WELSH BOOKS (mostly Gregynog) SHORT LIST 46

Item 25

Blackwell’s Rare Books 48-51 Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BQ, UK Tel.: +44 (0)1865 333555 Fax: +44 (0)1865 794143 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @blackwellrare blackwell.co.uk/rarebooks BLACKWELL’S RARE BOOKS

1 Edwards (Edward) A Sermon preached in Wrexham Church, Nov. 3, 1799, being the Sunday after the Interment of Thomas Jones, Esq. Cornet in the Wrexham Yeomanry Cavalry, in his Family Vault in that Church, who died of a wound, which he received in an unfortunate Duel at Whitchurch with Mr. Manning. Wrexham: Printed by John Painter. 1800, half-title discarded, some light dustsoiling, pp. 21, [1], 8vo, extracted from a bound volume, stab-holes also visible, good (ESTC T180533) £200 ESTC locates only two copies, both in the National Library of Wales.

2 (Five Seasons Press.) GINSBERG (Allen) Wales Visitation. [Hereford Poems Four.] Hereford, 1979, ONE OF 350 COPIES, 2 photographs of author by Tom Maschler, pp. [8], 8vo, original sewn brown wrappers with photograph of Ginsberg printed in green to front, fine £40 A poem written in 1968.

3 (Five Seasons Press.) HALSEY (Alan) In Sight of Carnllidi. St Davids, October ‘78 [Hereford Poems Six.] Hereford, 1979, ONE OF 230 COPIES, full-page brush drawing by the author printed by the Senecio Press, title-page printed in blue, pp. [3], 8vo, original sewn buff wrappers with brush drawing by Halsey to front, fine £20

4 (Golden Cockerel Press.) Cynwal (Wiliam) In Defence of Woman, a Welsh Poem. Translated by Gwyn Williams. [1960], 294/400 COPIES printed on mouldmade paper, 10 colour-printed wood-engravings (including a decorated title-border) by John Petts, pp. 28, tall foolscap 8vo, original dark blue cloth, lettering on backstrip and Petts design on the front cover blocked in gilt, faint waterstain around foot of backstrip, untrimmed, a couple of small spots to endpapers, tissue-jacket creased and frayed with a small amount of loss at foot of front panel, very good (Cock-a-Hoop 210) £70

5 (Gregynog Press.) VAUGHAN (Henry) Poems. [Selected by Ernest Rhys.] Newtown, Powys, 1924, 33/470 COPIES (from an edition of 500 copies) printed on Grosvenor Chater handmade paper, title-page printed in black and red, 13 wood-engravings by R.A. Maynard and H.W. Bray, wood-engraved initials by Maynard with the majority printed in red, pp. xxxvi, 88, crown 8vo, original quarter dark blue cloth with pale grey Ingres boards blocked in dark blue to a design by Bray, backstrip lettered in gilt with a touch of rubbing at head and wear at foot, trifling wear to bottom corners, edges untrimmed with faintest of browning to free endpapers and newspaper clipping referencing Vaughan laid in, good (Harrop 2) £200

6 (Gregynog Press.) JONES (T. Gwynn) Detholiad o Ganiadau. Newtown, Powys, 1925, 137/474 COPIES (from an edition of 500 copies) printed on Dutch handmade paper, press device on title-page printed in pale blue, 9 wood-engraved head- and tail-pieces by R.A. Maynard, pp. xv, 169, crown 8vo, original blue bevel-edged buckram, backstrip lettered in gilt & a little faded, usual free endpaper browning, edges untrimmed, very good (Harrop 4) £375 With a copy of the prospectus for the same, a single folded sheet printed in English and Welsh with Specimen Page to rear, lightly foxed overall and in original envelope with Press device printed in red - envelope a little spotted and browned with splitting to sides and flap detached (but present). A scarce ephemeral item from the early years of the Press.

7 (Gregynog Press.) OMAR KHAYYAM. Penillion. [A Welsh Translation from the Original Persian by Sir John Morris-Jones.] Newtown, 1928, 299/285 COPIES (from an edition of 310 copies) printed on Batchelor's handmade paper, 9 wood-engravings by R.A. Maynard, the title, fly-titles and initial word of text printed in blue, pp. xvi, 30, royal 8vo, original quarter yellow buckram with white canvas sides and matching yellow buckram fore-edges, canvas lifting slightly along upper joint, backstrip lettered in gilt and darkened, a touch grubby with a couple of faint blotches to fore-edge, untrimmed and unopened, good (Harrop 13) £120

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8 (Gregynog Press.) PSALMAU DAFYDD yn ol William Morgan 1588. [Psalms of David, Edited by Ifor Williams.] Newtown, Powys, 1929, 76/200 COPIES (from an edition of 225 copies) printed on Batchelor handmade paper, the title and decorative floriated border on the title-page printed in black and red, the wood-engraved floriated half-borders and large initial letters in the text are designed by H.W. Bray and printed in black, blue or red, pp. [iii], 189, imperial 8vo, original brick-red morocco with patterned paper sides and cloth corners, backstrip lettered in gilt between five raised bands, a little rubbing to paper and cloth at board corners, t.e.g., others untrimmed, a little adhesive browning at corners of pastedowns, bookplate of D. Tecwyn Lloyd to front pastedown, slipcase with printed label lightly bumped at head, very good (Harrop 14) £600 From the library of Welsh-language author David Tecwyn Lloyd; an attractive printing of a portion of the first translation of the Bible into Welsh.

9 (Gregynog Press.) EDWARDS (O.M.) Clych atgof. Newtown, Powys. 1933, 220/370 COPIES (from an edition of 385 copies) printed in black and brown on Batchelor handmade paper, frontispiece and 8 other wood-engravings by William McCance and printed in brown, pp. x, 97, crown 8vo, original bevel-edged Welsh tan sheepskin with design stamped in brown to both boards, backstrip lettered in brown and rubbed with a touch of wear at either end, some faint spotting, edges untrimmed ownership inscription to front pastedown and a band of browning to margins of flyleaf, leaflet about Newtown tannery laid in, good (Harrop 25) £150

10 (Gregynog Press.) JONES (Thomas) The Gregynog Press. A Paper Read to the Double Crown Club on 7 April 1954. Oxford: Geoffrey Cumberledge, Oxford University Press, 1954, FIRST EDITION, ONE OF 750 COPIES, 5 wood-engravings (4 full-page) reproduced from engravings used at the press, pp. [viii], 40, 8vo, original bright blue cloth, printed front cover label (spare label tipped in), free endpapers faintly browned in part as usual, dustjacket a little chipped at backstrip panel ends and a little toned to borders with a small amount of rubbing, very good £70

11 (Gregynog Press.) CERDDI GREGYNOG, poems 1450-1650. Edited by Enid Roberts. Newtown, Powys, 1979, 67/400 COPIES, title-page printed in green and black, pp. 35, crown 8vo, original cloth backed plain card wrappers, green dustjacket with line drawing by Jim Bridgen printed in black, fine £40 With a press compliments slip signed (with ‘Best wishes for 1980’) by Press controller Eric Gee, laid in at front.

12 (Gregynog Press.) DARWALL (Mary, Mrs) Written on walking in the woods of Gregynog in Montgomeryshire the seat of Arthur Blayney Esq. First published in 1794. Newtown, Powys, 1979, ONE OF 175 COPIES, leaflet of pale green handmade paper, pp. [3], crown 8vo, original handmade grey paper folder, printed in black with decorations in green, fine (Esslemont & Hughes A4) £30

13 (Gregynog Press.) OLIVERS (Thomas) Thomas Olivers of Tregynon. The Life of an Early Methodist Preacher Written by Himself. Newtown, Powys, 1979, 42/360 COPIES (from an edition of 375 copies) printed on Basingwerk Parchment paper, frontispiece portrait, title printed in brown, spare label tipped in at rear, pp. 56, crown 8vo, original mid brown cloth, front cover blocked in blind, backstrip with printed label, fine £35

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With letters from the author 14 (Gregynog Press.) HARROP (Dorothy A.) A History [and Bibliography] of the Gregynog Press. Pinner: Private Libraries Association, 1980, ONE OF 2,500 COPIES (from an edition of 2,600 copies), numerous reproductions of the engravings used at the press, pages taken from the press's books and photographs of those involved with its workings, 16 plates, pp. xvi, 266, royal 8vo, original brown cloth with Press device blind-stamped to upper board, gilt lettering on backstrip between double gilt bands, fine £90 Laid in at the front is a press-sheet for the book (headed ‘For the favour of review’) as well as a TLs and an APCs from Harrop to the book’s previous owner; the letter, from 30 July 1979 explains about the delays in the book being published - ‘the wheels of publishing grind slow’ - whilst the card, from May the following year expresses her pleasure that the book has been enjoyed, and speaks in glowing terms of its design and production. A necessary book for anyone with an interest in the Press; the history is contained between pages 1- 181 and the excellent bibliography between pages 183-266, which also includes a handlist of the Press’s ephemeral printing.

15 (Gregynog Press.) OWEN (Elias) A Selection of Weather Signs, made for the county of Montgomeryshire in the late 1870s by the folklorist the Revd Elias Owen and now reprinted. Newtown, Powys, 1981, single long sheet folded to form four panels, wood engraving bt R.A. Maynard at head, printed on hand-made paper, title and first lines in red, pp. [4], 16mo, original self wrappers, untrimmed, fine (Esslemont & Hughes A8) £25

16 (Gregynog Press.) HONEYDEW ON THE WORMWOOD. A Further Selection of Old Welsh Verses, translated and introduced by Glyn Jones. Newtown, Powys, 1984, 258/400 COPIES, printed on laid paper, wood-engraved frontispiece by Colin Paynton, title-page and marginal fleurons printed in red, pp. [13], crown 8vo, original grey wrappers with printed label to front, fine (Esslemont & Hughes 10) £40

17 (Gregynog Press.) PIPER (John) [The Illustrations for] Deaths and Entrances by Dylan Thomas. -Kidwelly Castle -Swansea towards the Gower -Laugharne Castle -Nonconformist Chapel, Newtown -Swansea towards Port Talbot -After the Blitz, Council Chamber House of Commons -Welsh Hill Farm near Newcastle Emlyn [1984,] ONE OF 10 SETS, 7 untrimmed colour-printed proofs on Saunders mouldmade paper, printed by screenless lithography at the Senecio Press, 22 x 15 inches approx., unbound, fine £3,000 A highly desirable set of prints, comprising the double-spread illustrations from this classic of modern Press-work - published in an edition of 268 copies by Gwasg Gregynog in 1984. These illustrations were all folded and trimmed in their published form; these flat proofs are from the printer’s archive and have been preserved in pristine condition. Screenless lithography is a continuous tone printing process that achieves a result free from the mechanical dots carried by standard lithography, giving a vivid reproduction of Piper’s work.

With the signed print issued only to subscribers 18 (Gregynog Press.) GIRALDUS CAMBRENSIS. Itinerary Through Wales. Edited by Brynley F. Roberts. Illustrated with wood engravings by Colin Paynton. Newtown, Powys, 1989, 128/280 COPIES (from an edition of 300 copies) signed by the artist, printed on Zerkall mouldmade paper, 33 wood-engraved vignettes with two-colour borders by Colin Paynton, title panel designed by Michael Harvey, title and chapter numbers printed in red, pp. xviii, 102, folio, original quarter scarlet goatskin with vertical gilt rule, grey boards, backstrip lettered in gilt, t.e.g., others untrimmed, cloth slipcase, fine (Esslemont & Hughes 20) £1,000 Due to problems with the binding, publication was delayed from June until November, although the work had originally been intended for the previous year to commemorate the 800th anniversary of Giraldus’s journey. To compensate for this delay, subscribers received a numbered copy of the

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‘Journey’ engraving signed by Paynton. The print here, enclosed in tissue, is 40/150 copies, and is loosely inserted at the front alongside the original letter from David Esslemont explaining the background to this ‘token of our gratitude for your patience’.

19 (Gregynog Press.) GWASG GREGYNOG. A Descriptive Catalogue of Printing at Gregynog 1970 - 1990. Compiled by David Esslemont and Glyn Tegai Hughes. Newtown, Powys, 1990, 170/755 COPIES (from an edition of 900 copies) printed on Archive Bookend Cartridge paper, with selective reproductions of illustrations used in the press’s books throughout, a number tipped-in to the book, some printed in one or more colours, pp. 74, folio, original plain cream and purple card wrappers, printed dustjacket, fine £40

20 (Gregynog Press.) ORMOND (John) Cathedral Builders, and Other Poems. With Drawings by the Author. Newtown, Powys, 1991, FIRST EDITION, 167/200 COPIES (from an edition of 250 copies) printed on Mohawk Superfine paper, 11 drawings of which 5 are full-page, pp. x, 66, folio, original quarter black cloth with mustard yellow boards, backstrip lettered in gilt, still in original tissue wrap with limitation sticker, original Press invoice to previous owner with compliments slip laid in at rear, fine £90 Printed by David Esslemont.

21 (Gregynog Press.) EISTEDDFOD EPHEMERA.

- Press device, single sheet, printed by hand in the Gregynog tent at the Eisteddfod Bro Delyn 1991 - Ann Griffiths, ‘Harddwch Dyffryn Meifod’, single sheet, 4-line verse from hymn printed within decorative green border at the Eisteddfod Maldwyn a’r Gororau 2003 [2 copies, each on different paper] - Ann Griffiths, ‘Wele'n sefyll rhwng y myrtwydd’, 21/275 COPIES, single folded sheet printed on Hahnemuhle mould-made paper, initial letter printed in red with translation by Rowan Williams on facing verso, printed to celebrate the Eisteddfod Maldwyn a’r Gororau 2003 - ‘Ffarwel i blwyf Llangower’, single sheet with Press device at head, the poem set by Gerard O’Shea and printed in the University of Wales tent at the Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru 2009 by J.W.E.H Gittins (personalised memento)

Newtown, Powys, 1991- 2009, various sizes and formats, fine condition £60 An interesting selection of occasional pieces.

22 (Gregynog Press.) WYN (Hedd) Rhyfel. Newtown, Powys, 1992, 165/200 COPIES printed on brown Colorplan paper, single folded sheet folded to form three panels, manuscript facsimile printed in red to central panel with printed type on overlapping verso, pp. [2], crown 8vo, original self wrappers, fine £50 A poem of the First World War, from a Welsh poet killed during the Battle of Passchendaele.

23 (Gregynog Press.) MORRIS (Jan) A Machynlleth Triad. Newtown, Powys, 1993, FIRST EDITION, 100/310 COPIES (from an edition of 400 copies), title-page and chapter headings printed in black and red, printed on Zerkall mould-made paper, tipped-in frontispiece and 6 further tipped-in illustrations by Brenda Berman printed from the line-blocks in black, red and grey, pp. 101, folio, original wrappers with Berman engraving printed in black and red to front, in quarter cloth folder with boards repeating front wrapper illustration and printed label to backstrip, cloth slipcase, fine £120 Designed by John Ryder and printed by David Esslemont.

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With the postcards 24 (Gregynog Press.) BAKKER (Steven A.) & Erik J. Warmenhoven The Miss Margaret Sidney Davies Complete Collection of Special Gregynog Bindings. [Introductory material by Dorothy A. Harrop.] Antwerp: Zilverdistel Rare Books. 1995, FIRST EDITION, ONE OF 1,500 COPIES, lavishly illustrated throughout, errata slip laid in to rear flap of dustjacket, pp. xlvix, 627, 8vo, original red cloth with publisher device in gilt to upper board, backstrip lettered in gilt, blue page-marker, related ephemera laid in at rear, dustjacket, fine £200 [With:] A set of 14 colour postcards illustrating bindings from the collection, fine condition in publisher’s original envelope.

25 (Gregynog Press.) PLACES. ‘Llanfrothen’ by Richard Llywelyn, Illustration by Jonah Jones; ‘Llangadog’ by Nigel Jenkins, Illustration by Mary Lloyd Jones; ‘Caerdydd’ by Wiliam Owen Roberts, Illustration by Siarlys Evans; ‘Cefn Golau’ by Christopher Meredith, Illustration by Sara Philpott; ‘Abergavenny’ by John Barnie, Illustration by Rhiain M. Davies; ‘Abergwesyn’ by Ruth Bidgood, Illustration by Bernice Carlill; ‘Dolgellau’ by Ioan Bowen Rees, Illustration by Kyffin Williams; ‘Banc Siôn Cwilt’ by Gillian Clarke, Illustration by Margaret Merritt; ‘Nantybenglog’ by Myrddin ap Dafydd, Illustration by David Woodford; ‘Pontardawe’ by Menna Elfyn, Illustration by Ozi Rhys Osmond; ‘Uwchmynydd’ by Christine Evans, Illustration by Kim Atkinson; ‘Grwyne Fawr’ by Tym Morys, Illustration by Anthony Evans [12 vols.] Newtown, Powys, 1996- 1998, ONE OF 400 SETS, double-spread or full-page illustration to each volume printed in a variety of colours, pp. [13]; [14]; [12]; [13]; [12]; [13]; [17]; [13]; [12]; [9]; [13]; [14], 8vo, original sewn printed wrappers, edges untrimmed, blue cloth dropdown box, fine £180

26 (Gregynog Press.) HARROP (Dorothy), Glyn Tegai Hughes & David Vickers. The Gregynog Press / Gwasg Gregynog. Three Essays / Tair Ysgrif. Newtown, Powys, [2003,] FIRST EDITION, each essay printed in English and Welsh, pp. [20], royal 8vo, original stapled blue wrappers with Press device in blue to front, fine £15

27 (Gregynog Press.) OWEN (Wilfred) Mapping Golgotha. Letters & Poems. Selected, Edited, and with an Introduction by Jeremy Hooker. Illustrated by Harry Brockway. Newtown, Powys, 2007, FIRST EDITION, ONE OF 200 COPIES (this unnumbered and marked ‘EDITOR’S COPY’) printed on Magnani Velata mould-made paper, colour portrait frontispiece, full-page colour linocut with a further 17 linocuts amongst the text all by Harry Brockway, title-page printed in black and brown, pp. 53, 4to, original quarter calf with pictorial yellow cloth boards printed in brown, backstrip lettered in blind, edges untrimmed, cloth slipcase, fine £430 Formerly the copy of the book’s editor, Jeremy Hooker. A collection of 24 poems and 9 letters (including to his mother, Sassoon, and Osbert Sitwell). [With:] A copy of the prospectus for the same.

28 (Gregynog Press.) HUMPHREYS (Emyr) Welsh Time. Edited by M. Wynn Thomas and Illustrated with Lithographs by Paul Croft. Newtown, Powys, 2009, FIRST EDITION, 25/175 COPIES (from an edition of 250 copies) printed on mould-made paper, frontispiece and further full-page lithographs at head of each of 7 Chapters, initials printed in red, pp. 102, [1], 8vo, original quarter red cloth with blue boards, author’s monogram stamped in silver to upper board, backstrip lettered in silver, original prospectus laid in, still in original tissue wrap with limitation number at head, fine £160 Published as a tribute to the novelist, on the occasion of his ninetieth birthday, with representative texts spanning his career.

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29 (Old Stile Press.) GWILYM (Dafydd ap) Houses of Leaves. A selection of poems in the translation by Rachel Bromwich. Drawings by John Elwyn. Llandogo, 1993, 25/250 COPIES signed by the artist, printed on Zerkall cream mould-made paper, 30 line drawings printed in grey, pp. 59, royal 8vo, original quarter green cloth with illustrated boards, backstrip lettered in grey, top edge grey, others untrimmed, cloth slipcase with inset illustration, fine £70

30 (Old Stile Press.) MCDOWALL (Nicolas) A Wall in Wales. An Observation. Llandogo, 1991, 24/125 COPIES signed by the artist, printed on St.Cuthbert's Mill mould-made paper, 36 line block images developed from original photographs by the artist, title-page printed in black and gilt, pp. [38], crown 8vo, original cream hand-made paper boards with illustration inset to upper board, backstrip with printed label, fine £35

31 (Old Stile Press.) SKELTON (Robin) Lens of Crystal. Images by Sara Philpott. Llandogo, 1996, 69/250 COPIES signed by author and artist, printed on Zerkall mould-made paper, text of poems printed in red, 37 linocut illustrations, pp. 80, royal 8vo, original terracotta boards illustrated with a duochrome linocut, backstrip lettered in silver, top edge black, others untrimmed, illustrated slipcase, fine £100 Skelton’s poems are based on Medieval Welsh verse-forms.

The complete artist’s proofs 32 (Red Hen Press.) JONES (Shirley) Llym Awel. Llanhamlach, 1993, UNIQUE COPY, COMPLETE PROOFS, the 7 plates from the book (6 mezzotints and 1 relief etching) in a total of 72 states on hand-made paper showing variations in colour and composition all with notes by Jones in pencil at foot (the final state for each marked ‘A.P.’), one plate double-spread with over-printed text (as in book), the third plate with a trial for over-printing text not used in final version, photograph of monument to Llywelyn ap Gruffydd used on binding, as well as sketches of same in pencil, charcoal and ink, the latter with trial for title-page calligraphy by Angela Swan, interleaving tissue-guards, original publisher’s custom box with printed label to back, note on Press headed paper by Jones loosely inserted, fine (Patkus 18) £4,250 [with:] (Red Hen Press.) JONES (Shirley) Lym Awel. Llanhamlach, 1993, 2/40 copies signed and dated by the artist/translator and the binder Jan Ascoli, printed on hand-made paper, the translations printed in brown throughout, title-page with rock border and calligraphy by Angela Swan printed in brown, 7 plates printed in various colours with one double-spread, tissue-guards, pp. [40], 4to, original quarter dark blue morocco with grey cloth sides, dark blue morocco onlay to upper board, gentle fading to backstrip, prospectus and postcard showing the double-spread mezzotint loosely inserted, slipcase, near fine One of the most satisfying of the Press’s productions, Jones’s translations from early Welsh poetry sit alongside her striking images. The presence of the artist’s proofs provide an insight into her exacting process that is only partly manifest in the success of the final work.

33 (Red Hen Press.) JONES (Shirley) Nocturne for Wales. Five Short Stories. Llanhamlach, 1987, 39/20 COPIES (from an edition of 50 copies) signed and dated by the author, these special copies with 5 loose aquatints by Jones printed on Barcham Green handmade paper in a variety of colours, title- page and wood-cut initial to each story by Tony Crossley printed in red, pp. 29, 4to, original terracotta cloth with brown morocco label to upper board, housed in large cloth drop-down book-form box with black ribbon tie, this also with brown morocco label to top, fine (Patkus 12) £800 Five stories, originally published in 1981, but here revised and with 3 poems by the author added - these stories, along with the 5 original etchings, together evoke Jones’s childhood in the Rhondda Valley, its landscape coloured by the colliery but vividly rendered by the action of memory. A very impressive production.

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34 (Tern Press.) GRIFFITHS (Bill, Translator) Winter. Translated from the Early Welsh. [Market Drayton,] 2000, 2/45 COPIES signed by the printers Nicholas & Mary Parry, printed on Arches paper with 5 lithographs printed from the stone, pp. [21], large 4to, original quarter black morocco with cork-covered boards that are naturally a little flaky around the edges, printed title-label to upper board, fine £120

35 Thomas (Dylan) Letters to Vernon Watkins. Edited with an Introduction by Vernon Watkins. Dent: Faber. 1957, PROOF COPY, pencilled note on the front flyleaf ‘Proof only Publication 14 Nov 57’, pp. 144, crown 8vo, original tan wrappers, the front cover printed in black and with ‘Proof Copy’ also printed across the cover, dustjacket which stands a little proud of the proof and is a little frayed, very good £65

36 Thomas (R.S.) Experimenting With An Amen. Macmillan, 1986, FIRST EDITION, pp. vi, 70, 8vo, original red cloth, backstrip lettered in gilt, dustjacket slightly faded at backstrip with some light pressure marks visible on front panel, very good £60

37 Thomas (R.S.) No Truce with the Furies. Newcastle upon Tyne: Bloodaxe, 1995, FIRST EDITION, pp. [viii], 92, [4], 8vo, original pale lavender cloth, backstrip lettered in silver, dustjacket, near fine £60

38 Vaughan (Henry) Silex scintillans: or, Sacred Poems and Priuate Eiaculations. printed by T.W. [i.e. Thomas Walkley] for H. Blunden, 1650, FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE, with the engraved title but wanting A1 (the Latin verse explanation), title a little soiled, bound in a little squint and trimmed within plate mark at fore- edge and lower margin, head of A4 torn away and repaired, with loss of drop-head title on recto and 4 lines on verso, sidenote on B3 cropped as nearly always, fore-edge of last leaf reinforced, pp. 110 (though wanting pp. 3 and 4), without the final blank, small 8vo, contemporary sheep, rebacked, corners and fore- edges slightly worn, the Gathorne Hardy/Col. C.H. Wilkinson/Juel-Jensen/Robert Ball copy (ESTC R148; Grolier, Wither to Prior 897; Hayward 81 - the defective Worcester College copy) £25,000 A celebrated rarity. ‘Vaughan’s finest poetry was published in this rare volume. Its sales, however, were not large and unsold copies were re-issued with a second part in 1655’ (Hayward). The 1655 edition is no commoner than this. ‘Silex scintillans is indeed as great a sequence of religious lyrics as we have ... His finest lyrics challenge the best in their age; his achievements in rhythm have no peer until Hopkins; and if others had a better understanding of political process, none of his contemporaries understood better than he the relatedness of all living things and their relationship to what we call the inanimate world’ (ODNB). Vaughan, ‘Silurist’, was bilingual, and according to DWB ‘there are traces of Welsh influence in his poetry.’ Since 1975 only 2 copies have appeared at auction: the Houghton-Garden-Pirie copy (lately at Sotheby’s New York sold for $100,000), and the Bradley Martin copy. The present copy has been at auction too, longer ago. It was bought by Col. Wilkinson at the Gathorne-Hardy sale in 1959; Gathorne-Hardy’s ownership inscription inside front cover in pencil dated 1953. A pencil note by Juel-Jensen on the fly-leaf tells the story, and quotes L.W. Hanson’s obituary notice of him in The Book Collector - ‘one of the last books he bought was one which he had always most prized - Silex Scintillans.’ At Col. Wilkinson’s sale in 1960 it was bought by Blackwell’s for Bent Juel-Jensen (his purchase note with costs in code inside the back cover); his neat little book-label inside the front cover; below that, that of Robert Ball.

Portmeirion in miniature 39 (Whittington Press.) LLYWELYN (Robin) Portmeirion. Images by Leslie Gerry. Andoversford, 2009, 1/50 COPIES (colophon erroneously states 200 copies) printed in concertina form on Somerset mouldmade paper and signed by the artist, with 7 superb colour-printed double-page illustrations drawn on an electronic tablet and digitally coloured by Leslie Gerry and a further 3 decorations in the same form, pp. [38], 2.5 x 2 inches approx., original unlettered boards illustrated overall with one of Gerry’s illustrations, card slipcase, fine £150 A miniature version of the much larger work, retaining its visual appeal in a smaller dimension. Robin Llywelyn, who has written the text for this book, is well versed in the beauty of Portmeirion,

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having spent much of his childhood there. The superb digitally produced illustrations by Leslie Gerry, somewhat reminiscent of the pochoir process, capture the beauty of this extraordinary village, situated on the coast of North Wales, and designed by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis in an Italian style.

40 (Williams.) SINCLAIR (Nicholas) Kyffin Williams. With an essay by Ian Jeffrey. Lund Humphries, 2004, FIRST EDITION, photograph frontispiece and copious colour-printed reproductions of Kyffin’s work throughout, the majority full-page, monochrome photographs by author in rear section, pp. 127, 4to original black boards, backstrip lettered in silver, dustjacket, fine £300 Signed by the artist above his printed name on the half-title.

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