Fiction

The Works of Sir Thomas Malory- 3 Volumes Complete – edited Eugene Vinaver – First Edition Oxford 1947.

Large first edition set published by the Clarendon Press, Oxford in 1947.

Thick royal octavo, 1,742 pages overall, original black cloth covered bindings, impressed design to front, gilt titles to spine, original dust jackets a little tattered but rarely there. Obvious odeur de bibliotheque – forgive them for their reverence. The odd illustration such as a page from the Winchester manuscript (see below).

Russian born Eugene Vinaver was at the time Professor of French Language and Literature at Manchester university. He is best know for this voluminous work which takes its place as the best study on Malory and the Authurian Legends. In 1928 Vinaver founded the Arthurian Society which became the Society for the Study of Medieval Languages. TE Lawrence had an interest before his untimely death.

The Vivaner Arthur is based on the 15th century Winchester Manuscript which was discovered in the Fellows’ Library at Winchester in 1934 – what other prizes must these old English libraries still hold? Vivaner provides an enlightening analysis of the differences with the first Caxton printed work.

A summary of the contents …

Volume I – after ix Preface – introduction including the Knight-Prisoner; the Story of the Book; the Writer’s Progress and the Method of Editing. Caxton’s Preface followed by the works …

The Tale of King Arthur; the Tale of the Noble King Arthur that was Emperor Himself through Dignity of His Hands; the Noble Tale of Sir Launcelot du Lake; the Tale of Sir Gareth of Orkeney that was called Bewmaynes; The Book of Sir Tristram de Lyones.

Vol II – The Book of Sir Tristram de Lyones (cont); the Tale of the Sankgreal Briefly Drawn out of French, which is a Tale Chronicled for One of the Truest and One of the Holiest That Is in This World.

Vol III – the Book of Sir Launcelot and Queen Guinevere; The Most Piteous Tale of the Morte Arthur Saunz Gwerdon; Commentary on various Tales,; Bibliography; Glossary and Index etc.

Thomas Malory the Full Works provided and explained … a Magnificent Effort.

$190.00

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A Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway True First Edition -1964 – Predates American Edition by one day

First edition published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1964. Octavo, 192 pages with the stunning wrap around dust jacket designed by Hans Tisdall. The font Tisdall invented for this purpose carries his name.

Very good condition with minor mark to front of jacket, otherwise very clean and no dust jacket nibbles. Terrific internally.

Written by Hemingway in his final days before he took his life so tragically. The draft was in his bedroom and published posthumously.

Tells of Hemingway’s early years in Paris with his young bride (1921-1926) and the people (what people) he associated with … Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound, Wyndham Lewis, James Joyce, Scott Fitzgerald … do we need to go on?

“If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast”.

Scarce Collectable delightful Hemingway – First Edition

$160.00

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Jack Maggs – Peter Carey – First edition

A first edition published by the University of Queensland Press in 1997. Large octavo, 392 pages, a little evenly toned we think, otherwise unblemished in a super dust jacket.

Carey’s Jack Maggs is straight out of Dickens and the characters and homage are clear to the end. Much admired for that literary daring.

Jack Maggs returns to London from Australia in 1837. He needs to be careful as his departure from London had not been at his own pleasure. He has a clear and honourable objective … but its not that simple.

Peter Carey in the manner of C.D. with Maggs

$35.00

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My Life as a Fake – Peter Carey – First edition

Peter Carey had already won the Booker Prize twice, and other literary awards before he released “My Life as A Fake”.

Published by Knopf, Sydney in 2003. A first edition in great condition. Octavo, 280 pages, rough cut edges (trendy) as published. Unusual endpapers one half Kuala Lumpur image [as with the dust jacket] other stark pink.

Whilst given an international mystic flavour this book is partly based on the real life faking of the poet Ern Malley by the promotors of the superb Angry Penguins. Not only was the poet Ern Malley a fake he was also considered a bit rude which got the inventors into a little bit of trouble and consequently financial difficulty.

Back to Carey and we have the works of Bob McCorkie entirely the invention of Christopher Chubb who wants to teach the pretentious a lesson. There is a twist though and it has something to do with the phrase Voyager has some difficulty truly understanding … “be careful what you wish for”. When we say twist – it is Peter Carey so more to it that that.

Peter Carey First edition – maybe our favourite.

$60.00

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Crime Fiction 1749-1980 – A Comprehensive Bibliography – Plus 1981-1985 Supplement – Allen J. Hubin

Bibliographies in print; so much easier and fuller in satisfaction than online look-up – the latter’s ease offset by growing unreliability. There is a saying in the trade – if its Crime it has to be Hubin.

Two solid volumes only really suitable for domestic purchase. Original editions in their expected green cloth covered bindings – title in gilt to front and spine. I trifle aged in the end papers otherwise a nice set.

Suggestion for the dullest party game of all time – “think of a crime novel not in Hubin” … can last for hours.

Voyager thought he had all the Simenon Maigret in his collection – not so – 126 different issues recorded – [not sure of the duplicates – not as many as you think] – so we are not even half way there!

Hubin – essential reference for all crime story devotees .

$80.00

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Biggles in Borneo – Capt W.E. Johns – First Australian Edition 1946

A first Australian edition of a scarce early Biggles with its original dust jacket – we emphasise original as some are sold with colour photocopies these days – we find that all a bit naff.

Published in 1946 by Geoffrey Cumberledge for Oxford University Press, Melbourne. The UK edition came out during WWII in 1943. Octavo, 183 pages, toned a bit still on the war paper, aged to top etc, but not a bad dust jacket at all, which makes the book. A good and collectable copy.

Subtitled …A “Biggles Squadron” Story of the Second Great War. Having just proved invaluable in the “Battle of Britain” the squadron find themselves in the heart Borneo where they set up an aerodrome unknown to the Japanese – they downs ships and rescue prisoners … the aerodrome is eventually taken over by the Royal Australian Airforce.

One of the scarce Biggles in its jacket and with a handover to the Aussies.

$70.00

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The Works of Sir Thomas Malory- 3 Volumes Complete – edited Eugene Vinaver – First Edition Oxford 1947.

A Moveable Feast – Ernest Hemingway True First Edition -1964 – Predates American Edition by one day

Jack Maggs – Peter Carey – First edition

My Life as a Fake – Peter Carey – First edition

Crime Fiction 1749-1980 – A Comprehensive Bibliography – Plus 1981-1985 Supplement – Allen J. Hubin

Biggles in Borneo – Capt W.E. Johns – First Australian Edition 1946

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