Poetry and Plays and Music Scores

The Damon Runyon Omnibus [Including Guys and Dolls] – 1944

A first of kind published by Sun Dial Press, garden City, New York in 1994. High quality production despite the war years. Note this is the novel not the musical narrative …

Largish octavo, 505 pages, a few chips to what otherwise is a super dust jacket – very good copy overall.

Damon Runyon was the man behind “Guys and Dolls” and much more on Broadway here are three of his stories, first published in this form – “Money From home”, “Blue Plate Special” and the aforementioned all-time hit.

Much compared with P.G. Wodehouse … which is three stars to start ….

“When you see a sport and his cash has run short – Make a bet that he’s banking it with some doll
When a guy wears tails with front gleaming white – Who the hell do you think he’s tickling pink
… on Saturday night?”

A rarity that takes you back

$50.00

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The Ballad of Reading Gaol – Oscar Wilde [John Vassos Illustrated Edition First of Type - Special] – Published by Dutton New York 1930

Oscar Wilde was convicted of gross indecency in 1895 and spent two years in Reading jail in England. He was released in May 1897 and went into self exile in Berneval-le-Grand, France where he wrote this work the Ballad of Reading Gaol.

It was first published in 1898 and re-issued many times and still in print today. This edition is something special.

Published by Dutton, New York, 1930, a first of type. Quarto, 124 pages, with 16 striking monochrome plates by John Vassos (1898-1985). Vassos had designed promotional material for the Oscar Wild play “Salome” and had been spotted by Dutton who brought him in to add his special touch to the Ballad.

Black over blue papered boards, scarce dust jacket in black and gold. A very good copy.

Oscar Wilde – Ballad of Reading Gaol – Striking Presentation.

$290.00

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Australian Poetry – Apocalypse in Springtime – Lex Banning – 1956

A first edition of what we believe is Lex Banning’s final published collection

Arthur Alexander [Lex] Banning (1921-1965) had a difficult upbringing. He has cerebral palsy to an extent that he had little control over his arms. His studies could only be completed by dictation. Thoughtful and thought provoking and some hard reality.

Slim octavo, published by Edwards and Shaw, Sydney in 1956. 34 pages. Top of decorative dust jacket a tiny bit damaged as it is cut just too large for the book. Otherwise, a very good copy.

Lex Banning had something to say …

$25.00

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Australian Poetry – Light -Margaret Diesendorf – 1981

A first edition of Margaret Diesendorf’s first published collection of poetry. A very special collection by a special person.

Margaret Diesendorf (1912-1993) escaped Austria in 1938 and made her way to Australia. Her Jewish partner, an engineer, left separately and they came together and made a life first in Sydney. She was a highly respected translator … she taught languages and did translations for the likes of the ABC. Later in life she concentrated more of original poetry and was to write upwards of six hundred poems.

An unusual, interesting and exciting style drawing on her understanding of the arts and the World outside Australia. She had a passion for writing poems stimulated by great art works and great artists. This book is set out in two section – the first “On Canvas” represents this them with poems about works by Monet, Picasso, Modigliani, Klimt [the Kiss] and also Australian artists Brett Whiteley [soup Kitchen] and Lloyd Rees [the Pinnacle Mount Wellington].

Slim octavo, published by Edwards and Shaw, Sydney, 1981. 79 pages. A very good copy of another nice production.

Gift worthy poetry and a Voyager favourite

$30.00

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Australian Poetry – The Walk along the Beach – R.A. Simpson – 1960

A first edition of Ronald Albert Simpson’s first published book of poetry. He would go on to published ten collections over the next couple of decades.

Simpson (1929-2002) was a member of what was to be called the “Melbourne Group” his and their style being focused on Australian suburban themes. He was awarded the Christopher Brennan prize for his poetry.

Slim octavo, published by Edwards and Shaw, Sydney. 45 pages, a poem per page. Decorative but understated dust jacket. A very good copy of a very nice production.

Gift worthy poetry Simpson’s first collection.

$25.00

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Fire-Bird – A Study of D.H. Lawrence – Dallas Kenmare – First Edition 1951

A quality book on D.H.L. published by James Barrie, London a First Edition in 1951.

The author Dallas Kenmare was fascinated by the poetry of Lawrence and it’s the great man’s poetry that is the focus of this unique book. Written in 1951 so before Penguin had a shot at publishing Lady Chatterly’s Lover – Kenmare has a view on that prospect which is a tad old-fashioned to modern views.

Slim octavo, 81 pages, all in very good condition with a nice example of the dark fire-bird dust jacket.

D.H. Lawrence get to know the man better with Fire-Bird [Reference Lawrence Phoenix] …

$30.00

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The Damon Runyon Omnibus [Including Guys and Dolls] – 1944

The Ballad of Reading Gaol – Oscar Wilde [John Vassos Illustrated Edition First of Type - Special] – Published by Dutton New York 1930

Australian Poetry – Apocalypse in Springtime – Lex Banning – 1956

Australian Poetry – Light -Margaret Diesendorf – 1981

Australian Poetry – The Walk along the Beach – R.A. Simpson – 1960

Fire-Bird – A Study of D.H. Lawrence – Dallas Kenmare – First Edition 1951

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