African literature
London, Heinemann, 1960.
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 13s6d.
A lovely first edition of this tale of Lagos corruption by Nigerian writer Achebe, the scarce second volume in Achebe's landmark 'African trilogy'.
Children's Books
Barrie (J.M.) and May Byron. Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens
London, Hodder & Stoughton, c.1929.
Small 4to. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6.
Barrie's famous Peter Pan, in a rerendering by May Byron and featuring Rackham's splendid illustrations.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Ernest Benn, 1929.
First edition. 8vo. Original black cloth stamped in orange. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A spy thriller, previously serialised in The Daily Mail, "with the publication of the book Mr. Baxter will join the small and distinguished order of Shockers Extraordinary to the British Empire." (jacket blurb)
Children's Books
London, Collins, 1958.
First edition. Signed & dated by the author in the month of publication. 8vo. Original pink cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 8s 6d.
"Things are always happening to me. I'm that sort of bear".
The book that started it all! When the Peruvian bear with a penchant for marmalade sandwiches tootled into everyone's lives in 1958, few could have predicted what a phenomenon Paddington Bear would become, subsequently starring in over twenty books by Michael Bond, as well as numerous TV series and film adaptations. The first book is a known rarity, but exceedingly uncommon signed and dated thus in the year of publication. A cornerstone of 20th century children's literature.
Modern Literature
London, Rich & Cowan, 1935.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
The first UK edition of journalist & writer Breuer's first novel, the basis for the Cary Grant and Carole Lombard film In Name Only (1939). Uncommon in the jacket.
Modern Literature
London, Chatto & Windus, 1964 [1963].
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 21s.
Byatt's first novel, an examination of the relationship between a girl and her father. Uncommon.
Detective Fiction
Issue 1
New York, Avon Book Company, March 1947.
Large 8vo. Original pictorial wrappers, priced 26c.
The first issue of this short-lived magazine published by the Avon Book Company, New York in 1947. It was a bi-monthly magazine carrying reprints of crime stories and the occasional original story (in this case 'The Missing Vice-President' by Paul R. Rickens). The Agatha Christie story here is 'The Tape-Measure Murder' featuring Miss Marple. The magazine ceased after three issues. Scarce.
Modern Literature
London, Hutchinson, 1933.
First edition. 8vo. Original brown cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Actor, theatrical manager and playwright Robert Courtneidge's sole venture into fiction writing.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Museum Press, 1945.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original black cloth with white skull to spine. Dust-jacket, priced 8/6.
Striking jacket artwork on this murder-mystery with shady espionage overtones, set in New York.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1936.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket.
Nautical adventure with a South East Asian vibe. Uncommon in the jacket.
Detective Fiction
London, Thornton Butterworth, 1935.
First edition. 8vo. Original pale yellow cloth. Dust-jacket, with 4/6 price sticker to front inside flap.
Great Bip Pares artwork on this murder-mystery revolving around the discovery of a body in an ancient barn.
Children's Books
London, Newnes, 1945.
First edition. 8vo. Original pale green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
The third of the author's 'Lone Pine' series, set in Shropshire.
Modern Literature
London, John Bale, Sons & Danielsson, 1935.
First edition. 8vo. Original green cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Great jacket artwork and an uncommon imprint. Largely set in South Africa during second half of 19th century, the story revolves around the experiences of the Reverend John Hawksley.
London, John Murray, 1940.
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, neatly price-clipped.
An important work in which the author describes her travels in the late 1930s through what is now Yemen and depicts the culture of the region.
Modern Literature
A Novel
London, Cassell, 1933.
First edition. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
An attractive first edition by this author of romantic literature set in South Africa and Rhodesia, a writing career which began in 1903 with Virginia of the Rhodesians.
Bram Stoker Birthday
London, Heinemann, 1905.
First edition. 8vo. Original deep red cloth titled in gilt. With a note from Stoker tipped in to the front flyleaf on Bedford Street notepaper dated 1st September 1905.
An extremely handsome association copy of a rare piece of Stoker. The note from Stoker reads:
"My Dear Hatton, I hope you will care for my new novel The Man, of which a copy herewith...[illegible in peak Stoker fashion], Heinemann from September 8th, Yours ever, Bram Stoker."
The Hatton in question is almost certainly Joseph Hatton, friend and collaborator of Stoker, and a celebrated (at the time) author in his own right, who had worked with Stoker on a couple of rather sizeable projects including The Reminiscences of Henry Irving in America, and the "Crowdsourced from the Usual Suspects" late Victorian portmanteau thriller which was "The Fate of Fenella."