19Th Century English Literature, Presentation Copies, Private Press, Artists' Books, Original Art, Letters, Children's Book
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LONDON BOOK FAIR 2016 19th Century English Literature, Presentation Copies, Private Press, Artists’ Books, Original Art, Letters, Children’s Books, African History, Travel, & More Pictured Above: Original Drawings by Max Beerbohm, Items 8* & 9* CURRENCY CONVERSION: $1 = £0.7 * Due to unexpected importation restrictions and fees, several items on this list are not at the fair 1. [Anvil Press] Racine, Jean; John Crowne (translator); Desmond Flower (foreword); Fritz Kredel (illustrator). Andromache: A Tragedy. Freely Translated into English in 1674 from Jean Racine's "Andromaque" Lexington KY: Anvil Press, 1986. Number 11 of 100 copies. According to an article by Burton Milward, the Anvil Press was part of the resurgence of fine press printing in Lexington, led by Joseph Graves, who was influenced and taught by Victor Hammer. The Anvil Press was unusual in that it was an association comprised of ten members, inspired and guided by Hammer and his wife, Carolyn. Their books were printed on any one of the several presses owned by members of the group, and were sold at cost. Bound with black cloth spine and red paper covered boards with red paper title label to spine. Pristine with numerous illustrations by Fritz Kredel. In matching red paper dust jacket with black title to spine and front panels. Creasing to jacket and minor wear to edges. Printed in red and black inks at the Windell Press in Victor Hammer's American & Andromaque uncial types. 51 pages. (#27468) $825 £577 1 2. [Barbarian Press] Barham, Richard; Crispin Elsted, editor and notes; Illustrated by John Lewis Roget and Engraved by the Brothers Dalziel. The Ingoldsby Legends: a Gallimaufry. Mission, BC: Barbarian Press, 2015. 1 of 45 copies from the Standard edition. The Ingoldsby Legends is a collection of myths, legends, ghost stories and poetry written supposedly by Thomas Ingoldsby of Tappington Manor, actually a pen-name of an English clergyman named Richard Harris Barham. The legends were first printed during 1837 as a regular series in the magazine Bentley's Miscellany. The legends were illustrated by John Leech, George Cruikshank, and Sir John Tenniel. They proved immensely popular and were compiled into books published in 1840, 1842 and 1847 by Richard Bentley. They remained popular during the 19th century but have since become little known. Includes seven wood engravings by John Lewis Roget printed from the original blocks done for an unpublished edition of The Ingoldsby Legends in the 1870s. The blocks were acquired by Robertson Davies, who donated them to the Library at Massey College from whom they were borrowed for this work. The book is bound with printed red and cream paper boards with deep red silk spine with paper title and press label. Engravings are printed on Zerkall Cream Smooth. In fine condition. 165 pages with tipped in errata sheet. (#28474) $450 £315 3. Barrie, J. M.; Doyle, Arthur Conan. Jane Annie, or The Good Conduct Prize A New and Original English Comic Opera. London: Chappell & Co., 1893. This is a very scarce item with an interesting history. J.M. Barrie (1860-1937) and Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) met early in their writing careers when they both wrote for the magazine The Idler. They were both Scottish and passionate about cricket, and they became great friends. Their odd collaboration in writing this operetta came about because Barrie had agreed to write the libretto. He became ill, however, perhaps suffering a nervous breakdown, and his friend Doyle came to his rescue by collaborating with him on the work. Despite their efforts, the operetta was a failure, which apparently bothered them very little. In the original printed wrappers. This is very nice copy of this uncommon work, particularly in this condition. This is a variant issue of this unusual collaboration. Housed in slipcase with the bookplates of Lord Ezher and Clark Hunter. (#21947) $900 £630 4. [Bay Park Press] Rubottom, Sibyl and Jim Machacek. Spice Market. San Diego: Bay Park Press, 2004. Number 23 of 40 copies. Signed and numbered by the book artists. Founded by Sibyl Rubottom and Jim Machacek in 2000, the press produces artists' books, offers classes, and holds book arts' exhibitions. Their books address a wide range of subjects from the universe to gardening to opera to Yiddish and more. Most are letterpress printed, many have moveable pieces, and all are illustrated. This engaging accordion book is an alphabetical mélange of spice. Various spices are described by definition, quotes, or history, and accompanied by lovely images on tan color pages that were hand-tinted with spice dyes. Some of the pages had an "intoxicating 14 runs through the press." The accordion text pages are encased in stiff paper covers, with the top flap cut out in the shape of leaves. Comes in a burlap drawstring bag with title and press name printed on a label attached by string. In fine condition. 4.5 x 5 inches. (#26105) $700 £490 2 5. Beadle, J. H. Western Wilds and the Men Who Redeem Them: An Authentic Narrative. Cinncinnati, Philadelphia, Chicago: Jones Brothers & Co., [1877]. Unclear whether this is the true first edition. Copyright date is 1877 but there is no date on the title page. An account of seven years travel and adventures in the far west...An amazing narrative by Beadle, who traveled "to tell the exact truth about the country west of the Mississippi." Fascinating details about every aspect of the trip, from the people they met, the weather, terrain, and much more. Bound in original reddish brown cloth with ornate black designs to front and back covers as well as spine. Pictured in gilt on the front cover is a man from the wild west as well as a cow and pig. Bumping and light chips to corners of boards and spine. Otherwise in very good condition. Interior pages show slight aging, and front and back hinges loose from the weight of the book. Black and white illustrations throughout and a fold-out color map of the Indian nations in the new world. Map is fine. 624 pages. (#23831) $500 £350 6.* [ORIGINAL DRAWING BY AUBREY BEARDSLEY] Beardsley, Aubrey. Design for the Spine of Le morte darthur by Sir Thomas Malory. [1893]. Beardsley (1872-1898) is the best known illustrator from the British 1890s. He lived a tragically short time, dying of tuberculosis at the age of 25. This lovely major work, the epitome of Beardsley’s style of Art Nouveau, is for the spine of the binding cases of Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, published by J. M. Dent, 1893-94, Beardsley’s first important commission. The book's title (spelled incorrectly as “La Morte Darthur”), author, publisher, and date are included in the design, which is in fact drawn on four separate pieces of paper that have been adhered together. Le Morte Darthur, published by Dent has been described as incomparable. The same can be said of Aubrey Beardsley's beautiful and remarkable designs (a term he preferred to "illustrations"). Beardsley was only 20 years old when Dent commissioned him to do all of the designs for this work. It was a leap of faith by Dent in taking a chance on an unproven artist. The illustrations were done during 1892-1894 for the initial issue in parts, beginning in June 1893. The design is done in ink on paper with pencil under-drawing showing the change from the initial position of the leaves, the title and top border inset above the ornamental panel; 27 x 6.7 cm. Framed. In fine condition. Provenance: J. M. Dent. Exhibited: “Burne-Jones, The Pre- Raphaelites, and their Century,” Peter Nahum, London, 1989, 165 (listed in catalogue vol. I, p. 166-167, reproduced. vol. 2, pl. 124); “Beautiful Decadence,” Japan, 1998, 7 (reproduced in catalogue). Literature: Ian Fletcher, Aubrey Beardsley, 1987, p. 128-129; A. E. Gallatin, Aubrey Beardsley: Catalogue and Bibliography, 1945, p. 33; Mark Samuels Lasner, A Selective Checklist of the Published Work of Aubrey Beardsley, 1995. (#28890) $35,000 £24,500 3 7. Beerbohm, Max. And Even Now. London: William Heinemann, 1921. Inscribed by Beerbohm with Autograph Letter Signed laid in. The book is inscribed on the half title to S.J. Williams, “Dear Mr. Williams I am so very glad you see to like [And Even Now] and I thank you very much - Max Beerbohm May, 1943.” Laid in is a letter to Williams along with the envelope in which it was sent. In this charming letter Beerbohm writes: “June 15 1943/Dear Mr. Williams/I write to tell you, with many thanks, how proud I am to be the subject of an epigram so perfect in pre-, com-, and incision. Epigrams are usually unkind in wit. Wit and kindness are rather distantly related to each other. But here they seem to be [the word are is crossed out below this] brother and sister, and will abide in my heart as well as in my brain. With kindest regards from my wife and me to Mrs. Williams and to you, I am sincerely and gratefully yours, Max Beerbohm.” The envelope is addressed S.J. Williams, Prof/Queens’ College/Cambridge. The flap of the envelope is affixed to the front. There is one fold in the letter otherwise in fine condition. Book is bound in original yellow cloth with paper title label to spine. Soiled and bumped but in very good condition. Interior pages are clean and tight. 320 pages. (#25758) $650 £455 8.* [ORIGINAL DRAWING BY MAX BEERBOHM] Beerbohm, Max. Original caricature of opening night at the Duke of York's Theatre. [1897]. Original caricature done in ink on paper.