Human Chain : Signed By The Author by Heaney, Seamus - 2010

The First UK printing published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1982. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Original burgundy boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Light offsetting to the end-papers. Illustrated with B/W photographs throughout. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition with a photographic portrait of Cynthia Payne to rear panel. Wrapper design by Craig Dodd. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. The publisher's Tom Maschler's copy, doubly inscribed to him by both the author and Cynthia Payne : 'for Tom -- who has been here before -- with love from Paul'. And beneath: 'October 13th 1982. To the most brilliant publisher in the world and I must say with the most guts to take me on! Cinders xxx one for John Thomas'. When Streatham brothel-keeper Cynthia Payne was prosecuted in 1980 for keeping a disorderly house, the trial's tales of red-arsed vicars, enslaved Members of Parliament and payment for sex with luncheon vouchers transfixed the country. It also… Read More

The First UK printing published by Hodder and Stoughton, London in 1993. The BOOK is in near Fine condition with light pushing at the spine ends. A hint of toning and very light spotting to the text-block. Free from inscriptions and erasures. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition with just a tiny nick at the upper rear spine fold (the white patches on the images are just glare reflected from the shiny wrapper). The wrapper is protected in a removal Brodart archival cover. The book has been signed (without dedication) in the year of publication by the author to the title page : 'John Le Carre, June '93'. The basis for the hugely successful BBC TV dramatisation starring Trevor Hiddelston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman. Scarce with such attributes.Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.

The sole printing published by Paul Elek, London in 1949. The BOOK is in Very Good++ condition with some ghosting to the spine as commonly encountered. Midl pushing at the spine ends with light fading at the spine tips corresponding to the loss in the wrapper. Light bumping at the upper front corner. Some light spotting to the text-block and end-papers. Some light toning to the text-block and page edges due to the quality of the paper stock used. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good+ condition. Some loss at the spine ends with the inevitable fading of colouring to the spine and edges. The gilt titling to the front cover and spine remains bright. A 4 cm closed tear to the lower front spine area. Some nicks, markings and light rubbing in places.The wrapper design by Kenneth Rowntree remains very attractive in the removable Brodart archival cover. Profusely illustrated throughout with striking wood engravings by Rachel Reckitt (many full page) and B/W photographs. Rachel… Read More

The Sole UK printing published by The Rocket Press, Blewbury, Oxfordshire in 1991 (nd). One of only 40 copies issued. This copy not numbered but an artist's proof set, marked 'AP' and signed by the artist to the limitation page. 23 x 16cm. 24 loose wood engravings by O'Connor printed from the original blocks by Jonathan Stephenson at The Rocket Press, on hand made Zerkel paper, in blue, brick red , brown and green. Each engraving is either signed or initialled by John O'Connor in pencil below the image. The title and colophon page, and 24 loose sheets are housed in a green paper chemise within a beige buckram covered portfolio folder with a printed wood engraving mounted to the front cover. The portfolio is in near Fine condition with just a hint of spotting to the top of the front panel. The 24 engravings are all in Fine condition. The engravings were originally commissioned by Hal Cheetham for his privately printed volume 'La Vida Breve', which was issued in 1991. A very handsome production. More… Read More

The First UK printing published by John Murray, London in 1948. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. A hint of pushing at the spine tips. Light toning to the text-block and board edges. Some mild offsetting. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is price-clipped and in Very Good++ or better condition. Very light edge-wear with some mild age related markings. Light toning to the spine. The wrapper artwork by the author looks very striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. Profusely illustrated with coloured and B/W illustrations by the author. The author's first novel and published work, preceding her first poetry publication by fifteen years. 'Rosemary Tonks was an English poet and author. After publishing two poetry collections, six novels and pieces in numerous media outlets, she disappeared from the public eye after her conversion to Fundamentalist Christianity in the 1970s; little was known about her life past that point, until her death.'(Wiki). A very scarce title. Ashton Rare Books… Read More

The sole UK printing published by St. Dominic's Press, Ditchling in 1930. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. This is number '1' of a total edition size of only 240 copies. Light pushing at the spine ends and some tiny rubs to the rear panel and upper edge spine cloth. Tiny amount of spotting to the text-block. Free from inscriptions and erasures. Publisher's errata page present. Batchlor & Sons hand made paper printed on the Stanhope Press. Full page wood-engraving 'The Bride' and title page decoration by David Jones. In 'A Survey of the Engravings of David Jones' page 19, Cleverdon wrote ' To the end of his life, David was particularly fond of this engraving'. It was a remaking of a failed first illustration for 'The Ancient Mariner' in which he had wanted to evoke a nun taking the veil. He set off whites and greys against 'very small areas of solid black'. In one Romanesque window, apparently echoing the curves of the bride's breasts, appears the hart of Psalm 42. Dilworth also points out that her… Read More

The First UK printing published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1982. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Original burgundy boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Light offsetting to the end-papers. Illustrated with B/W photographs throughout. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition with a photographic portrait of Cynthia Payne to rear panel. Wrapper design by Craig Dodd. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. The publisher's Tom Maschler's copy, doubly inscribed to him by both the author and Cynthia Payne : 'for Tom -- who has been here before -- with love from Paul'. And beneath: 'October 13th 1982. To the most brilliant publisher in the world and I must say with the most guts to take me on! Cinders xxx one for John Thomas'. When Streatham brothel-keeper Cynthia Payne was prosecuted in 1980 for keeping a disorderly house, the trial's tales of red-arsed vicars, enslaved Members of Parliament and payment for sex with luncheon vouchers transfixed the country. It also… Read More

The First UK printing published by Hodder and Stoughton, London in 1993. The BOOK is in near Fine condition with light pushing at the spine ends. A hint of toning and very light spotting to the text-block. Free from inscriptions and erasures. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition with just a tiny nick at the upper rear spine fold (the white patches on the images are just glare reflected from the shiny wrapper). The wrapper is protected in a removal Brodart archival cover. The book has been signed (without dedication) in the year of publication by the author to the title page : 'John Le Carre, June '93'. The basis for the hugely successful BBC TV dramatisation starring Trevor Hiddelston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman. Scarce with such attributes.Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.

The sole UK printing published by The Golden Cockerel Press, Waltham St. Lawrence, Berkshire in 1925. Number '22' of only 450 copies issued. The BOOK is in Fine condition. The book has been rebound by James Brockman in full black morocco, with two raised bands, gilt titling and ruling, and marbled end-papers. A James Brockman Bindery sticker to the upper verso of the front end-paper. Eight wood engravings (3 full-page) by Eric Gill, and the cockerel device in gold on the colophon. The first book Eric Gill illustrated for the Cockerel Press (Chanticleer 25; Physick 281-88). James Brockman set up his own bindery in Oxford in 1976. From 1982 1983 he was the University of Wales Arts Fellow at The Gregynog Press and Bindery. From 1985-87 he was the President of Designer Bookbinders, and then 2001-05 he was the President of The Society of Bookbinders. In 1999 he was awarded accreditation by The Institute of Paper Conservators. James has written many articles on bookbinding technique and has given numerous… Read More

The First UK printing of this illustrated edition, published by Paul Elek, London in 1947. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Slight cocking with light pushing at the spine ends. Gilt titling to the spine remains bright. Light toning to the text-block and page edges. Free from inscriptions. The fragile wrapper is complete and is in Very Good+ condition. Edge-wear with a little loss in places. Light fading and toning to the spine. Some creasing and rubbing in places. The colour panel images are all complete. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. Striking B/W illustrations throughout by John Minton who was also responsible for the wrapper artwork. The author's only book which was based on his childhood, and originally published in 1928. It has twice been made into a film. One of John Minton's highlight titles and very scarce to find with the wrapper in any condition. This copy's wrapper is one of the best I have handled. More images available on request. Ashton… Read More