METROLAND. by BETJEMAN. JOHN. -- Boyd Harte. Glynn, Illustrates - 1977

Methuen & Co. Ltd. London.,1913. Spurrious First edition. Actually the fourth impression with a cancel title page, stating " First Published 1913" on verso, on the title page stub. 8vo. (7.7 x 5.3 inches). 8 page publishers advert dated Autumn 1913. A very good copy in publishers green cloth binding with spine decorated and lettered in gilt, including the correct spelling of the publishers name at the bottom. Signed by Joseph Conrad on the front free endpaper, Dated 1923. The top of the signed leaf and the half title page have a small indentation where a paper clip has been used.Aside from some light rubbing to the extremities this is a very good tight copy, the gilt on the spine still strong and bright. Loosely inserted is the front panel from the rare dustwrapper, showing a full colour illustration by J. Dewar Mills within a grey border. The whole panel dark blue with grey title and author. An interesting copy, signed by the author and with part of the wrapper, of the less common 1913 Cancel title… Read More

Chatto & Windus. London. 1891. FIRST EDITION. 3 Volumes. 8vo. (7.5 x 5 inches). Inscribed by the author on the half-title of volume I, "A. P. Watt with the Author's kindest wishes. 6th June 1891". 12 mono full page plates by Green, each with a tissue guard. Original dark green cloth blocked with elaborate blind decoration, spines lettered in gilt, floral patterned endpapers. Cloth very slightly rubbed at extremities and a few thin white streaks to the front board of volume one and some light foxing to the decorative endpapers, otherwise clean, tight and bright throughout. Overall a better than very good set. Alexander Pollock Watt (1838–1914) was the first successful British literary agent. His agency, started in 1875, is still active today and is, in fact, the longest-established literary agency in the world. He acted as Besant's agent, and also his literary executor.

The Modern Press. 1886. First separate issue, larger untrimmed variant, inscribed by the author. Originally printed in the April 1885-March 1886 issues of "To-Day", this first edition was printed from the corrected and revised stereos of the original setting for the journal. This is the larger, variant issue, with the preliminary blank leaf bound at the beginning. Shaw explains the variant this way: "The size of the bigger copies is due to the fact that they reproduced not only the type but the format of To-day. But the booksellers objected that in this form it occupied too much room to be displayed on their stalls and counters. It was probably cut down as far as the margins would allow to meet this objection" (Laurence). Inscribed by Shaw, "This is the first Issue, which was so tall that the booksellers refused to exhibit it on their counters, as it took too much room. So it had to be cut down. G. Bernard Shaw 26/7/30." . ---- Housed in a green cloth covered chemise and quarter green morocco slip… Read More

Cassell & Co. ltd. London. 1948-54. FIRST EDITION. First impression. Six volumes. 8vo. Illustrated throughout with maps and plans, many folding. A bright, clean set, which has been finely bound in recent full dark blue morocco leather. The spines with raised bands, twin red labels, gilt. Spine compartments ruled and decorated with gilt stamped rampant lion device. Single gilt ruled border on boards. All edges gilt. A fine set of Churchill's monumental history.

The Nonesuch Press. London. 1924-27. FIVE VOLUMES. Tall 4to. (12.3 x 8.3 inches). Limited edition. One of 1000 sets printed on Japon vellum (The Apochrypha is one of 1250 copies) from a total edition of 1075 copies. The typography was arranged by Frances Meynell. Each volume decorated with copperplate engravings by Stephen Gooden, including the title pages. A lovely clean set finely bound in recent full black morocco, decorative gilt border to boards. Spines with raised bands, each with decorative gilt piping and ruling. Red title labels, gilt. Top edges gilt, others untrimmed. A beautiful set.

Privately Printed by Clement Shorter. London.,1919. LIMITED EDITION. One of just 25 copies printed. 20pp. Unopened copy, sewn in wraps. (10.1 x 7.8 inches). Printed on hand made Aldwich paper. Red paper wraps, sewn with original red cord. Printed in black to front panel. Edges a little rubbed but essentially a fine copy of this Rare booklet.:.

Arena. Published by Arrow books. London. 1983. FIRST EDITION. 8vo. (7.6 x 5 inches). Paperback. Illustrated throughout with black and white drawings by Steve Maguire. A very good copy with some minor rubbing to the edges but generally bright and tight. ---- With; A folder containing five A4 typescript and partial manuscript leaves of poems by Clarke that feature in the book, all in an early form and different from the published version, some quite substantially so. Number 1. Spilt Beans. -- 47 line poem. 31 lines (4 stanzas) typescript and the final 16 lines manuscript in JCC's hand in green ink. This version is very different to the published text. --- Number 2. Salome (published as Salome Maloney). 40 Line poem in 10 typed stanzas. This version substantially different to the published version. --- Number 3. Readers Wives. 20 line poem. 16 lines (4 stanzas) typed and four lines in JCC hand in green ink. There is a line and arrow showing the manuscript verse belongs between the second and third typed… Read More

Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner and Co. Ltd. London. 1907. Small 8vo. (6.2 x 4 inches). Fine early twentieth century full vellum hand painted binding. Fine binding decorated with a painted scene on the front cover depicting a woman and two children in a rustic garden scene, the spine is decorated with a matching design of a variety of painted flowers and the back cover has a single painted flower in the bottom left corner. Marbled endpapers. All edges gilt. The book is miss-titled in gilt and black on the spine reading 'The Christian Year' so the binder may have been working on more than one book at a time and got two mixed up. The binding is unsigned but similar to several made by the Royal School of Art Needlework around the same period and is in remarkably good condition, only some slight wear on the border of the front cover and the gilded bands on the spine-ends.

Cassell and Company. London. 1941-46. FIRST EDITIONS. 7 Volumes. 8vo. (8.7 x 5.6 inches). A complete set of first editions and 1st impressions of Churchill's war speeches. A few pages with light foxing but overall a clean and fine set which has been finely bound in recent full dark blue morocco leather, spines with five raised bands, gilt. Red title and name labels, gilt. Spines with lettering and rampant lion device stamped in gilt. Single gilt ruled borders on boards. All edges gilt. Fine. A fantastic presentation of this important set.

The Mandrake Press. London. 1929. FIRST EDITION. Large 8vo. (8.8 x 5.8 inches). Some very mild foxing to fore edges and some light offsetting to the endpapers from the dustwrapper but overall a bright, clean and fresh copy in publishers dark green cloth, spine lettered and ruled in gilt. In the original colour illustrated dustwrapper with striking designs by Beresford Egan to the panels, spine and rear inner flap. A small area of loss to the very top of the spine, which is a bit toned, and some tiny chips to the extremities but overall a superior and un-restored example of this fabulous wrapper. Near fine book in a better than very good wrapper.