Fiction

Marius The Epicurean: His Sensations and Ideas – Walter Pater – Special Two Volume Limited Edition – Velum Backed, Batik Covered, Hand-Made Paper, Illustrated – One of 300 Published – 1929

Really striking books any description difficult to do them justice – would make a super gift for someone that deserves them! More images to come.

A fine and unusual presentation of this unique work by Walter Pater published by McMillan, London in 1929.

Two volumes, quarto, bound quarter vellum over batik papered boards. Gilt to spine and top edge. Sixteen dry-point full page illustrations by Thomas Mackenzie. Printed on hand made paper. Only 300 copies.

Volume I – 143 pages, Vol II 144-278 pages. Eight illustrations in each. Slight toning in ends otherwise fine.

Walter Pater’s philosophical novel of 1885 here with an introductory essay by J.C. Squire.

Set in the Rome of the Antonines [AD 161-177], the Golden Age of Rome. The work is an imaginary portrait of the intellectual development of our protagonist, Marius. It was well received on publication being Pater’s only ever full-length novel. Influenced on the likes of Oscar Wilde and his … Dorian Gray.

Pater was at the centre of the Oxford circle in his day – knew Rossetti tutored Manley Hopkins etc.

The introductory essayist of this edition Sir John Collings Squire was the editor of the distinguished literary magazine The London Mercury. Seemingly, he was a bit of a drunk, foul mouthed and not at all liked by the Bloomsbury mob.

The illustrator Thomas Mackenzie [1887-1944] similar in style to the likes of Aubrey Beardsley … his better known work may have been as illustrator to the popular version of Aladdin by Arthur Ransome.

A special work with an extra special presentation.

$290.00

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The Mystery of Swordfish Reef – Arthur Upfield – First UK Edition 1960

Published by Heinemann, Lonon in 1960, a first UK edition. Octavo, 247 pages. Jacket a bit rubbed still a nice copy of perhaps our favourite Upfield / Bonaparte book. Dust jacket design by Bill Morden.

A fishing boat disappears along with its four occupants. It all happens in the New South Wales game fishing grounds – something the author was familiar with.

A skull is found by a passing trawler. Our Favourite police inspector, “Bony” Bonaparte is called in, and the “mystery” is unravelled.

Based on a true story the disappearance of geologist Lamont Younger at Mystery Bay, NSW in 1880

True mystery behind this entertaining Upfield “fishy” mystery.

$80.00

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Man of Two Tribes – Arthur Upfield – First Edition 1956

A scarce first edition published by Heinemann in 1956. Octavo, 214 pages.

Despite the title the book starts with an acquitted murderess walking off a train in the Nullarbor Plain. Detective Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte sets out on camel etc to find her. What he finds is even more strange than this strange beginning.

Upfield challenges Bony’s talents in the dreaded Nullabor Plain

$80.00

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Flying Doctor and The secret of the Pearls – Mchael Noonan

We cannot help to see the similarity between Noonan’s series of books about Dr Jeremy James an Australian Flying Doctor and Biggles.

Interestingly both published by the Brockhamption press. This edition 1967, octavo, 160 pages and “Biggles like” illustrations and dust jacket – we love it. very good condition.

In this medical adventure our Doc flies North to help a trapped pearl diver and has to don the necessary gear himself .. all in a days work for our medical hero.

No medical emergency too bizarre … and lots of adventure with it.

$30.00

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Beyond the Black Stump – Nevil Shute – First Edition 1956

Published by Heinemann, Melbourne etc a First Australian edition in very good condition.

Octavo, 289 pages, dust wrapper in period style slightly chipped.

An American geologist travels to out back Australia in search of oil. Near the end of the book the exact location is identified which turns out to be in the Pilbara, Western Australia.

Here he meets Mollie and her family who live on a successful station but in unusual family circumstances. They fall in love and intend to marry. Mollie’s mother suggest she visits her beau’s family home in America to better understand his “position” – she does and it turns out to be rather murky. They both go their own ways.

Sound like a heartthrob but its much deeper than that and for those that follow Shute really nicely written.

Shute first edition can’t believe it’s seventy years old

$35.00

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The Martian – George du Maurier – First edition 1898

First edition published by Harper & Brothers in 1898.

A substantial book, large squarish octavo, 471 pages, dark black end papers which show signs of paper label removal. Striking deep blue cloth covered boards with gilt titles, design, and faux signature to front, gilt title to spine, extraordinarily clean. Someone has assembled poetry to the early preliminaries, which we find quite charming.

Considered the be quasi autobiographical with a strange surreal Martian twist. The life of Barty Josselin as told by a friend Robert Maurice from early days at the Institution Brossard in Paris. Josselin a good looker and thoroughly talented and extrovert. Later back in England Barty has a spell in the army.

Later his eyesight starts to fail which makes him think of taking his own life. In a dream a spirit guardian in the form of Martia from Mars comes to him. From then Martia inspires him and provides advice which secures his career as an author. Martia has other influences and wishes him to marry Julia … and all gets a little complicated from there ..

George du Maurier Channelling a Martian Spirit Guide

$90.00

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Marius The Epicurean: His Sensations and Ideas – Walter Pater – Special Two Volume Limited Edition – Velum Backed, Batik Covered, Hand-Made Paper, Illustrated – One of 300 Published – 1929

The Mystery of Swordfish Reef – Arthur Upfield – First UK Edition 1960

Man of Two Tribes – Arthur Upfield – First Edition 1956

Flying Doctor and The secret of the Pearls – Mchael Noonan

Beyond the Black Stump – Nevil Shute – First Edition 1956

The Martian – George du Maurier – First edition 1898

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