James (M.R.) Ghost-Stories of an Antiquary
£2,250
London, Edward Arnold, 1904.
First edition, first impression, issue with ‘art museum’ to p.55. Large 8vo. 4 plates, 16pp. advertisements dated ‘November, 1904’. Original oatmeal cloth ruled in red & lettered in black, with yapp fore-edges. Presented in custom cloth drop-back box.
One of the most famous compilations of ghost stories of all time, “generally taken to mark the beginning of the modern era of supernatural fiction. In the opinion of many the foremost modern writer of supernatural fiction” (Bleiler, The Guide to Supernatural Fiction).
James McBryde had originally intended to supply more illustrations for the work, but unfortunately died prematurely before he could complete them. The publishers did suggest to M.R. James that they could employ an alternative illustrator, but the author wanted the book to stand as testament to his friend’s work, so they kept it to the four.
In stock
Light offsetting from frontispiece tissue guard onto title-page, overall internally very good; a little minor rubbing but overall an unusually good example; cloth box somewhat tarnished.
4 plates by James McBryde.
Related products
Horror & Gothic
A Mystery
London, Skeffinton & Son, 1898.
Fourth edition. 8vo. Title printed in red & black, frontispiece and 3 plates, patterned endpapers. Original dark pictorial cloth lettered in gilt & black.
An early edition, in very good condition, of the author's most well-known title, a classic of Gothic horror.
"In 'The Beetle' Marsh introduces the supernatural entity known variously as 'The Oriental', 'The Woman of Songs' or 'The Beetle'. This malignant, deformed creature is inhabited by the soul of an ancient Egyptian princess...[and] can turn at will into an insect, or alternatively into a man or a woman or an enigmatic amalgam of both." - Richard Dalby, Book and Magazine Collector No. 163 (1997).
Horror & Gothic
London, Philip Allan & Co. Ltd., 1931.
First edition. 8vo. Original grey cloth.
The third of this author's ghost story anthologies.
London, Collins, 1935.
First edition. 8vo. Original brown cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced at 7/6.
Cult novel about a man who discovers his mother has been hiding his monstrous brother in the attic, the author's only dalliance within the fringes of Sci-Fi. Very scarce in the original Rex Whistler jacket.
Horror & Gothic
London, Robert Hale, 1956.
First edition. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 12/6.
A semi-gothic thriller set largely in Victorian London, by a prolific writer and biographer. The book, like many of Hooke's, was subsequently made into a film, The Gypsy and the Gentleman (1958).