19th Century and Prior Classics

Horace – Horatii Fiacci Opera – Munro and King – Bickers Binding – 1869

A delightful copy of “Horace” illustrated by with well over 100 classical cameos or “gems” and bound in superb style by Bickers and Sons of London with their discrete stamp at the front.

Published by Bell and Dalby, London in 1869. Large octavo, with 456 pages after preliminaries, the back section of the book being a lengthy and scholarly description of the said “gems”.

The Latin text revised by Munro and the “gems” selected and detailed by King both Fellows of Trinity College Cambridge.

Quintus Horatius Flaccus (65BC – 8 BC) known as “Horace” was a leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus. This is a well-produced and scholarly edition and we learn in the preface that the “gems” are authentic, whilst earlier attempts to illustrate Horace have succumbed to using inappropriate “modernised” versions etc.

The Bickers binding is full red morocco, spine panelled with raised bands, gilt lines to spine and boards, marbled endpapers with gilt rolled borders internally and to board edges, all page edges richly gilt. All a trifle rubbed … a solid a special binding. The shading on the right hand (front) board is our scanner not the board!

Nice inscription on endpaper … a gift to the Rev Mayo M.A. by his “Horace” class at Fauconberg School in Beecles … the distinguished grammar school was formed by Dr Fauconberg in 1712

Best Illustrated “Horace” in Bickers Binding

$140.00

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Barchester Towers and The Warden – Anthony Trollope

A very good near fine period Modern Library edition in a similar condition complete dust jacket.

Useful introduction by Harlan Hatcher then Professor of English at the Ohio State University.

Anthony Trollope wrote Barchester Towers in the 1850’s. He built a special transportable desk so he could write whilst on the train. His publishers thought it somewhat vulgar. The Guardian have it on their “must be read list”. Trollope most realistic and entertaining of the 19th century greats.

Double dose of Trollope

$30.00

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Emile Zola – Nana

A classic from the Modern Library collection published in the 1950′s and in very good condition.

Nana was banned in England on publication in 1888 for supposed obscenity. Zola the greatest influence on the school of “realistic” writing here demonstrated to perfection.

Obscenity surely not

$30.00

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Mirango the Man-Eater – C. Dudley Lampen – First Edition 1899

Title continues …A Tale of Central Africa being The Narrative of George Pryce traveller and exile, first writ down Anno Domini 1706 , and now retold …

An unusual book never mind the confronting title. First edition 1899 in pretty good condition considering. The author C. Dudley Lampen (1859-1943) is a recognised early Sci-fi writer and had previously published “The Queen of the Extinct Volcano”.

Mirango is about Africa and the finding of a society of lost ancient Egyptians. Recognised in a number of fantasy bibliographies including – A Spectrum of Fantasy 132; Bleiler 118 and Reginald 8571.

Octavo, 242 pages plus advertisements. Published curiously by the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, London. With three half tone plates and other decorative devices and the stunning pictorial book cover.

Lost Race Classic from 1899 …..

$50.00

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Harold Effermere – A Story of the Queensland Bush – Michael Costello – First Edition 1897

Published by Swan Sonnenschien, London a first edition 1897. Octavo 309 pages in original green cloth covered binding with embossed design to front and git titling to spine. Showing some signs of age but still a very good copy of a rare work.

A superb and rare late 19thC novel based in the Queensland bush – country horse race rigging at its best. A great Australian yarn.

The author Michael Costello was the eldest son of pioneer, pastoralist and explorer John Costello. As a young lad the author often accompanied his dad on risky expeditions driving stock great distances in the bush in difficult conditions. Michael’s biography on his father published much later c1930 is one of our favourite pioneer accounts, almost impossible to find.

Whilst we find the dodgy horse racing elements the most amusing aspect of “Harold Effermere” we also learn to put your swag on the western side of a bush to avoid the morning sun and never to make your tea in the beef billy unless you want tea soup!

Early and rare Queensland Bush Story from a True Blue Bush Boy.

$90.00

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The Strand Magazine – with an Arthur Conan Doyle First Publication – 1898

A complete volume of the Strand Magazine being January to June 1898 in very good condition in the original green leather binding with elaborate gilt design and titling to spine.

As would be expected many interesting period articles, stories and the likes .. one on Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) by Beatrice Hatch is rather special.

The “piece that cannot be resisted” is a first publication of the short story by Arthur Conan Doyle … “The Story of the Beetle-Hunter” which was later published in a collection of short stories “Round the Fire” in 1908. The story, which runs to ten pages, contains eight illustrations by Archibald S Hattrick (1864-1950).

Conan Doyle First and More in Very Good Condition.

$140.00

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Horace – Horatii Fiacci Opera – Munro and King – Bickers Binding – 1869

Barchester Towers and The Warden – Anthony Trollope

Emile Zola – Nana

Mirango the Man-Eater – C. Dudley Lampen – First Edition 1899

Harold Effermere – A Story of the Queensland Bush – Michael Costello – First Edition 1897

The Strand Magazine – with an Arthur Conan Doyle First Publication – 1898

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