Fiction

Biggles Buries the Hatchet – Captain W.E. Johns – First Edition 1958

Sought after Biggles first edition one that is hard to come by. Published by Brokhampton Press in 1958. Octavo, blue boards, 184 pages plus catalogue with the usual ticks. Has the Brock Books image lower spine and number “52” as required of the first. Dust jacket chipped and worn through front end back flap part missing. Full page coloured illustration from the omnipresent Leslie Stead

Erich von Stalhein escapes from prison behind the Iron Curtain. An event which brings Biggles into conflicts with his arch enemy.

Biggles First but not the first encounter with von Stalein!

SO SORRY SOLD

$40.00

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Biggles and The Poor Rich Boy – Captain W.E. Johns – First Edition 1961

The true first edition not the orange board Hampton copy often disguised as a first. This published by Brockhampton Press in 1961.

Octavo, brown boards, dust jacket with “Brock Books” at base of spine and numbering system “58” above. 182 pages, plus catalogue [annotated in hand], coloured frontispiece, the odd line illustration by the usual Leslie Stead. A little age, really very good with a great example of the dust jacket.

The entire British police force cannot find twelve-year-old Carlo Salvatore who has been kidnapped. Biggles and his chums come to the rescue – a trip to Scotland is required.

Scarce Biggles First in good condition and in Scotland

SO SORRY SOLD

$50.00

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The Twyborn Affair – Patrick White – First edition 1979

A particularly good copy of this first edition published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1979. Octavo, 432 pages, clean as a whistle throughout.

A novel in three parts based first in the French Riviera before WWI: then a Sheep Station in the Snowy Mountain area of New South Wales after the war and finally in London in the lead up to WWII.

The protagonist although connected changes gender and more in each part, and the whole is a complex novel, challenging conventions as well as being wickedly humorous.

Patrick White at his best in the Twyborn Affair

$35.00

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Rough Water – Stories of Survival from the Seas – Clint Willis

A worthy soft cover published by the aptly named Adrenaline Books, New York in 1999. Octavo, 356 pages, fancy wrap card covers add to sturdiness. Very good to better copy.

Interesting mix of fact and fiction from Shackleton, Knox-Johnstone, Trumbull on the raft with Patrick O’Brian and Wauk (Caine Mutiny – let’s not forget Bogie!) then on to cold water and David Lewis etc. Glossary and bibliography at the end all help those new to the water.

Survival at sea all from your armchair

$25.00

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The Secret Pilgrim – John le Carre – First Edition 1991

A very nice first edition published by Hodder, London in 1991.

Follows the Russia House and the Karla trilogy and despite the whole of Smiley, some believe, and we do, that this was his best book to date.

Octavo, 335 pages a better than very good copy.

Smiley and Ned in their final years up in Scotland at the training college for spies. The format of the book uses a simple ploy “reminiscences” to produce in effect a book of perfectly connected short stories. The language and plot exceptional from the beginning to the gracious end.

John le Carre – hard for us to say but this one puts him ahead of Greene – his template so to speak = wonderful reading

$40.00

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For Whom the Bell Tolls – Ernest Hemingway – First UK Edition – Jonathan Cape 1941

Published by Cape in London, 1941. First UK edition, first impression, of what many believe is Hemingway’s most important novel. The important thing about the first impression is that many first on sale are later – and the impressions went on a bit – so don’t be fooled by that. Some impressions are so that that additional novels are added to the “Books by” list – it should stop with Fiesta and the publication page should have 1941 and zip else.

Octavo, 462 pages, original blue cloth covered boards, slightly aged partly chipped but pretty complete Hans Tisdal designed dust jacket, re-enforcement to rear. An unusual repair being top of jacket overlaid with another identical piece – not a bad idea – a little weird.

Hemingway’s classic about the Spanish Civil War. Tells the story of Robert Jordan a young American volunteer, attached to the Republican guerrilla unit.

Hemingway wrote the novel initially in Havana, Cuba. The work is based on Hemingway’s first-hand experiences as a reporter for the North American Alliance.

For those unfamiliar with where the title came from Hemingway helpfully provided reference to the words of English Poet and Dean of St Pauls John Donne (1572-1631) – it is well worth the understanding – … “never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee” … check it out – it will make a difference.

Hemingway First UK – Perhaps his Strongest – Ding

SO SORRY SOLD

$220.00

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Biggles Buries the Hatchet – Captain W.E. Johns – First Edition 1958

Biggles and The Poor Rich Boy – Captain W.E. Johns – First Edition 1961

The Twyborn Affair – Patrick White – First edition 1979

Rough Water – Stories of Survival from the Seas – Clint Willis

The Secret Pilgrim – John le Carre – First Edition 1991

For Whom the Bell Tolls – Ernest Hemingway – First UK Edition – Jonathan Cape 1941

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