Rare books from Addyman Books

London: T.N. Longman and O. Rees. 1802. First edition, thus. 8vo. 15.5 x 9cm. In two volumes. Vol. I, [ii]contents, verso blank, [i]-lxiv preface, 200pp + [4]pp. notes. Vol. II, [ii], 250pp. First fly-title to vol. I not present, not called for by Wise but present after the preface in the Cornell copy. First leaf of notes to vol. I torn along lower corner without loss. Bound in contemporary tree calf, spines ruled in gilt, contrasting labels and small oval volume numbers. Spine of vol. I, rubbed with slight loss to labels, marbled e/ps., Pages very lightly browned o/w a clean and sound set. Cornell 12, Wise 6. Scarce, though not as historically important as the 1800 edition, (see our ref. 8142), there have been fewer copies available. The 1802 edition of 'Lyrical Ballads' differs from the 1800 edition in the following ways: Coleridge contributed four poems only, 'The Dungeon' having been withdrawn. Wordsworth's 'A Character' was also omitted. The famous 'Preface' was considerably expanded, (64… Read More

Printed in the School of Art, University of Reading. 1953. First edition. Presentation copy from the author, "To James and Elsa Bartley in affection Kingsley Amis, 1954." Original limp bds., printed wrapps. browned and lightly soiled. Sl. browning to reverse of contents page. VG+. James is James Bartley, "Jo", (1906-1967), was a lecturer in English, University College, Swansea, a specialist in drama, particularly Irish, active in producing plays at the university. He is mentioned a number of times in Amis's Memoirs and often mentioned in letters. He was a friend and drinking partner from Amis's years as a Swansea academic. From "Memoirs", page 123. "Jo Bartley was an Ulsterman who, with a Second to live down, had taught in India, one of whom it could be justly said, 'Now that's what I call a drinking man' and a smoker to rival Willie Smyth. he liked food too, also women, doing his job and researching among obscure plays. This last interest produced his memorial, one of the funniest books I have ever… Read More

T. Becket & P.A. De Hondt. London. 1761. First edition of the authors first book. 8vo. xxxii, 159pp. All original blank leaves present, two before the title and four after last leaf that has text. "From the Author" in Gibbon's own hand to blank opposite title page. This has offset lightly to title page. Bound in contemporary full brown speckled calf, worn at extremities, rebacked with original spine laid down. Original spine darkened as if scorched. Outer margins of e/ps. and title browned, some occ. foxing. Inner hinge visible but sound. The whole contained in a purpose made clam-shell marbled box with leather lettering piece. Norton 1. Though not published until 1761, Gibbon wrote this first work, in French, in 1758 when he was 21. He let Dr. Maty of the British Museum read it and on gaining approval revised and completed it in 1759. It was only published due to his fathers urging. The dedication to his father is both sincere and touching. The book, mostly due to being written in French, was more… Read More

Privately Printed. Marlborough College Press. 1961. First edition. SIGNED by Golding in full on half-title. With printed addressed postcard inserted, "From Sir William Golding, Faber & Faber Ltd., 3 Queen Square...." The Faber and Faber with address has been crossed out by Golding and a house name written on top in his own hand. Written on the card is "Signature herewith - Yours WG". Wood-block frontis in b/w by J. Pritchard. Staples not rusted, a remarkably fine copy of a very scarce pamphlet. This work was first printed in "The Listener". One of the scarcest of Golding's works. Unusual to find a signed copy.

Chatto and Windus, London 1956. First edition. DW. SIGNED PRESENTATION COPY, "For Angharad with love and best wishes from Iris Murdoch." With a flourish and star. Also one sided hand-written letter loosely inserted in envelope addressed by Murdoch. Addressed in her own hand, "Dear Angharad, so sorry - very many people send me books for autograph. Alas I am becoming confused, seeing the pile! Are the books you sent 'An Unofficial Rose' and 'A Flight from the Enchanter'? Or other ones? Many apologies - with all best wishes, Iris." Head and tail of spine sl. crumpled. Half title partially browned, outer edegs of pages sl. foxed. VG+ in internally browned wrapper by Edward Bawden that is sl. soiled and spotted and creased and sl. chipped along extremities but is still very attractive. cscase

Herbert Jenkins, London. 1938. First Edition. DW. Red bds., black lettering. Wrapper sl. chipped at corners, sl. creased with small portion missing from spine end. This is a lovely copy in bright wrapper. Images available. VG+/VG+

Victor Gollancz. London. 1987. First edition. DW. SIGNED PRESENTATION COPY FROM THE AUTHOR TO ANGHARAD RYDER. TOGETHER WITH TWO TWO-SIDED AUTOGRAPH LETTERS SIGNED AND FOUR AUTOGRAPH POSTCARDS FROM BALLARD TO RYDER. The letters are very interesting and also personal, for example he tells Angharad to be selective in her small safari through his novels, "...there's a pretty clear spectrum running from the visionary & idealistic (Crystal World and Unlimited Dream Co) to more or less out and out porn, as in Crash - though to me that's my most idealistic book of all...." He talks about the part-autobiographical nature of "Empire" and how his experiences in the camps changed him, "...in the sense of reducing the moral authority of the received world to nil, and placing immense value on the power of the imagination to remake everything - rather psychotic really." And also, "Latin? My first love (a school in England....in the late 40's we even attempted Latin conversation - heroically pointless)". The other… Read More