Skip to content

Literature

We stock a wide variety of rare literature, including 19th and 20th century first editions, signed and inscribed books, fine press, limited edition, illustrated books, and children’s books.

See: Children's Literature, Greek & Roman Classics, Illustrated Literature, Literary Criticism, Modern Literature, Pre-1900 Literature

1378 results
Filter
Sort by
  • First edition, signed by the author on title-page; 8vo; publisher's grey boards, dust-jacket, spine slightly sunned, minor spotting.
    First edition, signed by the author on title-page; 8vo; publisher's grey boards, dust-jacket, spine slightly sunned, minor spotting.

    FOWLES, John.
    Mantissa. 1982.
    £110.00

  • Inscribed by the author, 'Clarence Winchester, with the regards of J.J. Bell, 1929.' Bell was a prolific Scottish author & journalist.
    Inscribed by the author, 'Clarence Winchester, with the regards of J.J. Bell, 1929.' Bell was a prolific Scottish author & journalist.

    BELL, J[ohn]. J[oy].
    The Whale Hunters 1929.
    £95.00

  • A finely printed edition of these Old Testament texts; the first book printed in Charles Ricketts' third typeface, the King's fount. One of 300 copies.
    A finely printed edition of these Old Testament texts; the first book printed in Charles Ricketts' third typeface, the King's fount. One of 300 copies.

    [VALE PRESS].
    Ecclesiastes; or, The Preacher, 1902].
    £380.00

  • A charming illustrated book, by the author of La Vie Parisienne, under the pseudonym of Satin, Gratin, Pascaline.

    BÉNIGNE, Ange.
    A Demi-Mot. 1886.
    £250.00

  • Correspondence between Rhymers' Club member Lionel Johnson and Frank Russell, primarily of a religious nature following Johnson's conversion to Catholicism
    Correspondence between Rhymers' Club member Lionel Johnson and Frank Russell, primarily of a religious nature following Johnson's conversion to Catholicism

    JOHNSON, Lionel.
    Some Winchester Letters... 1919.
    £200.00

  • First edition; 8vo; 16pp. advertisements, marginal toning; publisher's pale russet cloth, spine lettered in gilt and a little dulled, uncut.
    First edition; 8vo; 16pp. advertisements, marginal toning; publisher's pale russet cloth, spine lettered in gilt and a little dulled, uncut.

    MEYNELL, Alice.
    The Colour of Life 1896.
    £150.00

  • 'When the gift of the Imagination was conferred upon mankind, a double-edges sword covered with flowers was thrust into its baby-hands...'
    'When the gift of the Imagination was conferred upon mankind, a double-edges sword covered with flowers was thrust into its baby-hands...'

    TREE, Herbert Beerbohm.
    The Imaginative Faculty 1893.
    £85.00

  • A delightful illustrated book, in the cloth using a design the artist himself thought 'an extra good one...: it was at all events, very rich and elaborate'
    A delightful illustrated book, in the cloth using a design the artist himself thought 'an extra good one...: it was at all events, very rich and elaborate'

    HOUSMAN, Laurence.
    Green Arras. 1896.
    £250.00

  • This book was apparently withdrawn in April 1896 due to a threatened libel action to be brought against Smithers by Marie Corelli.
    This book was apparently withdrawn in April 1896 due to a threatened libel action to be brought against Smithers by Marie Corelli.

    RYAN, W.P.
    Literary London. 1898.
    £150.00

  • An inscribed first edition of this anthological homage to the eighteen-nineties, compiled by the The Quest for Corvo 'biographer' A.J.A. Symonds.
    An inscribed first edition of this anthological homage to the eighteen-nineties, compiled by the The Quest for Corvo 'biographer' A.J.A. Symonds.

    SYMONS, A.J.A. (compiler).
    An Anthology of 'Nineties' Verse. 1928.
    £200.00

  • Beerbohm's first regularly published title, ensuring his acceptance amongst the 'fastidious and recognised high priests of his profession' (David Cecil).
    Beerbohm's first regularly published title, ensuring his acceptance amongst the 'fastidious and recognised high priests of his profession' (David Cecil).

    BEERBOHM, Max.
    The Works... 1896.
    £150.00

  • Further poems by the English poet, and Catholic mystic, Francis Thompson. Potentially inspired by the author's relationship with Meynell sisters.
    Further poems by the English poet, and Catholic mystic, Francis Thompson. Potentially inspired by the author's relationship with Meynell sisters.

    THOMPSON, Francis; HOUSMAN, Laurence (illustrator).
    Sister-Songs. 1895.
    £225.00

  • A scarce little production, printed for private circulation by the author only.
    A scarce little production, printed for private circulation by the author only.

    LE GALLIENNE, Richard.
    Three Poems no date [1892].
    £125.00

  • A very good example of this early Vale Press book, somewhat unusual in having an actual illustration by Charles Ricketts.
    A very good example of this early Vale Press book, somewhat unusual in having an actual illustration by Charles Ricketts.

    [VALE PRESS]; MOORE, T. Sturge (editor).
    The Passionate Pilgrim and The Songs in Shakespeare's Plays. 1896.
    £375.00

  • Wyndam Lewis' posthumously-published novel satirising the literary world, with an etching by Michael Ayrton and signed by Mrs Wyndham Lewis, et al.
    Wyndam Lewis' posthumously-published novel satirising the literary world, with an etching by Michael Ayrton and signed by Mrs Wyndham Lewis, et al.

    LEWIS, Wyndham.
    The Roaring Queen. 1973.
    £275.00

  • Inscribed presentation copy.
    Inscribed presentation copy.

    BECKETT, Samuel.
    Nouvelles et textes pour rien. 1955.
    £2,750.00

  • First edition inscribed by Cyril Connolly to Noel Blakiston, his best friend at Eton.
    First edition inscribed by Cyril Connolly to Noel Blakiston, his best friend at Eton.

    CONNOLLY, Cyril.
    The Condemned Playground. 1945.
    £375.00

  • Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: "To John Bayliss from John Waller, Kensington 14 June 1948
    Inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper: "To John Bayliss from John Waller, Kensington 14 June 1948

    WALLER, John.
    The Merry Ghosts. 1946.
    £175.00

  • Presentation copy inscribed by the author on front free endpaper: 'For John, with grateful memories of "Dear Octopus", and my love to you. From Dodie 1979'
    Presentation copy inscribed by the author on front free endpaper: 'For John, with grateful memories of "Dear Octopus", and my love to you. From Dodie 1979'

    SMITH, Dodie.
    Look Back with Astonishment [WITH) Look Back with Gratitude. 1979 & 1986.
    £1,250.00

  • An early collection of the poems of this prolific 1890s writer, remembered today more for his brief affair with Wilde and their subsequent correspondence.
    An early collection of the poems of this prolific 1890s writer, remembered today more for his brief affair with Wilde and their subsequent correspondence.

    LE GALLIENNE, Richard.
    English Poems. 1892.
    £95.00

  • The Executioner's Song, signed presentation inscription from the author, Norman Mailer
    The Executioner's Song, signed presentation inscription from the author, Norman Mailer

    MAILER, Norman.
    The Executioner's Song. 1979.
    £500.00

  • Attractive 1890s production, designed by the architect Herbert Horne,printed by the Chiswick Press, difficult to find in such near fine condition.
    Attractive 1890s production, designed by the architect Herbert Horne,printed by the Chiswick Press, difficult to find in such near fine condition.

    JOHNSON, Lionel.
    Poems. 1895.
    £375.00

  • A perfectly written comic novel (by a genius), perfectly illustrated (by a genius), wonderfully printed in very small numbers.
    A perfectly written comic novel (by a genius), perfectly illustrated (by a genius), wonderfully printed in very small numbers.

    [O'BRIEN, Flann]; STEADMAN, Ralph (illustrator); O'NOLAN, Brian.
    The Poor Mouth (An Beal Bocht). 1973.
    £2,500.00

  • Inscribed first edition of Spender's first play, an expressionist, anti-fascist drama in verse, inscribed at the end of its initial run at Unity Theatre.
    Inscribed first edition of Spender's first play, an expressionist, anti-fascist drama in verse, inscribed at the end of its initial run at Unity Theatre.

    SPENDER, Stephen.
    Trial of a Judge: 1938.
    £400.00

  • Written at the height of Lindsay's career; his approach to poetry impressed many at the time, including W.B. Yeats, and Allen Ginsberg years later.
    Written at the height of Lindsay's career; his approach to poetry impressed many at the time, including W.B. Yeats, and Allen Ginsberg years later.

    LINDSAY, Vachel.
    The Daniel Jazz 1920.
    £225.00

  • The Island of Captain Sparrow.
    The Island of Captain Sparrow.

    KAUFFER, E. McKnight (jacket artist); WRIGHT, S. Fowler.
    The Island of Captain Sparrow. 1928.
    £400.00

  • The Four Little Girls.
    The Four Little Girls.

    PICASSO, Pablo; PENROSE, Roland (translator).
    The Four Little Girls. 1970.
    £1,250.00

  • Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor is Mervyn Peake's first book and it is of considerable scarcity. Published by Country Life in 1939.
    Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor is Mervyn Peake's first book and it is of considerable scarcity. Published by Country Life in 1939.

    PEAKE, Mervyn.
    Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor. 1939.
    £2,500.00

  • First edition of Heaney's rare first published work, with the notice for his 'first book of poems, Death of a Naturalist' to be published in Spring 1966.
    First edition of Heaney's rare first published work, with the notice for his 'first book of poems, Death of a Naturalist' to be published in Spring 1966.

    HEANEY, Seamus.
    Eleven Poems. 1965.
    £2,500.00

  • A very good copy of this eclectic book by eighteen-nineties author John Davidson, illustrated by Harry Furniss.
    A very good copy of this eclectic book by eighteen-nineties author John Davidson, illustrated by Harry Furniss.

    DAVIDSON, John.
    Perfervid. 1890.
    £65.00

  • A fine press edition of Victorian poet Thomas Hood's timeless satire about the corrupting influence of money.
    A fine press edition of Victorian poet Thomas Hood's timeless satire about the corrupting influence of money.

    [ESSEX HOUSE PRESS]; HOOD, Tom.
    Miss Kilmansegg and her Precious Leg. 1904.
    £150.00

  • A very good example of the special issue of the first volume of this important eighteen-nineties periodical. One of 100 copies on hand-made paper.
    A very good example of the special issue of the first volume of this important eighteen-nineties periodical. One of 100 copies on hand-made paper.

    [OLDMEADOW, Ernest J. (editor)].
    The Dome: 1897.
    £250.00

  • Other contributors include 'Anodos' (Mary Coleridge), Laurence Binyon and 'E.L.' (Emily Lawless?).
    Other contributors include 'Anodos' (Mary Coleridge), Laurence Binyon and 'E.L.' (Emily Lawless?).

    PLARR, Victor; and others.
    The Garland 1899.
    £125.00

  • An important association copy of this lovely book by Rex Whistler, presented to patron of the arts Lady Juliet Duff, with charming colour plates.
    An important association copy of this lovely book by Rex Whistler, presented to patron of the arts Lady Juliet Duff, with charming colour plates.

    WHISTLER, Rex.
    The New Forget-Me-Not: 1929.
    £1,350.00

  • The 'Eminent Hands' in question include Andrew Lang, Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling and Grant Allen.
    The 'Eminent Hands' in question include Andrew Lang, Robert Louis Stevenson, Rudyard Kipling and Grant Allen.

    [WHITE, Gleeson], "L."
    Letters to Eminent Hands... 1892.
    £275.00

  • A very well-preserved example of this uncommon large paper edition, part of the Moray Library series.

    WHITE, Gleeson (editor).
    Garde Joyeuse. 1890.
    £195.00

Cart
Your cart is empty
Have an account?
Log in to check out faster.