19th Century and Prior Classics

The Poems of Longfellow

A lovely Modern Library edition. The authoritative introduction has some careful underlining and annotation by a “scholar” (none in the book itself) we like it so we think it is still an attractive offer.

Longfellow and “The Song of Hiawatha”, “Tales of a Wayside Inn”, “Voices of the Night”, “The Seaside and the Fireside” – over 700 pages of the great American poet.

“When thou smilest, my beloved – Then my troubled heart is brightened – As in sunshine gleam the ripples – That the cold wind makes in rivers”

Comprehensive Longfellow

$40.00

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Camille – Alexander Dumas

A nice period Modern Library Edition in very good condition.

A love story but with heartache that is guaranteed to draw a tear. Dumas passion shines through

For romantics

$30.00

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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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The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus – 1894 Richard Burton

Burton died before this came to press. Printed for private circulation and promoted by his devoted wife. Limited to 1000 copies in this form. After Arabian Nights decided to translate another erotic work in the Carmina.

Bound in vellum over paper boards printed on quality hand-made paper. The binding is marked and the vellum faded as in usual and the rough cut page edges are darkened likewise. Some foxing only to the tissue guard over the frontispiece. The internal pages really very bright and clean. A worthy copy of a scarce and distinguished work.

Captain Richard Burton translated the verse and the prose was worked on by Leonard Smithers. Burton started the translation in Africa and did his last notes in Trieste … he died before the fully edited work could be completed. One of the more erotic books produced in the 1890’s.

Special work carried out by the great man

$160.00

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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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Candide – Voltaire – With Beautiful Full Page Pochoir Illustrations

Voltaire wrote Candide in three days in 1759. It is hilarious and must have inspired many comedic scribes. Martin Seymour-Smith regarded Candide as one of “The 100 Most influential Books Ever Written”.

This beautiful edition from the 1920’s published in Paris on the Champs-Elysees. It contains six unusual and striking aquarelles (watercolours) by Robert Polack.

Candide Beautifully Illustrated- French

$140.00

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The Poems of Longfellow

Camille – Alexander Dumas

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

The Carmina of Caius Valerius Catullus – 1894 Richard Burton

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

Candide – Voltaire – With Beautiful Full Page Pochoir Illustrations

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