Fiction

The Private History of the Court of England – A Sexual Expose – Sarah Green 1808

Two volumes, second “corrected” edition published by the Author. Small, 287, 252 pages bound in contemporary half red roan, rubbed somewhat at joints and ends, but a sound set of a rare item.

A political satire, secret history and sexual expose exploring the sexual morality of Regency Society through a historical novel based on King Edward IV. Irish born, Sarah Green (1790-1825) wrote this at an early age … people grew up more quickly then. Sadly she died young. Although we can find references to novels she purportedly wrote around the time of her birth so we question the official record.

Rare expose on Regency Society ………. Sure to entertain ..

$180.00

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The Songs of Meleager – Frederick Rolfe – Fine Private Press 1937

A fine private printing for The First Edition Club by the Chiswick Press, London, 1937.

Made into English with designs by Frederick Baron Corvo (Fr. Rolfe) in collaboration with Sholto Douglas. The excellent preface by A.J.A. Symons gives an excellent background to the talented Baron Corvo (one of his many pseudonyms) and the academic Sholto Douglas.

A beautiful presentation designed by Christopher Sandford. Octavo, 132 pages. Text in original Greek to the left with translation facing. Gilt decorated green cloth covered binding, top edge gilt. Printed in Monotype Poliphilus Roman and new Hellenic Greek type on Eynsford Mill Toned Wove Had-made paper. The binding executed by the Leighton-Straker Bookbinding Co.

Rolfe’s translation was based on that of Frederick Jacobs circa 1813. The work had been begun by Douglas … revised and improved by Rolfe to the point that they fell out over the matter. The illustrations had been prepared for a previous abandoned edition … seemingly Rolfe quarrelled there also. Testy chap.

Melaeger was born in Gurada, Jordan in the 1st Century BC a time when Jordan was very much under the Greek influence. He lived in Kos later in life. He was the first to compile the epigrams of others, wrote satirical prose and sensual poetry.

A beautiful unusual work – makes a perfect gift

$160.00

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The Hermit of Warkworth – Catnach Press Alnwick Northumberland – Thomas Percy 1806 – Special Provenance

This work had been published in the 1770’s in London. Penned by Thomas Percy and concerning his family.

This edition is of special interest as it was produced by James Catnach of Catnach Press, Alnwick, Northumberland (the seat of the Percy family), Catnach Press has a special position in the history of English printing. The illustrations from wood cuts by Thomas Bewick who would become famous for his beautiful natural history engraving particularly birds. Catnach was to publish a work based on Buffon.

Special provenance … owned by George Skelly September 19th, 1861 who was an expert on Catnach and lived at The Market Place, Alnwick. If you have never been there, then you should it’s a magical place. There is an inscription from Skelly to Charles Hindley dated Alnwick June 9th, 1876. Hindley a prolific author was to write the definitive history of the Catnach Press and separately James Catnach. He records his thanks for assistance given by Skelly in both.

The Hermit of Warkworth a Northumberland Ballad in Three Fits (Parts), 170 four line verses in all. Marked as a second edition but dated as the first 1806. Dedication to the Duchess of Northumberland dated October 1805. Small octavo, 102 pages, the equivalent of the last three pages has been bound in in manuscript. Exceptionally neat and in the hand of gift giver George Skelly. The work also contains a short poem to the Duchess; and an “Advertisement” referencing Warkworth Castle and the Hermitage (another special place … more so) and Brinkburn Priory; and the Postscript which deals with the history of the Hermitage. At the end of each “Fit” are a few pages of notes regarding the use of language, places, historical events etc.

We must give you a few lines from the First “Fit”.

Dark was the night, and wild the storm,
And loud the torrent’s roar;
And loud the sea was heard to dash
Against the distant shore.

Musing on man’s weak hapless state,
The lonely hermit lay;
When, lo! He heard a female voice
Lament in sore dismay.

With hospitable haste he rose,
And wak’d his sleeping fire:
And snatching up a lighted brand,
Forth hied the reverened sire.

All sad beneath a neighbouring tree
A beauteous maid he found,
Who beat her breast, and with her tears
Bedew’d the mossy ground

O weep not, lady, weep not so;
Nor let vain fears alarm;
My little cell shall shelter thee,
And keep thee safe from harm.

The Hermit of Warkworth – Based on a True story – and another Magical Place … we love it!

$220.00

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The Young Hornblower ( A Trilogy) – C.S. Forester

A super trilogy of Hornblower in his energetic years. Includes Mr Midshipman Hornblower; Lieutenant Hornblower and Hornblower and the Hotspur.

Thick octavo, 633 pages in pretty good condition a couple of marks to page edges a little to what is a good dust jacket.

First published in this form in 1964 this is the second printing 1969. Michael Joseph, London… one of the finest.

Hornblower – three in a row and undefeated.

$50.00

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From The Earth to The Moon – Direct in 97 Hours 20 Minutes – Jules Verne

An early English translation published by Sampson Low, Marston et al, London in 1886.

Translated from the French by Louis Mercier and Eleanor King. Described as the “Author’s Illustrated Edition”.

Octavo, 160 pages plus 32 pages Publisher’s Catalogue. Seven full page illustrations. Original red cloth covered binding with black embossed decoration. Gilt title to front and nice decorative embossed image with gilt moon and red “spaceship”. All page edges gilt, very good condition with unusually clean and bright covers.

Post American Civil War the Baltimore Gun Club had time on their hands. They decided to design and build an enormous gun (a Columbaid) to land three men (the President, his rival and a French Poet) on the Moon. A hugely influential book. Interesting that the section dealing with the calculations has some scientific merit … we like it.

Early Jules Verne – nicely presented

$160.00

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Australian Poetry 1942

Published by Angus and Robertson, Sydney in 1942. Poetry selected by Robert D. Fitzgerald intended to represent the cream of Australian poetry for the year.

Being a war year, for some a particularly special issue. Numerous poems reflecting on Australian’s overseas … Garry Lyle – To My Brother in the Navy; Shawn O’Leary – The Olive Tree; Maurice Biggs – Battle Dress and The Wounded; John Quinn – Syrian Memory; R.S. Byrnes – Song out of Syria. And others on softer homely themes.. love, the bush …

Small octavo, 79 pages with 36 pages. Dust Jacket, often missing and in very good condition. Original inscription on end papers.

Australian Poetry from WWII and at Home

$25.00

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The Private History of the Court of England – A Sexual Expose – Sarah Green 1808

The Songs of Meleager – Frederick Rolfe – Fine Private Press 1937

The Hermit of Warkworth – Catnach Press Alnwick Northumberland – Thomas Percy 1806 – Special Provenance

The Young Hornblower ( A Trilogy) – C.S. Forester

From The Earth to The Moon – Direct in 97 Hours 20 Minutes – Jules Verne

Australian Poetry 1942

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