ABA Featured Books

London: N.p., 1970. i) 2pp. ALS on Windsor's scalloped personal stationery; ii) Post Office telegram. Faint horizontal folds to the letter consistent with a journey by envelope (not present), otherwise very well preserved. Top corners of telegram missing, not affecting text. 2pp. ALS AND A POST OFFICE TELEGRAM FROM BARBARA WINDSOR, APOLOGISING TO BOTH EDDIE JOFFE AND BOB MONKHOUSE FOR HER NON-APPEARANCE ON AN EPISODE OF THE GOLDEN SHOT DUE TO ILL HEALTH. The Golden Shot was a British game show made by ATV for ITV, which ran between 1967 and 1975 and was hosted by Bob Monkhouse for the first five years. In 1970 Eddie Joffe was in the director's chair and Barbara Windsor was booked for the 22 February 1970 episode of the show, to appear alongside the pop group Herman's Hermits. But ill health intervened. In her letter to Joffe, (written on her Hendon Hall Court stationery) she apologises for her absence: 'I've already written & told Bob [Monkhouse] how sad I've been over letting you down last… Read More

London, Printed for Humphrey Moseley, 1655.. First Edition in English. Folio (28 x 18.4 cm.), late nineteenth-century polished tan calf by Kaufman (slight wear), spine richly gilt with raised bands in six compartments, short author-title lettered in gilt in second compartment from head, marbled endleaves, text block edges tinted yellow. Engraved frontispiece portrait of a bust of Camões with verse beneath facing title page. Engraved folding plates of Prince Henry the Navigator (tear repaired) and Vasco da Gama (margins strengthened). Fine elaborate woodcut headpiece and large elegantly decorated factotum initial on leaf A2 recto (headpiece repeated on p. 1). Smaller factotum initial and typographical headpiece on leaf A3 verso. Typographical headpieces on leaves A4 recto and b2 verso. Nice woodcut initial on p. 1. title page backed and remargined. Tear to leaf A4 at inner margin crudely repaired. Overall in good condition. Bookplates of Henry Yates Thompson and Kenneth Rapoport. (10 ll.), 224 pp.… Read More

A remarkable copy of the first edition of Antonius de Vercellis's sermons, owned and annotated by three contemporary Franciscans, one of whom, Andrea Alamanni, may be the confessor who administered Machiavelli's last rites. More than one hand is at work in annotating this copy, and the early ownership history reveals a strict Franciscan connection: at first owned by Niccolò Bonaccorsi of Lucca, the book was then gifted to Andrea Alamanni, and eventually loaned to Francesco de Emperio. The annotations are detailed and wide-ranging in subject: citations from the Church Fathers are interestingly complemented by quotations from Classical authors; a close analysis of the sermons is carried out with references to Duns Scotus; and an examination of what constitutes certainty references Aristotle's logic, as well as Pythagoras. Considerable attention is devoted to form and to standards of rhetoric. Manicules and underlinings occur on every page, evidencing a thorough reading, and the last blank is taken… Read More

A truly stunning collection of over 150 original eighteenth-century botanical watercolours, attributed to the noted Dutch botanical artist Pieter van Loo (1731–1784). Born at Haarlem in the Netherlands, Loo spent most of his life in his native city where he was registered with the Painters Guild as a 'painter of flowers'. He is perhaps best known for his watercolours of hyacinths, a collection of which – entitled 'Choix de Jacintes' and comprising thirteen images by Loo and Cornelis van Noorde painted between 1765 and 1769 – is preserved at the Oak Spring Garden Library in Virginia. The vibrantly coloured and beautifully executed images here run in more or less alphabetical order from 'l'Asther à fleur blanche' to 'la Gimauve' in volume 1, and from 'Hépatique' to 'Verveine' in volume 2, each set neatly within a ruled frame, through which they occasionally burst – as in the case of 'Chelidoine de l'Amerique' for example – with considerable exuberance. Of particular note in the first volume… Read More

Folding Books ltd, London, in association with Country Life. 1947. FIRST EDITION. (5.4 X 4.8 Inches). Folds out showing four scenes, spring, summer, autumn, winter. Each scene with 3 separate layered illustrations, behind a pink front panel with text in a white panel along the bottom of the pages. The whole opening out to a beautifully illustrated square of country scenes, featuring Orlando and her friend Grace. Pink silk ties, the lower missing half of the length. Outer boards with colour illustration to front and publishers advert on rear. Patterned cloth spine. The boards are a little rubbed and knocked to edges but overall a very good, complete copy of this scarce Orlando title with all of the illustrations in bright and fine condition.

Martin Lester, Limited. Dublin. 1919. FIRST EDITION. 8vo. (7.4 x 5.1 inches). Very good copy in publishers green cloth, spine lettered in black. With the extremely rare original colour illustrated dustwrapper. Front panel with illustration by Matthew W. Barry. Spine, which is a bit dulled, lettered in green (price 7/- net). Rear panel with publishers advert. Small (7 x 3 mm) hole to the bottom of the spine otherwise a very good bright example of the rare wrapper. A lovely copy of this powerful novel, set against the background of the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin.

Faber & Faber. First edition published by Faber and Faber in 1940. This is a very good or better copy. The wrapper is not price clipped displaying the correct price of 2/6 net. Someone has written their name (from Charles) neatly on the inside flap. The spine is toned. Otherwise there is no loss to the wrapper and it is in presentable condition. The book is also in excellent condition. A couple of pages of foxing to the front and rear otherwise clear. Stephen Spender has inscribed this copy to fellow author Laurie Lee to the title page. He has inscribed "To Laurence Lee inscribed by Stephen Spender". An early collection of poetry from Stephen Spender and very rare to be inscribed to Laurie Lee. Spender was an early supporter of Laurie Lee's work and along with Cyril Connolly his fellow editor at Horizon, they published his poems. A rare literary association.  . Very Good. Hardcover. 1st Edition. 1st Printing. 1940.

W. Satchell & co. London. 1882. FIRST EDITION. 8vo. Portrait and seven plates. EXTRA ILLUSTRATED With 11 mono and 3 hand coloured plates. A very good clean copy, finely bound in Nineteenth century full red calf binding. Spine with raised bands, brown title label, the compartments fully decorated in gilt. Three line gilt border on boards. Gilt inner dentelles. Top edge gilt. Previous owners bookplate on front paste down. Some staining to the boards (which doesn't extend inside the book) and a little rubbing to edges but still overall an attractive and finely bound book with original paper wrappers bound in at end.

First edition, first impression. Signed by the author to the title page with the ticket to the signing event included as provenance. The sequel to 'The Shining' and the basis for the popular 2019 film adaptation.
Quarter-bound in black cloth with silver lettering to spine and red boards. A near fine book with slight bend to bottom corner of lower board.
The original and unclipped dust jacket has a little edge wear, but is otherwise near fine, bright and sharp.

The First UK printing published by Century, London in 2005 with full number line including the number '1'. The BOOK is in near Fine condition with original illustrated boards. Just a hint of toning to the extreme outer page edges. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is in in near Fine condition with just some very faint toning. Far less than usually encountered. One small minor vertical crease to the upper panel edge. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. 'Wall and Piece' comprises a three-part series of previously published books by Banksy, including 'Banging Your Head Against a Brick Wall', 'Existencilism', and 'Cut It Out'. Extremely scarce with the wrapper as the vast majority of books were issued without one. A sharp copy of an increasingly elusive title. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.

The First UK printing published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London in 2004. The BOOK is in near Fine condition and appears unread. Just a hint of pushing at the spine ends. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. The book has been signed (without dedication) by the author to the title page. A major world-wide best selling title, originally published in 2002, subsequently translated into English by Lucia Graves and first published in the UK in 2004. A very sharp copy and increasingly elusive to find this title with such attributes. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.

Paris: Imprimerie de J. Claye, 1874. First edition of the second collection of poems by Georges de Porto-Riche (1849-1930). Signed dedication in French to the front, reading: "To Monsieur P. de Porto-Riche, homage from an affectionate son. Georges de Porto-Riche". This is the deluxe edition; one of 125. This one of five on papier Chine. The numbered printed also included 20 on Hollande and 100 on tinted paper. In a fine binding of blue three quarter morocco, with gilt double fillets, spine with raised bands and gilt titles. Top edge gilt. Light handling, otherwise solid and decorative. Fresh and clean interior. Text in French. 127 pages. Complete. 115 x 110 mm (4½ x 4¼ inches). . Première édition du deuxième recueil de poèmes de Georges de Porto-Riche (1849-1930). Dédicace signée, lisant : "A Monsieur P. de Porto-Riche, hommage d'un fils affectueux. Georges de Porto-Riche". Il s'agit de l'édition de luxe, l'une des 125. Elle est tirée à cinq exemplaires sur papier Chine. Le tirage… Read More

The First UK Printing published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1962. The BOOK is in near Fine condition and appears unread. A hint of pushing at the upper spine tip and very slight toning to the text-block. Internally clean apart from one tiny foxing spot to the edge of the last 3 pages. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ or better condition. Some very few tiny nicks and rubs to the edges. The spine is slightly faded and toned. The wrapper artwork looks striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. The book has been signed by the author to the upper blank endpaper : 'Best wishes from the author, Joan Aiken'. This title is the first in the acclaimed 'Wolves Chronicles' and is very scarce to find as a signed title. Joan Aiken 'made her name as an exceptional writer for children 'with 'The Wolves of Willoughby Chase', 'a dramatic gothic adventure with a strong Dickensian feel' (ODNB). Illustrated B/W frontispiece and numerous illustrations in the text by Pat Marriott. Now a children's classic… Read More

First edition, first impression. Illustrations by John Lockwood Kipling.
Blue cloth with motifs and lettering to spine and upper board in gilt. All edges gilt. Some occasional spotting to first 32 or so pages, primarily to preliminaries, otherwise clean and free from any names or inscriptions. A few light marks to cloth and a touch of the usual rubbing to spine ends. Gilt lettering and snake and spine motifs still beautifully preserved. A beautiful copy.

The sole UK printing published by The Arcadia Press, London in 1972. Number '9' of only 10 deluxe copies issued, from a total edition of 100 copies. Bound in full vellum with a separate portfolio of ten plates mounted, and all signed and numbered by the illustrator. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. The book is entirely hand manufactured. Hand bound by Zachnsdorf in full vellum. The limitation page is numbered and signed by the calligrapher David Howells, the paper-maker Philip Rowson and the illustrator Errol Le Cain. Illustrated with 10 full-page striking mounted colour plates by Errol Le Cain. The ten loose plates are in Fine condition and are within their original coloured mounts. They are all signed and numbered (number '9') by the illustrator. They are housed in the publisher's original marbled cloth portfolio with black ties. The portfolio case is complete and is a little rubbed in places. A sumptuous production and one of the highlights from the Arcadia Press.