Fiction

Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut – Provost – Beautifully Illustrated with original Aquarelle by Maggy Monier- 1920′s

A novel by Abbe Provost published originally in 1731 as the seventh and final volume of a series Memoirs and Adventures of a man of Quality.

Banned in France after publication because of its scandalous content … later toned down.

The Chevalier des Grieux forfeits his inheritance to run away with his lover Manon Lescaut. They enjoy blissful cohabitation in Paris but Manon proves expensive to keep and our hero turns to cheating on friends and gamblers. Manon leaves for a richer man. The couple end up together in New Orleans after Manon is deported for immoral earnings … and their unusual life continues.

Published by Nilsson, Paris in the 1920’s. One of 300 bound in hard covers this way. The highlight of the edition is the marvelous illustrations, aquarelles by Maggy Monier, an absolute delight.

Man Lescaut in vibrant form … a perfect French language gift

$80.00

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Scott’s Last Expedition – a Play – “The Fire and the Snow”

A play by Douglas Stewart about Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition.

It premiered on ABC radio in June 1941 to great acclaim. It was to star Peter Finch as Scott but he joined the army four days before broadcast so Frank Harvey stepped in. No copy of the original production appears to exist. The BBC produced another version in 1951 which superseded this publication in 1945.

Comes along with the script of the play “The Golden Lover” a Maori romance.

Scott’s on the Radio and in Film!

$50.00

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Victorian Fine Binding – Galatea: A Pastoral Romance – Miguel de Cervantes.

A literal translation from the Spanish (the first) by Gordon Willoughby James Gyll. Published by Bell and Dalby, London in 1867.

Originally published in 1588 before the much celebrated Don Quixote. Under the guise of pastoral characters, the book represents and examination of love. This edition 349 pages after preliminaries finely bound in full orange morocco, inner gilt dentelle with marbled endpapers by respected London Bookbinder of the period – Jeremiah Larkins. A very fine copy. A lovely gift.

About the bookbinder

Jeremiah Larkins (1833-1907) was of Irish descent. He became a bookbinder at the age of seventeen and soon had his own business first as a partnership and then under his own name. He married Ann who was described as a book-folder so they must have met through the business. He became highly respected for the quality of his work amongst the London book elite of the Victorian era.

$160.00

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Scarce Lawrence of Arabia Memorabilia – Ross … A Dramatic Portrait – 1960 Theatre Royal London

A scarce program to Terence Rattigan’s successful London play on the enigmatic Lawrence of Arabia. 12 pages all in fine condition

The play commences during his period as Ross before he was Shaw and flashes back to his activities as Lawrence. Alec Guinness was much acclaimed as the great man but here we have Michael Bryant in the role.

Brief but interesting biographical notes on T.E.L. and the distinguished biographies of other cast.

We especially like that in that “Huntley & Palmers Cake is Served in this Theatre” … what else! And that a Hoovermatic washing machine was used in the Wardrobe department and that Christian Dior Stockings can be found in Good Shops – Everywhere.

Rare Lawrence item obscure but collected

$30.00

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Antarctic Crime – A Victim of the Aurora – Thomas Keneally – First Edition 1977

Published by Collins a first edition 1977 in pretty good condition.

A mischief-maker is strangled during a pre WWI British Antarctic Expedition, and personalities are revealed in a believable and usual crime story from the great Thomas Keneally. Dedicated to Bob Hawke!

Murder at its Coldest!

$20.00

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Voyage autour de ma Chambre – Xavier de Maistre – Beautifully Illustrated by Maggy Monier

Published by Nilsson, Paris the “Collection Emeraude [Emerald]” c 1930 with twelve aquarelles (watercolours) by Maggy Monier tipped in at front and throughout. A striking and delightful production.

The author Xavier de Maistre (1763-1852) wrote this work in 1790 and it was published in 1794 when he was under arrest in Turin as a result of a duel.

Voyage autour de ma chambre is a parody set in the tradition of the grand travel narrative. An autobiographical account of how a young official, imprisoned in his room for six weeks, looks at the furniture, engravings, etc., as if they were scenes from a voyage in a strange land. He praises this voyage because it does not cost anything, for and he recommends it to the poor, the infirm, and the lazy. “When I travel through my room,” he writes, “I rarely follow a straight line: I go from the table towards a picture hanging in a corner; from there, I set out obliquely towards the door; but even though, when I begin, it really is my intention to go there, if I happen to meet my armchair en route, I don’t think twice about it, and settle down in it without further ado.” Later, proceeding North, he encounters his bed, and in this way he light heartedly continues his “Voyage”.

It was later quoted or referenced by Somerset Maugham, D H Lawrence. Jorge Luis Borges and other literary greats.

Another beautiful french illustrated book

$120.00

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Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut – Provost – Beautifully Illustrated with original Aquarelle by Maggy Monier- 1920′s

Scott’s Last Expedition – a Play – “The Fire and the Snow”

Victorian Fine Binding – Galatea: A Pastoral Romance – Miguel de Cervantes.

Scarce Lawrence of Arabia Memorabilia – Ross … A Dramatic Portrait – 1960 Theatre Royal London

Antarctic Crime – A Victim of the Aurora – Thomas Keneally – First Edition 1977

Voyage autour de ma Chambre – Xavier de Maistre – Beautifully Illustrated by Maggy Monier

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