Search Results: Literature from Quercus Rare Books

London: Chatto & Windus, 1900. This is a Very Good (Minus) copy of the First Edition in English. Translated from the French and with an Introduction by Ernest Alfred Vizetelly. Blue decorative cloth binding, with a design of hearts and thorna in black and red. Titling on the cover in red, gilt on the spine. Clean text; x, 305 pages, with a 32-page publisher's catalog dated Jan. 1900 in the rear. Corners bumpe, a bit of a lean, spine faded to a tan colour This is an ex-libris copy, with a pocket on the FFEP, catalog numbers on the title page and on its reverse. . First UK Edition. Decorative Cloth. Very Good (Minus)/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Boston: S.W. Tilton & Company, 1855. The major work by Bulfinch (1796-1867), collected by Hale in 1881 to form "Bulfinch's Mythology," which is still popular today. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition Thus, published in the same year as Sanborn's (acknowledged as the True First Edition). This version is quite scarce, with no copies held by major institutions, and rare on the market. In a bit of a bibliomystery, the Title Page is Tilton's but the spine names Lee & Shepard as the publisher. It seems to differ from Sanborn only in its subtitle.Green cloth binding with blindstamping and a gilt mythological scene on the front panel. Mildly bumped and light rub to the tips of the spine. Clean text; 485 pages, including the proper indices. Very supple and quite readable. Hinges a bit weak but holding nicely. An attractive copy, that presents well. In an archival plastic cover. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Thus. Hard Cover. Very… Read More

Boston: S.W. Tilton & Company, 1883. The major work by Bulfinch (1796-1867). which is still read today in several forms. It was edited by E.E. Hale in 1881 and achieved great popularity as "Bulfinch's Mythology." This is a Very Good to Very Good Plus copy of a later printing of "A New and Enlarged Edition." Green cloth binding with gilt lettering. Decorative endpapers; clean text; 472 pages, with index and dictionary. There is a partially erased signature on the FFEP. Rubbing to the head and foot of the spine; some minor scuffing, more prominent on the rear cover. An attractive copy of this important work. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Later Printing. Original Cloth. Very Good Plus/No Jacket.

Philadelphia: David McKay, Publisher, 1898. The major work of Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867). and a classic that is still read today; indeed, the most comprehensive popular treatment until Edith Hamilton's. It appears in several forms It was first edited by E.E. Hale in 1881 and achieved great popularity as "Bulfinch's Mythology." This is a Near Fine copy of the "New, Revised Edition" edited here by Reverend J. Loughran Scott. "With a classical index and dictionary and nearly two hundred illustrations." Red decorative cloth binding with black decorations on the front panel ( a figure of Mercury); gilt lettering on the cover and the spine. Still very bright. Clean text, very bright quality paper; 501 pages, indexed, and one page advertising Murray's "Manual of Mythology." Mildly bumped, and a tiny ink spot on the lower fore-edge. Previous-owner signature on FFEP. Lacking the dustjacket, but a solid copy; not usually seen in such nice condition. Size: 8vo… Read More

Boston: Sanborn, Carter, and Bazin, 1855. This is the first volume by Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867) that, a quarter-century later, would be collected by Edward Everett Hale into "Bulfinch's Mythology," which is still popular today. This is a Very Good copy of the First Edition. 485 pages. Illustrated with line drawings. Clean text; foxing confined to the endpapers and tissue guard of the frontis. Two signatures are somewhat loose and stand a bit proud of the fore-edge. The binding is decoratively stamped and has faded to a light olive colour. The corners are lightly bumped and the spine is worn at head and foot, with the gilt quite faded. Some rubbing to the margins. In an archival plastic protector. A very respectable copy of one of the more important cultural works of the last 150 years. Rather scarce except in the later editions, which were wildly popular. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Edition.. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. 8vo - over… Read More

Boston & New York: Lee & Shepard/Lee, Shepard, & Dillingham, 1875. The major work of Thomas Bulfinch (1796-1867), still in print. This is a Very Good copy of a Later Printing by Shepard. Issued prior to E.E. Hale's popular revision of 1881. Maroon cloth binding with blindstamped and gilded design on the front panel; gilt lettering (somewhat faded) on the spine.Clean text, quite supple and readable; 488 pages (indexed). Many illustrations. No dustjacket. Quite a respectable copy of one of the most famous and influential works of the 19th century. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Later Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket.

London: Spencer Blackett, 1889. The third title featuring Haggard's series character Allan Quatermain. This is a Very Good (Minus) copy of the First Edition. A rather scarce title. Brown pebbled cloth binding with titling in gilt on the spine and front cover. Clean text; 331 pages, with a 32 page publisher's catalog in the rear. Thirty-four illustrations by Maurice Greiffhagen and Charles Kerr. Tissue guard is present but loose. The textblock is very bright and clear. Rubbed at the head and foot of the spine and lightly at the tips. A bit shaken - the rear gutter has cracked and in need of reinforcement; the front has a split as well. The book presents very well, but please note the condition issues. Quercus must offer this as a Binding Copy, in need of repair or restoration.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/No Jacket. Illus. by Maurice Greiffhagen & Charles Kerr. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

London & New York: Routledge, Warnes, and Routledge, 1859. Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881) had a long literary and political career, culminating in serving as Prime Minister. In 1831 he had journeyed to the Middle East, and was inspired to write this historical romance (first published in 1833) of a false Jewish Messiah of the Twelfth Century. This is a Very Good (Plus) to Near Fine copy of "A New Edition." A rare title, and edition, in the Disraeli canon.Brown cloth binding, very decoratively stamped, with gilt titling on the spine Clean text; v, 288 pages. Contains his Preface to the 1845 edition. Very lightly bumped/rubbed at margins. There are penciled notes (dated 1928) on the FFEP and Title Page. A very sound and attractive copy.. First Thus. Hard Cover. Very Good (Plus)/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

New York: Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1847. First published in 1841; this is a Near Fine copy of a Later Printing [stated "Fourth Edition"] from six years later and one year prior to Disraeli's death. Volume One only of two. A scarce title. Marble paper-covered boards with smooth calf leather tips and spine. Five raised bands, with fancy decorations in gilt; titling in gilt within black compartments. Clean text; viii, 405 pages. Very bright and clear; no foxing. Marbled endpapers and page ends. Mildly rubbed at the margins; else a Fine copy.. Later Printing. Quarter-Bound. Near Fine/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

Boston: American Tract Society, 1860. Richmond (1772-1827) was an Anglican clergyman; this includes three novellas that were first published by the (English) Tract Society in 1814; due to popularity, they were re-published many times. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of an American printing; there is no publication date, but is circa 1860. Brown pebbled cloth binding, nicely blindstamped. Gilt titling and decorations to the spine and front cover ("God hath chosen the poor of this world. Rich in faith"). Clean text; xviii, 132 pages, 45 pages, and 90 pages. Contemporary inscription on the FFEP. Bumped and lightly rubbed at the margins. The gilt is faded but readable. A solid copy.. Later Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good (Plus)/No Jacket. 32mo - over 4" - 5" tall.

New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1890. This is a Near Fine copy of the First American Edition, which preceded the English issue. Decorative green cloth binding with titling, greek ruling and decorations ingilt on the front cover. Titling in gilt on the spine. Clean text; 85 pages. Tiny bit of wear to the tips and margins of the spine; else a Fine copy. Quite a lovely book; in an archival plastic protector.. First American Edition.. Decorative Cloth. Near Fine/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

Boston: W.J. Reynolds & Co., 1848. Phillip Stanhope (1694-1773), Fourth Earl of Chesterfield, was a prominent man of letters and politics, known for his oratory. He was an investor in Samuel Johnson's Dictionary, and commissioned the furniture that bears his name today. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of the Eighth American Edition (stated). A very scarce to rare work in any edition. A small work, bound in stamped brown cloth, with titling and ruling on the spine in gilt (very bright). Clean text; 264 pages. Unfoxed; some light spotting to the paste-downs and page edges. Contemporary previous-owner signature on the FFEP. Light rub and some tiny chips around the margins and the spine. . Later Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good (Plus)/No Jacket. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall.

New York: Brentano's, 1888. The Romantic poet/dramatist Alfred Louis Charles de Musset-Pathay (1810-1857) was a bit notorious, outside of his affair with George Sand. Here is a lovely little short story, the First American Edition, in a decorative cover. Yellow cloth with rather Orientalist decorations stamped in black, orange, and gilt. Titling on the spine in black. Clean text; 75 pages, with a one-page advert for the other volumes in the series in the rear. Very Good (Plus) to Near Fine condition.. First American Edition.. Decorative Cloth. Very Good (Plus)/No Jacket. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall.

London: Sampson Low, Marston, Searle & Rivington, Limited, 1890. First published in English in 1880, Verne's utopian novel contains "other elements that seem clearly dystopian." (Wikipedia) It is noteworthy as the first published book in which Verne was cautionary, and somewhat pessimistic about the development of science and technology." This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of a Later Printing, from a decade later. Not common. Red decorative cloth binding, with titling and a dramatic illustration on the front cover in black. The rear cover has an advertisement for Pears Soap as part of the decorations. Clean text; 239 pages, plus a one-page advert for Verne's books in the rear. Translation from the French by W.H.G. Kingston. Frontis and "Numerous Illustrations." Typical spotting to the endpapers but free of any withing the textblock, which is bright and freash. The spine has darkened; tiny bumps to corners; some bubbling to covers. An exceptionally attractive and… Read More

New York: Harper & Bros, 1835. Good (1764-1827) was one of those amazing 19th-Century polymaths - surgeon, apothecary, and expert in classical languages, he translated Lucretius. Here are covered a myriad of topics, such as nutrition, intelligence, human understanding, happiness, and ventriloquism. This "Stereotype Edition" from the Harper brothers may be the First American Edition (Quercus admits that the sequence of publication is rather obscure). Scarce nontheless, with only four libraries holding copies. This is a Very Good copy. Full leather binding, with gilt bands and a red spine label; moderate wear but remains very presentable. Clean text; 467 pages, which are moderately foxed though the text remains bright and clear. Some penciled notes on the rear endpapers. Period dedication on the FFEP. Size: 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Thus.. Full-Leather. Very Good/No Jacket.

New York: R.F Fenno & Company, 1899. These ten stories were the Doyle's first collection to be published, by Longmans in 1890. This is a Very Good (minus) copy of a Later American Printing; there is no publication date, but the binding indicates this to be part of Fenno's "Wedgewood Series" that came out in 1899. Not a common edition. Light blue cloth with gray titling and decorations. Clean text; 300 pages, with two pages of publisher's adverts in the rear. Light rub to the margins. There is an internal defect, a gouge to the rear paste-down that has affected several pages in the rear. Despite this, it is an attractive copy. In an archival plastic protector.. Later Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good (Minus)/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Paris: Chez Montalant, 1731. French sentimental novelist Gaultier de Coste, "Lord of Calprenede" (1610-1633) started work on this pseudo-historical tale of Macedon and Persia in 1642. It remained popular throughout the 18th Century. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of a Later Printing. Volume Two only. Uncommon. Full red leather biinding, ruled, titled, and decorated in gilt; marbled endpapers and all page ends gilt. Clean text; 475 pages. Textblock very bright and clear; unfoxed. Attractive armorial bookplate on the front paste-down. Rubbing to the tips and head of the spine. A lovely book; perfectly readable today.. Later Printing. Full-Leather. Very Good (Plus)/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

Paris: Chez Montalant, 1731. French sentimental novelist Gaultier de Coste, "Lord of Calprenede" (1610-1633) started work on this pseudo-historical tale of Macedon and Persia in 1642. It remained popular throughout the 18th Century. This is a Very Good (Plus) copy of a Later Printing. Uncommon. Volume two only. Full re leather biinding, ruled, titled, and decorated in gilt; marbled endpapers and all page ends gilt. Clean text; 408 pages. Textblock very bright and clear; unfoxed. Marbled endpapers and all edges gilt. Attractive armorial bookplate on the front paste-down. Rubbing to the tips and the head and foot of the spine. A very attractive book; perfectly readable today.. Later Printing. Full-Leather. Very Good (Plus)/No Jacket. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

London & New York: George Routledge and Sons, 1854. One of Bulwer-Lytton's most popular novels, and still well-regarded critically. It was first serialized in Blackwood's and then issued in three volumes in 1849. This is a Very Good copy presented in a fine binding by W.H. Smith & Son. Marbled paper covered boards with green leather spine and tips; ruling in gilt. The spine has five raised bands and is highly decorated in gilt; titling in gilt within two red labels. Clean text; 347 pages. Frontis illustration by John Gilbert. Marbled endpapers and page ends. There is no publication date, but Quercus believes this to be the edition of 1854. Mild bumping and light rubbing to the margins. A solid copy that presents very well.. Later Printing. Quarter-Bound. Very Good/No Jacket. Illus. by John Gilbert. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin and Company, 1898. First published in 1873; this is a Very Good (Plus) copy of a Later Printing. Red cloth binding, blindstamped "Cambridge Classics" on the front cover; titling in gilt on the spine. Clean text; 271 pages; top-edge is gilt. Frontis and six other full-page illustrations by William L. Sheppard; many other smaller format within. This copy has a tipped-in newspaper photograph of Howells and his SIGNATURE on the front paste-down. Light fade to the spine; corners remain sharp; gutters have been reinforced with filmoplast and linen tap. A solid copy; in an archival plastic protector.. Signed by Author. Later Printing. Hard Cover. Very Good (Plus)/No Jacket. Illus. by William L. Sheppard. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.