British Books

A smartly bound, first edition copy of Anthony Burgess' celebrated novel, his jeu d'espirit, 'A Clockwork Orange'. With a signed letter from the author loo...

First edition, published by Rodney Phillips & Co, 1949. A very important book of Picasso's sculptures beautifully photographed by the renowned French photographer Brassaï, a close f...

A fantastic, bright set of this Nonesuch limited edition of William Shakespeare's works. The first edition of this Nonesuch set. A super set with much more even colour than usually seen. With the text based on the first folio, with quarto variants and a selection of modern readings. It follows the text of the First Folio faithfully, in its misprints and intermittent use of a comma for a full stop at the close of an uninterrupted speech. The editors note describes in detail the intention and treatment regarding substantive errors between the early editions. Numbered 60 of 1600 copies of this work, which have been designed by Francis Meynell and printed by Walter Lewis, printer to the University at the Cambridge University Press. The Nonesuch Press specialised in limited edition and private press. They were founded by Francis Meynell, his second wife Vera Mendel and their friend David Garnett. Their aspiration was for their publications to be aligned with the same aesthetic standards as the private press movement. They were unusual as they used a small Albion press...

A wonderful copy of Virginia Woolf's breakout story collection 'Monday or Tuesday'. Being one of a small 1,000 copy print run. Illustrated, with four woodcuts by Vanessa Bell, Woolf's elder sister. Bell designed a number of dust jackets for books published by the Hogarth Press...

A beautifully bound first edition copy of A A Milne's noted story collection 'House at Pooh Corner'. A wonderful copy of this beloved work, housed in a custo...

AUTHOR: DICKENS, Charles. TITLE: A Christmas Carol. In Prose. Being A Ghost Story of Christmas. PUBLISHER: London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION SECOND ISSUE. ...

A beautifully illustrated and very smartly bound, limited edition of Edgar Allan Poe's works. In a lovely Bickers binding. Limited edition, numbered 14 of 150 copies printed with pr...

A lovely set of all thirteen volumes of 'The Yellow Book' literary quarterly, published at the end of the nineteenth century, with numerous plates throughout each volume. Complete a...

Within the pages of this captivating art book, Aubrey Beardsley's iconic illustrations come alive, showcasing his unique and provocative style that challenged societal norms and capt...

First Edition, Second Impression. of An address delivered before the Virgil Society on the 16th of October 1944. London: Faber and Faber, 1945. 8vo; 8 1/4 x 5 3/8 inches (218 x 13...

AUTHOR: BRONTE, Charlotte, Emily and Anne. TITLE: The Novels of Charlotte, Emily, & Anne Bronte. PUBLISHER: London: J. M. Dent & Sons, Ltd., 1922. DESCRIPT...

A handsome set of the works of Alexander Pope (1688-1744) the famous English satirist and poet. Pope suffered various health issues throughout his life but with a fierce spirit and work ethic managed to produce a large volume of significant work. The volumes appear to retain their original full calf...

A signed, first edition of this iconic and definitive cocktail recipe book. Signed by the author to Arthur Strange with a presentation inscription wishing them 'all the best'. His signature to page 6 with the phrase "Here's How". With the errata slip to page 25 as called for. A first edition, first impression, with the pagination to the preliminary leaves. The Savoy Cocktail...

A 19th century nipping or copying press by Robert Ritchie of Edinburgh. Marked: PATENT ROBERT RITCHIE EDINBURGH.

A stunning full calf fine binding of the first editions of these important works by prolific and renowned writer Sir Walter Scott. Sir Walter Scott (177...

A collection of eleven volumes of the Country Life magazine, uniformly bound in an attractive Sangorski and Sutcliffe signed quarter morocco. A sumptuous...

An uncommon, first edition copy of T S Eliot's famous poetry collection regarding feline psychology and sociology. This anthology forms the basis of Andrew L...

From the library of John A. Spoor an elegantly bound Rubáiyát by Club Bindery. Omar Khayyám, Translated by Edward Fitzgerald. Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám; The Astronomer-Poet of Persia. Rendered into English Verse. London: Bernard Quaritch, 1872. Third Edition. 8vo, 8 1/4 x 6 inches (210 x 153 mm); xxiv, 36, (xiv) pp. Beautiful dark maroon morocco binding by Club Bindery 1892 (gold stamped on bottom of inside cover), gilt titling and gilt fillets on turn-ins and board edges, marbled endpapers, t.e.g. Pictorial bookplate of John A. Spoor 1921 on inside front cover by Emery Walker. Elegantly printed with text within decorative frames on each page. Spine lightly rubbed, small tear to the inside front endpaper. [Potter, 137] Condition: Near Fine Edward Fitzgerald continually revised and rearranged his version of the Rubáiyát, which was first published privately by the author in 1859, through four distinct editions during his lifetime. This third edition settled on 101 quatrains (as opposed to 75 in the first edition and 110 in the second), which is how it solidified. 500 copies were printed. A RARITY. In this third edition the translator is not credited on the title page, nor is the introductory text. Fitzgerald said of his Persian translations that they were "All very well, but very little affairs..." (from the Bibliographical Note in the 1926 Shakespeare Head Press edition, which we are offering, inventory #416) This copy bears the bookplate of Chicago business mogul John A. Spoor. An avid book collector, he assembled a notable and impressive book collection during the late 19th and early 20th century, which was auctioned in 1939 by Parke-Bernet New York over the course of 6 days. The Morgan Library holds a number of books with the Spoor bookplate in its collections. This bookplate was engraved by Emery Walker (1851 – 1933), an engraver, publisher and photographer active in the Arts and Crafts movement, whose work in type design inspired the evolution of private presses in the UK, among them William Morris' Kelmscott...

AUTHOR: CHURCHILL, Winston. TITLE: The World Crisis. 1911-1918 / The Aftermath / The Eastern Front. PUBLISHER: London: Thornton Butterworth, Ltd., 1923-1931. DESCRIPTION: ALL FIR...

A scarce first edition of John Smith's study of the prehistorical monument Stonehenge, a early work on the subject, illustrated with three folding plates. The scarce first edition o...

AUTHOR: RUSKIN, John. TITLE: Unto This Last. Four essays on the first principles of political economy. PUBLISHER: Hammersmith: The Doves Press, 1907....

AUTHOR: CAMDEN, William. TITLE: The Historie of the Life and Death of Mary Stuart Queene of Scotland. PUBLISHER: London: by John Haviland, and are to be sold by William Sheares, 1...

Don McCullin Published by Jonathan Cape, London, 2001 First edition Hardcover with dust cover. Don McCullin's iconic images come to life, capturing the raw essence of human emoti...

First Edition. In two Quarto volumes, with copious color illustrations. London: R. Ackermann, printed by L. Harrison & J. C. Leigh, 1814. 13 x 10.63...

ROWLANDSON'S FIRST and most famous color-plate book. FIRST EDITION, in 3 volumes, with 104 brilliantly-colored acquaint plates. London: 1808-1810, Large 4to; 13 x 10 7/16 in. (330 ...

John Piper Published by The Tate Gallery in 1983 This John Piper Art Book offers a glimpse into his creative brilliance and ever-evolving artistic expression. From vibrant landscape...

AUTHOR: Dickens, Charles. TITLE: A Christmas Carol. PUBLISHER: London: William Heinemann, 1964. DESCRIPTION: 1 vol., 7-15/16" x 5-13/16", illustrated with full page color p...

AUTHOR: POLIDORI, John William. TITLE: The Vampyre; A Tale. PUBLISHER: London: for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones, 1819. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION SECOND SHERWOOD ISSUE IN ORIGINAL ...

First edition, published by The Art Book Company, 1979 This detailed survey on tubular steel furniture documents the developments in style, ...

AUTHOR: PLANCHE, James Robinson: Pierre-Frederic-Adolphe Carmouche. TITLE: The Vampire; or, Bride of the isles, A Tale, founded on the popular superstition of Caledonia.... From wh...

AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A.. TITLE: Winnie The Pooh. PUBLISHER: London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1926. DESCRIPTION: SPECIMEN PAGE. 1 page folded, 7-1/8" x 4-5/8", printed in red and bl...

"But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve" AUTHOR: SHAKESPEARE, William. TITLE: Othello, The Moor of Venice. A Tragedy. As it hath divers times Acted at the Globe, and at the B...

This unique book is very rare and terrific edition which goes back to late 19th century, approximately 1870-1875. This is one of two volumes of Complete Works of W. Shakespeare. This...

The first editions in book form of three of Charles Dickens' best known novels. With 'David Copperfield' and 'Dombey and Son' present in early issues, and 'Little Dorrit' in its firs...

Walton, Izaak, with Charles Cotton. The Complete Angler or the Contemplative Man’s Recreation… Edited by Sir Harris Nicolas. London: Nattali and Bond, 1860. Second Nicolas Edition. 2 volumes, royal 8vo. Presented in modern half red Moroccan leather and cloth bindings with raised bands, gilt titles, tooling, and stamps to the spine. Illustrated throughout. Presented is a 1860 printing of Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton’s famous treatise on fishing, The Complete Angler, or the Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Published by Nattali and Bond in London, this beautifully bound two volume set was the second edition to be edited by Sir Harris Nicolas. The volumes are beautifully bound in modern half red Moroccan leather boards with gilt titles and illustrated throughout with engravings from 27 of the most prominent artists of the time. The Complete Angler was first published in 1653 by Richard Marriot of St Dunstan-in-the-West out of London, UK. Izaak Walton continued to add to the original book for a quarter of a century. A significantly enlarged edition appeared in 1655, and the last edition supervised by Walton, published in 1676, included additional fly-fishing material written by his friend Charles Cotton. The 1676 edition has been among the most often reprinted books in English literature. The Compleat Angler...

Walton, Izaak, with Charles Cotton. The Complete Angler or the Contemplative Man’s Recreation… Edited by Sir Harris Nicolas. London: Chatto and Windus, 1887. Fourth Nicolas Edition. Small 8vo. Presented in modern full brown Moroccan leather with raised bands, gilt titles, and tooling to the spine, stunning illustrated gilt title to the front. Top edge gilt. Illustrated throughout. Presented is a 1887 printing of Izaak Walton and Charles Cotton’s famous treatise on fishing, The Complete Angler, or the Contemplative Man’s Recreation. Published by Chatto and Windus in London, this beautifully bound volume was the fourth edition to be edited by Sir Harris Nicolas. The book is presented in modern full brown Moroccan leather boards with gilt titles and illustrated throughout with wood engravings from 27 of the most prominent artists of the time. The Complete Angler was first published in 1653 by Richard Marriot of St Dunstan-in-the-West out of London, UK. Izaak Walton continued to add to the original book for a quarter of a century. A significantly enlarged edition appeared in 1655, and the last edition supervised by Walton, published in 1676, included additional fly-fishing material written by his friend Charles Cotton. The 1676 edition has been among the most often reprinted books in English literature. The Compleat Angler...

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...

AUTHOR: MILTON, John. TITLE: Paradise Lost. A Poem In Twelve-Books. The Third Edition. Revised and Augmented by the same Author. PUBLISHER: London: by S. Simmons, 1678. DES...

First Edition, published by Christie's Realty International, London, 2008. Accompanies the auction Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale, Tuesday 13th May, 2008. This beautif...

AUTHOR: DODGSON, Charles L (Lewis Carroll). TITLE: Symbolic Logic. Part I Elementary. PUBLISHER: London: Macmillan & Co., 1896. DESCRIPTION: SECOND EDITION PRESETATION COPY...

First Edition, published by Seagull Books, Sussex, England 1992. A survey of Isamu Noguchi's practice by celebrated sculptor Tim Threlfall, who explores some of the elements - such as collaboration, the environment and humanism - that are crucial to Noguchi’s work. The author examines Noguchi’s work with all its multiplicity of meaning from his wonderful Akari to his set designs for the choreographer Martha Graham. In particular, his many conversations with the artist allow great insight into this most complex of modern sculptors...

AUTHOR: CHURCHILL, Winston S. TITLE: Marlborough His Life and Times. PUBLISHER: London: George G. Harrap, 1933, 34, 36, 38. DESCRIPTION: ALL FIRST EDITIONS. 4 vols., 9-1/16...

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...

Giovanni Bellini by Philip Hendy and Ludwig Goldscheider. ?Publisher Phaidon; 1945. 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. With 6 tipped in color plates and 122 b&w plates. Giovanni Bell...

This set of forty leather bound William Shakespeare plays were presumably done in England in approximately 1920 in the period Art Deco style. Each miniature book from this set measures approximately one and a half inches in height, and vary in thickness depending on the play, but are bound in black leather. The books come with a miniature wooden library styled bookcase...

Treasures of Catherine the Great. Published by Hermitage Development Trust and Christie's, 2000. 1st Ed softcover. Catherine the Great, famed 18th-...

Important English Furniture including the Robert Harman Collection of Late 18th and Early 19th century Tea Caddies, Sotheby's London Friday 12 November 1999. 1st ed softcover auction...

AUTHOR: MILNE, A. A.. TITLE: A fine ALS mentioning Christopher Robin and Pooh. PUBLISHER: Chelsea, 1931. DESCRIPTION: AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED. 1 page, in ink, single sided,...

AUTHOR: WILDE, Oscar. TITLE: The Sphinx. PUBLISHER: London: Elkin Mathews & John Lane at The Sign of The Bodley Head, 1894. DESCRIPTION: FIRST EDITION. 1 vol., 8-1/2" x 7",...

First Edition, published by Jonathan Cape, London, 1994. This truly amazing book, published to accompany an exhibition at the International Center of Photography in New York, collects the fashion work of legendary photographer William Klein. Showing his early and inventive work for Vogue and others as he explored and developed styles and techniques, we can see a different side to his work than his radical street photography, and how that in turn would feed back into his fashion work and film work through the years. Covering a broad span of his career with fashion and Classic, subversive films like 'Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?' and 'Mister Freedom...

I, Me, Mine is an autobiographic memoir by the English musician George Harrison, formerly of The Beatles. It was first published in 1980 as a hand-bound, limited edition book by Genesis Publications, with a mixture of printed text and multi-colour facsimiles of Harrison's handwritten song lyrics...

Christopher Howe: The First Twenty Years (Wednesday 24 March 2004 at 10.30 A.M.) Christie's South Kensington, Published by Christie's, London, 2004. 1...

Picasso in Antibes by Dor De La Souchère. Published by Perry Lund, Humphries & Company Ltd. 1960. First edition. Photographs by Marianne Greenwood, ...

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...

Milne, A.A. (Alan Alexander: 1882–1956). NOW WE ARE SIX. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1927. First Edition. Crown 8vo, 7 1/2 x 5 in (191 x 125 mm), pp. xi + 103 + colophon. With its...

First Edition, published by Phaidon, London & New York, 2005. Text in English. Text by Rainer Crone and introduction by Jeff Wall. The first book to present the previously unpubli...

Mallett Catalog 2005. 1st Ed softcover catalog illustrated in color with all the objects fully described. Typical Mallett catalog showcasing important furniture, porcelain etc. Alway...

GOLDEN COCKEREL PRESS / Browne, William. Circe and Ulysses; The Inner Temple Masque ... with an essay on William Browne and the English Masque ...