A collection of some of our rarest and most distinguished titles:
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QuickviewA 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.£12,500.00 -
QuickviewA Christmas Carol
Antiquarian, Charles Dickens, ShowcaseA Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens Fifth edition (Chapman & Hall, 1844). Issued the year after the publication of the first edition, which was published in December 1843. Hand-coloured etched frontispiece and a further three plates by John Leech with four wood-engravings by W.J. Linton. Two pp advertisements at rear. Gilt edges with publisher's original cinnamon vertically ribbed cloth stamped in blind and gilt. Previous owner name to half-title dated 1844. Small stain on page 25 and one plate detached. A little light soling to leaves here and there with some rubbing to edges. Hinges starting, but all pages, save for the one aforementioned plate still firmly in place. A very good example.£2,750.00 -
QuickviewA Clockwork Orange
First Edition, Modern First Editions, ShowcaseA Clockwork Orange By Anthony Burgess First edition, first impression (Heinemann, 1962) with first state black boards and wider dust jacket flaps. Publisher's original black cloth with lettering to spine in gilt. Very good with a minor knock to foot of lower board and an area of abrasion to the surface of the front and rear endpapers resulting from the removal of a bookplate; brown spot to gutter foot of opening pages with some staining to opening page of chapter 1 and small hole to page fore-edge; a couple of impressions to the bottom of page 97 also showing, with increasingly less prominence, on following 10 pages. The original dust jacket is price-clipped and has a couple of small marks in biro to upper flap and spine panel verso; minimal wear to extremities and a couple of small nicks to top edge with associated tape repair to verso, better than very good otherwise. A modern dystopian highlight.£1,500.00 -
QuickviewBeowulf
First Edition, Modern First Editions, Poetry, Showcase, Signed First EditionsBeowulf By Seamus Heaney First edition, first impression. Signed by the poet to the title page. Winner of the Whitbread Book of the Year Award. Original black cloth with lettering to spine in gilt. Some light white marks to lower board fore-edge, else fine in a beautiful, fine dust jacket bearing the Waterstones 'Signed First Edition' wraparound band. A superior example of one of the poet's highlight titles.£1,250.00 -
QuickviewCaves of Steel
Isaac Asimov, Modern First Editions, Science Fiction, ShowcaseCaves of Steel By Isaac Asimov First UK edition, first impression. Published in the same year as the first US edition and seemingly less common with striking cover art. Publisher's original black cloth with silver lettering to spine and motif to bottom corner of upper board. Light spotting to top edge and some off-setting to endpapers with a previous owner name to front endpaper and a few ticks in red biro next to some of the titles listed on half-title verso, otherwise very good. The original dust jacket is price-clipped and has some wear and a few tears to top edge with some rubbing and chipping to spine panel, primarily to the top. A good or better copy of an uncommon edition.£800.00 -
New
QuickviewEast of Eden
First Edition, John Steinbeck, Modern First Editions, ShowcaseEast of Eden By John Steinbeck First edition, first impression and first state with 'bite' for 'bight' on page 281. The title described by the author himself as his magnum opus. Small pinhole to spine with a small and faint stain to bottom for-edge of text block. The original and unclipped dust jacket has a couple of closed tears and small nicks to edges with some shallow chipping to spine foot. Some of the usual toning to spine panel. A very good copy indeed.£1,500.00 -
QuickviewFor Whom the Bell Tolls
Ernest Hemingway, First Edition, General Literary Fiction, History, Modern First Editions, ShowcaseFor Whom the Bell Tolls By Ernest Hemingway First edition, first impression in first issue dust jacket. Original publisher's cloth. Some rubbing to label on spine with toning to edges and a small area of browning to edge of of paste-downs and endpapers. Contents beautifully clean throughout otherwise. The original and unclipped dust jacket has a little soft crease close to fore-edge of upper panel, else in beautiful, fine condition. A fantastic example of one of the author's highlight titles.£3,000.00 -
QuickviewFoundation
First Edition, Isaac Asimov, Modern First Editions, Science Fiction, ShowcaseFoundation By Isaac Asimov First UK edition, first impression (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1953). Originally published in the US in 1951. The first book in the Foundation series, which won the Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series in 1966 and forms the basis for the 2021 Apple TV series. Publisher's original black cloth with silver lettering to spine. A near fine book with some of the usual moderate spotting to edges and off-setting to endpapers and half-title; light pencil impressions to top of front endpaper. The original and price-clipped dust jacket has a little bit of minor rubbing to edges in places and a couple of very tiny chips to corners. A near fine example of a rare edition of an iconic and influential work in the science fiction genre.£875.00 -
QuickviewHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
First Edition, Modern First Editions, Science Fiction, Showcase, Signed First EditionsHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows By J.K. Rowling First edition, first impression (Bloomsbury, 2007). Signed and inscribed by the author to the title page: 'To Scott, best wishes, J. K. Rowling'. Rare inscribed. Very small and unobtrusive initials to bottom corner of front endpaper with partial toning to bottom edge. A little trivial and very occasional edge wear to extremities of dust jacket, else fine. An excellent, near fine copy overall.£1,750.00 -
QuickviewHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Children's Fiction, First Edition, J.K. Rowling, Modern First Editions, Showcase, Signed First EditionsHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire By J.K. Rowling First edition, first impression. Signed and inscribed by the author to the dedication page: "To Laura and Kat, Who, I hear, are Harry fans - making me like them a lot! J K Rowling". Inscribed copies of this title are exceptionally rare and were usually given to people who were involved in arranging the signing events or had a personal connection with the author. Some fading to the spine of the book and top edge of upper board with tanning to edges and barely visible pencil impression to the front endpaper from a previous retailer. The original and unclipped dust jacket has a little fading to spine and a couple of soft creases to spine ends, near fine otherwise.£3,750.00 -
QuickviewHarry 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. Published simultaneously with the first trade edition in 2003. 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 beautiful, fine copy. Very rare signed or inscribed.£4,500.00 -
QuickviewHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Children's Fiction, First Edition, J.K. Rowling, Modern First Editions, Showcase, Signed First EditionsHarry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone By J. K. Rowling First adult paperback edition, first impression (Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 1998). Signed by the author to the dedication page. Originally published the previous year in 1997. A near fine copy with a crease to upper cover that is only visible upon close inspection and a little superficial scratching to surface of upper cover and dedication page with a small, isolated and faint spot to inside of upper cover, otherwise beautifully sharp and clean, presenting as unread. An excellent copy of an early edition that is rarely encountered signed.£3,000.00