Fiction

The Native Moment – Anthony C. West – First Edition 1961

A first edition published by MacGibbon & Kee, London in 1961. Octavo, 280 pages a little browning near end but really a super copy in a nice full dust jacket.

Highly regraded author, son of H.G. Wells and Rebecca West .. who were never married because H.G. already was. Anthony West respected H.G. perhaps more than his Mother … falling out with her over a book which did not reflect well on her … conversely he wrote a very favourable biography on H.G.

The Native Moment is a powerful story about the unusual relationship between Simon Green an eel seller in Dublin and Tamar, a girl from the lakes who has found herself in child after being treated very badly. A highly charged and emotional story.

Respected author – First Edition

$25.00

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Sir Samuel Walker Griffith’s – Literal translation of The Inferno of Dante Alighieri. [Printed Draft Signed and Gifted to Governor of Queensland] 1903

A unique item, a printed DRAFT of S.W.G’s mammoth translation of Dante’s Inferno. More so as it is signed by S.W.G. as a gift to the then Queensland Governor Sir Herbert Chermside.

Printed by Powell & Company, Adelaide Street Brisbane … legal and Government Printers, in 1903. Octavo softcover, probably later basic re-enforcement to spine. 136 pages comprising in its entirety of The Inferno and a Title which is a repeat of the cover. Aged somewhat externally with darkening to the card boards. Internally bright and clean with a few tears to the inner crease of one gathering, nothing troublesome. S.W.G’s minor correction by hand in three spots. The final work, itself very scarce was published in Sydney in 1908.

Sir Samuel Walker Griffith GCMG QC (1845-1920) politician, Premier of Queensland, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, and a principal author of the Constitution of Australia. In 1865 he gained the T.S. Mort Travelling Fellowship and spent most of his time in Italy becoming very much attached to the Italian people and their literature. This the first translation of Dante by an Australian is a remarkable body, scarce, indeed unique in this form.

The Draft of a little known and important work by a leading light in the history of Australia

$370.00

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Film Fun Annual 1957 – Starring Laurel and Hardy

If you don’t know who Laurel and Hardy were then this book is probably not for you … if you do then it will be … pure nostalgia.

Printed in London.. Gordon & Gotch were the Australian Agents. Perfect bound, generally in good condition for its age and undoubted use.

Large format, 128 pages with much more content than others of this style and format. Several cartoon stories each of the comedy adventures of Laurel and Hardy; Abbot and Costello; Red Skelton; Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis and the picture boy Frankie Howerd (before he went Up Pompeii). Some in colour … the whole interspersed with full narrative adventure stories.

Film Fun in 1957 – Times have changed for sure

$35.00

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Ventriloquism For Beginners – A Complete Set of Lessons in the Art of Voice Magic – Douglas Houlden

Published by Kaye & Ward, London revised in 1967. Large octavo, 63 pages with numerous sketches and photographs. A nice copy.

A super guide … a bit like playing the didge … practice makes perfect and here we have the techniques carefully explained. Advanced ventriloquism includes … the muffled voice, the distant voice, drinking (whilst talking) etc. After learning how to do the basic letters and covering up the B’s with G’s we have the most challenging “Labial Sounds”.

All without moving your lips …

$40.00

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The Eye of the Storm – Patrick White – Fine First Edition Copy

A fine first edition of Patrick White’s ninth and epic novel about the reality of family relationships. This is the book that earned White the 1973 Nobel Prize.

Published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1973, 608 pages, top edge blue. Dust jacket and book in perfect condition. Jacket art by Desmond Digby.

The book was adapted to film in 2011 staring Charlotte Rampling, Geoffrey Rush and Judy Davis.

White First and Best

$0.00

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Tender is the Night – F Scott Fitzgerald – First UK Revised Edition – Grey Walls Press 1953

There are two versions of “Tender”. Scott Fitzgerald was unhappy with the result of his first writing published in 1934. And it was not very successful at the time selling only 12,000 copies.

Before his death he revised the text and left numerous notes and mark-up’s as well as a complete re-ordering of the work. His friend and literary critic Malcolm Cowley took the notes and helped re-publish the work consistent with Fitzgerald’s wishes.

Published by Grey Walls Press, London 1953. Octavo, 418 pages. Contents include an xi-page introduction by Cowley which explains the context and corrections. Pages 1 through 392 represent the novel and at the rear through to page 418 we have notes on the manuscripts … genuinely interesting and informative.

The book is in fine with a complete fine unclipped dust jacket. We have followed this scarce book for years and never come across a better copy.

In 1932 Fitzgerald’s wife Zelda was hospitalised with metal health issues. Fitzgerald lived near by and started a novel about Dick Diver a promising young psychiatrist and his wife Nicole who also was one of his patients. The story line mirroring his and Zelda’s own lives. The original issue of Tender used flashbacks making the narrative awkward to follow. This revised edition based on Fitzgerald’s notes and mark-up is re-set in chronological order. Fitzgerald regarded “Tender” as his best work.

First UK Revised Edition by the special Grey Walls Press, London. With the unique dust jacket by Edward Pagram. A real treasure.

$340.00

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The Native Moment – Anthony C. West – First Edition 1961

Sir Samuel Walker Griffith’s – Literal translation of The Inferno of Dante Alighieri. [Printed Draft Signed and Gifted to Governor of Queensland] 1903

Film Fun Annual 1957 – Starring Laurel and Hardy

Ventriloquism For Beginners – A Complete Set of Lessons in the Art of Voice Magic – Douglas Houlden

The Eye of the Storm – Patrick White – Fine First Edition Copy

Tender is the Night – F Scott Fitzgerald – First UK Revised Edition – Grey Walls Press 1953

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