Weird & Supernatural
London, Stanley Paul, 1909.
First edition, first impression. Publisher's catalogue at end8vo. Original sage cloth, lettered in gilt to spine.
A sailor's harrowing experiences aboard a ship plagued by supernatural entities, blending maritime adventure with horror. "Hodgson's arguably most artistically successful novel combines a realistic background detail of sea life with a solidly constructed and original plot line." (Shadows in the Attic)
London, John Murray, 1950.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 21s.
Fermor recounts his travels through the Caribbean, providing vivid descriptions of the islands' cultures, histories, and landscapes
Non-Fiction
Their condition and influence in society
London, for T.N. Longman, 1803.
First English edition. 8vo. Contemporary half calf, spine labels lettered 'Woman'.
A work that contributed to early feminist literature by analysing women's societal positions, reflecting Enlightenment-era thoughts on gender roles.
Weird & Supernatural
...a new translation from the German. With a biographical memoir by J.T. Bealby
London, John C. Nimmo, 1885.
Trade issue. 2 vols. Titles printed in red & black, publisher's catalogue dated June 1884. 8vo. Original red cloth.
An attractive set of Hoffmann's classic tales.
Modern Literature
London, Chapman & Hall, 1932.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A romance set against the Parisian film industry.
Modern Literature
London, John Long, [1936].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, with 4/- price sticker to spine.
A tale of desperation and romance set in Los Angeles.
Detective Fiction
London, Ivor Nicholson & Watson, 1948.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8/6.
Julie Guilles, a refugee from Nazi-occupied France, becomes entangled in a murder in New York and flees across the country to find the elusive "blackbirder," a smuggler who can help her escape to Mexico.
Modern Literature
New York, Sun Dial Press, 1934.
First edition, first printing. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket.
In this humorous novel, Rex Pebble, his wife, and his mistress discover that their backyard swimming pool has magical properties, rejuvenating them to their youthful selves. This leads to a series of comedic and risqué adventures as they navigate their newfound youth.
African literature
London, Hutchinson, 1961.First edition. 8vo. Original black boards. Dust-jacket, priced 16s.The first novel by Nigerian author Onoura Nzekwu, later republished by Heinemann as part of the important African Writers Series. The novel has been compared to Achebe's No Longer at Ease.
Modern Literature
London, Jarrolds, [1928].
'New Edition'. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A complex and often dark tale of Yorkshire folk. In attractive Youngman Carter jacket.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1927].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A young English girl becomes a popular diva, earning the ire of her father and the admiration of the son of a peer.
Detective Fiction
London, Bodley Head, 1988.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced £10.95.
An early work by the creator of Inspector Rebus, here following a surveillance officer for MI5.
Modern Literature
London, Hodder & Stoughton, [1931].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Louise Jordan Miln (1864–1933) was an American actress and novelist known for her works set in Asia. She often explored themes of cross-cultural interactions and was married to George Crichton Miln, with whom she travelled extensively in the East.
African literature
London, André Deutsch, 1964.
First edition. 8vo. Original green boards. Dust-jacket, priced 18s.
The first edition, preceding the Heinemann African Writers Series edition, of the author's first novel. An experimental novel, Okara delves into themes of identity, colonialism and the conflict between modernity and traditional African values.
Detective Fiction
London, Hutchinson, 1971.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket.
In this sixth installment of the Inspector Wexford series, the detective investigates the disappearance of a child.
Modern Literature
A Novel. Translated by Louise Maude London, Archibald Constable, 1905.'Complete and Final Revision'. 8vo. Original cloth.The story of Prince Dmitri, who seeks redemption after realising his role in the downfall of a peasant woman, exploring themes of justice, morality and spiritual awakening.
American Literature
New York & London, Scribner's, 1930.
First edition. Inscribed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original cloth with inset colour illustration.
A narrative set in the American West, depicting the experiences of two brothers who spend a summer on a relative's ranch. Excellently illustrated by Wyeth. With full-page inscription to the half-title from the author, including a poem attributed to Badger Clark, the cowboy poet.
Non-Fiction
and other essays
London, OUP, 1939.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth.
This collection comprises nine essays on literature, education, and Christianity, reflecting the Narnia creator's scholarly interests and his engagement with contemporary literary criticism.
Modern Literature
a novel
London, Gollancz, 1975.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original purple boards. Dust-jacket, priced £3.50.
Rushdie's debut novel, following Flapping Eagle, a young Native American who gains immortality and embarks on a journey through a surreal world in search of meaning and identity.
Detective Fiction
London, Page & Company, 1921.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 2/6.
A plot to inject counterfeit money into circulation.
Thriller Fiction
London, Geoffrey Bles, 1931.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original yellow cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7s6d.
The story of a young bride in Kenya, who faces challenges when her husband goes astray. She takes over running the plantation, experiences personal growth, and navigates complex relationships, reflecting the dynamics of colonial life.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
A Tale of the White Race of Mexico
London, Longmans, Green, 1899.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original orange pictorial cloth stamped in black and lettered in gilt.
A fictionalised account of a white civilization in ancient Mexico, blending elements of fantasy and speculative history.
Modern Literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1938.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 8s6d.
Set in the English Midlands, the novel follows Bruno Shadbolt, who rises from poverty to wealth and influence, centered around the grand estate of Spella Ho.
![Blomerus (Marié), Phil du Plessis & Hugo Neirinckx. Wurm 8 [Cover design by Wopko Jensma]](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/87000.jpg)
![Alternative view of Blomerus (Marié), Phil du Plessis & Hugo Neirinckx. Wurm 8 [Cover design by Wopko Jensma]](https://lycanthiabooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/87000_2-300x225.jpg)
African literature
Blomerus (Marié), Phil du Plessis & Hugo Neirinckx. Wurm 8 [Cover design by Wopko Jensma]
Pretoria,, Wurm, March 1968.
8vo. Original stapled pictorial wrappers.
Wurm was a South African avant-garde literary periodical, with this the eighth issue published in March 1968. This edition was co-edited by Marié Blomerus, Phil du Plessis, and Hugo Neirinckx, and featured illustrations by notable artists such as Anna Vorster, Walter Battiss and Wopko Jensma.
Wurm emerged during the 1960s as a platform for experimental Afrikaans literature, embracing concrete and visual poetry, and fostering connections with the international avant-garde. From its fifth issue onward, under the editorial leadership of Blomerus and du Plessis, the magazine expanded its scope to include interviews with visual artists and a broader range of literary forms. The magazine's open editorial policy attracted young, free-thinking individuals, particularly Afrikaans speakers critical of the state and government policies.
The publication's name, Wurm, was inspired by a poem by Eugène Marais titled "The Soul of the White Ant," symbolizing a worm demolishing the walls of establishment—a metaphor for challenging the foundations of traditional Afrikaans literature.
Non-Fiction
London, Valentine, Mitchell, 1969.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 30s.
This book chronicles the real-life story of Eli Cohen, an Israeli spy who infiltrated the highest ranks of the Syrian government in the 1960s. Operating under the alias Kamel Amin Thaabet, Cohen provided critical intelligence to Israel before his capture and execution in 1965. Cohen's story has been the subject of various adaptations, including the Netflix miniseries The Spy.
African literature
London, Jonathan Cape, 1961.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 15s.
This debut novel by Ronald Harwood is set in Cape Town and follows George, a Zulu houseboy, who faces exploitation by the white families he serves.
Modern Literature
A Romance of Married Life
London, Hutchinson, 1922.
23rd edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket.
This novel follows Peter Jackson, a successful cigar merchant, and his wife, Mary, as they navigate the challenges of marriage and business during World War I.
Modern Literature
[London], Pharos Editions, 1932.
First edition, trade issue. 8vo. Original yellow cloth lettered in black to spine. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A collection of short stories by The Darling Buds of May author, including 'The Black Boxer,' which portrays an aging boxer and the social world of carnival workers.
Main Factory: Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A.
n.p., National Cash Register Company, [c.1912].
Oblong 8vo. 80pp. Original boards with illustration and lettering in silver to upper cover.
This trade catalogue of cash registers was tailored for markets in Australasia and South Africa.
Detective Fiction
London, Harrap, 1934.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
A mystery and murder thriller set on a South Seas island, involving intrigue and suspense in an exotic locale. Brian Cotterell is a pseudonym of Captain A. E. Dingle (1879–1947), a British seaman and author known for sea stories. He also wrote under the pseudonym "Sinbad."
Detective Fiction
London, Thornton Butterworth, 1934.
'Crime Circle' issue. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, stating 'overseas edition' on spine.
Quite cool jacket artwork graces this uncommon 'thirties crime title.
Detective Fiction
London, Gollancz, 1990.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced £12.95.
A nice example of this debut title from Pears' well-known series featuring Jonathan Argyll, art historian. Pears garnered international fame with his best selling book An Instance of the Fingerpost (1998).
American Literature
London, Arthur Barker, 1966.
First UK edition, first impression. 8vo. Original boards. Dust-jacket, priced 25s.
A World War II novel about twelve military prisoners offered a chance at redemption through a dangerous mission behind enemy lines. Famously adapted for film, which enjoyed an all-star cast including Lee Marvin and Telly Savalas.
Non-Fiction
Report of a Survey
London, OUP, 1939.
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original green cloth lettered in gilt.
Sir John Hope Simpson (1868–1961) was a British civil servant and Liberal politician, known for his work on refugee and immigration issues, including publishing this comprehensive survey of refugee issues post-World War I, examining causes, demographics and potential solutions.
Modern Literature
London, Hutchinson, [1927].
First edition, first impression. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 7/6.
Gilbert Frankau (1884–1952) was a British novelist and poet, known for his war poetry and novels reflecting his experiences in World War I.