20th Century Classics

My Life as a Fake – Peter Carey – First edition

Peter Carey had already won the Booker Prize twice, and other literary awards before he released “My Life as A Fake”.

Published by Knopf, Sydney in 2003. A first edition in great condition. Octavo, 280 pages, rough cut edges (trendy) as published. Unusual endpapers one half Kuala Lumpur image [as with the dust jacket] other stark pink.

Whilst given an international mystic flavour this book is partly based on the real life faking of the poet Ern Malley by the promotors of the superb Angry Penguins. Not only was the poet Ern Malley a fake he was also considered a bit rude which got the inventors into a little bit of trouble and consequently financial difficulty.

Back to Carey and we have the works of Bob McCorkie entirely the invention of Christopher Chubb who wants to teach the pretentious a lesson. There is a twist though and it has something to do with the phrase Voyager has some difficulty truly understanding … “be careful what you wish for”. When we say twist – it is Peter Carey so more to it that that.

Peter Carey First edition – maybe our favourite.

$60.00

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Crime Fiction 1749-1980 – A Comprehensive Bibliography – Plus 1981-1985 Supplement – Allen J. Hubin

Bibliographies in print; so much easier and fuller in satisfaction than online look-up – the latter’s ease offset by growing unreliability. There is a saying in the trade – if its Crime it has to be Hubin.

Two solid volumes only really suitable for domestic purchase. Original editions in their expected green cloth covered bindings – title in gilt to front and spine. I trifle aged in the end papers otherwise a nice set.

Suggestion for the dullest party game of all time – “think of a crime novel not in Hubin” … can last for hours.

Voyager thought he had all the Simenon Maigret in his collection – not so – 126 different issues recorded – [not sure of the duplicates – not as many as you think] – so we are not even half way there!

Hubin – essential reference for all crime story devotees .

$80.00

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Biggles in Borneo – Capt W.E. Johns – First Australian Edition 1946

A first Australian edition of a scarce early Biggles with its original dust jacket – we emphasise original as some are sold with colour photocopies these days – we find that all a bit naff.

Published in 1946 by Geoffrey Cumberledge for Oxford University Press, Melbourne. The UK edition came out during WWII in 1943. Octavo, 183 pages, toned a bit still on the war paper, aged to top etc, but not a bad dust jacket at all, which makes the book. A good and collectable copy.

Subtitled …A “Biggles Squadron” Story of the Second Great War. Having just proved invaluable in the “Battle of Britain” the squadron find themselves in the heart Borneo where they set up an aerodrome unknown to the Japanese – they downs ships and rescue prisoners … the aerodrome is eventually taken over by the Royal Australian Airforce.

One of the scarce Biggles in its jacket and with a handover to the Aussies.

$70.00

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A Season in Hell – Arthur Rimbaud – special edition – c1930

With and introduction by George Frederick Lees. No date but circa 1930.

Small octavo, 78 pages, dust jacket shelf worn, chipped edges, fading to spine. Title page printed in red and black, limited to 600 copies. Previous ownership details on free end paper, still a pretty good copy of a sought after Rimbaud translation.

Arthur Rimbaud (1854-1891) a unique poet and writer, often described as the ‘Father” of modern poetry. This was his masterpiece. A long prose poem recording his spiritual revolt and struggle. Originally published in 1873.

If you are not familiar with Rimbaud, then you should get to know him. How could someone experience so much so early in life? Set out in nine parts of varying length differing markedly in tone and ease of understanding. Persevere though as here we have a sure piece of genius. At the time of writing Rimbaud had been through a tempestuous homosexual relationship with poet Paul Verlaine. Ending the relationship Verlaine shot Rimbaud and was imprisoned. Rimbaud went to London and took to opium and gin … returning to France to finish and publish A Season in Hell. He never wrote again after the age of twenty years. He then became a merchant and explorer overseas and sadly died of cancer at the age of 37.

Arthur Rimbaud’s Hell – such an influence

$60.00

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War Crimes – Peter Carey – First Edition 1979

A very good copy of the first edition of Peter Carey’s provocative short story collection published by the University of Queensland Press in 1979.

Octavo, 281 pages, with thirteen short stories of varying lengths. Titles include … the Journey of a Lifetime, Fragrance of Roses, Ultra- Violet Light, Exotic Pleasures, The Last Days of a Famous Mime, the title taker war Crimes and our favourite “The Uses of Williamson Wood”. Very good condition accepting ownership signature on end papers.

Peter Carey argued by many as Australia’s best modern era writer. Born in Bacchus Marsh in the 1940’s, living at various placed throughout Australia the New York, London etc. Married a number of times such relationships feeding his unusual story lines. Before becoming a literary success he worked for many years in the advertising industry writing pretty good copy.

To put this issue in perspective … Carey’s fist published work The Fat Man in History had been a roaring success … and this equally delicious collection was published before his first novel.

Carey went on to win the Miles Franklin award three times and is one of only five authors to have won the Booker Prize twice.

A First Edition of Peter Carey’s War Crimes

$80.00

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Bliss – Peter Carey – First Edition 1981

A first edition of Peter Carey’s first novel Bliss published by the University of Queensland Press in 1981. Also published that year by Faber in London and Harper in the New York. Our preferred edition the thoughtful Queensland Press.

Slightly larger octavo, 336 pages, with the unusual silvered dust jacket, just a little age to the top edge otherwise a very good copy.

Peter Carey argued by many as Australia’s best modern era writer. Born in Bacchus Marsh in the 1940’s, living at various placed throughout Australia the New York, London etc. Married a number of times such relationships feeding his unusual story lines. Before becoming a literary success he worked for many years in the advertising industry writing pretty good copy.

Unsurprisingly the protagonist of Bliss was an advertising executive Harry Joy. Harry dies from a heart attack but is brought back to life … as a consequence his view of what went on and what was around him changed. Life was Hell actually and it took meeting Honey to fix that. Bliss was received with great acclaim and won the Miles Franklin Award.

Carey went on to win the Miles Franklin award three times and is one of only five authors to have won the Booker Prize twice.

A First Edition of Peter Carey’s First Novel – the scarce Queensland Edition

$80.00

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My Life as a Fake – Peter Carey – First edition

Crime Fiction 1749-1980 – A Comprehensive Bibliography – Plus 1981-1985 Supplement – Allen J. Hubin

Biggles in Borneo – Capt W.E. Johns – First Australian Edition 1946

A Season in Hell – Arthur Rimbaud – special edition – c1930

War Crimes – Peter Carey – First Edition 1979

Bliss – Peter Carey – First Edition 1981

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