Tennyson, Alfred

Idylls of the King. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : Strahan and Co., Publishers, 1869.

Finely bound example of Tennyson’s “long-meditated great task” which brought him to fame; decorated with a concealed fore-edge painting of the great court of Trinity College (Baugh, 1388). Octavo, bound in full pebbled green morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raise bands, gilt ruling and scrolled cornerpieces toContinue reading "Idylls of the King. [Fore-edge Painting]."

Shakespeare, William

The Works of William Shakespeare.

Stratford-on-Avon : The Shakespeare Head Press, 1904.

The Shakespeare Head Press limited edition of the complete works of William Shakespeare. Octavo, ten volumes bound in full crushed levant morocco by Brentanos, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, allContinue reading "The Works of William Shakespeare."

Eaglesfield, Barry [Ettore Bugatti]

The Bugatti Book.

London : Motor Racing Publications Limited, 1958.

First edition, early printing of this work on Bugatti. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands, gilt topstain, marbled endpapers, illustrated. In near fine condition.

Darwin, Charles

The Descent of Man.

London : John Murray, 1871.

First edition of both volumes (with “transmitted” the first word on p. 297 in the first volume; in the second, the printer’s note on the verso of the half-title, errata on title verso, and the postscript leaf after p. viii. both volumes have the January ads). Octavo, two volumes, original green cloth with gilt titlesContinue reading "The Descent of Man."

Stanley, Henry M

My Kalulu, Prince, King, and Slave: A Story of Central Africa.

London : Sampson, Low, Marston, Low, and Searle, 1873.

First edition of Stanley’s popular classic. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt, illustrated with 16 engravings.

Carson, Rachel

Silent Spring.

Boston : Houghton Mifflin Company, 1962.

First edition of Carson’s landmark work. Octavo, bound in half morocco, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. Drawings by Lois and Louis Darling. In fine condition.

Erasmus, Desiderius. Translated by Sir Thomas Chaloner

In Praise of Folie: Moriae Encomium. A book made in latine by the great clerke Erasmus Roterodame. Enlightened by Sir Thomas Chaloner, knight. [In Praise of Folly].

London : Thomas Berthelet, 1549.

First edition in English of one of the most notable and popular works of the Renaissance which played an important role in the beginnings of the Protestant Reformation and swiftly brought its author international fame. First printing with ‘latine’ and the printer’s initials ‘TB.’ to the title page. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant moroccoContinue reading "In Praise of Folie: Moriae Encomium. A book made in latine by the great clerke Erasmus Roterodame. Enlightened by Sir Thomas Chaloner, knight. [In Praise of Folly]."

Plato; Translated by Floyer Sydenham

Plato’s Dialogues.

London : W. Sandby, 1767-1779.

First edition set contains all eleven parts, although without all the individual dated titles. Part one is signed on the dedication page by the translator Floyer Sydenham as usual, and includes a sheet laid in with manuscript instructions to the binder. Quarto, three volumes, bound in contemporary full calf, armorial bookplate. Dated title pages inContinue reading "Plato’s Dialogues."

Opera Omnia. Ed. Jac. Sirmond (Volumes 1-4), and J. Garnier (Volume 5).

Paris : Sebastian and Gabriel Cramoisy, 1682-84.

A fine set of the works of Theodoretus, Bishop of Cyrus, beautifully painted on each panel. Quarto, five volumes, bound in full 17th-century vellum, both covers on each volume fully painted with a scene from the life of Christ, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, brown and black morocco lettering pieces. The first fourContinue reading "Opera Omnia. Ed. Jac. Sirmond (Volumes 1-4), and J. Garnier (Volume 5)."

Trollope, Anthony

The Last Chronicle of Barset.

London : Smith, Elder, 1867.

First edition in original 32 weekly parts of the final novel in Trollope’s acclaimed Barsetshire series. Octavo, original color pictorial wrappers. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. In very good condition. Rare in complete form.

Heywood, Thomas

The Life of Merlin, Sirnamed Ambrosius. His Prophesies, and Predictions Interpreted; and their truth made good by our English Analls. Being a Chronological History of all the Kings, and memorable passages of this Kingdome, from Brute to the Reigne of our Royall Soveraigne King Charles.

London : Printed by J. Okes for Jasper Emery, 1641.

First edition of “one of Heywood’s most interesting pot-boilers” (Pforzheimer). Octavo, bound in three quarter polished calf over marbled boards, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, all edges gilt, wood-engraved frontispiece portrait of Merlin “generally attributed to [Wenzel] Hollar” (Wither to Prior 448), woodcut initials, headpieces and tailpieces. In very good condition, lacking as usualContinue reading "The Life of Merlin, Sirnamed Ambrosius. His Prophesies, and Predictions Interpreted; and their truth made good by our English Analls. Being a Chronological History of all the Kings, and memorable passages of this Kingdome, from Brute to the Reigne of our Royall Soveraigne King Charles."

Kingsley, Charles

Two Years Ago.

Cambridge : Macmillan and Co, 1857.

First edition of the author’s classic work, containing some of his most profound passages of descriptive imagery. Octavo, three volumes bound in three quarters morocco, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In very good condition.

Goldsmith, Oliver. With Prefatory Memoir by George Saintsbury

The Vicar of Wakefield.

London : John C. Nimmo, 1886.

Finely bound example of one of the most popular and widely read novels among Victorians. Octavo, bound in full crushed levant morocco by Bayntun Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, elaborate gilt ruling to the front an rear panels, central morocco onlay to the front panel,Continue reading "The Vicar of Wakefield."

Bunyan, John

The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World to that Which is to Come.

London : Routledge, Warne and Routledge, 1861.

Finely bound edition of one of the most significant works of religious English literature. Octavo, bound in full crushed teal levant morocco by Bayntun Bindery, gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, radiant cornerpieces and central morocco onlay ofContinue reading "The Pilgrim’s Progress From This World to that Which is to Come."

Cervantes, Miguel de

The History of the Valorous and Witty Knight Errant Don Quixote of the Mancha.

London : Macmillan and Co, 1908.

Finely bound English translation of Cervantes’ masterpiece. Octavo, three volumes, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. In fine condition. Translated by Thomas Shelton. A very attractive set.

Joyce, James and Henri Matisse

Ulysses.

New York : Limited Editions Club, 1935.

First illustrated edition of Joyce’s landmark Ulysses, one of only 250 examples signed by James Joyce in pen and Henri Matisse in pencil, with 26 illustrations by him, one of the 20th-century’s most desirable illustrated books, combining the work of two great modern artists. Large quarto, original gilt-stamped pictorial brown cloth, original slipcase. In fineContinue reading "Ulysses."

Churchill, Winston S

The First Collected Works of Sir Winston Churchill: Centenary Limited Edition.

London : Library of Imperial History In association With Charles Scribner's Sons and The Hamlyn Publishing Group Limited, 1973-76.

Centenary limited edition of Churchill’s complete Works, one of only 3000 sets produced, with the additional four volumes usually not present. Octavo, original full vellum, 38 volumes, stamped with the Churchill arms, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, original dark green slipcases, also gilt-stamped with the Churchill coat of arms. In near fine to fine conditionContinue reading "The First Collected Works of Sir Winston Churchill: Centenary Limited Edition."

Hemingway, Ernest

The Garden of Eden.

New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1986.

First edition of this classic novel by Hemingway. Octavo, bound in full morocco by the Harcourt Bindery, gilt titles and ruling to the spine, raised bands, gilt ruled to the front and rear panels, gilt signature to the front panel, inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt. In fine condition. An exceptional presentation.

Byrd, Richard Evelyn

Little America: Aerial Exploration in the Antarctic The Flight to the South Pole.

New York and London : G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1930.

Signed limited edition of Byrd’s account of his first expedition to the South Pole. Octavo, original publisher’s half parchment over blue boards, with 74 illustrations and maps. Author’s Autograph Edition, one of one thousand numbered copies signed by the author and publisher on the limitation leaf, this is number 139. In very good condition.

Rhodes, James Ford [William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt]

The McKinley and Roosevelt Administrations 1897-1909.

New York : The Macmillan Company, 1922.

First edition of Rhodes’ authoritative work on the McKinley and Roosevelt Administrations. Octavo, bound in full morocco by Zaehnsdorf, gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, illustrated. In fine condition.

Churchill, Sarah [Winston S. Churchill]

A Thread in the Tapestry.

London : Andre Deutsch, 1967.

First edition, early printing of the author’s deeply moving eulogy of her father, Sir Winston Churchill. Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. In fine condition.

Thompson, Carlos. [Sir Winston Churchill]

The Assassination of Winston Churchill.

Buckinghamshire : Colin Smythe, 1969.

First edition, signed limited issue of the author’s in-depth investigation into the allegations put forth in Rolf Hochhuth’s ‘Soldiers, An obituary for Geneva’ (1967). Octavo, bound in three quarters morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe, gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers. One ofContinue reading "The Assassination of Winston Churchill."

Longford, Elizabeth. [Winston Churchill]

Winston Churchill: Authorized by the Winston Churchill Foundation.

London : Sidgwick & Jackson, 1974.

First edition of Elizabeth Longford’s photographic retrospective of the life of Sir Winston Churchill, authorized by the Winston Churchill Foundation. Quarto, bound in three quarters morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe , gilt titles and ruling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, top edge gilt, marbled endpapers, illustrated with numerous photographs. ForewordContinue reading "Winston Churchill: Authorized by the Winston Churchill Foundation."

Kipling, Rudyard

The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book. [Fore-edge Painting].

London : Macmillan, 1978.

Finely bound edition of both volumes of The Jungle Book, with an exceptional fore-edge painting. Octavo, bound in full morocco by Bayntun Bindery, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands, all edges gilt, engraved frontispiece with tissue guard present. Illustrated by J. L. Kipling, W.H. Drake and P. Frenzeny. In near fine condition. Rare andContinue reading "The Jungle Book and The Second Jungle Book. [Fore-edge Painting]."