FIRST EDITION, an extremely rare memorial of the writings of this young Hampstead author who died in 1900 from Typhoid fever at the age of 27. His short stories are preceded by a memoir by his friend and poet Charles Kains-Jackson. Of the three short stories in this collection The Musicians, based on the author's experiences of Italian travel - and dining - is the most substantial. £45.00
11. DE QUINCEY, THOMAS.: Klosterheim: or, The Masque. By The English Opium-Eater. Edinburgh, William Blackwood, and T. Cadell, London, 1832. Small 8vo, pp [2], 305, [1], [2, adverts], half title, uncut in 20th Century half maroon morocco, spine with raised bands, early signature of Archibald Megges M D on the title, a very good clean and attractive copy,
FIRST EDITION, De Quincy's sole excursion into the Gothic novel genre, a short but successful offering. A very pleasing copy in neat later morocco. £135.00
12. GILBERT WILLIAM S.: Gretchen . A Play in Four Acts. London, Newman and co, 1879. 8vo, pp [4], 122, original blue cloth titled in gilt, decorated in black, a little rubbed and with title page quite browned, else a good sound copy,
FIRST EDITION; dedicated to Marion Terry this was a critical flop, though Gilbert disputed the fact loudly in a preliminary notice written from The Boltons, South kensington. £35.00
13. JEST BOOK. BANNANTINE, JAMES.: New Joe Miller; or the Tickler. Containing upwards of Five Hundred Good Things, many of which are original. WITH: Volume Second. London, James Ridgway, 1801. 2 volumes, Small 12mo, pp vi, [2], 240; vii, [1 errata], 280, with engraved frontispiece in each volume, half title in volume one [none required in volume 2],, bound in contemporary half, calf, spines gilt ruled with one [of 2] red label, a little rubbed and with wear and slight cvhipping at heads of spines, but quite sound, tiny corner tear in volume two with loss of a few letters only, date trimmed from title page of volume one [as often], a very good sound set for this sort of popular publication, THIRD EDITION 'with additions.' of volume one,
FIRST EDITION of volume 2. Apart from small defects a very good set of a work hard to come by complete. Bannantyne first produced his New Joe Miller in about 1800. A work radically different from the popular 18th Century version he enlarged it several times and added a second volume in 1801, this, of course, also available separately, as was a third Ridgway publication 'The Old Joe Miller', advertised here in volume one. The two volumes generally stand alone and few libraries have both. £175.00
14. MITFORD, MARY RUSSELL.: Christina. The Maid of the South Seas. A Poem. London, A.J. Valpy for F C and J Rivington, 1811. 8vo, pp x, [2], 332, [2, errata and colophon], pages [vii/viii omitted in pagination as issued], finely bound in early 20th century three-quarter brown crushed morocco, spine gilt paneled within raised bands, all edges gilt, light foxing to title else a fine copy,
FIRST EDITION; this early metrical romance by Mitford, following her Miscellaneous Verses of the previous year, was much influenced by Coleridge, who not only gave approval to the work but suggested various improvements to its 24 your old aspiring author to the extent that he has been by some described as its 'editor.' Perhaps looking for a contemporary as opposed to historical theme MItford chose the still very newsworthy |Mutiny on the Bounty, and judging by the copious notes at the end did her homework on in exceedingly thoroughly. Byron may or may not have been aware of Mitford's poem when he later wrote on similar theme The Island, A very pleasing copy of this scarce and significant title in early romantic poetry by women. £200.00
15. SEWELL, ELIZABETH MISSING.: Ivors. By the Author of "Amy Herbert"... London, Longmans, Brown, Green, Longmans, & Roberts. 1856. 2 volumes, small 8vo, pp [2], 399, [1]: [2], 439, [1], bound without half titles in full contemporary tan calf, sides with double gilt fillet borders, spines richly gilt with dark olive labels, slightly rubbed and with one small numbering piece missing, else a very attractive set,
FIRST EDITION; HENEAGE LEGGE'S COPY, inscribed to him by Lionel Lockhart Muirhead 'On his leaving Eton Xmas 1860.' The inscription denies the commonly held assertion that women's novels of the period was mostly read by idle middle class women. The recipient here was probably William Heneage Legge, later MP and 6th Eal Dartmouth. His older contemporary Lionel Muirhead was 15 years old at this time and a friend of Manley Hopkins and Robert bridges, suggesting that Mrs Sewell's fiction was not beneath the dignity of at least some literate gentlemen of the period. £75.00
16. SMYTH, PHILIP: Rhyme and Reason; short and original poems. London, Black and Parry, 1803 Small 8vo, pp vii, [1], 152, complete with half title, bound in contemporary tree calf, joints lightly cracked but sound, black label slightly defective, small leather abrasion to lower joint, tiny corner tear to title page, else internally fine, a neat pleasing copy.
FIRST EDITION; author identified from H & L, and Watts giving Philip Smyth as of New College Oxford [circa 1760-1840]. A scarce volume of light verse inspired by the, early romantic movement in poetry. Author was also identified in the Monthly Review of 1803 'as he has afforded us pleasure we feel bound to make some return...' £85.00
17. YONGE, CHARLOTTE M.: My Young Alcides. A Faded Photograph. London, Macmillan, 1875. 2 volumes, 8vo, pp viii, 267, [1], [32, publisher's catalogue dated January 1875]: vi, 284, half titles and vignette on title pages, bound in original blue green decorated cloth, gilt, black endpapers, slightly rubbed and worn at extremities, Xmas 1875 inscription on endpaper, later bookplates, light cracks to inner joints, a few mainly marginal spots and stains in volume one, but still a good sound set,
FIRST EDITION, one of the best and scarcest of Yonge's later adult novels, recounting the rather unlikely, if not unlucky, adventures of an exceptionally strong young man who performs the twelve 'labours of Hercules' in order to expiate his early, apparently political, crimes, for which he has for a time been transported to the colonies. £85.00