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  • The Awakening of the Soul – Ibn Tufail – from the translation of Paul Bronnle -1907

    The Awakening of the Soul – Ibn Tufail – from the translation of Paul Bronnle -1907

    A scarce translation of Hayy ibn Yaqzan a 12th Century work by Moorish philosopher Ibn Tufail. The first philosophical novel ever written.

    Small octavo, 87 pages, missing blank free end paper, clean inside, good green cloth covered boards with title and design to front, titles similarly on spine. Very scarce.

    Published by the Orient Press, London as part of the Wisdom of the East Series. We believe this publisher was part of the John Murray enterprise.

    The work not only had an influence or later Arabic work but also, over time, a significant influence in Europe, especially during the period of European Enlightenment.

    An allegorical novel which recounts the story of a feral child who is brought up by a gazelle alone in the desert. Without any human contact the child discovers ultimate truth through a process of reasoned enquiry. The child, Hayy, meets a castaway Absal through whom he understands the human desires for material goods … Hayy concludes that such things are distractions and should be abandoned to maintain ultimate truth.

    As an aside the author had a varied career including physician to the Almohad King and was a supporter of dissection and autopsy .. expressed in the novel.

    Small but powerful first philosophical novel – scarce in this form.

    $45.00

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  • Tales From the Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio [Beautifully Illustrated] – Private Printing 1937

    Tales From the Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio [Beautifully Illustrated] – Private Printing 1937

    Private Printed in, London 1937. A rare edition. Text based on an anonymous translation of 1741 revised by S.W. Orson in 1898. The striking illustrations are printed from linocuts by Edmondo Lucchesi, and we are told the typeface is 16-point Poliphilus.

    Demo-folio, quarter red cloth backed decorated red/pink paper covered boards with paper title to front. 89 pages numerous woodcuts. Some ageing near the ends, still a better than good copy of a favourite illustrated book.

    Boccaccio’s tales amusing, moral suggestions, and the odd amoral act. The long introductory title to each gives a flavour e.g.

    “Masse da Lamorecchio, pretending to be dumb, is appointed gardener at a nunnery, and is favourably received by the inmates”, and

    “Pernella puts her gallant into a tub on her husband’s coming home, which tub the husband had sold; she consequently tells him that she had also sold it to a person who was then in it to see if it were sound; upon this the man jumps out and makes the husband and makes the husband clean it for him”.

    Boccaccio with the titillating woodcuts of Edmondo Lucchesi

    $120.00

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  • Original Pochoir “Le Matin” – Georges Barbier 1925

    Original Pochoir “Le Matin” – Georges Barbier 1925

    A fabulous original risqué pochoir by George Barbier (1882-1932) published by Meynial in Paris in 1925. The image part of Barbier’s work “Falbalas & Fanfreluches” … translates to frills and (perhaps) more frills … French words that have made their way into the best English dictionaries.

    George Barbier (1882-1932) probably the greatest exponent of the pochoir art technique in the early part of the 20th Century. Along with the likes of Brissaud, Lepape and Martin he provided beautiful art works to support the thriving Paris based fashion world particularly during the deco age of the 1920’s.

    Price $340.00 unframed.

    Original George Barbier his “Le Matin”

    $260.00

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  • May We Borrow Your Husband? and Other Comedies of the Sexual Life – Graham Greene – First Edition – 1967

    May We Borrow Your Husband? and Other Comedies of the Sexual Life – Graham Greene – First Edition – 1967

    Published by the Bodley Head in 1967, a first edition.

    Octavo, 188 pages, with super dust jacket designed by Stephen Russ. Very good if not better condition with a fine complete dust jacket

    Greene twelve short stories – “Comedies of the Sexual Life” many of which rank among his best.

    The subtitle we are told not to be interpreted too narrowly … and we agree. Many different characters and settings, from the South of France to the Caribbean. The title piece is really super and packs in so much in just 40 pages. We also like the reality of “The Over-night Bag” and the Invisible Japanese Gentlemen

    Greene wit at its best .. makes a great and thoughtful gift.

    $60.00

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  • The World’s Wickedest Women – Andrew Ewart – First Edition 1964

    The World’s Wickedest Women – Andrew Ewart – First Edition 1964

    Subtitled … “Intriguing Studies of Eve and Evil through the Ages” … written by a man.

    First edition published by Odham’s, London in 1964. octavo, 288 pages in pretty good condition.

    Starts with Sapho the Lesbian and Lecherous Layabouts of Ancient Rome and a new name for Cleopatra “Queen Harlot” .. so we get the tone. As the works becomes progressively more modern the work becomes more edgy and less theatrical and in the end is surprisingly enlightening although challenging.

    Wicked Women not for the faint hearted

    $40.00

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  • The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio

    The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio

    The complete unabridged Modern Library edition. Published in 1951 (by reference to the number of book on the list back of dust jacket). Thick octavo, 630 pages. With a forward by Morris Ernst dated 1930 regarding the difficult time the book had had in America because of draconian obscenity laws. Well here it is unadulterated.

    Translated by John Payne, which must have been a lengthy task and one well done. It has stood the test of centuries and was a source of inspiration for Chaucer, Shakespeare and Keats.

    Good condition albeit with two previous owners names on the end papers and later date stamp on half title. Light chips to dust jacket and a hint of fading, now protected in Brodart.

    A lusty bawdy delight by Boccaccio translated by Payne

    $30.00

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