Literature

Campbell, John Lord

The Lives of the Lord Chancellors, The Lives of the Chief Justices of England

London : John Murray, 1845-69.

Finely bound set of Campbell’s works. Octavo, 13 volumes, bound in three quarters morocco over marbled boards, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, raised bands. In near fine condition.

Durrell, Lawrence

Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive, Clea. [The Alexandria Quartet].

London : Faber and Faber, 1960-1961.

First editions of each of the novels comprising the author’s acclaimed Alexandria Quartet, each signed by Lawrence Durrell. Octavo, original cloth, 4 volumes. Justine is a presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the half-title page, “Signed for Christopher hope he finds her good company! Lawrence Durrell 1985.” Balthazar, Mountolive, Clea are each signed onContinue reading "Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive, Clea. [The Alexandria Quartet]."

MacKay, Charles

Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds.

London : Richard Bentley, 1841.

First edition of this classic study of crowd psychology, a compilation of human folly throughout the ages. Octavo, three volumes, illustrated. Bound in three quarter calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, raised bands. With an autographed letter signed by Charles MacKay in 1867 laid in. In near fine condition with light rubbingContinue reading "Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds."

Various Authors

Olympia Press Collection.

Paris : Paris, Various Dates.

First editions of a selection of works from Olympia Press, which was based in Paris and specialized in English-language books which could not be published elsewhere without risking legal action. Octavo, 44 volumes, original wrappers. In near fine condition.

Defoe, Daniel

The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Serious Reflections During the Life And Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe.

London : Printed for W. Taylor at the Ship in Pater-Noster-Row, 1719-1720.

Exceedingly rare complete first edition set of all three books in Defoe’s classic Robinson Crusoe series, including the scarce first and only printing of the third book in the series. Octavo, three volumes bound in full crushed red morocco by Francis Bedford with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raisedContinue reading "The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe; Serious Reflections During the Life And Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe."

Dickens, Charles

Master Humphrey’s Clock.

London : Chapman and Hall, 1840.

First edition in book form of this collection of short stories which originally appeared as a weekly periodical of the same name. Large octavo, 3 volumes bound in three quarter morocco by W. Pratt with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, illustratedContinue reading "Master Humphrey’s Clock."

Boccaccio, Giovanni

The Decameron.

London : Isaac Jaggard, 1620.

First edition in English of Boccaccio’s masterpiece, published by Jaggard published three years prior to his printing of the Shakespeare First Folio. Boccaccio’s masterpiece. Folio, 2 volumes, bound in full morocco by Riviere, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, all edges gilt, errata leaf at end of volume one, B1 is a cancellans, woodcutContinue reading "The Decameron."

Translated by Edward Fitzgerald. Illustrated by Will Pogany

Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

London : George G. Harrap & Co. Ltd., n.d..

Elaborately bound example of Pogany’s finely illustrated Rubaiyat. Octavo, bound in full crushed red morocco by Banytun Riviere with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, quadruple gilt ruling, fleuron cornerpieces, and central gilt arabesque to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers,Continue reading "Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam."

Gurnah, Abdulrazak

Paradise.

London : Hamish Hamilton, 1994.

First edition of the work by the Nobel Prize-winning author. Octavo, original boards. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket, small ownership name to the front free endpaper.

Dickens, Charles

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

London : Oxford University Press, 1968.

Elaborately bound Oxford illustrated edition of one of Dickens’ most popular novels. Octavo, bound in full crushed blue morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles,Continue reading "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby."

Frayn, Michael

The Trick Of It.

London : Viking, 1989.

First edition of of Frayn’s reverential novel. Octavo, original boards. Association copy, inscribed by the author on the title page, “For Sally with best wishes from Michael Frayn 15 August 1989.” The recipient, British photojournalist Sally Soames, worked for The Sunday Times from 1968 until 2000 and was highly regarded for her exclusively black andContinue reading "The Trick Of It."

Machiavelli, Niccolò

Discorsi Di Nicolo Machiavelli Pra La Prima Deca Di Tito Livio [bound with] Il Prencipe di Nicolo Machiavelli. [Machiavelli’s Discourses bound with The Prince].

Palermo : Apresso gli heredi d'Antoniello degli Antonielli, 1584 [London: John Wolfe].

Rare 16th century printing of John Wolfe’s famed fictitious Italian editions of Machiavelli’s fundamental works of political history and philosophy. Octavo, elaborately bound in full crushed morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and central motifs to the front and rear panels, giltContinue reading "Discorsi Di Nicolo Machiavelli Pra La Prima Deca Di Tito Livio [bound with] Il Prencipe di Nicolo Machiavelli. [Machiavelli’s Discourses bound with The Prince]."

Moore, Thomas

The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore. [Fore-Edge Painting].

London : Frederick Warne and Co., n.d..

The Albion edition of Moore’s poetical works. Octavo, bound in full polished tree calf with elaborate gilt tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, morocco spine label lettered in gilt, gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, tissue-guarded engraved frontispieceContinue reading "The Poetical Works of Thomas Moore. [Fore-Edge Painting]."

Kazantzakis, Nikos

Zorba The Greek.

Athens : Plateia Syntagmatos, 1946.

First Greek edition, preceding all other editions of the author’s most popular novel and basis for the Oscar-winning film starring Anthony Quinn. Octavo, bound in contemporary cloth. Signed by Nikos Kazantzakis on the copyright page. In near fine condition. First editions of Zorba The Greek are of legendary scarcity.

Blishen, Edward. Illustrated by Brian Wildsmith

Oxford Book of Poetry for Children.

London : Oxford University Press, 1963.

First edition of Blishen and Wildsmith’s acclaimed illustrated compilation of children’s poetry. Quarto, bound in full crushed red morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles,Continue reading "Oxford Book of Poetry for Children."

Waugh, Evelyn

Decline and Fall.

London : Chapman & Hall, 1962.

First revised edition of Waugh’s first published novel. Octavo, bound in full crushed green morocco by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, double gilt ruling and fleuron cornerpieces to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edgesContinue reading "Decline and Fall."

James, Henry

The Portrait of a Lady.

London : Macmillan and Co, 1881.

First edition, first issue, one of only 750 copies of the last and most accomplished work of fiction during James’ apprentice years. Octavo, three volumes, original cloth. In near fine condition with volume one rebacked with original spine laid down. Housed in a custom half clamshell and chemises box. Rare and desirable, especially in thisContinue reading "The Portrait of a Lady."

Baldwin, James

Going to Meet the Man.

New Yrok : The Dial Press, 1965.

First edition of Baldwin’s singular collection of short stories. Octavo, original half cloth. Signed by the author on the second free endpaper, “God bless, James Baldwin.” Near fine in a very good dust jacket. Author photograph by Martha Holmes. Rare signed.

Goldoni, Carlo

Le Commedie Del Dottore Carlo Goldoni Avvocato Veneziano Fra Gli Arcadi Polisseno Fegejo Prima Edizione Fiorentina Dell’ Autore correta, riveduta, ed ampliata.

Firenze : Eredi Paperini, 1753-1755.

First corrected Florentine edition of Goldoni’s comedic works. Octavo, 12 volumes, bound in full vellum, frontispiece portrait of Goldoni by Pitteri after Piazetta. In good condition. Armorial bookplates and ownership inscription. A rare set published during Goldoni’s lifetime.

Milne, A. A. Decorations by Ernest Shepard

Now We Are Six.

London : Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1960.

Finely bound example of the third book in Milne’s beloved Pooh series. Octavo, bound in three quarter morocco over marbled boards by Sangorski and Sutcliffe with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, decorations by Ernest Shepard. In near fine condition.

Coetzee, J.M

Diary of a Bad Year.

Melbourne : Text Publishing, 2007.

First Australian edition of this groundbreaking novel. Octavo, original boards. Signed by J.M. Coetzee on the title page. Near fine in a fine dust jacket. Cover design by Chong.

Roubayyat de Hafiz et d’Omar Khayyam. [The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám].

Paris : Francis LeBegue, [1921].

Finely bound example of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám. Octavo, bound in full levant morocco with gilt titles to the spine, gilt Art Deco style decorations to the front and rear panel, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt, decorated borders and initials. One of 300 copies. Text in French. Translated byContinue reading "Roubayyat de Hafiz et d’Omar Khayyam. [The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám]."

Markham, Robert. [Kingsley Amis]

Colonel Sun: A James Bond Adventure.

London : Jonathan Cape, 1968.

First edition of the first James Bond continuation novel published after Ian Fleming’s 1964 death. Octavo, original cloth, cartographic endpapers. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Tom Adams.

Dahl, Roald

Two Fables.

Middlesex : Viking, 1986.

Signed limited edition of Dahl’s short fable collection. Octavo, original half leather with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, illustrated by Graham Dean. One of a limited edition of 300 books signed by Dahl and published by Viking in honor of Dahl’s seventieth birthday, this is number 267. In near fine condition.