Fiction

Biggles and the Black Peril – Captain W.E. Johns c1960

Published by Dean & Sons, London no date but circa 1960. Octavo, 184 pages, slightly evenly browned as with Dean of the period. A good copy in a slightly edge worn dust jacket.

Whilst grounded in the fog of the Essex marshes, Biggles and his mates see a giant foreign flying boat land on an illuminated creek. Adventure ensues involving … well .. the Russians.

Biggles wins against the odds against the Russians.

$25.00

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The Picture of Kebes the Theban – Rendered into English by Hugh E Seebohm – Rare Private Printing Essex House Press [Following Kelmscott] 1906

A scarce little delight of a book by the intellectual banker Hugh Exton Seebohm (1867-1946). Seebohm’s father was expert in classical matters and his family followed in his footsteps as well as increasing significantly the value of the family pile. Small squarish octavo, 52 pages, title page printed in red and black, three page note at end printed in red. Olive grey papered boards with separate paper title to front and spine. A very good copy.

Seebohm also issued a book on the Structure of Greek Tribal Society.

The original of this work known as the “Tabula Cebetis”, an influential antique dialogue which addresses questions relating to the way of life.

A translation of the only existing book of Kebes, who was a disciple of Philolaus and a friend of Socrates.

Essex House was founded by Charles Ashbee in 1898 using printing gear from the then closed Kelmscott Press of William Morris. True Arts & Crafts style .. Ashbee regarded as a founder of the movement with his Guild. Great care was taken with the typographical design and the wild carnation motif which represented Essex House Press at the rear.

Would make a delightful gift for the thoughtful.

Essex House Printing of Seebohm’s translation of Kebes … a true book lovers delight.

$180.00

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Bowie – Fashion – 1980

Super original copy of this iconic single …. Scream like a Baby on the B side. From the album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps).

Ooh bop, do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do..

Robert Fripp from King Crimson played the lead guitar. Bowie coined a new meaning for the word “Fascists” which likely amused him.

David Bowie will never be forgotten ..

$40.00

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The Lake Frome Monster – Arthur Upfield – First edition

A first edition of Arthur Upfield’s last novel. Incomplete at his death it was crafted into publication by J L Price and Dorothy Strange.

Published by Heinemann, London in 1966.

Octavo, 184 pages, all in pretty good condition. Edges a little aged, the strikingly scary jacket with some creases but as good as they come if you can find one.

The last Napoleon Bonaparte novel (obviously). Lake Frome is in South Australia, it’s large but rarely fills with water. A roving photographer is found dead … the monster?

Bony sets about resolving the unusual murder disguised as workman tending the very long dog-proof fence. His life is in danger … but our Bony is no coward!

Bony … out in the dirt solving the weirdest of murders.

$70.00

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Relic from the Otago – Skuttled in the Derwent, Tasmania – Past Captain being the Distinguished Author Joseph Conrad.

A solid piece of wood with some remnant attached claimed to be from the vessel “Otago” which was sunk in the Derwent before bits were reclaimed – in particular scrap metal which went to Japan much to the chagrin of the locals.

18cm by 13cm by 3cm.

The inscription reads “Otago 367 ton Barque – 1869 Built Glasgow – 1900 Used as a coal hulk, Hobart – 1931 Stranded, Otago Bay Derwent River, Tasmania. – She was the only command of the Author Joseph Conrad”.

See also our scarce publication by Crowther relating to the Otago hatch in the Hobart Maritime Museum … perhaps the best Museum in Australia! .

Conrad’s Otago – A remnant – and an unusual artifact with a literary connection.

$60.00

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Madman’s Bend – Arthur Upfield – First Edition 1963

A very good copy of the first edition of the last completed novel of Australian writer Arthur Upfield.

Aurthur William Upfield (1890-1964) was born in England and came to Australia and made it his home in 1911. He served in WWI, carried out a number of inland excursions in Australia and became familiar with the bush and indigenous Australians. He wrote many novels and is famous particularly for his crime series featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon “Bony” Bonaparte of the Queensland Police Force, a mixed race indigenous Australian. This his last book in the series is set along the Darling River in NSW.

Published by Heinemann, London in 1963. Octavo, 232 pages, a little age along the top edge, but really as good a copy. Very clean internally. Solid jacket

One of “Bony’s” toughest mysteries. William Lush, sheep station owner and drunk beats his wife and goes to town in search of more grog. Returning he runs out of fuel and walks the remainder of the way home where he finds the door barred by his daughter who fires as shot from the other side. Lush disappears and his wife dies from her injuries … Bony is confronted with a dilemma is he searching for a murderer or a victim .. it all gets quite complicated.

Collectable and final Arthur Upfield Mystery

$70.00

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Biggles and the Black Peril – Captain W.E. Johns c1960

The Picture of Kebes the Theban – Rendered into English by Hugh E Seebohm – Rare Private Printing Essex House Press [Following Kelmscott] 1906

Bowie – Fashion – 1980

The Lake Frome Monster – Arthur Upfield – First edition

Relic from the Otago – Skuttled in the Derwent, Tasmania – Past Captain being the Distinguished Author Joseph Conrad.

Madman’s Bend – Arthur Upfield – First Edition 1963

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