Search Results: English Literature from Alcuin Books, ABAA-ILAB

Each letter written to Francis Lawrence Bickley, author of The Adventures of Harlequin which was one of early fine books he illustrated. Each written on his letterhead John Austen. The September letter is not dated by year but from internal evidence points to 1925 when his "Rogues in Porcelain" was issued by Chapman and Hall. Austen writes that he is glad he thinks well of the "Rogues" and I look forward to your criticism of it. [In a case of apparent censorship, he writes:] "A[rthur]. Waugh, publisher of Chapman and Hall, is [desolatest?] because forsooth I have included "The Dove" its evidently the first line he had read it, as he knew well that I was to use it and now he says its indecent and will probably stop sales. I suggest it only increases them. I will certainly tell him to include the Bookman in his list but probably has already done so." He goes on to note: "I enclose the proof of your story which I enjoyed muchly--wish I could decorate a volume of such. Certainly, I will do something with… Read More

Norwood, Pa.: Norwood Editions, 1976. Cloth. Near Fine Reprint of 1892 Ed. By J. Nisbet, London. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. Slight stain on outer edge. Acount of the poet's life as a great moral and religious teacher. 127 pp.

London: Martin Secker, 1922. First Edition. Octavo. 312pp. New novel by the author of "England, My England," and "Sons and Lovers." Bound in brown cloth boards, with gilt title (spots on fore edge; some off-setting to front free endpaper.

London: for W. Johnston, 1753. First Edition. 12mo. In two volumes, 262 and 315pp.. Smollett's third novel. The story of Count Fathom, who travels with his mother, an angel of mercy and camp follower. While putting wounded soldiers out of their misery she takes trinkets or money from their bodies. She is eventually shot. A generous German officer takes the nine year old future count and raises the boy himself. Later, borrowing his adopted father's title, he takes himself across Europe and his adventures begin. Bound in full contemporary calf, early rebacking, flat spine ruled and decorated in gilt, red and green spine labels gilt, early owner's name to head of title page of first volume. two leaves in volume on trimmed(?). A very nice, clean set.

Stoke-on-Trent; (1966): Etruscan Publications. First Edition. Small Octavo. 157p. 70 black and white photographs throughout in this marvelous detail of the city where potters plied their craft and Arnold Bennett had his place of birth and death. This work became scarce almost as soon as its issue. Bound in black cloth, spine lettering gilt. A fine bight copy in nearly fine pictorial dust jacket.

Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1957. First Edition. Octavo (7¾" - 9¾" tall). 239pp. Bound in black cloth, with illustrated dust jacket (rubbed panels, sunned spine, and lightly soiled rear panel).

London: Bradbury and Evans, 1853. First Edition. Octavo. 624pp., bound from the original parts. Illustrations by H.K. Browne "Phiz" with 40 engraved plates which includes 10 dark plates, lacks half-title, engraved fronrtispiece with the words "frontispiece" at foot, vignette title page and regular title page errata with 5 lines. text clean, plates do have darkening around the edges. A very good copy bound in 3/4 light brown leather over gray cloth, raised bandsm black leather spine label gilt, all edges marbled.

London: The Hogarth Press, 1979. First Edition. Octavo. 288pp. Author Leon Edel won a Pulitzer Prize for his definitive Life of Henry James which was produced in several volumes. This title is part of a series of biographical essays. Edel had planned introducing the Bloomsbury Group; writers, painters, critics, economic and political activist who came together during the Edwardian period and flourished beyond the Second World War. Here he introduces Leonard and Virginia Woolf, Clive and Vanessa Bell, Roger Fry, Duncan Grant, Maynard Keynes, Desmond MacCarthy and Lytton Strachey. Bound in brown paper covered boards, spine lettering gilt. endpapers are street maps, in unclipped dust jacket.

London: H.S. Nichols, 1897. Large Octavo. The translation by Sir. R.F. Burton, with seventy-one original illustrations which are from the original oils painted by Albert Letchford. Housed in the original casket with the Arabic title gilt-stamped [Alf Laylah wa Laylah, English transliteration which translates: Thousand Nights and a Night], measuring 23" x 12" known as the casket case with the key and among the most elusive of the collectible sets. There were only 500 sets issued in a leather casket case with the original key, (Penzer, An Annotated Bibliography of Sir Richard Francis Burton, p. 120-121.) Originally published in 1881, it has become the pre-eminent English translation of the Middle Eastern classic. It is the keystone of Burton's literary reputation. It is, of course, the unbridled eroticism that horrified Victorian readers. Virtually, every chapter is a case of seduction such as the case of King Shahrye where the young prince has always been free to relieve the young women of their… Read More

Princeton University Press, 1990. First Edition. Hard Cover. Very Good/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. 163 pp.

Chicago; (nd): A.C. McClurg & Co. 12mo. frontispiece, 204pp., A selection from the Elizabethan Library, bound in green cloth decoratively stamped in gilt, spine and top edge gilt, uncut, some light toning otherwise a very nice copy.

New York: Columbia University Press, 1927. First Edition. Octavo. 71 pages, index. R.S. Loomis was one of the finest Arthurian scholars of the early 20th Century. His major sections of his work: Book I: From Knights of the Round Table to Irish Gods; Book II: The Young God and the Old. Book III: The Cult of the Grail Book IV: Brides of the Sun; Book V: From Irish and Welsh Gods to a British Chieftain. Tipped in after xii is a printed note from July 1935 where Loomis says his later research confirms his earlier work though he has revised his work on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. Together Loomis and Tolkien have written the definitive work on the subject (Oxford University Press, 1947). A fine copy bound in green cloth, spine lettering gilt, neat previous owner's name and date.

London: Printed for C. Cooke, 1799. 12mo. Engraved frontispiece, engraved title page and regular title page. 188 pages, index. ads. Each plate has imprint dated 1799. Beginning in the mid-1790's Cooke began publishing these small volumes so gentlement could carry them about and read them at lunch on in their carriage. This item on imagined Chinese philsopher, residing in London, to his friends in the country. In a sense he was using the same kind of humor that Voltiare used with Candide, and the work brought many a smile to those in England though the imagined punishments and thinkers of China was largely in the mind of Goldsmith. From the library of Benjamin Dickinson, Esq. of Tiverton with his bookplate. Bound in full tree calf, spine rough and with an old glue repair to foot. Toning to title pages, internally clean. Sold as is.

London; (1926): George Allen and Unwin Ltd. Small Octavo. Portrait frontispiece, 92 pp.(2)pp. publisher's ads. This book contains two dramas, Hildris and Bertrud. It had gone out of print so the author has now rewirtten and revised them. A near fine copy bound in maroon cloth lettered in gilt, spine lettering gilt, in a near fine dust jacket printed in green.

New York: Coward-mcCann, 1929. First Edition. Octavo. 265pp., Inscribed by the author to George Joel dated Dec. 2, 1929. Special title page and front matter designed by Richard W. Ellis of the Georgian Press, Westport, Conn. The book begins when Boswell and Johnson first meet. Then on to their, likes, dislikes, yours, contemporaries, their life and more. Bounf in blue-green cloth lettered in gitl, spine lettering gilt. small areas to each corner of front and rear endpapers with some darkening or off-setting, page 161 has off-setting from news article laid in. A very nice clean copy.

New York: Garland Publishers, Inc, 1977. Cloth. Near Fine. 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall. 106p. index, checklist of Clough's first editions.

Tempe, AZ: Renaissance English Text Society, 2001. Octavo (7¾" - 9¾" tall). Special Edition, Near Fine, lv, 219, (4)pp. Introduction and Biography. Translations of Luke Shepherd's mostly anti-Catholic satires. Translations. Textual notes. Commentary. Appendix. Glossary. List of Variants. Bibliography. Bound in dark blue cloth, with gold title letters on spine and front cover.

Los Angeles: Printed By Gordon Holmquist for Members of the Rounce & Coffin Club and the Typophiles, 1947. 12mo. 31p. Under his famous personage, Anthony Hillyer, Thomas Perry Stricker wrote three essays on Elizabethan personages. Originally they were composed in 1934 when he worked for Jake Zeitlin when he cataloged rare books for Jake's best clients. When he died in 1945, the William Andrews Clark Memorial Library established a collection of his work. His widow, Ethel Elton Striker, included this as noted by L.C.P. [Lawrence Clark Powell]. The colophon is noted as #1 and is signed by Gordon Holmquist and an unnamed assistant with the note this was the "1st issue

London: Elkin Matthews, 1894. First Edition. Very Good. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall. 110, (16)pp. Five "imaginary pieces" of marvelous wit. In gilt stamped red cloth. Note: The red boards have faded to pink, and the spine is light brown. Owner's name on ffep.

London: Macmillan and Co, 1904. Limited Edition. 12mo. Limited to 1000 copies. The present set is number 68. Each volume contains a biography of each authors life and works along with their various characteristics. Each edited by those whose specialty was of a particular author such as Chaucer, Spencer, Hume, Goldsmith, Johnson, Gray, Sterne, Swift and etal. All bound in 3/4 brown morocco over marbled paper covered boards with matching endpapers, top edges gilt, a few volumes with light dampstaining, no foxing, From the library of E.C. Converse with his bookplate.