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QuickviewMonkey Planet (Planet of the Apes)
First Edition, Modern First Editions, ShowcaseMonkey Planet By Pierre Boulle First UK edition, first impression, published by Secker and Warburg in 1964. First published in French under the title 'La Planète des Singes' in 1963. The basis for the 1968 science fiction classic film adaptation 'Planet of the Apes'. Accompanied by a typed letter signed ("Pierre Boulle") dated April 2nd 1981, discussing autographed material, manuscript pages and thanking the recipient for their devotedness to his books. Boulle's satirical and philosophical tale of a civilisation ruled by apes, first published in France in 1963, quickly became one of the cornerstones of 20th-century speculative fiction. The English edition, retitled 'Monkey Planet', preceded the 1968 film adaptation starring Charlton Heston, which transformed the work into a major cultural phenomenon. The translation was undertaken by Xan Fielding, a British author, translator, journalist and traveller, who served as a Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent in Crete, France and East Asia during World War II. The accompanying autograph letter signed (one page, on headed paper) reads: "Herewith are the autographed plates & a photo. I will see if I can send you a few manuscript pages (I hate departing from them!). Many thanks for your devotedness to my books." Original green cloth, spine lettered in silver. A fine copy, the cloth bright and square, with only very slight traces of toning to edges. The dust jacket design, by Margaret Eastoe, features her striking line drawing of captive humans observed by their simian masters ? an image that captures the novel's dark wit and satirical edge. Jackets in such well-preserved condition are uncommon, retaining the vivid pink lettering to the jacket spine and panels with a couple of single nicks to spine foot and to top corner of lower flap, a touch of rubbing to extremities and a small and faint stain to lower flap. A near fine copy overall.£1,250.00 -
New
QuickviewThe Call of the Man-Eater
First Edition, Modern First Editions, Non-FictionThe Call of the Man-Eater By Kenneth Anderson First edition, first impression. Octavo. Original black cloth, spine lettered in silver. With the striking pictorial dust jacket, likely designed by William Randell, depicting two tigers in dense jungle foliage. Illustrated with photographs, including portraits of the author and his family with various animals and scenes of the Indian jungle. A very good copy of Anderson's fourth book, recounting his encounters with the wildlife of South India. Blending natural history with thrilling narratives of hunts for tigers, leopards, and other predators, Anderson continues the tradition of Jim Corbett, though his writing is marked by its own dry humour and intimacy with the forest. Particularly evocative are his depictions of the Indian landscape, and his sympathetic accounts of snakes, elephants, and other creatures beyond the tiger. The present copy is bright and sharp, the cloth binding clean and square, the contents fresh with just a touch of toning to the text block and dustiness to top edge. The dust jacket is complete and unfaded, showing only light wear at extremities and a couple of closed tears, far better preserved than is typically encountered.£200.00 -
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QuickviewFairies: The Cottingley Photos and Their Sequel
First Edition, Modern First EditionsFairies: The Cottingley Photos and Their Sequel Gardner, Edward L. First edition, first impression of this important early work on the Cottingley Fairies, published by one of the leading Theosophists of the day. Gardner (1880–1969), General Secretary of the Theosophical Society in England, was instrumental in promoting the photographs taken by Elsie Wright and Frances Griffiths, and in persuading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle of their authenticity. This volume reproduces the famous photographs, including Alice and the Fairies, Fairy Offering a Posy to Elsie, and Frances and the Leaping Fairy, alongside Gardner’s commentary and his defence of their genuineness. The Cottingley Fairy photographs, taken in 1917 and 1920, became one of the most celebrated photographic hoaxes of the 20th century, though they were not fully exposed as fakes until the early 1980s, when both women admitted to having staged them using cardboard cut-outs. At the time, however, they convinced many spiritualists, not least Conan Doyle, who saw in them a vindication of his beliefs in spiritualism and psychic phenomena. Octavo. Original blue cloth-backed boards, titles to upper board in black. With the 5 famous Cottingley Fairy photographs. Bookplate of Jean Corke to front pastedown and front free endpaper, with ownership name to the latter. Some spotting to endpapers and text throughout, more pronounced to preliminaries and plate leaves, boards a little rubbed, spotted and toned, spine ends lightly worn, cracking to binding at p 26, but pages still holding firm. A good copy.£250.00 -
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QuickviewThe Honourable Schoolboy
First Edition, John Le Carré, Modern First Editions, Signed First EditionsThe Honourable Schoolboy By John le Carré First edition, first impression. Signed by the author to the title page. The second book in the famous Karla Trilogy. Original blue boards with lettering to spine in gilt and map endpapers and paste-downs. A couple of small blue marks to fore-edge of text block. Touch of rubbing to spine ends with a minor knock to top corner of upper board, else near fine. The original and unclipped dust jacket priced '£4.95' has a closed tear and a couple of small nicks to spine ends with some rubbing to extremities, as is common. Closed tear to bottom fore-edge of lower flap. Otherwise very good.£2,500.00 -
New
QuickviewBlockade Billy
First Edition, Modern First Editions, Stephen KingBlockade Billy By Stephen King First edition, first impression in slipcase, published by Cemetery Dance in 2010. Quarter-bound in blue cloth over blue boards with silver lettering to spine and red endpapers and paste-downs. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket and slipcase.£135.00 -
New
QuickviewMisery
First Edition, Horror, Modern First Editions, Stephen KingMisery By Stephen King First US edition, first impression. Winner of the first Bram Stoker Award in 1987 and adapted into an Academy Award-winning film in 1990. Quarter-bound in black cloth over grey boards with lettering to spine and upper board in red and orange endpapers and paste-downs. Extremely faint spotting to top edge, else fine, in a fine and unclipped dust jacket, featuring artwork by Bob Giusti.£125.00