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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

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  • The limited large-paper edition limited to 560 copies signed by the artist Arthur Rackham of the classic legends of Thomas Ingoldsby.
    The limited large-paper edition limited to 560 copies signed by the artist Arthur Rackham of the classic legends of Thomas Ingoldsby.

    RACKHAM, Arthur (illustrator); INGOLDSBY, Thomas.
    The Ingoldsby Legends. 1907.
    £1,400.00

  • First editions of Russian literary journal featuring many work by emigre writers and poetry by Vladimir Nabokov, here in excellent condition
    First editions of Russian literary journal featuring many work by emigre writers and poetry by Vladimir Nabokov, here in excellent condition

    [RUSSIAN EMIGRÉS].
    Opyty. [Experiments]. 1953, '54 & '57.
    £800.00

  • The first edition of Suspense by Joseph Conrad, his unfinished book, centred around the character of Napoleon Bonaparte.
    The first edition of Suspense by Joseph Conrad, his unfinished book, centred around the character of Napoleon Bonaparte.

    CONRAD, Joseph.
    Suspense. 1925.
    £245.00

  • A striking first edition by Liam O'Flaherty of The Assassin, an investigation of the mind and motives of a political murderer.
    A striking first edition by Liam O'Flaherty of The Assassin, an investigation of the mind and motives of a political murderer.

    O'FLAHERTY, Liam.
    The Assassin. 1928.
    £975.00

  • A fine set of the works of Sir Thomas Browne, with engraved frontispiece and 4 plates, bound in fine polished calf, spines gilt.
    A fine set of the works of Sir Thomas Browne, with engraved frontispiece and 4 plates, bound in fine polished calf, spines gilt.

    BROWNE, Sir Thomas.
    Works 1836.
    £1,250.00

  • An extremely handsome limited edition set on large paper of The Writings of George Eliot, aka Mary Ann Evans, in contemporary crushed half morocco, gilt
    An extremely handsome limited edition set on large paper of The Writings of George Eliot, aka Mary Ann Evans, in contemporary crushed half morocco, gilt

    ELIOT, George (pseud. EVANS, Marian).
    The Writings. 1908.
    £4,900.00

  • A first film tie-in edition for the film starring Al Jolson, following on from the success of The Jazz Singer and cementing the popularity of Jazz.
    A first film tie-in edition for the film starring Al Jolson, following on from the success of The Jazz Singer and cementing the popularity of Jazz.

    DAIL, Herbert.
    Singing Fool. [1929]
    £125.00

  • A near fine copy of Roald Dahl's third children's book <em>The Magic Finger</em>. This Roald Dahl first edition is illustrated by William Pène du Bois. A fine copy.
    A near fine copy of Roald Dahl's third children's book <em>The Magic Finger</em>. This Roald Dahl first edition is illustrated by William Pène du Bois. A fine copy.

    DAHL, Roald; PENE DU BOIS, William (illustrator).
    The Magic Finger. 1968.
    £450.00

  • 19 broadside poems, each signed by the author; 380 x 285 mm; occasional minor marking, but overall very good.

    [VARIOUS].
    Poem of the Month Club. 1970-3.
    £350.00

  • The further adventures of Baroness Emmuska Orczy's elusive Scarlet Pimpernel, aka Sir Percy Blakeney, during the French Revolution.
    The further adventures of Baroness Emmuska Orczy's elusive Scarlet Pimpernel, aka Sir Percy Blakeney, during the French Revolution.

    ORCZY, Baroness.
    The Triumph of the Scarlet Pimpernel. [1922].
    £395.00

  • A contribution to the Sherlock Holmes mythos courtesy of one of England's best established authors, with illustrations by Elspeth Sojka.
    A contribution to the Sherlock Holmes mythos courtesy of one of England's best established authors, with illustrations by Elspeth Sojka.

    [DOYLE, Sir Arthur Conan]; AMIS, Kingsley.
    The Darkwater Hall Mystery. 1978.
    £185.00

  • An illustrated 'alphabet' comprising poems relating to historical and modern subjects, with pictures by Bert Kitchen.
    An illustrated 'alphabet' comprising poems relating to historical and modern subjects, with pictures by Bert Kitchen.

    LOGUE, Christopher; KITCHEN, Bert (illustrator).
    Abecedary. 1977.
    £80.00

  • An adaptation of an essay originally in The Enemy, No.2, examining the presence and role of "race-consciousness" in contemporary literature and poetry.
    An adaptation of an essay originally in The Enemy, No.2, examining the presence and role of "race-consciousness" in contemporary literature and poetry.

    LEWIS, Wyndham.
    Paleface. 1929.
    £580.00

  • The very scarce separately published literary publication by Wyndham Lewis, preceded only by Timon of Athens. One of between 50 & 200 copies.
    The very scarce separately published literary publication by Wyndham Lewis, preceded only by Timon of Athens. One of between 50 & 200 copies.

    LEWIS, Wyndham.
    The Ideal Giant. [1917].
    £2,800.00

  • First edition of a collection of satirical poems by Wyndham Lewis, with related from critic Hugh Goden Porteus inscribed to Nancy Cunard.
    First edition of a collection of satirical poems by Wyndham Lewis, with related from critic Hugh Goden Porteus inscribed to Nancy Cunard.

    LEWIS, Wyndham.
    One-Way Song. 1933.
    £300.00

  • The Old Gang and the New Gang.
    The Old Gang and the New Gang.

    LEWIS, Wyndham.
    The Old Gang and the New Gang. 1933.
    £85.00

  • First edition of the first of two primarily autobiographical works by Wyndham Lewis, followed by Rude Assignment (1950).
    First edition of the first of two primarily autobiographical works by Wyndham Lewis, followed by Rude Assignment (1950).

    LEWIS, Wyndham.
    Blasting & Bombardiering. 1937.
    £150.00

  • 'Knock Four Times is a story of present-day London, the London of little flats and haphazard hospitality, the London of the young and poor and friendly.'
    'Knock Four Times is a story of present-day London, the London of little flats and haphazard hospitality, the London of the young and poor and friendly.'

    IRWIN, Margaret.
    Knock Four Times. 1927.
    £330.00

  • The Light Invisible is the first book by Robert Benson, comprising 15 weird tales, including the ghost story "The Traveller." A fine first edition.
    The Light Invisible is the first book by Robert Benson, comprising 15 weird tales, including the ghost story "The Traveller." A fine first edition.

    BENSON, Robert.
    The Light Invisible. 1903.
    £400.00

  • First edition; typically visually striking jacket by Lee-Elliott hinting darkly at the novel's play on conflict between Christian fanaticism and Communism.
    First edition; typically visually striking jacket by Lee-Elliott hinting darkly at the novel's play on conflict between Christian fanaticism and Communism.

    O'FLAHERTY, Liam.
    The Puritan. 1932.
    £250.00

  • A very good, pleasing set of the Plays of William Shakespeare in 15 vols, extra-illustrated with about 145 engraved plates, straight-grain morocco.
    A very good, pleasing set of the Plays of William Shakespeare in 15 vols, extra-illustrated with about 145 engraved plates, straight-grain morocco.

    SHAKESPEARE, William.
    The Plays of William Shakespeare. 1793.
    £3,500.00

  • First trade edition of Heath Robinson's stories for children recounting the exploits of the King of Troy & his boot-cleaner Bill with plates by the author.
    First trade edition of Heath Robinson's stories for children recounting the exploits of the King of Troy & his boot-cleaner Bill with plates by the author.

    ROBINSON, W. Heath.
    Bill the Minder. 1912.
    £475.00

  • 4 volumes, one of 750 sets, preface by Humbert Wolfe, frontispieces by Albert Rutherston, publisher's vellum, Cresset Press, 1928.
    4 volumes, one of 750 sets, preface by Humbert Wolfe, frontispieces by Albert Rutherston, publisher's vellum, Cresset Press, 1928.

    HERRICK, Robert.
    The Poetical Works. 1928
    £220.00

  • A scarce collection of poems written by Pankhurst during one of her numerous terms in prison; no other copy shown in auction records in the last 40 years.
    A scarce collection of poems written by Pankhurst during one of her numerous terms in prison; no other copy shown in auction records in the last 40 years.

    PANKHURST, Sylvia.
    Writ on Cold Slate. [1922].
    £3,250.00

  • An attractive edition of this charmingly illustrated insight into Irish life in the 19th century.
    An attractive edition of this charmingly illustrated insight into Irish life in the 19th century.

    BROCK, Charles E. (illustrator); WIGGIN, Kate Douglas.
    Penelope's Irish Experiences. 1902.
    £75.00

  • The present work is illustrated by George Barbier who provides beautiful illustrations of the mythological Centaur and the Bacchante, a follower of Bacchus
    The present work is illustrated by George Barbier who provides beautiful illustrations of the mythological Centaur and the Bacchante, a follower of Bacchus

    BARBIER, George (illustrator); GUÉRIN, Maurice de.
    Poèmes en Prose 1928.
    £7,500.00

  • First edition in excellent condition with original wrappers

    BELIY, Andrey.
    Khristos Voskres. [Christ Has Risen]. 1918.
    £375.00

  • First trade edition, 20 full-page illustrations including 8 in colur, publisher's boards and dust-jacket. J.M. Dent, 1923
    First trade edition, 20 full-page illustrations including 8 in colur, publisher's boards and dust-jacket. J.M. Dent, 1923

    LOVAT FRASER, Claud (illustrator); FRASER, Haldane.
    The Book of Lovat. 1923.
    £230.00

  • Pesn' o Veshchem Olege: K stoletiyu o dnia rozhdeniia Pushkina 26 Maia 1899 god.
    Pesn' o Veshchem Olege: K stoletiyu o dnia rozhdeniia Pushkina 26 Maia 1899 god.

    VASNETSOV, Vasiliy; ZAMIRAILO, V. D. (illustrators); PUSHKIN, Alexander.
    Pesn' o Veshchem Olege: K stoletiyu o dnia rozhdeniia Pushkina 26 Maia 1899 god. [1899].
    £1,950.00

  • Lecture ordinaire d'un pauvre Diable que sa famille a ruine.
    Lecture ordinaire d'un pauvre Diable que sa famille a ruine.

    Manuscript, French [Maximes and Proverbs]
    Lecture ordinaire d'un pauvre Diable que sa famille a ruine. [1700s]
    £1,250.00

  • Scarce early edition based on Cornazano's collection of tales, with 17 pictorial woodcuts, ttile within architectural border.
    Scarce early edition based on Cornazano's collection of tales, with 17 pictorial woodcuts, ttile within architectural border.

    Cornazano, Antonio.
    Proverbii de M. Antonio Cornazano in facetie … Octobrio 1526.
    £3,850.00

  • Collection of anecdotes, witticisms & facetiae of famous men first published just a year before; it contains sayings attributed to respected recent figures
    Collection of anecdotes, witticisms & facetiae of famous men first published just a year before; it contains sayings attributed to respected recent figures

    ADELPHUS, Mülich Johann.
    Margarita Facetiarum. [1509].
    £1,250.00

  • fine example of the second lifetime edition with author's presentation inscription to his grand daughter
    fine example of the second lifetime edition with author's presentation inscription to his grand daughter

    ZHEMCHUZHNIKOV, Aleksey Mikhailovich.
    Pesni starosti. Stikhotvoreniia 1892-1898. [Songs of the old age. Poems 1892-1898]. 1900.
    £950.00

  • Grand commemorative album with magnificent plates published on the occasion of inauguration of the monument to Pushkin in Moscow.
    Grand commemorative album with magnificent plates published on the occasion of inauguration of the monument to Pushkin in Moscow.

    [PUSHKIN].
    Al'bom pamyati A. S. Pushkina: XV risunikov. 1880.
    £9,750.00

  • a fresh example with wide margins of this edition comprising 86 original fables of the 'russian lafontaine'
    a fresh example with wide margins of this edition comprising 86 original fables of the 'russian lafontaine'

    KRYLOV, Ivan Andreevich.
    Russian Fables by A.I. Krylov with parallel translation into French and Italian by different authors. 1825.
    £8,000.00

  • A fine example of the first French translation of a classic Russian epic with lifetime translations of Zhukovsky's most famous ballads.
    A fine example of the first French translation of a classic Russian epic with lifetime translations of Zhukovsky's most famous ballads.

    ZHUKOVSKY, Vasiliy; BLANCHARD, N. (translator).
    Igor, poema geroicheskaia: perevod s russkogo s prisokupleniem dvukh ballad vziatykh iz Zhukovskogo s rossiyskim podlinnikom i raznykh stikhotvoreniy. 1823.
    £4,250.00

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