Modern Literature
A Romantic Novel in Honour of the Passing of a Great Race
London, Jonathan Cape, 1933.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original yellow cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 5s.
The first UK edition of Hemingway's first long work, a satirical treatment of pretentious writers; here with an introduction by David Garnett.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1934.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original yellow cloth. Dust-jacket, price obscured by ink.
Hemingway's third collection of stories, six of which are first appearances.
Modern Literature
London, Macdonald, [1943].
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 8/6.
A light-hearted book. If you not like mean people, you will not be discouraged by the fate which overtakes the characters... (jacket blurb)
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1929].
First edition. 8vo. 8pp. advertisements. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket.
Golden Harvest is a particularly good yarn of gold discovery in Australia's wild, uninhabited Northern Territory...There is a mysterious Chinaman, abduction, rescue, a dramatic chase across the desert to the mine... (jacket blurb)
Modern Literature
A Novel
London, Sampson Low, [1934].
First edition, "File Copy". 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
The last novel by this insanely prolific Cornish writer, author of the best-selling 'improving story' Her Benny (1879). Wonderful jacket artwork.
Modern Literature
London, Collins, 1936.
First edition. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8/-.
Considered the author's greatest novel, published posthumously. Centred around a County Council, the novel illustrates how public decisions can mold the individual, at the same time offering a panoramic and unforgettable view of Yorkshire life. Winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize.
Modern Literature
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1931
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket correctly priced at 7/6 on spine.
A 'rollicking yarn' from this very prolific author concerning one Oswald Twining who writes novelettes of the purple passion variety under the name of 'Hugo Blazer' and Geraldine Rhombard, the daughter of a Dean and for whom Oswald has fallen very heavily.
Rare in jacket no copies online at time of listing.
Modern Literature
Ten lectures on social subjects
London, Swarthmore Press, 1919.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth with white spine label. Dust-jacket, priced 6/-.
An excellent first edition of this series of essays by the Victorian author, playwright and illustrator Laurence Housman, author of A Farm in Fairyland (1894) and illustrator of his sister's novella The Were-Wolf (1896). Scarce in jacket.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1938.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
The first UK edition of one of a series of popular novels based on the life and adventures of 'Calamity Jane' in the wild wild west. Uncommon in the dust-jacket, let alone in such condition.
Modern Literature
London, Chatto & Windus, 1929.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original green cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d, with the original Choice of the Book Society wraparound band.
The distinctive first UK edition of Hughes' High Wind in Jamaica, a genre redefining work set largely on the high seas - with pirates! Uncommon in the original wraparound.
Modern Literature
London, Methuen,, 1932.
Second edition. 8vo. 8pp. advertisements. Orange cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 3/6.
A handsome early edition of this follow-up to The Sheik (1919). Hull is credited with setting off a major and hugely popular revival of the "desert romance" genre of romantic fiction, helped by the Rudolph Valentino film adaptations.
Modern Literature
London, Eveleigh Nash & Grayson, [1926].
Film tie-in edition. 8vo. 3pp. advertisements. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket.
A handsome early edition of the sequel to The Sheik (1919); the first edition was published in 1925, with this edition issued to coincide with the popular film version starring Rudolph Valentino. Hull is credited with setting off a major and hugely popular revival of the "desert romance" genre of romantic fiction.
Modern Literature
London, Hutchinson, 1951.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original blue boards. Dust-jacket, clipped and with price-sticker of 5/.
A very good first UK edition of this collection of seven tales by William Irish, a.k.a. Cornell Woolrich, in striking stylised jacket reflecting the pugilistic title story. Rare.
Modern Literature
The Turning of the Screw; Covering End
London, Heinemann, 1898.
First edition. Title printed in red & black. 8vo. Original blue cloth, lettered in gilt with Beardsley-esque blind-stamped design to upper cover.
The first publication in book form of James's iconic ghost story 'The Turn of the Screw' as well as his 'Covering End'. 'The Turn of the Screw' was first published in Collier's Weekly and revised slightly for book publication, and 'Covering End' was first published in this edition.
Modern Literature
New York, William Morrow & Company, 1929.
First US edition. 8vo. Original black cloth decorated in bright green. Dust-jacket, priced $2.50.
An attractive first US edition of the author's first book, first published in England the same year but immediately confiscated with 517 copies of the 750 printed seized, following allegations of the novel being of an obscene nature in large part due to the key role suicide plays in the story. The book was the subject of an obscenity trial, during which all copies seized were ordered destroyed, ensuring that this US edition and an edition published coevally in Paris are effectively the first available editions. The author herself said she would have quite happily rewritten the offending parts, but alas this was not to be. James did go on to further success, writing some 70 more novels, but none of which are still in print.
Modern Literature
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1938.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth, lettered in black. Dust-jacket, priced 3/6.
Excellent atmospheric jacket artwork and a scarce dust-jacket. A tale of blackmail & murder, from the grandfather of Fay Weldon.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1913.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original red cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket.
First UK edition this key canonical title from the pen of visual impaired author and activist Helen Keller - despite the title, this is in fact a series of essays on socialism. Distinctly uncommon in the dust-jacket.
Modern Literature
London, Methuen, 1962.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original red boards with decoration to spine. Dust-jacket, with price 18s net and code '2/251/2' to inside front flap.
The first UK edition of Kesey's famous novel that explores the rebellion of psychiatric patients against an oppressive mental institution, led by the charismatic Randle McMurphy.
Modern Literature
London, J. & R. Maxwell, [1887].
First edition. 8vo. Original olive cloth with orange lettering and ruled in blind.
An uncommon first edition; the author lost her sight at the age of seven, but went on to become a prolific writer for magazines and author of several novels.
Modern Literature
Knight (Alanna, pseud. Gladys Allan Cleet) The Legend of the Loch
London, Hurst & Blackett, 1969.
First edition. 8vo. Original red boards, gilt number '09 099480 9' stamped to lower board. Dust-jacket, priced 20s/£1.
The author's first book, weird & supernatural overtones. Winner of the 1968 Netta Muskett award by the Romantic Novelists' Association. An excellent copy.
Modern Literature
London, Collins and Harvill, 1960.
First English edition. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 16s.
The famous autobiographical reminiscences of the Sicilian nobleman Giuseppe Tomasi, Duke of Palma and Prince of Lampedusa. Memorably transferred to the big screen in an ambitious bilingual project, starring Burt Lancaster.
Modern Literature
London, Collins and Harvill, 1960.
First English edition. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 16s.
The famous autobiographical reminiscences of the Sicilian nobleman Giuseppe Tomasi, Duke of Palma and Prince of Lampedusa. Memorably transferred to the big screen in an ambitious bilingual project, starring Burt Lancaster.
Modern Literature
London, Routledge, 1936.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 10s6d.
Analysis of the socio-political future drawn up during an age of fear and anxiety by the journalist and author Langdon-Davies.
Modern Literature
London, Duckworth, 1913.
First edition, Roberts' second variant with integral title dated. 8vo. Original blue cloth ruled in blind and lettered in gilt.
A lovely first edition of Lawrence's fourth published book. Set in Lawrence's native Nottinghamshire, Sons and Lovers is a highly autobiographical and compelling portrayal of childhood, adolescence and the clash of generations.
Modern Literature
London, Bodley Head, 1923. First edition. 8vo. 8pp. advertisements. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, without price. Great jacket artwork by Canadian–British illustrator and commercial artist Austin Cooper (not the car).
Modern Literature
seven addresses given for love of the star
Adyar, Madras, India, Theosophical Publishing House, 1917.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth.
An important work by a key figure in early 20th century spiritualism, and in Theosophy in particular; discoverer of Krishnamurti, no less.
Modern Literature
London, Heinemann, 1960.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original burgundy cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 16s.
A very good example of the distinctive first UK edition of Harper Lee's famous novel.
Modern Literature
London, The Hogarth Press, 1959.
First edition, first issue (with piano factory fire mentioned). 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket.
The first edition of this famously captivating memoir of rural life in a bygone era, as seen through the eyes of a young boy growing up in the idyllic Gloucestershire countryside.
Modern Literature
London, Michael Joseph, 1950.
First edition. 8vo. Original brown cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 9s6d, with publisher's original promotional wraparound.
A great example of the first edition of Lessing's first book, set in South Africa under white rule, chronicling societal disintegration.
Modern Literature
London, Michael Joseph, 1951.
First edition. 8vo. Original brown cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 9s6d.
The first edition of the author's second book, a collection of stories set in South Africa. One of the author's defining works.
Modern Literature
Are They Human?
London, Allen & Unwin, 1939.
First edition. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Despite the worrying title, actually a defence of the Jewish people at the time of mounting anti-semitism in Europe, the title itself a play on another '30s publication, The English: are they Human by G.J. Renier.
Modern Literature
A Soldier of Humour and other stories
London, Chatto & Windus, 1927.
First edition, Centaur Library issue. 8vo. Original red cloth lettered in black. Dust-jacket, priced 3/6.
The Centaur Library issue of these stories from the vector of vorticism Wyndham Lewis, printed from the first edition sheets but in different binding, and the series jacket design by the graphic artist Edward Bawden (as opposed to the boring typographic one on the first issue).
Modern Literature
London, Wright & Brown, [1937].
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 3/6.
Another attractive first edition by Wright & Brown, written by one of their more prolific authors.
Modern Literature
London, Wright & Brown, [1938].
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
An attractive first edition of this modern tale of romance, from an uncommon imprint.
Modern Literature
London, Wright & Brown, [1936].
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A very good first edition, with evocative jacket artwork by Wright & Brown work-horse W.J. Roberts.
Modern Literature
First edition.
London. Philip Allan, 1925
Anthology covering amongst other things murders, mutinies, maroonings and other tales of horror on the high seas. Scarce in jacket.