Books > Literature & Sets (24 items)
 
Sort by: 
 Results Page: (total 3 pages)
  1  2  3    [>> Next page]  
 
[ADDISON, Joseph (1672-1719); Sir Richard STEELE (1672-1729); and others]

The Guardian

London: printed for J. Tonson, 1714. 2 volumes, 12mo (6 3/8 x 3 3/4 inches). Half-title to vol.II. First edition in book form. CBEL II, 1274-5.

[With:]
[Sir Richard STEELE]. The Englishman: Being a sequel to the Guardian. London: printed by Sam. Buckley, 1714. 12mo. (6 1/4 x 3 3/4 inches). First edition in book form.. CBEL II, 1114
[and:]
[Joseph ADDISON]. The Free-Holder, or political essays. London: printed for D. Midwinter and J. Tonson, 1716. 12mo (6 3/8 x 3 7/8 inches). Half-title. First edition in book form. CBEL II, 1101; cf. Rothschild I, 10 (8vo issue).

3 works in four volumes. Uniform contemporary black morocco, covers elaborately panelled in gilt with floral cornerpieces, spines in six compartments with raised bands, lettered in the second compartment, the others elaborately tooled in gilt, marbled endpapers (one volume with hinge repaired). Provenance: Anne White (inscription dated 1772 in each volume).

A very fine series in a very unusual contemporary binding.

The use of morocco and the elaborate tooling suggest that, originally, these works were either bound for a very high status original owner, or that they were intended for presentation. This is counteracted by the knowledge that these works were also available in an octavo format that was more expensive. The likely explanation is that they originally formed part of a gentleman's (or ladies) personal travelling library. In any event, all three works offer a contemporary light on British political events of the day: a fascinating glimpse of an important period in modern history.

#23421$1,500.00
 
 
BLACKSTONE, William (1723-1780)

Commentaries on the Laws of England

Oxford: Printed at the Clarendon Press, 1770. 4 volumes, quarto (10 1/2 x 8 inches). Final blank in vol.I. 2 engraved plates (1 folding). (Light worming to fore-edge margin of the first half of vol.II, and the first and last few leaves of vol.III). Contemporary calf, covers simply tooled in blind, red morocco lettering-pieces to spines lettered in gilt. Provenance: Richard Cope Hopton (Canon Frome Court, Ledbury, Hereford, early armorial bookplate).

Fourth edition: a fine unsophisticated set of this early edition of the single most important work on English law. A work which had an undeniable influence on the course of jurisprudence in the United States.

"Blackstone's great work on the laws of England [first published in 1765-1769] is the extreme example of justification of an existing state of affairs by virtue of its history....Until the Commentaries, the ordinary Englishman had viewed the law as a vast, unintelligible and unfriendly machine; nothing but trouble, even danger, was to be expected from contact with it. Blackstone's great achievement was to popularize the law and the traditions which had influenced its formation....If the English constitution survived the troubles of the next century, it was because the law had gained a new popular respect, and this was due in part to the enormous success of Blackstone's work" (Printing and the Mind of Man). A measure of this success can be gained from the fact that the Commentaries were reprinted a dozen times in England over the ensuing two decades, and translated into French, German, Italian, and Russian. Robert Bell produced the first American edition in Philadelphia in 1771-1772.

Cf. Grolier Club English 52; cf. Printing and the Mind of Man 212; cf. Rothschild 407.

#24061$3,000.00
 
 
BRONTĖ, Charlotte, Emily & Anne

[Series title:] The Novels of the Sisters Brontë Edited by Temple Scott [with: The Life of Charlotte Brontë by E.C. Gaskell]

Edinburgh: John Grant, 1924. 12 volumes, octavo (8 x 5 1/4 inches). Series titles, half title and titles in red and black. Numerous portraits and plates, numerous illustrations . 20th-century brown half morocco over cloth-covered boards, bound for Henry Sotheran of Sackville Street, London, by Morrell of London, spines gilt in six compartments with raised bands, the bands highlighted with dot rolls, lettered in the second and third compartments, the others bordered in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt.

A finely bound set of this well-regarded Thornton Edition of the Brontës' works, with a uniformly printed and bound copy of Mrs. Gaskell's biography of Charlotte.

In addition to Mrs. Gaskell's work, the set includes 'Shirley' (2 vols); 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' (2 vols); 'The Professor'; 'Villette' (2 vols); 'Agnes Grey ' ; 'Wuthering Heights' and 'Jane Eyre' (2 vols.). The Thornton Edition was first published in 1905.

#25421$4,000.00
 
 
CHAUCER, Geoffrey (1340?-1400)

The Works

[Edited by F.S. Ellis and W.W. Skeat]. Hammersmith, London: Kelmscott Press, 1896. Folio (16 11/16 x 11 5/16 inches). Uncut. Printed in red and black using Chaucer and Troy type. Woodcut title page, 26 nineteen-line woodcut initials, numerous other woodcut initials spanning three, six or ten lines, 14 woodcut borders (variously repeated), 18 woodcut frames to surround the illustrations (variously repeated), woodcut printer's device, all designed by William Morris and cut by W.H. Hooper, C.E. Keates and W. Spielmeyer, 87 woodcut illustrations designed by Sir Edward Burne-Jones, redrawn by Robert Catterson-Smith and cut by W.H. Hooper. Red morocco gilt, the covers with thin outer triple fillet gilt borders surrounding a large area of inlaid blue morocco, the onlays tooled with a wide elaborate border of interlacing strapwork, the spine in six compartments with raised bands, the bands highlighted with gilt fillets, lettered in the second compartment, the others with simple repeat pattern, the wide gilt turn-ins with an elaborate overall design incorporating fillets and overall gilt scrolling stylized foliage with a three-leaved fleuron tool and extensive use of small circlets to represent berries, morocco pastedowns with an elaborate gilt-tooled border incorporating a brown morocco inlay, gilt fillets and cornerpieces tooled with stylized foliage, blue morocco front and rear free endleaf panelled in gilt with five fillets, red morocco box, lettered and tooled in gilt.

"The Chaucer is not only the most important of the Kelmscott Press's productions; it is also one of the great books of the world" (Ray). The work was four years in the making and was produced by Morris completely without compromise: the text used was the best and most complete available, the paper was specially made entirely of linen rag, a new typeface was designed by Morris and cut purely for this work and a suite of exquisite illustrations was provided by Burne-Jones.

Limited edition of 438 copies, this one of 425 copies. The germ of the idea for the Kelmscott Chaucer may well have sprung from Morris and Burne-Jones's days at Oxford where Morris is known to have developed a deep appreciation of Chaucer's works. Shortly after Morris founded the Kelmscott Press in 1891, he announced his intention of publishing an edition of Chaucer. The text was based on the Ellesmere manuscript (now in the Huntingdon Library, San Marino), as emended by Walter William Skeat, Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Cambridge (From Manet to Hockney), but it was only with difficulty that Morris was able to get permission from the Clarendon Press to use Skeat's version. Morris was not satisfied with any of the papers available and commissioned a supply of pure rag paper which incorporated a watermark designed by him. Morris initially intended to use his Troy typeface, but again was unhappy with the initial trials and another typeface, "Chaucer," was especially produced for this work (Morris did still use the Troy type for the titles of the longer poems). The illustrations took Burne-Jones over three years to design: the original intention had been that the work should include 48 designs, but, with Morris's approval, this was gradually increased by the artist to 60, then 72, then 87. This profusion of illustrations, recalling the stained-glass windows of the medieval church, has resulted in what Burne-Jones aptly called "a pocket cathedral, it is so full of design." "Thanks to R. Catterson-Smith's bold redrawing in ink of Burne-Jones's pencil drawings and the fine wood engravings which W.H. Hooper made ... they have ... the strength and stylistic consistency of the best fifteenth-century illustrations" (Ray p.159). By the time the work was finished Morris was already unwell with what was to prove to be his final illness, and the Kelmscott Chaucer remains a worthy swansong. Burne-Jones considered it the "finest book ever printed; if W. M.[orris] had done nothing else it would be enough" and Eleanor Garvey, writing in The Artist and the Book noted that it was perhaps "the most famous book of the modern private press movement, and the culmination of William Morris' endeavour."

The Artist and the Book 45; Clark Library Kelmscott and Doves pp.46-49; From Manet to Hockney 9; Peterson A40; Ransom Private Presses 40; Ray The Illustrator and the Book in England 258; Sparling 40; Tomkinson 40; Walsdorf 40

#16887$75,000.00
 
 
CHELONIIDAE Press. - Edgar Allan POE (1809-1849)

The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe Etchings and wood engravings by Alan James Robinson

[Easthampton, Massachusetts: Cheloniidae Press, 1980]. 2 volumes (including a chemise with an additional suite of plates), folio (15 x 11 inches). Bound volume: title in red and black with integral wood-engraved vignette of a quill pen, text in black with one red initial, colophon leaf signed and numbered with text in red around a wood-engraved vignette of the Raven's head. 5 etched plates by Robinson, each titled and signed in pencil by the artist, and 2 wood-engravings (duplicates of those printed on the title and colophon leaf) signed and numbered in pencil, printed on thin small format Kitakata paper; Chemise: an additional suite of the 5 etched plates, unbound, signed, numbered and titled in pencil, extra-illustrated with an original pencil portrait of Poe signed by Robinson; an original pencil drawing of the raven's head signed by Robinson (on a bi-folium including the title-page in red and black); a 1p. printed prospectus signed in pencil by Robinson; a 1p. note signed by Robinson on Cheloniidae Press headed note-paper; a 1p. photocopied wholesale price list. Bound volume: black and red marbled rag paper-covered boards, the backstrip titled in gilt; Chemise: unbound as issued in original black cloth chemise. All contained within the original red morocco-backed black cloth box, spine lettered in gilt,.

This copy is one of five artists proofs which contain an extra suite of plates, and this particular copy also contains two additional drawings

A unique copy with original drawings of the first book from Alan James Robinson's Cheloniidae Press: a thoughtful design, beautiful plates and illustrations, immaculate execution. In this copy the bound volume is numbered 5/100 and is signed by Robinson, the unbound additional suite of etchings are numbered 17/50, but as Robinson's typed note makes clear, this is actually one of only five "artists proofs" which can be recognized by the "red leather spine to the accompanying box."

According to the prospectus: "This book was designed by Alan James Robinson. The five original etchings were printed by the artist at the Cheloniidae Press ... Harold McGrath printed the text ... and the two wood engravings at The Hampshire Typothetae in Northampton, Massachusetts. The type ... is 24pt. Centaur, all hand-set. The edition, hand-bound by David Bourbeau at Thistle Bindery, Northampton, has a special marbled cover design by Stephen Auger. The book is printed on Arches Cover in an edition of 125 copies, signed by the artist and numbered 1-100 with a deluxe edition I-XXV ... A separate edition of fifty prints has been taken from each [etched] plate and an edition of two hundred from each of the two wood engravings."

"All of the books are designed and illustrated by Robinson, however, it is a unique collaborative press. The finest craftsmen and the highest quality materials have been sought out to create works of the utmost integrity and beauty ... The Press endeavors to create beautiful yet scholarly renditions of contemporary and antiquarian texts. The books are produced as they might have been one hundred or more years ago, using handmade inks, marbled endpapers, hand-set type, and handsewn design bindings. The works are printed by Harold P. McGrath, a Master Printer for over 55 years who has worked with such artists as Leonard Baskin, Fritz Eichenberg, Clare Leighton, and Barry Moser. The result of this attention to detail are works of art ..." (Alan James Robinson's website).

#24056$8,250.00
 
 
CHURCHILL, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer (1874-1965)

The Second World War

London, Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney & Wellington: Cassell & Co. Ltd, 1948-1949-1950-1951-1952-1954. 6 volumes, octavo (8 x 5 1/4 inches). Half-titles. Numerous folding maps, 1 folding facsimile letter, 1 folding facsimile letter, 1 folding facsimile document. 20th-century blue half morocco over cloth-covered boards, bound for Henry Sotheran of Sackville Street, London, by Morrell of London, spines gilt in six compartments with raised bands, the bands highlighted with dot rolls, lettered in the second and third compartments, the others bordered in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt (fading to the spines and upper cover of vol.VI).

A finely bound set of the first English trade edition of Churchill's masterpiece.

Churchill's pivotal role in the defeat of Hitler and the other Axis Powers, allied with his abilities as a historian and author all combined to make this a seminal work on the Second World War. It has not been bettered.

Woods A123 (b)

#25419$2,000.00
 
 
CHURCHILL, Sir Winston Leonard Spencer (1874-1965)

The World Crisis

London : Thornton Butterworth Limited, April 1923 - October 1923 - 1927 - 1927 - March 1929 - 1931 . Five volumes in 6 (as issued), octavo (8 3/4 x 5 3/4 inches). Half-titles, various errata slips. Numerous maps, charts and facsimile documents (some folding), illustrations. 20th-century blue half morocco over cloth-covered boards, bound for Henry Sotheran of Sackville Street, London, by Bayntun-Riviere of Bath, spines gilt in six compartments with raised bands, the bands highlighted with dot rolls, lettered in the second, third and fourth compartments, the others bordered in gilt, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt (some fading to the spines) .

A finely bound set: all first editions of Churchill's monumental history of the the First World War.

Churchill had been well-placed through much of the First World War to offer some real insight into the causes and course of the conflict. He embraced the project with enthusiasm, and the work was published relatively quickly (he worked by dictating to secretaries whilst he strode about the room). The author deals with his own pre-war reorganization of the Royal Navy, offers justificatiion for his Gallipoli policy, and criticism of Field-Marshall Haig's strategy.

Woods A31(a)

#25418$4,000.00
 
 
COTTIN, Sophie (1770-1807)

Elizabeth; or, the exiles of Siberia: a tale, founded upon facts. From the French of Madame Cottin

Carlisle, PA.: printed by A. Loudon for Matthew Carey, Bookseller, Philadelphia, 1809. 12mo (5 3/8 x 3 3/8 inches). Final blank. Original marbled sheep, the flat spine divided into six compartments by double gilt fillets, light brown morocco lettering-piece in the second compartment.

A fine unsophisticated copy of this tale of the frozen Russian north.

French novelist Sophie Cottin published five novels, the first two anonymously. This work was first published in 1806, under the title Élisabeth, ou, Les exiles de Sibérie. Her work was very popular during her lifetime, as the present Philadelphia edition implies, and also later in the 19th century, when the original French text of the present work became almost a standard work used to teach French. Madame Cottin died at the relatively early age of 37. The present edition, one of a number printed for publisher Matthew Carey, includes a fine stipple-engraved frontispiece by Charles Tiebout

Shaw & Shoemaker 17311; cf Katharina M. Wilson (editor) An encyclopedia of continental women writers (9191) I, p.275.

#21462$150.00
 
 
DIBDIN, Thomas Frognall (1776-1847)

Aedes Althorpianae; or an account of the mansion, books and pictures, at Althorp; the residence of George John Earl Spencer... To which is added a supplement to the Bibliotheca Spenceriana [vol.II: Supplement to the Bibliotheca Spenceriana; or a descriptive catalogue of the books printed in the Fifteenth Century, in the library of ... Earl Spencer]

London: printed by W. Nicol; and sold by Payne and Foss; [and others], 1822. 2 volumes, octavo (10 3/8 x 6 3/4 inches). Half-titles, the second volume printed in red and black. 2 engraved portrait frontispieces, 30 engraved plates (one folding, one featuring two images on india paper mounted), numerous illustrations, a few full-page, some printed in red and black, 7 engraved and printed on india paper mounted, the others woodcut. Contemporary diced russia, covers with double fillet gilt border, spines in six compartments with semi-raised bands, lettered in the second and third compartments, the others panelled in gilt, triple fillet gilt turn-ins, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. Provenance: Pencilled annotations noting the subsequent history of a number of the books, in an unknown hand .

Dibdin's continuation of Bibliotheca Spenceriana.

"Though no record has been located, it is reasonable to assume an issue of 500 copies and 55 on large paper, though Brunet states that fewer than 500 copies were printed ... Volume I is known for its extraordinary series of fine engravings of handsome women. The description of the 15th century books at Althorp is in vol. II" (Windle & Pippin).

These two volumes were intended to supplement the first four volumes of the Bibliotheca Spenceriana, published in 1814-5. The text of the first volume contains a history of the Spencers and their house, with descriptions of the interior including the contents of the picture gallery and the library, with a long 200pp. digression on the various editions of the Bible in the library, as well as Greek and Latin Classics and some more general remarks on miscellaneous books.

In addition to the plates, there are six engravings on india paper mounted in the text, and 71 facsimiles of early woodcuts and typography in vol.II, with portions printed in red. As usual, this copy does not contain the portrait of Lady Camden, which is mentioned in the text but does not appear in the list of plates, and was not published until June 1823, according to the imprint on the plate. This set has the added interest of the addition to a number of the entries of penciled marginal notes recording where certain books were subsequently sold: most by 'Q' (presumably Bernard Quaritch), but also including a couple of Bibles sold by 'FE' (Francis Edwards).

Jackson 37; Windle & Pippin A26

#23163$1,250.00
 
 
[GOLDSMITH, Oliver]

An History of England, in s Series of Letters from a Nobleman to his Son

London: Printed for T. Carnan, 1786. 2 volumes, 12mo (6 3/4 x 4 inches). 8pp. publisher's ads. Contemporary speckled calf, flat spines in six compartments divided by gilt roll tools, black morocco lettering piece in the second compartments, volume numbers on red morocco roundels in the fith compartments, the others with a repeat decoration in gilt. Provenance: Early shelving ticket on the inside pastedowns.

Lovely set of a later 18th century edition of Goldsmith's classic.

#23618$150.00
 
 Results Page: (total 3 pages)
  1  2  3    [>> Next page]  
Copyright © 2002-2011 Donald A. Heald