The Whitsun Weddings by Larkin, Philip - 1964

First UK edition, first impression. Published in the same year as the first US edition and seemingly less common with striking cover art. Publisher's original black cloth with silver lettering to spine and motif to bottom corner of upper board. Light spotting to top edge and some off-setting to endpapers with a previous owner name to front endpaper and a few ticks in red biro next to some of the titles listed on half-title verso, otherwise very good. The original dust jacket is price-clipped and has some wear and a few tears to top edge with some rubbing and chipping to spine panel, primarily to the top. A good or better copy of an uncommon edition.

Fifth edition (Chapman & Hall, 1844). Issued the year after the first edition, which was published in December 1843. Hand-coloured etched frontispiece and a further three plates by John Leech with four wood-engravings by W.J. Linton. Two pp advertisements at rear. Gilt edges with publisher's original cinnamon vertically ribbed cloth stamped in blind and gilt. Previous owner name to half-title dated 1844. Small stain on page 25 and one plate detached. A little light soiling/spotting to leaves here and there with some rubbing to edges. Hinges starting and binding a little exposed towards the rear of the book, but all pages, save for the one aforementioned plate, still firmly in place. A very good example.

First edition, first impression (Collins Clear-Type Press, 1963).Original red cloth with black lettering to spine. A very good book indeed with some spotting to edges and 'Xmas 1963' written in biro on front paste-down, but concealed by the upper flap of the dust jacket. The original and unclipped dust jacket is very good or better with a few tears to edges and spine head, where there is an associated crease to top edge of lower panel. A very good copy indeed.

First edition first impression and first state with 'Joanne Rowling' to the copyright page and dropped text on page 7. It has been confirmed by the publisher that all states of the first impression consisted of 5,150 copies in total, of which, it is believed, 2,500 pertained to the first state. Original pictorial boards. A fine book with the slightest hint of spotting to top edge in a beautiful fine dust jacket without flaws. Rare in such superior condition.

First edition, first impression. Signed by the poet to the title page. Winner of the Whitbread Book of the Year Award.

Original black cloth with lettering to spine in gilt. Some light white marks to lower board fore-edge, else fine in a beautiful, fine dust jacket bearing the Waterstones 'Signed First Edition' wraparound band.

A superior example of one of the poet's highlight titles.

First edition, first impression (Heinemann, 1967). Illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone. Signed, inscribed and dated by the author in the year of publication on the front blank: 'To Cicely Courtneidge, from Dodie Smith "Dear Octopus", Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 1967'. The inscription refers to Smith's play 'Dear Octopus', which was revived in 1967 for the fiftieth wedding anniversary of the comedy actors Dame Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hubert. Dodie Smith's married name, 'Mrs Beesley', Dodie Smith's married name is also written in ink in another hand to the front flap of the dust jacket. Additionally a postcard from the author is loosely inserted: 'Dearest Cis, Here is "The Starlight Barking" as a tiny first night present. It's also intended as a get well present to your dear poodle - I trust you'll be able to use Bill's line and say "The dog liked it". Bless you and thank you for your lovable, funny and altogether admirable performance as "Dora". Much love as ever, Dodie". 8vo, publisher's… Read More

First UK edition, first impression (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1953). Originally published in the US in 1951. The first book in the Foundation series, which won the Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series in 1966 and forms the basis for the 2021 Apple TV series.Publisher's original black cloth with silver lettering to spine. A near fine book with some of the usual moderate spotting to edges and off-setting to endpapers and half-title; light pencil impressions to top of front endpaper. The original and price-clipped dust jacket has a little bit of minor rubbing to edges in places and a couple of very tiny chips to corners. A near fine example of a rare edition of an iconic and influential work in the science fiction genre.

First UK edition, first impression. Published shortly after the iconic Stanley Kubrick 1968 film adaptation whose screenplay was co-written by Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke.

Publisher's original black cloth with silver lettering to spine. A fine book with a small Foyles bookseller label to bottom corner of front paste-down in a near fine dust jacket with just a small mark to upper panel, a couple of isolated spots to verso and a little mild rubbing to corners.

An excellent copy of a science fiction highlight.

First edition first impression and first state with 'Joanne Rowling' to the copyright page and dropped text on page 7. It has been confirmed by the publisher that all states of the first impression consisted of 5,150 copies in total, of which, it is believed, 2,500 pertained to the first state. Original pictorial boards. A fine book with the slightest hint of spotting to top edge in a beautiful fine dust jacket without flaws. Rare in such superior condition.

A complete set of first editions, first impressions.'Puzzle for the Secret Seven' has been signed by the author to an adhesive label bearing her photograph affixed to the reverse of the front endpaper.
All books and dust jackets are very good, or better than very good in some cases. 'The Secret Seven' has some spotting and dust jacket is price-clipped, as is the dust jacket of 'Good Work Secret Seven'. 'Well Done Secret Seven' and 'Fun for the Secret Seven' have gift inscriptions to the front paste-down and front endpaper verso respectively. The 'This Book Belongs to' label present on the half-title pages has been filled in in the cases of 'Secret Seven Mystery', 'Fun for the Secret Seven', and 'Puzzle for the Secret Seven'. 'Go Ahead Secret Seven' has an owner label to front endpaper and some brown tape reinforcement to edges of dust jacket verso.
A very good set indeed. Rare in such good condition as a complete set with the additional appeal of the author's signature to one of the volumes.