Rare books from Michal Sawka Rare & Collectable

Amsterdam: Marc-Michel Rey, 1775. Book. Good+. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 2 volumes bound in one, imperial octavo (210 x 265mm). [4], 160, [2]; 160pp. First French edition, edited by Diderot, complete with all 5 engraved plates (three in the text and two frontispiece), beautiful 65 vignettes, 3 folding plates and 4 folding printed tables. Full calf leather, five raised bands, spine gilt to compartments, gilt title, marbled endpapers, all edges in red. The spine of the leather binding is slightly damaged, minor rubbing on edges and on covers. The first pages have some moisture damage (unobtrusive). The three engravings have been amateurishly restored. No notes and/or tears (apart from aforementioned restorations). Gently creasing on some pages. The writer was the great reformer who, commissioned by the enlightened czarina Catherine II, made education accessible for all children, both boys and girls. In association with Diderot, he presented the French translation of this important book in Amsterdam.… Read More

Antwerp: Christopher Plantin, 1584. Map. Fine. Framed. Size: 377 x 485 mm. Framed size: 580 x 465mm. Hand-coloured engraved map published in the Theatrum Orbis Terrarum. Wooden moulding frames, glazed and mounted, late 20th century. In fine condition, only a small two spots in a upper part. A beautiful map of Poland and Lithuania, part of the Baltic Sea, title in cartouche at lower left, in Latin, scale at top left, decorated sleigh with a horse. .

London: The Bodley Head, 1955. Book. Illus. by Pauline Baynes. Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. Octavo. First impression, 'First Published 1955" on the copyright page. Green cloth, silver title to the spine. With 15 full page mono illustrations and numerous in text. Cover slightly soiled by black marks (top and bottom) on the front and rear panel (in the same places), edges slightly tanned, minor foxing on the preliminary and final pages. Original dust jacket not price clipped, front and back flaps stained by sellotape, slightly soiled mostly to the rear panel, minor creased to the front wrap, minor wear along edges, foxing on inside. Nice and fresh copy, bright and firm throughout, with no inscriptions. .

London: John Lane The Bodley Head Limited, 1925. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. vii, 298pp [+14 ads]. 'Cheap edition 1925' stated to the copyright page. Original green cloth, black title to the spine and front cover together with decorated motif in black. Spine slightly faded, little wear to spine ends, pages edges tanned, minimal foxing. Included original dust jacket with some restoration, slightly soiled. Clean and fresh copy. .

London: The Bodley Head, 1974. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Folio (305 x 220mm). Inscribed by Chaplin to the title page:"To Prime Minister and Mrs Wilson - Charlie Chaplin". Harold Wilson was the Prime Minister who, encouraged by Louis Mountbatten, included Chaplin in the 1975 Queen's New Years honours list, conferring upon him the title Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE). The book comes from the collection of Harold and Mary Wilson (included catalogue from the auction as provenance). The book is firmly bound in clean black cloth lettered in white to the spine, the extremities are a little bumped and rubbed. The text block is slightly toned and dusty. The dust jacket is the original, it is price clipped and slightly grubby with some minor nicks, closed tears and rubbing to the edges. With excellent provenance, and an important association with the British Prime Minister who granted Charlie Chaplin the establishment recognition he… Read More

London: Bloomsbury, 1998. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. First edition, sixth impression, hardback, inscribed by the author 'to Laura - with best wishes - and I like the necklace! J K Rowling', 8vo, original pictorial boards, dust jacket, textblock slightly toned. Provenance: Inscribed for the vendor at a book signing in Edinburgh c.1998; according to her recollection the necklace was made of candy..

Krakow: Wydawnictwo Literackie, 1978. Book. Very Good. Soft cover. Signed by Author(s). Octavo. Signed and inscribed by the author: "Dla Pawla Warmuza - Stanislaw Lem, Kraków 1981." Original pictorial cloth, previous owner's name on the verso of the front free endpaper. Slightly soiled, spine creased, small tear at the spine foot, front corner bumped. Contains 11 stories. This edition of "Opowiadania wybrane" by the prolific science fiction master, Stanislaw Lem, is a literary gem that showcases the timeless storytelling of this renowned author. Published in 1978 by Wydawnictwo Literackie, this collection of selected stories offers readers a captivating journey into Lem's imaginative and thought-provoking worlds. A very good copy, clean and firm..

New York: Scribner, 1999. Book. Fine. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. First Edition, first impression with line '1-10' on the copyright page. Signed and inscribed by the author, "With best wishes, Stephen King 9/8/01." Bound in original black and blue cloth with a red title on the spine. Comes with the dust jacket, which is in excellent condition. The book itself is in fantastic shape, with only minor soiling along the edges of the text block."Hearts in Atlantis" is a departure from King's traditional horror genre. Instead, it delves into more subtle and psychological themes, showcasing King's versatility as a writer. "Hearts in Atlantis" was adapted into a film released in cinemas in 2001, with the main role played by Anthony Hopkins..

Krakow: Wydawnictwo Literackie, 1971. Book. Good. Soft cover. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Octavo. Signed by the author. First edition, first printing. Original pictorial cloth designed by Daniel Mroz. The cover shows signs of browning and wear on the edges, with a small tear at the spine's base, the edges are tanned. The interior is clean and bright. This copy remains firm and in good condition..

London: Kaye & Ward, 1987. Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Octavo. First impression. Photographic illustrations, several pages of maps, bibliography. Bound in crisp blue cloth, with gold blocked locomotive decoration to front board and bright, gilt title lettering to spine. Very light wear to boards & spine. Dust jacket is not price-clipped; light edge wear. Signed W.Awdry to bookplate fixed to front pastedown. Including rare paper "Special Autograph Edition" wrapper. The wrapper is quite creased and in two pieces. A fascinating and detailed background to the Railway series about Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends..

London: Head of Zeus Ltd, 2021. Book. Fine. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. Signed and limited edition: 6 volumes in total, including The Remembrance of Earth's Past Trilogy (The Three-Body Problem; The Dark Forest; Death's End), along with The Redemption of Time, Hold Up The Sky, and Of Ants and Dinosaurs. All books are signed by the author, with the volume The Redemption of Time additionally signed by the translator. The book are in pristine condition. .

Krakow: Spoldzielnia Wydawniczo-Oswiatowa 'Czytelnik", 1967. Book. Very Good. Soft cover. Signed by Author(s). Octavo. Later edition, the first edition of the book was published in 1951. Signed and inscribed by Stanislaw Lem: "Pani Ewie Burzynskiej na pamiatke naszej rozmowy w Kielcach, Stanislaw Lem, Krakow listopad 67" (To Mrs. Ewa Burzynska in memory of our conversation in Kielce, Stanislaw Lem, Krakow November 67). Original yellow softcover, dustwrapper in black and yellow. The jacket has some tears and chipped edges, the book is in very good condition. A very rare copy with a bold dedication by the author. .

New York: Scholastic Book. Near Fine. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). 1st Edition. First US edition, copyright page with number line from 10 to 1. Signed by author on title page, certified with the official hologram as called for (bearing the 21/07/07 date). .

London: Jonathan Cape and the Medici Society Ltd, 1923. Book. Fine. Hardcover. (240 x 180mm). Original blue cloth with gilt ornaments and gilt titles on the spine and front cover, accompanied by creamy dust jackets. Features 36 full-color plate illustrations by Russell Flint. The wrappers show slight soiling, with browned spines and slightly chipped edges. In volume II, the bottom edges of the wrapper detached but still in place. The spine of the books are slightly sunned, minor foxing throughout, else the book are in fine condition. This set is very handsome, presented in rare dust jackets..

London: Bloomsbury, 1999. Book. Very Good. Hardcover. Signed by Author(s). First edition, 10th printing, INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR, 8vo, pp. 317, [1]. Original decorative paper boards, matching dustjacket. Inscribed by J.K. Rowling on the dedication page. A little toned. Dustjacket sunned, lightly bumped to edges. Inscription to dedication-page: "To Daisy with best wishes J.K. Rowling". The third book in the series, in an early printing signed and inscribed by the author.