Tales of the wonderfully weird and superbly supernatural, with titles by well-known masters of the genre to all too often overlooked & unsung geniuses and one-hit wonders.
Weird & Supernatural
London, George Redway, [1888].
First edition, second issue. 8vo. Original blue pictorial cloth.
A repackaging of volume 3 of the scarce triple-decker Dreamland and Ghostland (1888) which includes five of the seven Conan Doyle short stories found in that collection (the first appearances by Conan Doyle in book form, preceding A Study in Scarlet). The sales were of the initial collection were poor and the publisher repackaged the sheets in separate volumes with new titles and bindings.
Weird & Supernatural
Penyffordd, Chester, Ash-Tree Press, 1996.
One of 400 copies. 8vo. Original dark red cloth. Dust-jacket.
A wonderful edition of Baring-Gould's 1904 title, here featuring an introduction by Richard Dalby.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Hutchinson, 1934.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, price removed from spine jacket.
The first edition of this collection of 13 short stories by Benson, comprising: "The Step", "The Bed by the Window", "James Lamp", "The Dance", "The Hanging of Alfred Wadham", "Pirates", "The Wishing-Well", "The Bath-Chair", "Monkeys", "Christopher Comes Back", "The Sanctuary", "Thursday Evenings", "The Psychical Mallards".
Weird & Supernatural
and other stories
London, John Lane The Bodley Head, 1927.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered in pale blue.
Rare collection of short stories, including a number of supernatural tales, with a focus on women trapped in damaging relationships. The title story 'Dark Ann' is regarded as on of the author's best ghost stories.
Weird & Supernatural
and other stories
London, Selwyn & Blount, [1932].
First edition, second impression. 8vo. Original pale sage cloth. Dust-jacket.
An attractive collection of Bowen's short stories, including her story 'The Intruder'.
Weird & Supernatural
Stories from an old catalogue
London, Smith, Elder, 1916.
First edition, second impression. With loose 2pp. signed autograph letter from the author. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, remains of 6/- price sticker.
A great example of the first edition (albeit second impression) of this collection of historical tales, which includes two weird & supernatural tales, 'The fair hair of Ambrosine' and 'Gindetta's wedding night'. The accompanying autograph letter (mounted on card) from the author is dated 22nd May 1917, signed under her first married name, Gabrielle Costanzo (her husband Zefferino died in 1916 and this letter must have been written shortly before her second marriage to Arthur Long), and as 'Marjorie Bowen', referring to the collection: "… I think you will find another side of things in 'Shadows of Yesterday'. If these later stories partake too much of the character of a nightmare, it may be because they affect as moods of mine engendered by very terrible experiences of my own".
Weird & Supernatural
and other stories of yesterday and to-day
London, John Lane The Bodley Head, 1929.
First edition. 8vo. Original green cloth lettered in pale green.
A very good example of this rare collection of supernatural and historical short stories, including 'The Necromancers' (reprinted as 'The Incantation').
Weird & Supernatural
and other tales
London, John Lane The Bodley Head, 1929.
First edition. With loose autograph letter signed Gabrielle Long. 8vo. Original dark blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
An excellent example of this short story collection, accompanied by a 1pp handwritten letter, dated 11th June 1938, signed Gabrielle Long, addressed to a Sir Charles, thanking him for inviting her to a meeting " … the prospect is rather a formidable one. I can however speak with sincere gratitude of the London Library."
Weird & Supernatural
or, Ghosts & Ghost Seers
London, Routledge, Warne, and Routledge, 1863.
'New Edition'. 8vo. Modern green cloth preserving original upper cover and part of original spine.
One of two anthologies of supposedly true ghost stories by Crowe, originally published in 1848 and considered one of the first serious collections of this sort. Rare.
Weird & Supernatural
Original stories illustrating posthumous personality and character... Sole Edition
London, Roxburghe Press, [1894].
First edition. 8vo. Title-page printed in green. Original green cloth.
Scarce edition of weird stories: "...these blood-curdling tales are published on a novel plan. The fiction has never been serialised; during the continuance of the copyright no other edition will appear; there will be no sale after the last day of March, 1895. Every reader is thus made a participator in two advantages, for all the matter is fresh, and it is quite certain that the book can be safely purchased for presentation- if a friend's hair is to be turned into quills. And now a few words with regard to Phantasms. It may be judged from this engaging title that apparitions play at hide-and-seek among these pages. Only two of the stories are free of shudders, and we think we may venture to say that there are few readers, however jaded, however distant from the habit of shivering over bogies, who will not go somewhat mincingly to bed after spending the midnight with Mr. Wirt Gerrare." (The Literary World, vol.LI, 1895)
Weird & Supernatural
and other Ghost Stories
London, Edward Arnold, 1925.
First edition. 8vo. Original dark oatmeal cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 5s.
A rather remarkable example of the first edition of this collection of ghost stories by the author of Ghost Stories of an Antiquary, extremely uncommon in such condition. "An excellent supernatural collection." (Shadows in the Attic)
Weird & Supernatural
Tales of Supernatural Terror
Penyffordd, Chester, Ash-Tree Press, 1996.
First edition. One of 500 copies. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket.
The author's second collection of supernatural tales, preceded by Under the Crust (1993). Introduction by Ramsey Campbell.
Weird & Supernatural
Supernatural Tales of Buxton
Ashcroft, British Columbia, Ash-Tree Press, 1997.
One of 500 copies. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket.
Collection of supernatural tales, originally published by the author in a run of 500 copies. "Memorably atmospheric stories that juxtapose simple smalltown lives with awesome supernatural horrors." (Barron, Fantasy and Horror)
Weird & Supernatural
Penyffordd, Chester, Ash-Tree Press, 1995.
One of 300 copies. 8vo. Original dark red cloth. Dust-jacket.
A fine copy of this attractive Ash-Tree Press edition of Malden's famous ghost stories, originally published in 1943.
Weird & Supernatural
and other stories
Ashcroft, British Columbia, Ash-Tree Press, 1997.
First edition. One of 500 copies. 8vo. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket.
A collection of 18 stories of horror and the supernatural by Richard Marsh, brought together for the first time under the editorial safe pair of hands of Richard Dalby.
Weird & Supernatural
Ashcroft, British Columbia, Ash-Tree Press, 2000.
One of 500 copies. 8vo. Original dark red cloth. Dust-jacket.
A collection of 21 stories with introduction by E.F. Nesbit, with a bibliography of story sources by Hugh Lamb. This edition expands on the 1988 paperback edition.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Ernest Benn, 1933.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth.
"An excellent witchcraft novel, arguably Bowen's best work in the genre." (Shadows in the Attic)
Weird & Supernatural
compiled from the recollections of the reverend Roland Batchel, vicar of the parish
Penyffordd, Chester, Ash-Tree Press, 1996.
One of 400 copies. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket.
Originally published in 1912, "...Swain's tales share many features with those of James' and draw on the friends' common interests and antiquarian studies. They are however rather milder in tone and regularly incorporate a playful humour not often found in James' work. The tales relate the adventures of a fictionalized version of the author, Mr Batchel, Rector of Stoneground parish. Although by today's standards, readers may find Swain's stories rather lacking in supernatural horrors, their subtle qualities become apparent on re-reading, and many find Mr Batchel one of the most enduring creations of English ghost fiction." - Wilson, Shadows in the Attic
Weird & Supernatural
and other uncollected ghost stories
Ashcroft, British Columbia, Ash-Tree Press, 2000.
First edition, one of 600 copies. 8vo. Original dark red cloth. Dust-jacket.
A collecton of seventeen previously unpublished stories by Wakefield, discovered in the files of August Derleth and edited by Peter Ruber.
Weird & Supernatural
Forty-Five New Stories of Detection, Horror and Adventure by Eminent Modern Authors
London, E.H. Samuel, [1936].
First edition. 8vo. Original grey cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6.
An uncommon anthology, featuring contributions by numerous authors of the day, including John Gawsworth, Edgar Jepson, Richard Middleton, M.P. Shiel and E.H. Visiak (featuring his novel-length story, The Shadow).
Weird & Supernatural
An Anthology of Mystical Verse
London, Macmillan, 1932.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
An interesting and ambitious work, compiling mystical poems from English and non-English traditions. Scarce in the dust-jacket.
Weird & Supernatural
A practical treatise in support of the assertion that the hand-writing of a person is an infallible guide to his character
London, William Rider, 1919.
Third edition, revised & enlarged. 8vo. Original cloth. Printed dust-jacket.
A scarce graphological work, particularly in the original dust-jacket and in such condition. The eldest daughter of an eminent London newspaper man, Rosa Baughan was a prolific writer on spiritualist subjects, including graphology, divination and the influence of the stars.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Thornton Butterworth, 1929.
First edition. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, with 'overseas edition' printed to spine.
A very good first edition of this uncommon weird & supernatural title about the transference of a soul and the resultant implications.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Heinemann, 1906.
First UK edition, second impression. 8vo. Original pictorial yellow cloth.
A solid first edition, second impression, of this tale of the supernatural by Mapp and Lucia creator E.F. Benson.
Weird & Supernatural
and other stories
London, Cassell, [1920].
First edition. 8vo. Original decorative cloth, spine slightly sunned.
A very good copy of this collection by the creator of the Mapp & Lucia series, which includes, alongside the titular story alongside The Blackmailer of Park Lane, The Dance on the Beefsteak, The Oriolists In the Dark, The False Step and The Case of Frank Hampden. Some tales with supernatural tones.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Burns Oates & Washbourne Ltd, 1928.
Early jacketed edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket.
A rare jacketed issue of this important work by Father Benson, lauded in his own day as one of the leading figures in English literature, having written the notable novel Lord of the World (1907). This collection of supernatural horror stories, originally published in various periodicals and later collected in book form, examines "that horrible sense of silence round about us, in which dreadful forces are alert and watching us."
Weird & Supernatural
London, Isbister, 1904.
First edition, fourth printing. Title printed in red & black. 8vo. Original dark blue cloth blocked in white to upper cover and lettered in gilt to spine.
An early printing of this famous collection of supernatural tales, recounted from the perspective of an old Roman Catholic priest.
Children's Books
First edition, Macmillan, 1913. Author’s presentation copy to Louis Parker. Louis Napoleon Parker was an English dramatist, composer and translator. Signed ‘from AB (author)’ on front end paper. Very rare survival in a jacket especially inscribed.
Weird & Supernatural
First edition.
London, Macmillan, 1914.
A collection of three long tales and a couple of short stories. The weird fiction historian ST Joshi has acclaimed Incredible Adventures as possibly "the premier weird collection of this or any other century’’.
Weird & Supernatural
London &c., Ward, Lock, 1914.
First edition. 8vo. Original blind-tooled green cloth lettered in gilt.
A fresh & bright first edition of this art-theft tale by Irish writer Bodkin, creator of Paul Beck and the bicycling lady detective Dora Myrl. A wonderful Velasquez painting is stolen from a house in County Galway.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Macdonald, 1947.
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 8/6.
An intriguing tale by this author of crime fiction, the title taken from a line by Pope, "What beckoning ghost along the moonlight shade Invites my steps and points to yonder glade?".
Weird & Supernatural
Second English edition.
London. Richard Bentley, 1850
A very handsome copy of Calmet's influential work on angels, demons, spirits and vampires, originally published in French in 1746, first appeared in an anonymous English translation in 1759. This translation is taken from the two volume 1751 third edition, a much expanded and revised version, and the last to be corrected by Calmet himself. This is the second English edition and is rarely encountered in original binding.
Weird & Supernatural
A Book of Romances, Fantasies, Whimsies, and Levities
Edinburgh & London, William Blackwood, 1900.
First edition. Publisher's presentation copy with blind-stamp to title. 8vo. Original dark green cloth lettered in gilt.
An author who turned his pen to various genres, including crime fiction and weird & supernatural. Rare.
Weird & Supernatural
London and New York, Harper & Brothers, 1905.
First edition. 8vo. 4pp. advertisements. Publisher's claret cloth blocked in black to upper cover and lettered in gilt to spine.
An uncommon collection of mystery short stories imbued with the supernatural, from the creator of Father Brown. Includes 'Tremendous Adventures of Major Brown' which some have suggested predicts the concept of an alt-reality game. Each story focusses on a person who makes his living by some unusual means (the "queer trade" of the title). To gain admittance one must have invented a unique means of earning a living and the subsequent trade being the main source of income.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Hutchinson, n.d..
'New Edition (6th thousand)'. 8vo. Original black cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Clarke specialised in Catholic literature, but this title also brings in supernatural elements via a seance. Uncommon.
Weird & Supernatural
Comfort (Will Levington) and Zamin Ki Dost [pseud. Willimina Armstrong] Son of Power
London, Thornton Butterworth, 1922.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, price cut from spine.
An uncommon first edition, especially in the Abbey dust-jacket. The title is listed in Bleiler's Check-List of Science-Fiction and Fantasy, where it is coded for 'paranormal abilities'.