keeping. A near fine copy, the binding firm and clean, the spine with a slight lean. The contents, with a small bookseller's label to the front pastedown, are clean throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the original lightly rubbed dustwrapper which is a touch faded to the spine, has a couple of very short closed tears to the edge of the front panel and a little dustiness and slight indentations to the rear panel. Not price-clipped (13s. 6d. to the bottom of the front flap).

A children's fantasy novel set between modern Manchester and a fantasy world, influenced by British and Irish mythology.

Later issue of the 1912 first edition. Publisher's original paper covered boards, colour illustration onlay to the upper board, light brown cloth spine, titles and decoration in dark brown, in dustwrapper. Illustrated with 12 colour plates tipped onto grey laid paper, each with a captioned tissue guard, 12 full page black and white plates, and line drawings throughout the text by Florence Harrison. A superb near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the boards clean and fresh showing just minor rubbing at the extremities. The contents, with mild spotting to the prelims and page edges are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's marks. All twelve of the tipped in colour plates and tissue guards are in fine condition and without creasing. Complete with the very good rubbed and lightly creased original dustwrapper that has a has several closed tears (all without loss) to the fold corners, the bottom edge of the lower panel and across the lower spine. A lovely example of Florence Harrison's beautifully illustrated volume of fairy poetry.

Seemingly a later issue of the 1912 first edition, incorporating the sheets and illustrations of the first printing in a variant binding of quarter cloth and boards. The title page in this instance is without the date in roman numerals overprinted at the bottom of the title page requisite of the British first printing. The rare dustwrapper, we believe to be identical on both issues.

A lined exercise book used by the novelist L. P. Hartley during his time at Clifton College in 1910. The original limp pink card cover has been rebound in black cloth-covered boards with a label ('L. P. Hartley / School Notes') affixed to what is likely to be the rear panel (mistaken for the front panel). Hartley's name is elegantly (and diagonally) written in ink on the front cover with, in the right corner, "1 3/4 hrs form work". Also visible is a faint, doodled, face in profile. Hartley's name also appears, written in capitals, along the top edge of the page block, and his incomplete surname ('HARTLE') along the fore-edge. The greater part of this well-preserved book remains blank, with the first 26 and 28 pages respectively filled by Hartley from either end (the book flipped over when used from the rear). This partial use reflects the short time he spent at Clifton before moving on to Harrow. A fascinating Hartley curio, and a snapshot of English public schooling in the early years of the last century.

Early in 1910, aged fourteen, L. P. Hartley left Northdown Hill preparatory school in Thanet, where he had been a boarder for two years. In April, he started at Clifton College, on the outskirts of Bristol (it was the previous summer, spent in Norfolk with his Northdown friend Moxey, that was instrumental, over forty years later, in the writing of Hartley's 'The Go-Between'). He remained at Clifton just three months before moving to Harrow School the following autumn. Adrian Wright, the author's biographer, notes that "according to [Hartley], he developed a chesty cough [at Clifton] and Bessie [his mother] declared the place unhealthy; he would have to be moved elsewhere." Wright surmises that Hartley's removal "may have been brought about by some romantic or sexual involvement with another, perhaps older, boy", but there doesn't seem to be any evidence of this. It was during his time at Clifton, however, that Hartley met his lifelong friend, and fellow novelist, Clifford Kitchin. The present exercise book, kept by Hartley during his spell at Clifton, contains around 50 pages of notes in his neat hand (in ink and pencil). The front half (c. 26 pages) is given over to Greek history (Xenophon) and New Testament Greek; the Greek text to the left, the English on the right of each page. The rear half (flipped over) contains 28 pages on Latin history and literature (Caesar's 'Civil Wars', Virgil's 'Aeneid') and the Old Testament (in English); again, Latin on the left, English to the right. On the first page of the Latin portion, Hartley has written and underlined his surname, and toward the end of the same section, also underlined, "End of summer term 1910" (it was also the end of his time at Clifton). He was evidently an assiduous student; the notes are clear, neat and thorough. Later, at Harrow in 1915, "[h]is Classics form report [...] describes him as 'Fond of literature: has read widely: writes excellent essays, humorous and tasteful'". In the top right corner of one page, the name "Mr Peppin" is written lightly in pencil. A couple of pages later, the name is repeated, this time with initials, "A. H. Peppin", and again in the margin the same page, lightly, as "Mr Peppin (A.H.P)". Arthur Hamilton Peppin was director of music at Clifton between 1896 and 1915. Why Hartley repeatedly wrote Peppin's name around his notes on Xenophon is a mystery. In the left corner of a later blank page (the verso of another page of Greek notes) is a partially scribbled out note in pencil, "--- Phillips is a --", which may refer (no doubt negatively) to a fellow student (an Egbert Ivor Allen Phillips taught Maths and Science from 1911, a year later). (Adrian Wright, 'Foreign Country: The Life of L. P. Hartley' [London, 1996]; 'Clifton College: Foundation to Evacuation' ed. C. S. Knighton [Bristol, 2012])

First edition, first printing. Hardcover issue. Publisher's original blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. A near fine copy, the binding square and tight, the contents, with three small marks to the top edge of the text block, are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owner's inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed and creased dustwrapper that is a touch faded to the spine, and has been clipped and repriced to the lower front flap.

A selection of poems chosen by the author from his previous publications Death of a Naturalist, Door into the Dark, Wintering Out, and North. Issued simultaneously in hardback and paperback. (Brandes & Durkan A26a).

First edition, first printing. Signed and dated by the author. Publisher's original black cloth lettered in gilt to the spine, in the Pentagram designed dustwrapper. A fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents clean without inscriptions or stamps. All copies of this edition were bound without a front endpaper with the half title facing the pastedown. The dustwrapper, with a touch of fading to the red ruling on the spine, is otherwise bright and clean, without loss or tears. Not price-clipped (£5.95 net to the front flap).

Signed and dated "14.XI.84" by Seamus Heaney on the title page. 'Station Island', Heaney's first volume after 'Field Work' (1979) is centred around its title sequence, "a sequence of dream encounters with familiar ghosts, set on Station Island on Lough Derg in Co. Donegal" (from Heaney's note). It stages a series of encounters with figures from the poet's own past, as well as encounters with earlier Irish writers, most notably William Carleton, Patrick Kavanagh and, at the end, James Joyce. The sequence, which owes much to Dante and frequently calls upon the Italian poet's trademark terza rima, is one of Heaney's greatest achievements. On either side of the title sequence are a section of lyrics and 'Sweeney Redivivus', a sequence in which the poet's voice once again (after the earlier 'Sweeney Astray' [1983]) merges with "the seventh-century Ulster king who was transformed into a bird-man and exiled to the trees by the curse of St Ronan."

Second printing of the 1941 first edition. Original pictorial card covers. Illustrated in colour throughout by Philip Zec. A very good copy, the binding firm with toning and rubbing to the spine and extremities, a small chip to the head of the spine and a few faint marks to the front panel. The contents, with the odd faint spot and small rust marks to the last few pages from the staple binding, are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Publisher's printed price of 2/6 to the front flap.

A WWII propaganda book featuring Blossom, a barrage balloon, who grows up to join all the other barrage balloons over the cities and factories of Britain. Following her heroic deed capturing a Nazi aeroplane, she returns home to raise her baby balloons, living happily ever after.

First edition. Original card boards with a blue cloth spine and titles and an illustration to the upper board. Illustrated throughout by Philip Zec in black, green, and orange. An excellent near fine copy, the binding firm, the spine tips with some minor fraying, the boards a little rubbed and dusty. The contents, with offsetting from a small label to the front pastedown, are otherwise clean and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. A scarce title.

A children's WWII propaganda book about an anthropomorphic, newly made bomber called Wimpy who goes on a round the world trip, culminating in the heroic rescue of an American general from Japanese soldiers. By the same author and artist team as the similar 'Blossom the Brave Balloon'. Philip Zec was a long standing, passionately antifascist political cartoonist at the Daily Mirror who was reportedly on Hitler's list of those to be immediately arrested should Britain fall to Germany.

First edition, first printing. Original navy cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. Illustrated throughout with black and white plates. A lovely fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents, with offsetting to the free endpapers, are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the beautiful illustrated dustwrapper that is very lightly rubbed to the extremities but remains bright and without loss or tears. Not price clipped (21s to the bottom of the front free endpaper).

An in-depth and open minded investigation of the 'Moberly-Jourdain Incident' in which two English women claimed to have witnessed a time-travel event and ghostly apparitions, including that of Marie Antoinette, while visiting the grounds of the Palace of Versailles in 1901, an account of which they published in 1911 as 'An Adventure'.

First edition, first printing. Inscribed by the author. Original aqua blue paper-covered boards with gilt titles to the spine, in the beautiful Margaret Wetherbee illustrated dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding firm and clean with a very slight lean to the spine and light bumping to the corners of the upper board. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the original dustwrapper which is lightly rubbed, nicked and creased at the edges and has a couple of very short closed tears to the spine tips and a touch of fading to the spine. Not price-clipped (£1.85 to the bottom of the front flap). Uncommon, even more so inscribed.

Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper "To / Peggy / with love from / Jimmy / 15.5.73." and also signed to the copyright page with her full name. Known as "Jimmy" by her friends, James was a prolific author who gained notoriety after her first book 'Sleeveless Errand' was supressed in 1929 due to 'filthy language and obscene situations'. James was an acquaintance of Radclyffe Hall and had attended the trial of Hall's banned book 'The Well of Loneliness' only months before her own. James was a lesbian and spent many years living with her partner, the writer Barbara Beauchamp, though she does not touch on the theme of homosexuality in either her novels or her autobiography. 'The Bewildered Heart', a romance and family drama set in the South of France, is her penultimate novel, published when she was 77.

First UK edition. Publisher's variant green cloth binding. Two volumes, Demy 8vo. From the personal library of Professor Glen Schaefer, later bequeathed to the library of Cranfield University. Publisher's original green cloth lettered in gilt to spines. A very good set, the bindings square and firm, the contents clean. The spines are a touch faded (with a band of fading to the upper portion of the rear panel of Vol. I), rubbed and pushed to tips, with a few tiny nicks to upper tips. Brown adhesive residue from library labels to lower spines. The contents, with a bookplate marking the donation affixed to front pastedowns, in addition to small circular library stamps and barcode labels to the front endpapers, small bookseller's label affixed to the lower edge of front pastedown, and a previous owner's name written neatly in ink to the upper edges of endpaper in eah volume, are otherwise clean throughout. Magnetic labels affixed to rear pastedowns. Altogether, a sound example. The UK edition comprises the sheets of the American edition with British (Macmillan) cancel title pages.

When William James (older brother, by just one year, to novelist Henry) agreed in 1878 to write a psychology textbook for Henry Holt, he didn't anticipate that it would take him twelve years to complete, by which time he described it in a letter to Holt as "a loathsome, distended, tumefied, bloated, dropsical mass, testifying to nothing but two facts: 1st, that there is no such thing as a science of psychology, and 2nd, that W. J. is an incapable". The work, nevertheless (all 1300-odd pages of it) "has proved to be James's masterwork [, its] rich blend of physiology, psychology, philosophy, and personal reflection" granted the world such memorable ideas and phrases as "the stream of thought" [or stream of consciousness] and the baby's impression of the world "as one great blooming, buzzing confusion", as well as the seeds of James' theories of pragmatism and pluralism. The UK edition was issued by Macmillan the same year as the Holt edition. It is unclear if this green cloth variant pre- or post-dates the blue cloth version (the first Holt edition was bound in a different shade of green cloth). The US first impression can be distinguished by phrases appearing on two pages (Vol. I, p. 10; Vol. II, p. 101) that were amended in all later impressions and, it would seem, all UK editions. Professor Glen Schaefer, one of the previous owners of this set, ran the Ecological Physics Research Group at Cranfield University between 1975-87. ['The Letters of William James, ed. Henry James' (Boston, 1926); 'The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy'; Garrison-Morton.com 4977.2. Norman 1153].

First edition, first printing of the author's first book as Anna Kavan. Publisher's original grey cloth with black titles to the upper board and spine, in dustwrapper. An excellent near fine copy, the binding firm and cloth bright and fresh, the spine slightly rolled. The contents are clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the lightly rubbed and nicked dustwrapper that has a touch of toning to the spine and panel edges and remains without loss or tears. Not price-clipped (7s 6d net to the front flap). Very scarce.

A masterpiece of experimental fiction, this collection of 19 linked short stories marked a radical departure from the author's earlier work as Helen Ferguson. The outbreak of the Second World War meant that, despite excellent reviews, the book quickly faded into obscurity without further British publication in the author's lifetime. Peter Owen, prompted by the success and critical acclaim of Kavan's novel 'Ice' (1967) re-issued the collection posthumously in 1972. An American edition combining 'Asylum Piece' and 'I am Lazarus' (1945) was published by Doubleday in 1946.

First edition of the suppressed volume of illustrations produced to illustrate 'The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, the Complete 1922 Text' (1997). Publisher's original dark blue cloth with gilt titles to the spine. Plates 1 to 41 reproduce in full colour those of the 1926 'subscribers' edition of Seven Pillars of Wisdom; plates 42-127 are black and white photographs. A very near fine copy, the binding square and firm with just minor rubbing at the extremities. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owners' marks.

First edition, first printing. Signed limited edition, further inscribed by L. S. Lowry to Mervyn Levy. With Levy's original working manuscript for the introduction, also signed by L. S. Lowry. The book is in the publisher's limited edition deluxe binding of burgundy calf backed oatmeal buckram, with titles in gilt to the spine. Illustrated with 64 plates. An excellent very near fine copy, the binding square and firm with just a bit of rubbing at the spine tips and edges. The contents are clean and bright throughout. A lovely copy.

The first monograph on L. S. Lowry, compiled and introduced by the artist's friend and respected critic Mervyn Levy. Issued in a limited edition of only 100 copies, numbered and signed by L. S. Lowry to the limitation page at the rear. This copy is number 2 and was retained by the author Mervyn Levy; copy number 1 was given to L. S. Lowry. Further inscribed by the artist in blue ink on the title page "With all good wishes / L. S. Lowry / I am glad you wanted to do this / work - and did it". Together with a burgundy cloth-bound notebook: Mervyn Levy's autograph working manuscript and notes relating to the published introduction and production of the printed work over 80 pages in pencil. Signed and dated "5 May 1963" in blue ink at the conclusion by L. S. Lowry. A unique group.

First edition, first printing. Inscribed presentation copy. Publisher's original navy blue cloth backed red paper covered boards, the author's initials stamped in blind to the upper board, titles in gilt to the spine, in the Muriel Nasser designed dustwrapper. An excellent near fine copy, the binding square and firm with some softening at the spine tips and small patch of fading to the upper edge of the front board (consistent with the tear in the dustwrapper). The contents, with the ownership name of Christer Olsson in blue ink to both of the front endpapers, and an inscription "Dave Styles made the photograph of Cormac" believed to be in the hand of the author's wife Anne DeLisle on the rear endpaper, are otherwise clean throughout. Complete with the very good rubbed and nicked price-clipped dustwrapper that has a tear with associated creasing at top left corner of the upper panel and some fading of the red titles to the spine.

Inscribed by the author in blue ink on the title page "For Christer / With Best Wishes / Xmas -73 / Cormac McCarthy". A rare contemporary presentation copy of McCarthy's third novel. Basis for the 2013 film adaptation directed by James Franco. Provenance: Christer Olsson (presentation inscription); private collection (Sweden).

Inscribed presentation copy, specially bound for the author. Full black calf, stamped in gilt to the upper board, titles in gilt and the Ghanian flag to the spine. Illustrated with black and white photographs throughout. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the contents with just a few isolated foxing spots are otherwise clean and bright throughout. Very scarce in signed presentation state, a significant association copy.

Inscribed by the founding Prime Minister and President of Ghana to his private secretary in blue ink on the front endpaper "To Erica / with love / P.M. / Kwame Nkrumah / 16.12.65". Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972) was the giant of African politics, the Gold Coast be becoming the first African nation to gain independence from European dominion, paving the way for others to follow. His striving for decolonization and African unity puts him on a pedestal with Mandela, as one of the two great Africans of the twentieth century.� Erica Powell (1921-2007) was an unlikely participant in, and eyewitness to, the shaping of modern Africa. A white Englishwoman who went to the British Gold Coast in West Africa as a secretary in the early 1950s, she was to become the private secretary to Kwame Nkrumah, the founding president of Ghana, the first African country to win independence from Great Britain, in 1957. Powell was Nkrumah's devoted assistant for more than a decade, until shortly before he was overthrown in a coup in 1966. During that time she was his almost constant companion in Ghana and accompanied him in state visits all over the world, as he was fêted as a pan-African hero, particularly in the communist bloc. The present, specially bound and inscribed copy was presented by Nkrumah to Powell as she left Ghana for Christmas leave in 1965. The coup happened in February before she returned and they never saw each other again. Nkrumah never returned to Ghana, but he continued to push for his vision of African unity. He lived in exile in Conakry, Guinea, as the guest of President Ahmed Sékou Touré, who made him honorary co-president of the country. He died of prostate cancer in April 1972 at the age of 62 while undergoing treatment in Romania. Provenance: Erica Powell O.B.E. (presentation inscription from the author); given by Powell to David Stables (1994); private collection.

First edition. Inscribed presentation copy, specially bound for the author. Full black calf, stamped in gilt to the upper board, titles in gilt to the spine. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm. The contents, with mild spotting to the text block edge are otherwise clean throughout. Very scarce in signed presentation state, a significant association copy.

Inscribed by the founding Prime Minister and President of Ghana to his private secretary in blue ink on the front endpaper "To Erica / with love / P.M. / Kwame Nkrumah / 16.12.65". Kwame Nkrumah (1909-1972) was the giant of African politics, the Gold Coast be becoming the first African nation to gain independence from European dominion, paving the way for others to follow. His striving for decolonization and African unity puts him on a pedestal with Mandela, as one of the two great Africans of the twentieth century.� Erica Powell (1921-2007) was an unlikely participant in, and eyewitness to, the shaping of modern Africa. A white Englishwoman who went to the British Gold Coast in West Africa as a secretary in the early 1950s, she was to become the private secretary to Kwame Nkrumah, the founding president of Ghana, the first African country to win independence from Great Britain, in 1957. Powell was Nkrumah's devoted assistant for more than a decade, until shortly before he was overthrown in a coup in 1966. During that time she was his almost constant companion in Ghana and accompanied him in state visits all over the world, as he was fêted as a pan-African hero, particularly in the communist bloc. The present, specially bound and inscribed copy was presented by Nkrumah to Powell as she left Ghana for Christmas leave in 1965. The coup happened in February before she returned and they never saw each other again. Nkrumah never returned to Ghana, but he continued to push for his vision of African unity. He lived in exile in Conakry, Guinea, as the guest of President Ahmed Sékou Touré, who made him honorary co-president of the country. He died of prostate cancer in April 1972 at the age of 62 while undergoing treatment in Romania. Provenance: Erica Powell O.B.E. (presentation inscription from the author); given by Powell to David Stables (1994); private collection.

First edition. Publisher's original red paper covered boards with pictorial paper onlay to the upper board, titles in white to the upper board and spine. Illustrated in colour throughout. A better than very good copy, the binding square and firm with a little rubbing at the edges of the slightly faded spine. The contents are complete and with the exception of the odd finger mark, clean and bright throughout. One page has a short closed tear to the fore-edge, not affecting the text or illustration. An attractive example in entirely original condition

With the correct pictorial endpapers that indicate a first printing. (Linder p. 430).

Publisher's original brown paper covered boards with pictorial paper onlay to the upper board, titles in white to the upper board and spine. Illustrated in colour throughout. A better than very good copy, the binding square and firm with a little rubbing at the edges. The contents are complete and without loose or torn pages. The pages remain clean and bright, without previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. An attractive example in entirely original condition

The first two printings, issued in October and November 1911 are believed identical.�(Linder p.429).

Publisher's original green paper covered boards with pictorial paper onlay to the upper board, titles in white to the upper board and spine. Illustrated in colour throughout. A very good copy, the binding square and firm with a little rubbing at the edges of the spine, the corners bumped with minor wear. The contents are complete and without loose or torn pages. They remain clean and bright throughout, without previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. An attractive example in entirely original condition

The first three printings, issued in September and December 1907 are believed to be identical. (Linder p.426)

Second impression of the first UK edition. Signed by Paul Robeson. Publisher's original burgundy cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. A very good copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth with some fading of the spine and dulling of the gilt. The contents, with a previous owner's bookplate to the blank front endpaper, a retailer's stamp to the bottom of the title page and some spotting to the prelims are otherwise clean throughout. Complete with the rubbed and nicked dustwrapper that is toned to the spine and edges of the lower panel but without loss or large tears. Not price-clipped (10s 6d net to the front flap).

Inscribed by the author in blue ink on the title page "Best wishes / Paul Robeson". The multi-talented musician, actor, professional sportsman and civil rights activist's "manifesto-autobiography".

First edition. Signed limited edition. Publisher's full blue leather binding with gilt titles to the spine. Single page introduction at the front, and a humorous 4 page glossary of book collecting terms at the rear of the book. Illustrated with 60 full page colour plates each with a printed title. A lovely fine copy, the binding square and firm, without fading or wear. The contents are clean throughout and without previous owners' marks. Loosely laid in is the original publisher's prospectus for the book.

This deluxe issue was limited 150 copies, each numbered and signed by Ronald Searle to the limitation page. This example is number 113.

First edition. David Garnett's copy. Publisher's original blue cloth with white paper label printed in black to the spine. Portrait frontispiece with tissue guard. A better than very good copy, the binding square and firm with just a little bumping and light wear at the spine tips. The cloth remains bright and fresh. The contents, with the ownership signature of the author David Garnett on the front endpaper, and a small later owner's monogram to the reverse, are otherwise clean throughout.

A posthumous collection, which includes the few war poems written before Thomas's death at the Battle of Arras in 1917. This example with the ownership signature of the Bloomsbury Group author (and conscientious objector) David "Bunny" Garnett who at the time of publication had published his first novel 'Dope Darling' under the pseudonym Leda Burke.

First edition, first printing. Original blue card dustwrapper around sewn card covers. A very good copy, the binding firm, the wrappers slightly toned to the extremities and a faint bump to the top corner that continues internally. The contents are clean throughout and without inscriptions or stamps. Not price-clipped (3s. 6d. to the bottom of the front flap).

The Welsh author's second volume of poetry, following 'The Stones of the Field' (1946). Scarce in the first printing, this collection, comprising 31 poems, was reprinted later the same year.

First edition, first printing. Publisher's dark blue cloth with gilt titles and decoration to the spine, in dustwrapper. Top edge navy. Fold out map to the rear. A near fine copy, the binding square and firm, the cloth and gilt bright. The contents, with a small stain to the text block fore-edge, are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owners' inscriptions or stamps. Complete with the very lightly spine faded dustwrapper that is a little rubbed and creased to the extremities. Not price clipped (£4.95 to the bottom of the front flap).

Tolkien's creation story and Norse-style epic history of the world in which The Lord of the Rings is set. Compiled and edited by his son, Christopher.

First edition, first printing. Original grey cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. Illustrated throughout with colour plates and black and white head pieces by Watkins-Pitchford. A very good or better copy, the binding square and firm with a little fading to the spine and top edges of the boards and faint ghosting to the spine from the dustwrapper. The contents, with a little spotting to the text block edges and a couple of faint spots to the front free endpaper, are otherwise clean throughout and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the price-clipped, lightly rubbed, nicked and creased original dustwrapper which has a few short closed tears at the edges and some small water stains at the spine.

A beautifully illustrated eulogy on the natural history of British watersides.

First edition, first printing. Original green paper-covered boards with silver titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. Generously illustrated throughout with full page and head and tailpiece black and white scraperboard illustrations by Watkins-Pitchford. A very good copy, the binding square and firm, the contents, with a tiny bookseller's label to the front pastedown, some extremely faint spotting to the pastedowns, and a gift inscription to the half title, are otherwise clean throughout. Complete with the original dustwrapper which is lightly rubbed, nicked and creased to the edges and has two short closed tears, one to the bottom edge of the rear panel and another to the top edge of the front panel, and a little toning and spotting at the extremities. Not price-clipped (10s 6d to the bottom of the front flap).

A beautifully illustrated story of a fox's life.

First edition, first printing. Publisher's original brown cloth with gilt titles to the spine, in dustwrapper. With four drawings by Vanessa Bell and six other illustrations. A very good copy, the binding firm and square with mottling to the cloth at the spine and board edges, as often seen with this title. The contents, with spotting to the text block edges, some faint foxing early in the text, and light offsetting to the half title, are otherwise clean and without previous owners' stamps or inscriptions. Complete with the lightly rubbed, toned and spotted original dustwrapper which has a few very short closed tears to the head of the spine which have been repaired with two small pieces of tape to the underside.

A unique biography of Elizabeth Barrett Browning's cocker spaniel, Flush, which blends fact and fiction to serve as a biography of both Flush and Barrett Browning, as well as being a vehicle for Woolf to experiment with her 'stream of consciousness' device from the perspective of an animal, and also presents an unusual form of social commentary. The first edition was issued on 5 October 1933 in a print run of 12,680 copies. (Kirpatrick A19a).