British Books

London: Sidgwick & Jackson, Ltd., 1920. seventh impression. 8vo, 7 1/2 x 5 inches (191 x 127 mm); pp. clix (memoir) + 160 (poems); frontispiece portraits of the author at the beginn...

London: Hodder & Stoughton Limited, 1938. First Edition. 8vo. 7 1/4 x 4 3/4 in. (182 x 121mm); pp. 356 + iii. Grey cloth binding with black lettering, dampstain to the tail of the ...

Author: Caxton, William - Higden, Ranulf (Ranulphus). Title: Polycronicon. (Polychronicon). Publisher: [Westminster]: William Caxton, 1482. De...

This is an antique book 'The Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan. An English, bound and illustrated novel, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1860. A Christian allegory - and never out of print - The Pilgrim's Progress was written in the 17th century and is considered as the first novel written in English. Initially written when John Bunyan (1628 - 1688) was in prison for holding mass outside of the Church of England's purview, it was finished in two volumes and later translated into over 200 languages, including Dutch, German and Swedish. Victorian period reprint of the original 17th century volumes Displaying a desirable aged patina and in lightly time-worn, intact order Tastefully bound in dark green Morocco with gilt lettering and textured fore edge...

Skelton, John The Tunning of Elinor Rumming, a Poem London: Printed for Isaac Dalton, and sold by W. Boreham at the Angel in Pater-Noster-Row, 1718. Second Edition. Octavo, 7 5/8 x 4 5/8 in. (194 x 117 mm). pp. [8], 31, [1]. From the title page: by Skelton Laureat. Original unbound, rebound in modern pink paper over boards, leather spine label with gilt title. Some toning to last few leaves.boards All text is legible, some spot tanning throughout. In near fine condition. Rare. [ESTC N46064 ] ESTC shows two U.S. copies only: Henry E. Huntington Library and Yale University Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library; and two British Isles copies only: Oxford University Bodleian Library (both copies). This poem was printed multiple times in the 16th century, including by William Caxton's successor, Wynken de Worde. Rare as a separate volume. John Skelton (c.1463 - 1529) was a remarkable, unusual poet and priest, who had been the tutor of the Tudors, Prince Arthur...

Italian Master Drawings: From the Wolfgang Ratjen Collection 1525--1835, Personal Property of Herbert Kasper. Published by Paul Holberton Publis...

Mallet at Bourdon House, London March 9, 2007, Sotheby's. 1095 lots photographed in color and described. The sale follows Mallett’s review of the company’s future in the light of the...

Egerton, M. & George Hunt Here and There over the Water: Being Cullings in a Trip to the Netherlands. (The Field of Battle and Monuments - Waterloo, &c.) by Omnium Gatherum. London: George Hunt, 1825. 4to; 10 x 8 3/8 in. (253 x 212 mm); (2), 34 pp, 28 plates by George Hunt after M. Egerton, including 24 hand-colored engraved and aquatint plates and four plates (21-24) of Waterloo memorials uncolored. Modern half morocco binding, title gilt, spine sunned. Occasional offsetting from plates, otherwise a fine copy. [Abbey Travel 188; Tooley 207]. An uncommon aquatint work, illustrating a regency excursion to the Low Countries. Egerton was a humorous designer and social satirist active in London between 1820 and 1829, who supplied drawings to members of the print trade (including the Hunts and Pyall) for engraving. For this project he begins his tour at Ostend, where he was stuck for a day as it was a Sunday. He took time to describe the people's custom-house hotel and the 'Purgatory Gate' attached to the church (destroyed in a fire later in the nineteenth century) before traveling the next day by 'Great Coach' and barge to Ghent, observing the 'Belgic Military' various 'Diligences' and peasant costumes before continuing onto Brussels. Here he examined the Market Pavilion of the Prince of Orange before traveling on the next leg of the journey, which takes the artist once more to Ghent, where he describes and illustrates the Exchange. Egerton then returns to Brussels to view the Palace of Schoonenberg and then on to the main reason for his excursion: a trip to Waterloo, taking in all the main sites of the battle, including graves and monuments. Michael Egerton flourished between 1821 and 1828 and produced a number of caricatures, mainly of social comedy, sporting scenes, and jokes on the weather; almost all his work was engraved by George Hunt. OCLC records six copies in North America at Harvard Yale New York Public Library, Brown Claremont College, and the Art Institute of Chicago. "A tourist (Egerton) soars high above birds and the Channel, a vignetted strip of water which a steam-packet and sailing vessel are traversing. He is propelled by steam from a big Patent kettle strapped to his back; from a large spout in the form of a bird's head black smoke drifts behind him. He holds out in his right hand a pair of lazy-tongs, in his left he holds up a plaid travelling-bag marked O.G. He wears a round flat peaked cap, with fashionable white cuffs and collar to his shirt, and white strapped trousers. His legs drift behind him." [The British Museum, number A tourist (Egerton) soars high above birds and the Channel, a vignetted strip of water which a steam-packet and sailing vessel are traversing. He is propelled by steam from a big Patent kettle strapped to his back; from a large spout in the form of a bird's head black smoke drifts behind him. He holds out in his right hand a pair of lazy-tongs, in his left he holds up a plaid travelling-bag marked O.G. He wears a round flat peaked cap, with fashionable white cuffs and collar to his shirt, and white strapped trousers. His legs drift behind him.] Plates in order: 1. Frontis. Patent. [Flying over the Channel]. 2. Quay, Custom House & Hotel - Ostend. 3. The Purgatory Gate, Ostend. 4. Post Office - Ostend. 5. [Dandy chimney sweeper...

Adrian Alan Catalog. First edition hardcover. Adrian Alan was established in 1964, Adrian Alan is an international family run business and one of the world...

A picture history of English pottery by Griselda Lewis. London: Hulton Press, 1956. First edition hardcover with no dust jacket. A history of pottery in England with 418 illustrated examples. It includes pieces with a simple crudity and rustic simplicity to pieces of extreme sophistication. The book covers periods from the first Bronze Age to post WWII with an emphasis on the humorous quality of many. There are medieval jugs...

This is an an antique copy of Religio Medici by Sir Thomas Browne. An English language book, published by Macmillan & Co, London in the early 20th century, dated 1915. A seventeent...

Mallett Millennium, Fine Antique Furniture and Works of Art, first edition by Lanto Synge. Mallett Milliennium, 2006, Antique Collectors' Club. ...

Sotheby's: Important English Furniture including the Horlick Collection, London 5th June 2007. First edition softcover with 256 on 303 pp. ...

Author: SHELLEY, Percy Bysshe. Title: Hellas. A Lyrical Drama. Publisher: London: Charles and James Ollier, 1822. Description: first edition the Huth copy. 1 vol., a large ...

The poetical works of Percy Bysshe Shelley in Four Volumes, 1882. London: Reeves and Turner, 1882. Revised edition with important, exceptionally bound gilt decorated Moroccan hardcov...

This is a set of 6 First Edition novels by Minette Walters. An English language, author signed hard-bound collection of crime writing, dating to the turn of the 21st century. An award-winning author, Minette Walters (September 1949) has written over 15 titles since her first novel The Ice House...

TWO VOLUMES each a FIRST EDITION, with the ORIGINAL RED CLOTH COVERS BOUND-IN With Forty-Six Illustrations by Harry Furniss. ** Contains a RARE LOOSE SHE...

AUTHOR: KIDGELL (John) TITLE: The Card. PUBLISHER: London: for the Maker & sold by J. Newberry, 1755. DESCRIPTION: FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 2 vols., 6-5/8" x 4-1/4", hand col...

Flight and Barr Worcester Porcelain 1783-1840 by Henry Sandon. Woodbridge: The Antique Collectors' Club, 1992. Hardcover and dust jacket with glassine ...

This is a large antique reference book, Rotuli Litterarum Clausarum. Printed in Latin and English, a later-bound House of Commons record, dating to the William IV period, published ...

Sotheby's Summer Travel The New Grand Tour, Aspen, Basel and More The Dukes Of Northumberland 500 Years Of Collecting, June-July 2014 London and New York. Published by Sotheby's, 2014. 1st Ed softcover. Beautifully illustrated catalog with great information on museums, books on travel, summertime attractions in NYC, Aspen Art...

This is a large antique reference book, Index To The Rolls of Parliament. Printed in English, a later-bound House of Commons record, dating to the William IV period, published circa...

This is an antique copy of Modern Practical Farriery, by W.J. Miles et al. An English language, hard bound non-fiction book, dating to the late Victorian period, circa 1900. Full title, as follows: Modern practical farriery - a complete guide to all that relates to the horse, its history, varieties, and uses; breaking, training, feeding, stabling, and grooming; how to buy, keep and treat a horse in health and disease, etc.; forming a complete system of the veterinary art, as at present practised at the Royal Veterinary College, London / by W.J. Miles, M.R.C.V.S.L.; with numerous illustrations and a series of anatomical plates, engraved from original drawings from nature, by Benjamin Herring, Esq.; to which is added an essay on the diseases and management of cattle, sheep, and pigs by J.L. Lupton, M.R.C.V.S. Intact order, with some light marks but remarkably presentable for age and intended use - occasional pressed leaves throughout Superb frontispiece in colour, redolent of contemporary William Morris...

The New Pewter Marks and Old Pewter Ware by Major C.A. Markham. Published by Reeves and Turner, London, 1928. 2nd Ed hardcover with protective mylar cover. Profusely illustrated with...

Christie's, important European Furniture, sculpture and tapestries, including, reflected glory, a Private collection of magnificent mirrors, Thursda...

Chinese ceramics: The Koger Collection by John Ayers. Sotheby's Publications, New York London, 1985. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. In 1973 Mr and...

Sotheby's: The West Wycombe Park Sale June 1998.First Edition softcover with 1442 lots photographed in color and fully described, with results. This house was the site of some filming of Downtown Abbey...

AUTHOR: GEISEL, Theodore: (Dr. Seuss) (Chuck Jones). TITLE: How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Original 1966 Animation Production Drawing). PUBLISHER: MGM - Turner Entertainment Co.,...

AUTHOR: DICKENS, Charles. TITLE: The Personal History of David Copperfield. (20 Parts in 19). PUBLISHER: London: Bradbury and Evans, May 1849 - November 1850. DESCRIPTION: FIRST ...

AUTHOR: HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel (Arthur Rackham). TITLE: A Wonder Book. PUBLISHER: London: Hodder& Stoughton, Ltd., 1922. DESCRIPTION: SIGNED LIMITED EDITION. 1 vol., 11-3/8" x 9-1/...

Beautiful illustrated Edition of this humorous short story in verse with Cruikshank's illustrations including frontispiece. This second edition was issued the same year as the first, with the imprint Alfred Miller...

Garden Ornament by Gertrude Jekyll and Christopher Hussey. 2nd edition printed in Great Britain 1927.

AUTHOR: POLLARD, Alfred W. ( Arthur Rackham ). TITLE: The Romance of King Arthur And His Knights of The Round table. PUBLISHER: London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., 1917. DESCRIP...

VERY RARE, complete run (2 issues) of the illustrated George Cruikshank's Magazine, with all four folding plates by Cruikshank. In a handsome custom case. London: D. Bogue, 1854. 8...

AUTHOR: WAGNER, Richard (Arthur Rackham). TITLE: Siegfried & The Twilight Of The Gods. PUBLISHER: London: William Heinemann, 1911. DESCRIPTION: FIRST TRADE EDITION. 1 vol., 10-1/...

Harunobu, by Lubor Hajek, and translated by Hedda Vessela Stranska. 1st Edition: Spring Books, London, 1958. Softcover with Silk tied binding, pictorial softcover laid in to green cl...

THE EQUILIBRIAD by William Samsons with illustrations by Lucian Freud. London: Hogarth Press, 1948. Limited Edition. 8vo, 8 5/8 x 5 5/8 in (220 x 140...

Sotheby's Art at Auction: The Year in Review 1995-96. Published by Conrad Octopus Ltd., 1996. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. This annual reference w...

European and Chinese Porcelain, Objects of Art, English and French Furniture: The Property of H.J. Joel, Esq. Removed From 15 Grosvenor Square, W.1, Which was Sold at Christie's on T...

GOLDEN COCKEREL PRESS Suckling, Sir John A Ballad Upon a Wedding; With Engravings by Eric Ravilious Waltham Saint Lawrence: Golden Cockerel Pr...

Christie's, important European Furniture, sculpture and carpets including the Beit collection of early European bronzes, December 2006. 163 pp. Soft cover. Color and B&W plates throu...

James Rosenquist by Carter Ratcliff, Scott Rothkopf and Sarah Bancroft. Publisher Haunch of Venison, 2006. 1st Ed hardcover (1/2500) exhibition catalog. For an Exhibition at Haunch o...

The Old World House: Its Furniture and Decoration, In two volumes, by Herbert Cescinsky. Published by The Macmillan Company, London, 1924. A pair of 1st ed hardcovers with gilded top edge. Herbert Cescinsky was an architect and writer active in the early 20th c. He was particularly interested in the development of English furniture and wrote profusely on the subject. This work is an interesting look at the furniture and decorations found in the interior designs in older houses in England. The author discusses oak chairs and tables, marqueterie furniture...

Christie's: Parham Park. Pulborough, West Sussex. May 1996. Auction catalogue. 184 pp. 1052 lots. Color photos. With results. Property from Parkham Park Tr...

A rare set in three volumes of Moss Harris and Sons Catalogue & Sons; Index of Old Furniture and Works of Decorative Arts. From late 16th century-early...

AUTHOR: BOLTON, Edmund. TITLE: Nero Caesar, or Monarchie Depraved. An Historical Worke.... By the Translator of Lucius Florus. PUBLISHER: London: by T. S. for Thomas Walkly, 1624....

Rare first issue of the first edition for Bernard Shaw’s first published novel. Shaw, George Bernard. An Unsocial Socialist. London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowery & Co., 1887. First Edition, First Issue. Crown 8vo, 7 3/8 x 5 inches (188 x 126 mm); [4] 256 pp.; original red cloth, stamped in gilt on spine and covers, a little rubbed and soiled, spine slightly faded, hinges weak; dark brown endpapers; foxing on first 2 and last 2 sheets. First edition, first issue with "Author of The Confessions of Byron Cashel's Profession etc. etc." to title and no appendix. Ink inscription of Mrs Walter Crane on half title. [Broad, p. 87; Magill p. 965] This is Shaw's first published novel. It had been serialized in "To-Day, A Monthly Magazine of Scientific Socialism" between March and December of 1884. This printing was promptly canceled, and supposedly only samples for booksellers and travelers had been sent out with this title-page. Having attended a meeting by political economist Henry George in September 1882, Shaw became fascinated with Socialism, read Marx and became a member of the Fabian Society in September 1884, writing their first manifesto later that year. He believed in a more moderate, non-violent form of socialism and believed that socialist ideals could best be achieved by infiltration of people and ideas into existing political parties. In the early 1880s Shaw also began his literary career by writing music and art criticism and began writing novels, of which An Unsocial Socialist was the first published. But as his career as a playwright started taking off in the latter part of that decade, his political activities also decreased. Shaw later explained that he had intended An Unsocial Socialist as the first section of a monumental depiction of the downfall of capitalism. Gareth Griffith, in a study of Shaw's political thought, sees the novel as an interesting record of conditions, both in society at large and in the nascent socialist movement of the 1880s. [Griffith, Gareth. Socialism and Superior Brains: The Political Thought of George Bernard Shaw. London: Routledge, 1993]. The story centers on Sidney Trefusis, a millionaire socialist, who leaves his bride on their wedding day because he fears his passion for her will get in the way of his plans to overthrow the British government. Sidney vanished "underground"--Disguises himself as a common laborer called "Mengels"--and infiltrates Alton College, a girl's school where well-bred young women are "fitted and fatted to be put on the marriage market". His plan: take over the school and plant the seed of radical socialism into the fertile brains of the future consorts of cabinet ministers and kings. What he doesn't plan on is the presence of one Agatha Wylie, a sixth-form rabble-rouser, who falls hopelessly in love with both Sidney and his politics, and just happens to be his deserted wife's cousin. Love triangles, mistaken identities, Marx, Engels, pistols and the proletariat jostle for position. (via LibraryThing) An unusual ASSOCIATION COPY with ink inscription and address of "Mrs Walter Crane" [ie Mary Crane] on the half title. Walter Crane married Mary Andrews in 1871 and after a sojourn in Rome returned to London in 1873 living first in Wood End and then at Beaumont Lodge, Shepherd's Bush (the address she has written in this book). In 1914 Mary...

An Exhibition Catalogue of Chinese Glass from The Hope Danby Collection. London: S. Marchant and Sons, 1999. First edition hardcover with dust jacket. 44 pp. A beautiful catalogue fo...

A lovely Whittington Press edition of POEMS by Seamus Heaney, Melvyn Bragg, D. J. Enright, U A. Fanthorpe, Michael Foot, Duncan Forbes, John Fuller, Seamus Heanery, Michael Horovitz, Ted Hughes, Adrian Mitchell, Jenny Joseph, P J Kavanagh, Laurei Lee, Ptere Levi, Brian Patten, Lawrence Sail, Jon Silkin, Jon Stallworthy, Charles Tomlinson. POEMS FOR ALAN HANCOX Andoversford: Whittington Press, 1993. First, Limited Edition. Royal 8vo, 11 x 7 7/8 in. (280 x 200mm); pp. 41; Two wood engravings by Miriam Macgregor. Number XXXVIII of 50 specially-bound, signed opposite the title-page by each of the 19 contributors, with signed proofs of the two engravings on Zerkall cream wove paper (265 x 190 mm) in a pocket at the back. Set in Goudy Modern and printed in black, the wood-engravings in brown, on Zerkall cream smooth laid paper on the Heidelberg press. Quarter-bound at the fine Bindery in brown Oasis and Whittington printed paper-covered boards, gilt spine titling, headbands, top edge gilt, mauve Hahnenühle endpapers; matching paper-covered slipcase, reinforced in brown buckram at the head and foot. A fine copy in a fine slipcase. [Butcher 118] Condition: fine. An elegant tribute to Alan Hancox was assembled by Alan Tucker...

Christie's 12/2010 The Barratt Collection from Crowe Hall, Bath. 1st Ed softcover auction catalog. Christie’s offered the contents of one of the finest Regency villas in Bath, Crowe Hall, at the King Street salerooms on Thursday, 16 December 2010. Crowe Hall was the home of Sir Sydney Barratt (1898-1975), a chemist whose advice to Sir Winston Churchill and the War Cabinet from 1942 to 1944 helped to secure the development of the ‘bouncing bomb’. The sale was expected to raise in excess of £1.8 million and included Old Master and British pictures...

A copy of the auction catalogs for Christie's on-site sale at Wateringbury Place, Maidstone, Kent. This is both of the catalogs of the sale, the Principle Rooms, which was held on Ma...

Mallett catalog from 1995. Hardcover catalog with dust jacket illustrated in color with all the objects fully described. Typical Mallett catalog showcasing important furniture, porce...

Keating William H Narrative of an Expedition to the Source of St Peter's River Lake Winnipeek Lake of the Woods &C Performed in the Year 1823 by Order of the Hon J C Calhoun Secretary of War Under the Command of Stephen H Long U S T E London, Geo B Whittaker, 1825. First English Edition Two volumes 8vo 8 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches, 220 x 140 mm. Vol. 1 pp. xvi, 458; Vol. 2 pp. vi, 248, 156, Appendix. Contemporary half calf with marbled boards; five raised bands, gilt rules, decorative motifs, and title on black morocco label spine; hinges and edges rubbed; front hinge of Volume 1 cracked internally; t .e. g., rest uncut. Pages are bright and bindings tight, light foxing on a few pages and typical offset opposite plates. Vol. 1 includes 3 copper engravings etched by R Fenner, a large folded map 12 3/8 x 21 in / 313 x 534 mm, engraved by R Penny. Two-inch tear to one fold, otherwise solid and some offset; and a page of sheet music with "Dog Dance of the Sioux" and "Chippewa Scalp Dance" Map of the Country Embracing the Oute of the Expedition of 1823, Commanded by Major S H Long. Vol. 2 includes four engravings by R Fenner, 2 of waterfalls and 2 of shells, plus three fold-out calendars and a 9-page "Vocabulary of Indian Languages" in the Appendix. Bookplate of William B Claflin Jr in both volumes with ink inscription "Legacy Grace E Reed Dec 20 1921" (Sabin 37137; Howes 5570; Field 949) The book is dedicated to James Monroe, 4th President of the United States, and its outstanding plates depict Native Americans their environment and customs. "The work is almost a cyclopædia of material relating to the Indians of the explored Territory Nothing escaped the attention or record of the gentlemen who accompanied the expedition and their statement regarding the customs character and numbers of the Sioux and Chippeway tribes are among the most valuable we have of those people Six of the plates are representations of their practices habitations or features includes comparative vocabulary of the Sawk Sioux Chippeway and Cree languages. – Thomas W Field...

Rowlandson,Thomas & Combe, William The English Dance of Death; in Twenty-Four Monthly Numbers, from the designs of Thomas Rowlandson accompanied by metrical illustrations by the author of "Doctor Syntax...

Regency Furniture Designs (from Contemporary Source books) 1803-1826 by John Harris. Published by London / Alec Tiranti, 1961. 1st Ed hardcover with slipca...

Sotheby's: Japanese Works of Art, Thursday 21st March 1991. Sotheby's 1st Ed softcover. 382 lots photoed in B&W and color.

Christie's London: The Nigel Bartlett Collection Chimneypieces and Architectural Elements 9/14/05. Softcover 1st Ed auction catalog with results. This catalog consists of 225 pages w...

Rubens a master in the making by David Jaffe. Published by The National Gallery, London, 2005. 1st Ed softcover exhibition catalog. Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) was a prodigious art...

Mallett catalog from 2010. Softcover catalog in color with all the objects fully described. Typical Mallett catalog of great furniture, porcelain etc. Published after the closure of ...

A beautiful Zaehnsdorf-bound collection of the poetry of Algernon Charles Swinburne (1837 – 1909) whose works often handled Victorian taboos, such as lesbianism, sado-masochism, and ...