Search Results: Titles starting with A from Island Books

Macdonald,, [1984-85]. 15 vols., 8vo., Second Macdonald Edition [First Uniform Edition]; cloth, gilt backs, all near fine copies in dustwrapper. Complete set of the 'Chronicle', comprising 'The Dark Lantern', 'Donkey Boy', 'Young Philip Maddison', 'How Dear is Life', 'A Fox under my Cloak', 'The Golden Virgin', 'Love and the Loveless', 'A Test to Destruction', 'The Innocent Moon', 'It was the Nightingale', 'The Power of the Dead', 'The Phoenix Generation', 'A Solitary War', 'Lucifer at Sunrise' and 'The Gale of the World'. This is the second edition by Macdonald, the first uniform edition and the only hardback issue of the full set other then the original editions of 1951-69. EXTREMELY SCARCE AS A SET, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION. Matthews A36, p.127.

Alan Sutton, [Stroud],, [1994-1996]. 15 vols., 8vo., First Edition thus; original pictorial wrappers, a near fine set. The series comprises: 'The Dark Lantern', 'Donkey Boy', Young Phillip Maddison', 'How Dear Is Life', A Fox Under My Cloak', 'The Golden Virgin', 'Love And The Loveless', 'A Test To Destruction', 'The Innocent Moon', 'It Was The Nightingale', 'The Power Of The Dead', 'The Phoenix Generation', 'A Solitary War', 'Lucifer Before Sunrise' and 'The Gale Of The World'. The fourth collected edition and the only complete set in paperback. The text is a faithful reprint of the first edition though the type is sometimes reset; the wrappers are illustrated from well-known paintings. Each volume has a 6pp Introduction by Anne Williamson dated 1994; this is mainly biographical and is common to the set. COMPLETE SETS ARE VERY SCARCE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION. Matthews A36, 4… Read More

Macdonald,, [1951-69]. 15 vols., 8vo., First Edition, (for individual volume see below); cloth, gilt backs, a very good, bright, clean set in the dustwrapper (for individual dustwrapper see below). The series comprises: 'The Dark Lantern', 'Donkey Boy', Young Phillip Maddison', 'How Dear Is Life', A Fox Under My Cloak', 'The Golden Virgin', 'Love And The Loveless', 'A Test To Destruction', 'The Innocent Moon', 'It Was The Nightingale', 'The Power Of The Dead', 'The Phoenix Generation', 'A Solitary War', 'Lucifer Before Sunrise' and 'The Gale Of The World'. The first seven dustwrappers were designed and illustrated by Broom Lynne. Individual volumes as follows: The Dark Lantern (1951), inscription on front free endpaper, top mildly spotted, price-clipped dustwrapper lightly browned; Donkey Boy (1952), some very faint offsetting from fold-ins to free endpapers, unclipped dustwrapper… Read More

W H Allen,, 1979. 8vo., First Edition; green cloth, gilt back, a near fine copy in unclipped dustwrapper. The author's first novel, based on James IV of Scotland and the three women rivalling for his love. Dustwrapper artwork by Arthur Barbosa. The title lacks the indefinite article which appears on dustwrapper and backstrip. SCARCE.

BBC,, 1960. Roy. 4to., First Edition, with numerous photographs and illustrations throughout; original wrappers, wire-stitched as issued, covers mildly spotted at edges else a very good copy. A SCARCE SURVIVAL.

Hart-Davis,, 1957. 8vo., First Edition, with portrait frontispiece and plates; burgundy cloth, gilt back, red top, a very good,bright, clean copy in price-clipped dustwrapper, the latter lightly sunned at backstrip.

Oak Knoll Books, New Castle DE,, [1986]. 8vo., First Edition, with frontispiece and 13 pages of reproductions and facsimiles; original pictorial wrappers, a near fine copy. Effectively a proto-bibliography of A. Edward Newton, the catalogue describes 678 items with full index.

Encounter,, 1957. 8vo., original pictorial wrappers, a very good, clean copy.

[Privately Printed],, [c.1980]. 8vo., with photographs; pictorial wrappers, wire-stitched as issued, a fine copy.

George Allen, Orpington,, 1897. 8vo., Fourth Edition, large signature on front paste-down, title lightly browned; original green cloth, sides framed in blind, gilt back, gilt top, uncut, cream endpapers, a very good, bright, crisp copy. First published in 1857.

np.,, n.d.. 8vo., single sheet folded once; a very good, clean, crisp letter. 'With a Happy Xmas & New Year wish to you, George dear..didn't put name in the book in case you'd got it. Yrs. Sybil. Lewis too gives his good wishes'. Dame Sybil Thorndike (1882-1976), renowned British actress and wife of Sir Lewis Casson.

1904. 8vo., 4 leaves with single fold, a near fine copy. Written and signed on Army & Navy Club stationery, the letter is dated 19 February 1904. The writer apologises for a delay in meeting due to an attack 'of my old enemy - malaria' . He is now back to 'War Office business' and eagerly awaits a forthcoming meeting: 'I want another talk with you very much'. Field Marshal Sir John Denron Pinkstone French (1852-1925), 1st Earl of Ypres, distinguished himself in both the Nile Campaigns and the Boer War. In the Great War he commanded the British Army on the Western Front from 1914-1915 until succeeded by Douglas Haig. Florence Henniker (1855-1923), well-known novelist and socialite. Daughter of Richard Monckton Milnes, she married a British army officer (referred to briefly in the letter) but is perhaps best remembered for her long and close relationship with Thomas Hardy with whom she collaborated on two volumes of short stories.

1995. Single sheet measuring 8.0 x 6.5 ins (approx. 20.0 x 17.0 cms), on stationery of 53 (W) Divisional Dinner Club printed in red and black, and dated 20 November 1995; near fine state. THE LETTER IS WRITTEN, DATED AND SIGNED ENTIRELY IN SIR TASKER'S HAND, AND IS SOLD WITH A BRIEF RESUME OF HIS POST-WAR CAREER AND A POOR QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT. Sir Tasker Watkins was gazetted for the Victoria Cross on 2 November 1944. The citation reads: 'On 16 August 1944 at Barfour, Normandy, Lieutenant Watkins' company came under murderous machine-gun fire while advancing through corn fields set with booby traps. The only officer left, Lieutenant Watkins led a bayonet charge with his 30 remaining men against 50 enemy infantry, practically wiping them out. Finally, at dusk, separated from the rest of the battalion, he ordered his men to scatter and after he had personally charged and silenced an enemy machine-gun post, he brought them back to safety. His superb leadership not only saved his… Read More

1997. Single sheet measuring 6.0 x 6.0 ins (approx. 15.0 x15.0 cms), on blank stationery, and dated 18 June 1997; near fine state. THE LETTER IS WRITTEN, DATED AND SIGNED ENTIRELY IN 'PIP' GARDNER'S HAND, AND IS SOLD WITH A POOR QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT. Philip John 'Pip' Gardner was gazetted for the Victoria Cross on 10 February 1942. The citation reads: 'On 23 November 1931 at Tobruk, Libya, Captain Gardner took two tanks to the rescue of two armoured cars of the King's Dragoon Guards, which were out of action and under heavy attack. Whilst one tank gave covering fire the captain dismounted from the other, hitched a tow rope to one of the cars, then lifted into it an officer, both of whose legs had been blown off. The tow rope broke, so Captain Gardner returned to the armoured car, but was immediately wounded in the arm and leg. Despite this he managed to transfer the wounded man to the second tank and returned to British lines through intense shell-fire'.… Read More

1995. Single sheet, measuring 8.25 x 6.0 ins (approx. 21.0 x 15.0 cms), on printed stationery from Learoyd's home in Rustington, and dated 7 September 1995; near fine state. THE LETTER IS WRITTEN, DATED AND SIGNED ENTIRELY IN LEAROYD'S HAND, AND IS SOLD WITH A POOR QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT. Roderick Alastair Brook Learoyd was gazetted for the Victoria Cross on 20 August 1940. The citation reads: 'On 12 August 1940 Flight Lieutenant Learoyd was one of the pilots briefed to bomb the Dortmund-Ems Canal in Germany. Of the four other aircraft which had already made the attack on that night, two were destroyed and two were badly hit. Flight Lieutenant Learoyd took his plane into the target at only 150 feet, in the full glare of the searchlights and flak barrage all around him. The aircraft was very badly damaged but the bombs were duly dropped and he managed to get his crippled plane back to England where he flew round until first light, finally landing without causing injury to his… Read More

1995. Two sheets each measuring 8.0 x 6.0 ins (approx. 21.0 x 15.0 cms), on printed stationery from Porteous' home near Chichester, and dated 17 September 1995; near fine state. THE LETTER IS WRITTEN, SIGNED AND DATED ENTIRELY IN PORTEOUS' HAND, AND IS SOLD WITH A BRIEF RESUME OF HIS SERVICE CAREER AND A POOR QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHIC PORTRAIT. Patrick Porteous was gazetted for the Victoria Cross on 2 October 1942. The citation reads: 'On 19 August 1942 at Dieppe, France, Captain Porteous was liaison officer between two detachments whose task was to attack the heavy coast defence guns. During the initial assault Captain Porteous, with the smaller detachment was shot through the hand, but he nevertheless disarmed and killed his assailant, thereby also saving the life of a British sergeant. In the meantime the two officers of the other detachment had been killed and the Troop Sergeant Major seriously wounded, so Captain Porteous, in the face of witherin fire, dashed across open ground to take… Read More

1954. Single sheet, 8vo., a near fine copy. Signed simply 'Tedder' in the writer's usual manner, the letter is written to Geoffrey Moore, founder of the Buccaneers Cricket Club, and demonstrates the airman's keen and continuing interest in the sport. Tedder was President of Surrey County Cricket Club from 1953 to 1958. The letter regretfully declines Moore's invitation to attend the Buccaneer's annual dinner (held at Lords): 'I've already got a date I can't budge!'. Marshal of the RAF Arthur William Tedder, 1st Baron Tedder (1890-1967) was one of Britain's most distinguished air commanders. Educated at Whitgift School and Magdalene College, Cambridge, he transferred from the Dorsetshire Regiment to the Royal Flying Corps in 1916, serving in France from 1915- to 1917 and in Egypt from 1918 to 1919. He was then commissioned in to the (new) Royal Air Force where was appointed Director of Training from 1934 to 1936, after which he became Commander RAF Far… Read More

1947. Single sheet, a near fine copy. Signed simply 'Wavell' in the writer's usual manner, the letter is written to Geoffrey Moore, founder of the Buccaneers Cricket Club, and demonstrates the soldier's keen and continuing interest in the sport. It is noteworthy that Wavell was particularly proud of his membership of the MCC at Lords. The letter confirms that Wavell will propose the toast at the Buccaneers' annual dinner (held at Lords). Field-Marshal Earl Wavell (1883-1950) was one of the twentieth century's most distinguished British soldiers. Following considerable success against the Italians in North Africa, his career reached its peak with his appointment as Supreme Allied Commander, South West Pacific, ABDA (American, British, Dutch and Australian) Command in 1942 and subsequently as an outstanding Viceroy and Governor General of India from 1943-1947. He was recognised also as a scholar, compiling the well-known anthology of poetry 'Other Mens's Flowers'… Read More

[Christopher Davies, Swansea],, 1976. 8vo., First Edition, title lightly spotted; original printed wrappers, a very good, bright, clean copy. Longley's extended essay appears at pp.8-28. SCARCE.

Aston Martin Owners Club,, [1985]. 8vo., First Edition thus, with photographs and illustrations (a number full-page) throughout; original illustrated wrappers, wire-stitched as issued, covers very lightly age-soiled else a near fine copy. Published to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the Club, this special issue collects a pot-pourri of articles and photographs (with additional commentary) from the years 1935-1985. SCARCE, ESPECIALLY IN THIS CONDITION.