American Literature
New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.
First edition, first printing. 8vo. Original black cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, priced $11.00.
The first edition of the first book in the 'Border trilogy' by the recently deceased Cormac McCarthy, a best-selling work that was adapted into a 2000 film starring Matt Damon and Penélope Cruz, directed by Billy Bob Thornton.
Detective Fiction
London, Hamish Hamilton, 1940.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original tan cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
An early title by this American author, featuring her popular serial character, the psychiatric sleuth Basil Willing.
Children's Books
London, Macdonald, 1959.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original grey cloth. Dust-jacket, priced 10/6.
A very nice first UK edition of this key work in the Zorro canon.
War, Invasion & Spy
A Prophetic Novel
London, Grayson & Grayson, 1934.
First edition. 8vo. Original black cloth lettered in red.
A prophetic novel indeed, anticipating Churchill's anxiety at the potential readiness of Germany to have at its disposal long-range, high-speed bomber planes. The work was inspired by Stanley Baldwin's 1932 speech to the House of Commons in which he described the threat aerial bombing represented, and suggested that preemptive offence would be the only defence in such circumstances.
War, Invasion & Spy
A Story of Modern Secret Service
London, Jarrolds, 1938.
First edition. 8vo. Original oatmeal cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
Attractive first edition of this autobiographical work by the genuine female spy Marthe Mathilde McKenna née Cnockaert, awarded British, French and Belgian honours for gallantry for her espionage work, and subject of the 1933 film I was a Spy.
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Jarrolds, [1937].
First edition. 8vo. Original oatmeal cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
Attractive first edition - the British Empire is in danger after a dubious disarmament policy, with the threat of war looming large on the horizon...
Weird & Supernatural
London, Hutchinson, [1932].
First edition. 8vo. 40pp. publisher's catalogue at end dated Autumn 1932. Original claret cloth lettered in gilt. Dust-jacket, correctly priced at 7/6.
The danger of a demoniacally loving woman, as suggested by the somewhat startling jacket artwork.
Modern Literature
Being the second part of 'The Realists'
London, Thornton Butterworth, 1927.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
An attractive Abbey jacket graces this work by prolific author McKenna, following the political career of Ambrose Sheridan.
Detective Fiction
London, John Hamilton, [1939].
First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced at 7/6.
A striking dust-jacket design on this rare work set in Malaysia, a strange blend of murder mystery and the weird, with no copies in trade at the time of listing.
Weird & Supernatural
London, Philip Allan, 1936.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth.
An uncommon first edition, written by 'Geoffrey Aylett' creator Vivian Meik, an Indian-born author. A 'Yellow Peril' classic.
Non-Fiction
London, Philip Allan, [1927].
First edition. 8vo. Original sage boards with printed spine label. Dust-jacket, priced 6/-.
An analysis of the societal need for syncopated dance as evidenced by the popularity of jazz in the 1920s, by self-described music lover Robert William Sigismund Mendl.
Detective Fiction
London, Church & Foster, [1966].
First edition. 8vo. Original pale boards. Dust-jacket, priced 15s.
A very good first edition of this tale of Scotland Yard battling with the Mafia, and the mysterious Dr Khan...
Weird & Supernatural
London, Constable, 1936.
First edition, first printing. 8vo. Original green boards. Second printing dust-jacket, price-clipped but with 3/6 price on spine.
One of the finest works by an author known for his ability to "build up a unique sense of unease" (Brian Stableford, St. James Guide to Horror, Ghost and Gothic Writers, 1998).
Weird & Supernatural
London, Jarrolds, 1927. An early edition of Metcalfe's first published book, a collection of macabre tales, including the excellent 'Paper WIndmills'.
Modern Literature
London, Hutchinson, 1974.
First edition, second impression. 8vo. Original blue boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped, with publisher's promotional bellyband.
The second printing of the joint Booker Prize Winner (with The Conservationist, by Nadine Gordimer) in 1974.
Detective Fiction
London, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1935.
First edition. 8vo. 1p. advertisements. Original cloth. Dust-jackets, correctly priced 7s 6d.
A very good first edition of this intriguing novel, based on the story Mon premier crime by Gustave Macé, in the series "La Police parisienne."
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
London, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1960.
First UK edition. 8vo. Original burgundy boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Famous post-apocalyptic sci-fi novel by American author Walter M. Miller Jr., first published in 1959. A Catholic monastery preserves the remnants of humanities scientific knowledge following a nuclear holocaust. Scarce.
Children's Books
London, Dennis Dobson, 1968.
First edition. 4to. Original pictorial boards. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
Developed from a story by Milligan for a BBC short film (one of the Beeb's first television colour films).
War, Invasion & Spy
London, Harrap, 1939. First edition. 8vo. Original cloth. Dust-jacket, price from inside flap removed by clumsy tear. An uncommon dust-jacket by jacket legend Youngman Carter, in better condition than normally found.
Children's Books
London, Methuen, July 1925.
Tenth edition, deluxe issue. 8vo. Original leather, gilt, gilt edges.
A wonderful, seemingly unread example of the deluxe leather-bound issue of the first title to feature Christopher Robin, originally published in November 1924.
Detective Fiction
London, Michael Joseph, 1972.
First edition. 8vo. Original black boards. Dust-jacket, priced £2.20.
Macabre May-Day rites in Norfolk...Dame Beatrice Lestrange Bradley investigates.
Detective Fiction
London, Michael Joseph, 1936.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth lettered in white. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
Murder mystery set amongst beautiful Oxfordshire villages. A genuinely nice copy.
Detective Fiction
London, Michael Joseph, 1954.
First edition. 8vo. Original black boards. Dust-jacket, priced 10s6d.
The 27th title in Mitchell's long-running series featuring the psychoanalyst and amateur sleuth Mrs Bradley.
Detective Fiction
London, Michael Joseph, 1978.
First edition. 8vo. Original black boards. Dust-jacket, priced £4.25.
Dame Beatrice Lestrange Bradley investigates in a crime thriller set in Cornwall.
Detective Fiction
London, Michael Joseph, 1977.
First edition. 8vo. Original burgundy boards. Dust-jacket, priced £3.75.
A nice copy of this later Mrs Bradley title by "The Great Gladys".
Detective Fiction
London, Michael Joseph, 1960.
First edition. 8vo. Original black boards. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 13s6d.
Dame Beatrice Lestrange Bradley is on the case in this tale of buried Roman treasure and murder.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
London, Sheed & Ward, 1935.
First edition. Inscribed presentation copy from the author. 8vo. Original blue cloth. Dust-jacket, price-clipped.
"In 1935, Mitchell's book Traveller in Time, set in Ireland in 1942, explores a fantastic development of the age of television in the context of Irish history. Colm MacColgan, her traveller, uses his invention of "Tempevision" to tune in to events at different times and places in the past, observing the impacts of the Irish around Europe and beyond." (Wikipedia)
Modern Literature
London, Macmillan and Co, 1940. First film tie-in edition.
Detective Fiction
London, Herbert Jenkins, 1935.
First edition. 8vo. Original orange cloth blocked in black. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6 with 'reduced price' sticker to spine.
Cool jacket artwork graces this uncommon oriental thriller.
War, Invasion & Spy
First edition. London & Glasgow, Blackie & Son Limited, [1932] An attractive early jacketed work on aviation, in the rare dust-jacket.by Leslie Carr (more well-known perhaps for his depictions of locomotives).
Children's Books
London [&c.], George G. Harrap, 1937
First UK edition. 8vo. Colour frontispiece. Original cloth. Dust-jacket.
A lovely first UK edition of this title by the creator of Anne of Green Gables.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
First edition.
London, Burke, 1962.
Uncommon in jacket.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
London, Faber, 1932.
First edition. 8vo. Original red cloth. Dust-jacket, correctly priced 7/6.
A very good first edition of an intriguing sci-fi title with Christian apologetical overtones.
Detective Fiction
London, Aldus Publications, 1949.
First edition. 8vo. Original red boards. Dust-jacket, priced at 7/6.
A tale of fatal attraction on Fleet Street. An uncommon imprint.