London: Richard Bentley, 1839.
A rake's progress
Three volumes, octavo, with 27 illustrations by George Cruikshank (one from volume 1 bound in volume 2), half-title missing from volume 3; later red morocco, spines gilt. First edition. The most celebrated of the prolific Ainsworth's "Newgate" novels, chronicling the career of the... More
Melbourne: Edward A. Vidler, 1920.
With illustrations by Napier Waller
Octavo, two black & white plates by Napier Waller; original pictorial wrappers with yap edges. A two-act play with an unusual idea for staging involving cinematic sets. Illustrated by Napier Waller. More
London: Cresset Press, 1928.
Cresset Press limited edition
Large quarto; vellum, uncut and limited to 250 copies. Number 7 of an edition of 250: with the bookplate of Vyvyan Edwards. A beautiful copy of Bacon's Essayes, printed on Batchelor's Kelmscott hand-made paper, with titles and initials designed by Joscelyne Gaskin. More
London: J. Johnson et al. 1803.
Awarded to abolitionist Thomas Fowell Buxton
Ten volumes, octavo, engraved portrait frontispiece and folding table, prize-plate & bookplate, later gift inscription from Buxton to his son; early diced calf with the insignia of Trinity College Dublin to the boards. A fine and most attractive... More
Birmingham: Baskerville, 1757-, 1773.
'Astonishing all the librarians of Europe'
Seven volumes, quarto, in matching full contemporary red straight-grain morocco bindings, almost certainly by Kalthoeber, elaborate gilt borders on covers, gilt-decorated spines in seven compartments, gilt-lettered in three, all edges gilt and gauffred, blue-grey paper endpapers; a remarkably fine and... More
London: Privately Printed, 1916.
With pencil revisions probably by the author
Octavo, original wrappers, uncut, partly unopened. A very good copy of the only edition, with pencil revisions to several poems, probably by Baylebridge himself.Christened Blocksidge, the Australian poet and short story writer is better known as William Baylebridge, the... More
London: George Cawthorn, 1797.
The "most esteemed" English plays
34 volumes, 16mo., engravings; contemporary sprinkled calf, full blue morocco spines richly gilt. A most handsome set of collected plays by the famous publisher Bell, 'the mischievous spirit, the very Puck of booksellers' (DNB). This fine collection includes many of the... More
London: Elkin Mathews, 1896 -, 1899. 10 parts bound in two volumes, octavo; in contemporary half morocco, with the original wrappers bound in. The first ten parts of Elkin Mathews's influential 'Shilling Garland' series, designed as a 'Series of Books of New Poetry by Various Authors'. It includes important poets... More
London: W.Bulmer and Co. 1796.
From the library of Frances Mary Currer
Folio, stipple engraved frontispiece and engravings in text; a charming copy in half dark green morocco, marbled boards, armorial bookplates for Frances Mary Richardson Currer and Mathew Wilson, contemporary ink ownership signature of 'M R Currer' on half... More
Boston: Manning & Loring, 1799.
The rarest of all editions
Duodecimo, in modern paper boards. Very rare: the first American edition of this collection of Southey's verse, which includes his "Botany Bay Eclogues" (pp. 57-73).Borrowing from Southey's early radicalism, and infused with the ideas that would lead him to join... More
Dunedin, Wellington: Arthur T. Keirle, 1890. Quarto, decorated title page and numerous plates by various artists; striking original publisher's gilt decorated cloth. A lavish production with a Preface by Sir George Grey and an historical sketch by Sir Robert Stout. This work reflects the fine book production of the Victorian... More
London: J. M. Dent, 1922.
Colour plates by Edmund Dulac
Six volumes, octavo, with a total of 60 colour plates (including frontispieces), otherwise a most attractive set in uniform half polished navy calf by Bayntun with ornate gilt spine ornament and crimson labels. Collected edition of the Brontë novels, here... More
Edinburgh: John Grant, 1924.
The complete novels and Elizabeth Gaskell's biography of Charlotte
Twelve volumes, octavo, photogravure plates and frontispiece portraits; a fine bright set in original publisher's cloth, gilt spines. An excellent collected set of the works of the Brontë sisters, including the biography of Charlotte by Elizabeth Gaskell... More
Paris: chez Brunet, 1814.
The bibliographer's grail
Four volumes, octavo; contemporary half calf, flat spines gilt with black leather labels. Second edition, greatly expanded from the first of the most famous rare book bibliographies. 'Brunet's annotations… are often still unsurpassed. There is hardly any other bibliography in which the wide... More
London: J. Owen, 1796.
"The finest example of his blended irony..."
Octavo, 80 pp.; plain wrappers. First edition: 'the finest example of his blended irony, philosophy, feeling and imagination' (CHEL).One of Burke's most famous speeches, it was delivered as a rejoinder to a series of attacks made upon him by... More
London: J. Dodsley, 1785.
Denunciation of the Nabob
Octavo; in later quarter speckled calf. First edition.Further to Burke's inquiry into the East India Company, this impassioned denunciation of the 'Nabob of Arcot', prince of several regions in Southern India, continued Burke's attack on corruption in the British government of India. More
London: F. and C. Rivington, 1797.
"A gang of felons and murderers..."
Octavo in fours; contemporary quarter calf. First edition, Burke's continues to oppose peace with France: published posthumously.Extending his long-held opposition to the Revolution in France, this letter, published from drafts left by Burke, maintains his steadfast opposition to... More
London: T. Cadell and W. Davies et al. 1814. Five volumes, thick octavo, light spotting to endpapers; contemporary full tan calf, double red and green spine labels. Handsome 1814 edition of the first and most enduring work of legal writer Richard Burn. The Justice of the Peace and Parish Officer... More
London: W. Nicol for John Murray, 1835. Two volumes, octavo, extra-illustrated with 71 plates by Hogarth and others (inlaid to size or pasted down); in contemporary dark green pebble grain morocco gilt, all edges gilt. A very handsome extra-illustrated copy of Butler's famous mock epic, in fine condition. This edition... More
![Marino Faliero, Doge of Venice [bound with] Werner, A Tragedy. George Gordon BYRON.](/pictures/thumb/2408062.jpg?v=1434432042)
London: John Murray, 1821. Tall octavo, missing both half-titles, 'Marino Faliero' without terminal ad.; contemporary green half morocco, gilt, Attractive volume of two important works by Byron.First edition, first issue of Marino Faliero: the Doge's speech on page 151 consists of only five and a half lines (Byron added seven... More
London: 1819-, 1824. One volume, quarto, half calf ; and six volumes octavo, half morocco. Composite set of first editions, first quarto volume rather foxed. Don Juan was issued in three paper formats: this set was originally a set of the six small octavo editions, but has been enhanced by... More
London: John Murray, 1817. Octavo, with half-title, contemporary half morocco, gilt. First edition, Wise's third issue. One of the key works of late Romanticism, Byron's tortured Faustian masterpiece. More
London: T. Bensley, 1807.
Subscriber's copy from Newstead Abbey
Quarto; a fine copy, complete with the list of subscribers and errata-slip, in a splendid contemporary russia binding with heavy sides, ornately decorated in blind and gilt, with the Newstead Abbey coat-of-arms heavily stamped on the cover, spine gilt between double... More
Nangazaki [Paris]: "Klnporzenkru, L'an du monde 59749" 1749. Two volumes in one, duodecimo, first title lightly stained and with an early ms attribution to 'Cahusac'; in old dark blue paper boards, red leather label. "Last edition" of this charming and rare book which had been suppressed by the authorities in... More
