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.£3,000.00 -
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 -
QuickviewAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Children's Fiction, Lewis Carroll, Limited Editions, Modern First Editions, Showcase, Signed First EditionsAlice's Adventures in Wonderland By Lewis Carroll Limited Edition (New York The Limited Editions Club, 1932). Illustrated by John Tenniel. One of 1500 copies to be signed and numbered by designer Frederic Warde, of which this is number 1011. Head and foot of spine a little rubbed; light foxing and marginal browning to front pastedown with very faint foxing to endpaper and to rear pastedown. Illustrated frontispiece and title-vignette with several in-text illustrations; all edges gilt; original red morocco gilt. An excellent, near fine example.£1,000.00 -
QuickviewBrighton Rock
Crime and Thriller, First Edition, Graham Greene, Modern First Editions, ShowcaseBrighton Rock By Graham Greene First American edition, first impression (Viking Press, 1938). True first edition, preceding that of the UK by around one month. Publisher's original red and black cloth with silver lettering to spine. A fine book with black top-stain beautifully preserved, internally clean and free from any inscriptions with a small previous owner sticker to front paste-down. The original, first issue George Salter jacket with $2.50 price to front flap has a touch of toning to spine panel, as is common, with light and occasional rubbing to extremities and a small closed tear to foot of upper joint. An excellent, near fine or better copy of a rare title, especially in superior condition.£3,000.00 -
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 -
QuickviewConsider Phlebas
First Edition, Iain Banks, Modern First Editions, Showcase, Signed First EditionsConsider Phlebas By Iain M. Banks First edition, first impression (Macmillan, 1987). Signed, inscribed and dated by the author in the year of publication: 'To Michael from Iain M Banks 11/4/87'. Publisher's original yellow cloth with black lettering to spine. A fine book with a little toning to edges in a near fine and unclipped dust jacket with some fading to spine panel and mild edge wear.£1,750.00 -
QuickviewDark Carnival
First Edition, Horror, Ray Bradbury, Science Fiction, ShowcaseDark Carnival By Ray Bradbury UK First Edition, First Printing (Hamish Hamilton, 1948). Signed and dated by the author to the front endpaper. Minor compression to head of spine; edges lightly toned with some foxing; a little spotting to front and rear paste-downs and endpapers; inscription to front endpaper. Original dust jacket is price-clipped with some chipping to spine tips and corners; small closed tear to top corner of front panel; rear panel lightly toned. A very good copy indeed of the author's first book.£650.00 -
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 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 -
QuickviewLethal White
First Edition, J.K. Rowling, Modern First Editions, Showcase, Signed First EditionsLethal White By Robert Galbraith (J.K. Rowling) First edition, first impression. Signed by the author to the title page under her 'Robert Galbraith' pseudonym with accompanying hologram sticker. The fourth book in the Cormoran Strike series. One of 200 copies signed by J. K. Rowling on August 21, 2018 and given away in a prize draw by Heffers bookshop in Cambridge the following December. A print out from the Heffers Bookshop Facebook page announcing Gail Gourlay (the original owner) as the winner, together with a handwritten card from her are loosely inserted for added provenance. An unread near fine or better book with a couple of knocks to bottom corners and spine foot, in a fine unclipped dust jacket. An excellent example of one of the hardest titles in the Cormoran Strike series to find signed.£2,250.00