19th Century and Prior Classics

Le Morte d’Arthur – Sir Thomas Malory – Shakespeare Head Private Press Limited Edition 1933

Full title … The Noble & Joyous Boke Entitled Le Morte d’Arthur Nothwythstondying it Treateth of the Byrth Lyf and Actes of the sayd Kynge Arthur; of his Noble Knightes of the Rounde Table. Theye Merveylous Enquestes and Adventures. Thachyevynge of the Sanc.Greall and the Ende the Delourous Deth: and Departynge out of this Worlde of Them al. Wyche Boke was Reduced in to Englysshe by the Well Dysposyd Knyghte Syr Thomas Malory.

Two volumes, quarto, number xxx of 350 copies for sale (a further 20 copies were not for sale) with 22 woodcut illustrations. Original binding in terra cotta half Morocco over ivory buckram, flat spines with gilt titling, marbled endpapers, top edge gilt. Other edges untrimmed.

The revered Shakespeare Head, Saint Aldates Oxford, edition of the most famous of the Arthurian tales, reprinted from and resembling in layout and typeface the 1498 edition of Wynkyn de Worde kept in the John Rylands Library, Manchester.

Volume I comprises 4 initial blanks; half title; title with limitation on verso; prologus i-iv; table v-xxviii; Fyrste Boke to IX Boke 1-316 with woodcut in each; 3 final blanks. VolI comprises 4 initial blanks; half title; title with note to verso; Boke X – Boke XXI 1-373 with woodcuts to each and a further one in Boke XXI; notes 3; 3 final blanks. All as should be.

Written in the 15th century by Thomas Malory the sweeping Mort d’Arthur includes the youth of Arthur, the romance of Guinevere and Lancelot, the Quest for the Grail, the tragedy of Tristan and Iseult etc.

This superb work directly tied to the early days of printing in England, with broad margins, quality handmade paper and the impeccably reproduced typeface … all hallmarks of the Shakespeare Head Press.

The Shakespeare Head Press was started in 1904 at Stratford Upon Avon by Arthur Bullen after he had had a dream about finely printing all of Shakespeare’s works at his birthplace, something that had not been done before. Much of his equipment and initial typeface came second had from William Morris’s Kelmscott Press. After Bullen’s death in 1927 the business was moved to Oxford under its new owners Basil Blackwell and Bernard Newdigate who was the typographer. They continued in the Morris tradition. The building in which they operated was commandeered by the American allies in 1942.

King Arthur and his Legends and Death – Shakespeare Head Private Press edition.

$670.00

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The Realms of Gold [Greek Legends] – George Baker

Originally published in 1954 this is a fine copy of the 1960 reissue. Published by the University of London Press, octavo, 262 pages, illustrated with drawing in the classic style, end paper maps. Very good near find condition with a fine dust jacket.

Baker a published classicist retells Greek myths and legends in a very readable enjoyable style. Beginning with the quarrel that was to start the Trojan War. Then, the adventures of Perseus and the slaying of the Gorgon. Hercules freeing Athens and the terrible Minotaur. The Quest of the Golden Fleece with a capital “Q”. the wanderings of Odysseus …. To the settlement of the Trojan survivors in Italy and the foundation of Rome.

The Greek Legends – no Latin required …

$25.00

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Manila Galleon [Anson’s Voyage] – F van Wyck mason – First Edition 1961.

An unusual one from the Anson’s Voyage Cannon … the novelisation of the dramatic events by American author Francis van Wyck Mason.

First UK edition published by Hutchinson, London in 1961. Octavo, 490 pages plus appendices and explanatory forward. Dust jacket a bit tattered cloth covered boards a bit flecked. Nice and clean inside, end paper charts etc. A pretty good copy of an interesting read.

The story of Anson’s voyage to put it about the Spanish in the Pacific and steal their gold [lots of it] from the “Manila Galleon” is a remarkable one. Several books from the period, mid 18th century, and many afterwards. Our author was languishing in a London hospital bed in 1946 when he read the interesting contemporary account of Pascoe Thomas … like many he was hooked on the broader story from then … it took a while to read the other volumes, assimilate the basis of his historical story and finalise this weighty fact based novel. We love it.

The Manila Galleon – Anson’s Prize

$80.00

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Kidnapped – Robert Louis Stevenson – 1950′s Dakers Edition

Published by Adam Dakers, London in the 1950’s, part of their Hamlyn Classic Series.

Octavo, 204 pages, with vibrant coloured frontispiece and our favourite Kidnapped dust jacket. The book is in good condition albeit evenly toned throughout probably due to a post war experiment in having this series printed in Czechoslovakia.

Vies with Treasure Island as RLS’s most important book … in Scotland no doubt their favourite.

Kidnapped everyone should have one

$30.00

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Oracles of Nostradamus – Edited by Charles Ward

Published by The Modern Library in 1940. The original now scarce work was published in the 1890′s. Octavo, 366 pages including index. Apart from some creasing top of dust jacket a very good copy.

Interesting – when you consider this edition published in 1940 – see front cover for reference to Hitler – have you had enough Nostradamus?

Prediction, prediction, prediction ..

$40.00

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Fine Carte de Visite – Adventure Author and Secretary to the Marine Society – Samuel Whitchurch Sadler – William Trindall Pembroke Dock. 1860’s.

Samuel Whitchurch Sadler was a prolific writer of maritime adventure stories of the period. Quite a number involved slave ships … The African Cruiser; Slavers and Cruisers; The Good Ship Barbara; The Flag Lieutenant and our favourite The Ship of Ice. The Marine Society is the World’s oldest Maritime Charity. Formed in 1756 at the Kings Arms Tavern, Cornhill London. The objective of the charity … to train and improve the lot of young men, often orphans, and train then up, cloth them etc so they had more chance of survival in the Navy.

The photographer was William Trindall, an Oxford born “photographic artist” who was operating out of premises in the Docks at Pembroke from 1868. A previous owner has written 1864 on the reverse … this might be a tad early.

A very good image in fine condition.

Distinguished Marine Identity and prolific story teller

$40.00

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Le Morte d’Arthur – Sir Thomas Malory – Shakespeare Head Private Press Limited Edition 1933

The Realms of Gold [Greek Legends] – George Baker

Manila Galleon [Anson’s Voyage] – F van Wyck mason – First Edition 1961.

Kidnapped – Robert Louis Stevenson – 1950′s Dakers Edition

Oracles of Nostradamus – Edited by Charles Ward

Fine Carte de Visite – Adventure Author and Secretary to the Marine Society – Samuel Whitchurch Sadler – William Trindall Pembroke Dock. 1860’s.

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