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A Bear Called Paddington
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Michael Bond, Modern First Editions, Showcase, Signed First EditionsA Bear Called Paddington By Michael Bond First edition, first impression (Collins Clear-Type Press: London and Glasgow, 1958). Signed and inscribed by the author to the front endpaper: "To Nina, with best wishes, Michael Bond". The dedicatee is Nina Froud who was a personal friend of the author and worked at his literary agency. The first book in the Paddington series where one of the most iconic and beloved British fictional characters first appeared, later going on to form the basis of several ongoing TV and successful film adaptations. Publisher's original red cloth with silver lettering to spine containing illustrations by Peggy Fortnum. A beautiful, fine and pristine book throughout, save for a touch of off-setting to endpapers. Appears unread. The original complete dust jacket is not price-clipped and is in unusually superior condition with a chip to spine head - not affecting any lettering - and a closed tear to top of upper panel fore-edge with a couple of tiny and inconspicuous nicks to the top edge of lower panel. A very rare inscribed presentation copy of a quality and with an association that are very seldom encountered.£8,000.00 -
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A Squash and a Squeeze
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First EditionsA Squash and a Squeeze By Julia Donaldson First edition, first impression. The author's first book which, due to the infrequency of its appearance in commerce, is likely to have had a very limited print run. It also marks the first collaboration between the author and illustrator, whose partnership would later go on to create 'The Gruffalo', 'Stick Man', 'Zog' and 'Room on the Broom' among many others. Original pictorial boards with pictorial endpapers and paste-downs. Slight toning to edges and very minor instances of rubbing to corners, else a fine and sharp example, free from any names or inscriptions. No jacket as issued.£3,500.00 -
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Children's Fiction, First Edition, J.K. Rowling, Modern First Editions, Signed First EditionsHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets By J.K. Rowling First deluxe edition, first impression. Signed by the cover artist, Cliff Wright to the upper board. Publisher's original blue cloth with gold edges, dark blue endpapers and paste-downs and light green ribbon marker with pictorial on-lays and lettering to upper board and spine in gilt. Contents lovely and clean and free from any marks names or inscriptions. There is a barely visible tear to fore-edge of half-title of approximately 5mm in length that has been neatly repaired, fine otherwise.£1,000.00 -
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Children's Fiction, First Edition, J.K. Rowling, Modern First EditionsHarry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets By J. K. Rowling First deluxe edition, first impression. Original blue cloth with pictorial on-lay to upper board featuring artwork by Cliff Wright. Green ribbon marker and lettering to spine and upper board in gilt. A minuscule knock half way down the edge of upper board, else a fantastic copy.£350.00 -
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Children's Fiction, First Edition, J.K. Rowling, Modern First Editions, Showcase, Signed First EditionsHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix By J . K. Rowling First deluxe edition, first impression. Signed and inscribed by the author to half-title: 'To Betty, Happy 70th!! With love from J. K. Rowling x'. Original burgundy cloth and endpapers with lettering to spine and upper board in gilt, gold page edges, ribbon marker and pictorial onlay to upper board featuring artwork by Jason Cockcroft. A fine copy. Very rare signed or inscribed.£3,000.00 -
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Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Children's Fiction, First Edition, J.K. Rowling, Modern First Editions, Signed First EditionsHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone By J. K. Rowling First illustrated edition, first impression (Bloomsbury, 2016). Illustrated by Jim Kay and signed and inscribed by him to the title page: 'For Martin, Thank you for coming along! Best Wishes, Jim Kay'. The first ever illustrated edition. Rare inscribed. Original red cloth with lettering to spine in gilt, pictorial endpapers and paste-downs with a red ribbon marker. A fine book with a very minor and inconspicuous knock to spine in a fine dust jacket.£500.00 -
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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Children's Fiction, First Edition, J.K. Rowling, Modern First EditionsHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban By J. K. Rowling First edition, first impression and second state with 'J. K. Rowling to copyright page, dropped text corrected on page 7 and no advertisements to rear. Original pictorial boards. Some toning to edges and a slight spine slant with a brief inscription to top of front endpaper and round price sticker to front paste-down, very good or better otherwise. The original and unclipped dust jacket has some fading to spine panel, else near fine.£750.00 -
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He’s Your Dog, Charlie Brown!
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First EditionsHe's Your Dog, Charlie Brown! By Charles Schulz First edition, first impression. A little rubbing to spine ends and board corners. A little peripheral browning to paste-down and half-title, otherwise excellent.£50.00 -
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It Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First EditionsIt Was a Short Summer, Charlie Brown By Charles Schulz First edition, first impression. Tear to half-title with associated tape repair. Some rubbing to board edges, otherwise excellent. No jacket.£30.00 -
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It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First EditionsIt's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown First edition, first impression. Some rubbing to spine ends and a little marginal browning to front and rear paste-downs, otherwise near fine. No jacket.£75.00 -
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Matilda
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Roald DahlMatilda By Roald Dahl First edition, first impression published by Jonathan Cape in 1988 and featuring illustrations by Quentin Blake. Original red cloth with lettering to spine in gilt. A few marks to boards and edges with some rubbing to board edges and a few isolated superficial indentations, otherwise very good and free from names and inscriptions. The original and unclipped dust jacket has some of the usual fading to the spine panel, a little spotting to flaps and a small chip to top corner of lower panel, better than very good otherwise.£300.00 -
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Michael Bond’s Book of Mice
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Signed First EditionsMichael Bond's Book of Mice By Michael Bond First edition, first impression. Presentation copy. Signed and inscribed by the author to the front endpaper verso. A little rubbing to board edges and small area of fading to spine head, else very good or better and internally clean. The original and unclipped dust jacket has some slight fading to spine panel and a small area of loss to spine head, otherwise very good.£135.00 -
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Paddington on Top
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Michael Bond, Modern First Editions, Signed First EditionsFirst edition, first impression. Signed and inscribed by the author to the front endpaper: 'For Richard, All good wishes, Michael Bond'. Original red cloth with silver lettering to spine. A near fine book with very slight toning to edges, in a very good clipped and re-priced dust jacket with moderate wear to top edge, mild soiling to upper panel hinge and a couple of small tears. Rare signed or inscribed.£500.00 -
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Rhyme Stew
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Roald Dahl, Signed First EditionsRhyme Stew By Roald Dahl First edition, first impression. Signed and inscribed by the author to the front endpaper. Dark blue cloth with lettering to spine in gilt. A little knocking to corners with often-seen ghosting of the author's signature to front paste-down, near fine otherwise in a near fine dust jacket with some creasing to top edge of upper panel.£1,500.00 -
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The BFG
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Roald Dahl, Showcase, Signed First EditionsThe BFG By Roald Dahl First edition, first impression. Signed and inscribed by the author and illustrator. Adapted to film in 1989 and 2016. Original grey cloth with lettering to spine in gilt. Slight toning and a few spots to edges, primarily to top, with a small nick to the cloth towards to the top of the rear spine hinge, else a near fine copy. The original and unclipped dust jacket has a tiny nick to the top corner of the lower panel and a little yellowing to verso edges, otherwise near fine. An extremely crisp and well-preserved example. Rarely found signed by both the author and illustrator.£6,750.00 -
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The Boy in the Dress
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Signed First EditionsThe Boy in the Dress By David Walliams First edition, first impression (HarperCollins Children's Books, 2008). Signed and inscribed by the author to half-title. Illustrated by Quentin Blake. The author's first book. A fine book in a near fine or better dust jacket with a just a touch of fading to the spine panel.£300.00 -
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The Boy in the Dress
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Signed First EditionsThe Boy in the Dress By David Walliams First edition, first impression. Signed and inscribed by the author to half-title: 'To Ronnie Merry Xmas David Walliams'. The author's first book with illustrations by Quentin Blake. Original pictorial boards. A fine book in a near fine dust jacket with a little fading to spine panel.£300.00 -
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The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First EditionsThe Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse By Charlie Mackesy First edition, first impression on the Waterstones Limited Edition. Published prior to the first trade edition, which was quarter-bound in blue cloth. Adapted into a popular animated short film in 2022 that later won the Best Animated Short Film Academy Award on 12 March 2023. Quarter-bound in burgundy cloth with lettering to spine in gilt and pictorial cream boards and gold ribbon marker. Small and faint blue mark to upper board, else an excellent, fine copy.£800.00 -
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The Cat in the Hat
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Showcase, Signed First EditionsThe Cat in the Hat By Dr. Seuss First UK edition, first impression (Collins Clear-Type Press, 1958). Originally published in the US the previous year. Signed and inscribed by the author to front endpaper verso: 'for the children of Battersea with Best Wishes... Dr Seuss'. Rare thus. Publisher's original turquoise pictorial boards. Rubbing to edges and to spine with some bumping to corners; very slight bowing to upper board; contents clean and free from names and inscriptions. A good copy of an edition that is rare to find bearing a unique inscription from the author.£2,500.00 -
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The Giant Who Stole the World
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Signed First EditionsThe Giant Who Stole the World By John Cunliffe First edition, first impression with illustrations by Faith Jacques. Presentation copy. Signed and inscribed by the author in the year of publication. As well as being a Children's book author, John Cunliffe was known as a television presenter and was the creator of 'Postman Pat' and 'Rosie and Jim'. Original pictorial boards. A little rubbing in places to board edges, primarily to spine tips with some moderate damage to spine foot, otherwise very good indeed in a fine and unclipped dust jacket. Uncommon, especially so signed or inscribed by the author.£150.00 -
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The Happy Prince and Other Stories
Children's Fiction, First EditionThe Happy Prince and Other Stories By Oscar Wilde First edition with Robinson's illustrations (Duckworth, 1913). Purple cloth with lettering and decoration in gilt. Pictorial endpapers. Featuring 12 colour plates mounted under captioned tissue guards - a few of which with one or two light creases - and a number of attractive line drawings. Some toning and spotting to edges and browning to front and rear endpapers. The covers are in very nice bright condition. A very good copy indeed, accompanied by remnants of the rare original dust jacket.£850.00 -
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The Magic Finger
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Roald DahlThe Magic Finger By Roald Dahl First edition, first impression. Original pictorial boards. Light soiling to boards in places with a little spotting to text-block edges and some toning to spine, otherwise very good.£250.00 -
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The Sheep-Pig
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First EditionsThe Sheep-Pig By Dick King-Smith First edition, first impression published by Gollancz in 1983. Illustrations and dust jacket art by Mary Rayner. Famously adapted to cinema in 1995 under the title 'Babe'. Original dark blue cloth with lettering to spine in gilt. A fine book in a very good or better dust jacket with a couple of small tears to bottom edge and one very small nick to spine head. A lovely, bright example.£600.00 -
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The Starlight Barking
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Showcase, Signed First EditionsThe Starlight Barking By Dodie Smith First edition, first impression (Heinemann, 1967). Illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone. Signed, inscribed and dated by the author in the year of publication on the front blank: 'To Cicely Courtneidge, from Dodie Smith "Dear Octopus", Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 1967'. The inscription refers to Smith's play 'Dear Octopus', which was revived in 1967 for the fiftieth wedding anniversary of the comedy actors Dame Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hubert. Dodie Smith's married name, 'Mrs Beesley', Dodie Smith's married name is also written in ink in another hand to the front flap of the dust jacket. Additionally a postcard from the author is loosely inserted: 'Dearest Cis, Here is "The Starlight Barking" as a tiny first night present. It's also intended as a get well present to your dear poodle - I trust you'll be able to use Bill's line and say "The dog liked it". Bless you and thank you for your lovable, funny and altogether admirable performance as "Dora". Much love as ever, Dodie". 8vo, publisher's original blue cloth with gilt lettering to spine and pictorial decorative endpapers. fine with just a little pushing to spine ends in a near fine, price-clipped dust jacket with slight edge-wear in places and a couple of spots to upper panel. A near fine example of the sequel to 'The Hundred and One Dalmatians'.£1,750.00 -
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The Twits
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First Editions, Roald DahlThe Twits By Roald Dahl First edition, first impression. Illustrated by Quentin Blake. Original red cloth with lettering to spine in gilt. A near fine book with a gift inscription to front endpaper, in a near fine or better dust jacket with the slightest hint of fading to the spine panel.£325.00 -
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The Water-Babies
Antiquarian, Children's Fiction, First EditionThe Water-Babies By Charles Kingsley First edition, first issue (Macmillan & Co, 1863) with l'envoi leaf present, of which there were only believed to be around 200 copies. Housed in an attractive morocco drop-back box with raised bands, blue compartments, gilt lettering and marbled boards. Original green cloth. Spine re-backed using most of the original, only lacking the tips and a small square hole just below the centre. Occasional light foxing and a little rubbing to covers. Hinges neatly reinforced. Free from names and inscriptions. A very good example of a very rare book.£500.00 -
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The Wind in the Willows
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First EditionsThe Wind in the Willows By Kenneth Grahame First edition of the first illustrated Arthur Rackham edition published in the United Kingdom, featuring illustrations that originally appeared in the US Limited Edition Club edition in 1940. 97th edition overall. 12 colour plates and 15 line drawings by Rackham. Original green cloth with lettering to spine in gilt. Some fairly light spotting to fore-edge. Contents are lovely and clean and free from names and inscriptions, save for a touch of very faint spotting to endpapers. Very good or better. The original and unclipped dust jacket has a few tears to edges with some edge wear and rubbing and fraying, primarily to hinges and folds. A very good copy.£475.00 -
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Toad of Toad Hall
Children's Fiction, First Edition, Modern First EditionsToad of Toad Hall By A. A. Milne First edition, first impression. The first dramatisation of 'The Wind in the Willows', and the subject of a number of theatrical adaptations. Original blue cloth with lettering to spine and toad motif to upper board in gilt. A little spotting to edges and to preliminaries with some browning to front and rear endpapers and small label to bottom corner of front paste-down, otherwise very good or better. The original dust jacket, bearing the correct 5/- price to the spine panel, has a few very small nicks to edges and a shallow chip to spine head with light edge wear, otherwise very good or better.£300.00 -
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Winnie-the-Pooh
A A Milne, Children's Fiction, First Edition, Limited Editions, Modern First Editions, Showcase, Signed First EditionsWinnie-the-Pooh By A. A. Milne Limited edition, published by Methuen Children's Books Ltd. in 1973. Hand bound in blue leather by Zaehnsdorf, London with lettering to spine and motif to upper board in gilt. All edges gilt. Containing attractive illustrations in colour by E. H. Shepard throughout and housed in a blue cloth slipcase with lettering to spine in gilt. One of 300 copies signed by E. H. Shepard, of which this is number 26. An excellent, fine book. Some evidence of rubbing to top and bottom edges of slipcase, else near fine. A beautifully produced and unique edition of one of the most important and popular children's books of modern times.£3,500.00