Rare books from Scorpion Press

This is first edition/printing of an early Evelyn Waugh novel. Only the novels Vile Bodies and Decline and Fall precede it. The book has been rebound with a dark blue leather spine with a gilt title label. It has light double tooled band at the top and base of the spine, and around the label. It it has a tool line at the edge of the leather where it joins the marbled sides. The endpapers are not original. The sides are a gold wavy pattern, and the top edge has been given a light colouring. A pleasing rebind, probably carried out some years ago. The condition overall is nr fine, Slight fox spots to pp 298 - 302 and on half title o/w clean, tight and sound. Please do request supporting photos.

Dennis Lehane's previous thrillers Mystic River (2001) and Shutter Island (2003) were best-sellers and much talked about books. The Given Day (2008) is an exploration of a rich cast of characters involved in stressed situations in Boston at the end of the First World War. It was a time of upheaval and calamity, and what Lehane does is take us inside his fictional world. The famous baseball player Babe Ruth features in this memorable story. Compared to E L Doctorow for its literary play with real historical figures it is Lehane's most mature novel. Lee Child does a brilliant job is setting out for us Dennis Lehane's journey as a writer in his appreciation for this edition. H e asks the worrying question has Dennis left crime writing behind?This signed limited is one of only 80 numbered copies, produced by arrangement with Transworld. It is bound in leather with marbled paper over boards and coloured top edge. It is a heavy volume with 704 pp. Still a landmark book for Lehane.

This book is aimed at collectors of Lionel Davidson and Dick Francis books. It was developed with Davidson and Francis - is a tribute book involving two major thriller writers with an introduction by Len Deighton. It comprises interviews with the subjects, a critical look at the development of the adventure/thriller form by Michael Johnson (owner of Scorpion Press and contributor to books on crime writers), and an annotated bibliographies, book summaries, including print run sizes.The book is signed by Francis and Davidson and is numbered 1/250.. crime

Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Cape 1st trade printing 1935, by T E Lawrence.
Original trade first edition rebound in 2020 and issued to Scorpion Press subscribers in a run of 16 lettered copies.It has two tan leather covers, the spine has five raised bands, gilt titling, the date 1935 at the base and the scorpion logo. The top edge of the book block has been plated in gold. The front cover has a reproduction drawing (by Augustus John with gold painted to the head band) and underneath is gold title blocking: LT COL T E LAWRENCE, and below that, Lawrence of Arabia. An additional page of text and limitation page (16 lettered copies) considers Lawrence's legacy and the importance of the epic film. Included too are large photos of Lawrence and Peter O'Toole. The binding is new, the book block being 85 years old may have occasional fox spotting. 672 pp, all four maps present, profusely illustrated. A timeless collectible. Given the packed weight of 3 kg an additional charge for shipping may be called… Read More

Scarce in-house uncorrected proof copy of an early Dick Francis thriller. It has the name of the following words in red ink on the front cover , top right side: Agent_ John Johnson". Offered with a hand written letter from Francis, headed Redcliffe Hotel, Paignton, Devon. 48 words which closes with, Yours in haste Dick F. The text concerning signing the pages for the Scorpion edition of Second Wind, and he says "trust all who receive them will be well satisfied". A poignant and enthralling story that features a stupendous flying escape from the nasty villains. We have a hero who tries to be his own man - this time pursuing steeple-chasing and flying and earning a living. Flying Finish was voted the favorite Dick Francis novel on a fanzine website.We the proof was for in-house use, we can assume that very few copies survived. This copy is good only. The bottom right corner of the cover is missing, the page edges look used some page edges are folded.

This is the British first edition of Anne Tyler's first novel, written when she was a young woman. Now widely regarded as perhaps America's best known female novelist of homespun stories. This edition has become scarcer as each year goes by; primarily because the first was produced mainly for libraries and for review purposes. It rarely comes up for sale.A Very Good copy with no internal or external marks in a nice jacket. The price of 25 shillings is present and it has no tears or blemishes.

The Well of Loneliness (1928) was the first modern novel to describe the feelings and desires of a member of the third sex. Based in part on the author, Radclyffe Hall's own experiences – a female whom had relationships with woman, but dressed as a male and was known as "John", it concerned Stephen a girl who is a lesbian, but brought up as a boy. Hall was known in London literary circles and was published to some acclaim by Jonathan Cape. However, in August 1928 the Home Secretary – a Christian fundamentalist – was persuaded that the book was profane. He banned the book from sale. Cape made secret arrangements with a French publisher, Pegasus Press, for the book to be sold in France. But on 3 October a warrant was issued for Customs and Excise to seize and destroy the books crossing the channel. An obscenity trial followed on 9 November and found that that all books be destroyed. He ban was not lifted until 1950 and has been in print ever since. TWOL is an iconic book for the LGBTQ… Read More

This is the pair of award winning fantasy novels offered together, being Dan Simmon's Hyperion (1989) and Fall of Hyperion (1990). Errata slip laid in for the sequel. Both are first printings and were relatively small hardcover printings. The photographs are of the actual books showing the the copyright pages, and the jacket flaps with the price showing as $18.95 and $19.95. The books are unread and have been in a collection since purchased some 30 years ago. No markings to the jacket or books. Just natural aging to the top edge and fore edges (very slight) of the book blocks. More photos available on request.