New Arrivals
The Reluctant Dragon
New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1983. Approximately 8 1/4 x 10 1/2". LIMITED EDITION of 350 copies, this being #44. Green cloth over boards with brown cloth spine, brown slipcase, signed on the colophon by the illustrator, Michael Hague, includes a reproduction of a specially commissioned pen and ink drawing, all in fine condition.
Kenneth Grahame (1859 - 1932) was a British writer, best known for his novel, "The Wind in the Willows". This charmingly illustrated short story, is seen as an original idea that a dragon does not have to be seen as a threat, but can be a sympathetic character. This story was originally published in 1898 as a chapter in Grahame's book, "Dream Days".
The Betrayed Confidence
Orleans, MA: Parnassus Imprints, 1992. Approximately 7 1/4 x 7 1/4". LIMITED EDITION of 250 copies, this being #165. Black paper covered slipcase in fine condition. Illustrated paper wrappers, includes a signed and numbered previously unpublished print laid in which bears the same signature and number as on the colophon of the book, all in fine condition. (Toledano A104a)
Edward Gorey (1925 - 2000) was an American artist and writer, best known for his eccentric imagery and stories, often set in Victorian and Edwardian settings. This book covers seven series of Dogear Wryde (an anagram of Gorey's name) postcards and includes: Scenes de Ballet, Menaced Objects, Alms for Oblivion, Interpretive Series, Neglected Murderesses, Tragedies Topiares, and Whatever Next? Some cards are captioned and some are not. A lovely example of the wide range of Gorey artwork and macabre humor.
The Wonderful Letter
New York: Anson D. F. Randolph, 1863. 46 pp. Approximately 3 x 4 3/8". Purple stiff card stamped in blind and gilt, minor rubbing and small stain on cover, woodcut on title page, translated from the original French by Amelia Sturges, in fine condition.
Henri Abraham Cesar Malan (1787 - 1864) was a Swiss Protestant minister and hymn-writer. (From the life, labours, and writings of Caesar Malan). Only two library holdings in OCLC, Columbia Library and the Morgan Library and Museum. None currently in the trade (as of Jan. 2021). This is a beautiful copy of an uncommon religious juvenile Christian tract.
A to Z in Filigree
San Rafael, CA: Feathered Serpent Press, 1982. (32 pp). Approximately 3/4 x 1/2". LIMITED EDITION of 295 copies, this being #51. Red leather with gilt designs on covers, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, miniature bookplate of Grace Broecker (a major collector of miniature books), miniature bookplate of Robert E. Massmann (publisher of books at REM Miniatures), a fine copy. (Bradbury, Feathered Serpent Press, 3)
A beautiful book, both inside and out. Contains filigree alphabet letters and two bookplates of people well-known in the miniature book trade.
Munkássakk (Worker's Chess)
Budapest, Hungary: Alföldi Nyomda, 1984. 160 pp. Approximately 1 3/4 x 2 1/2". Text in Hungarian. LIMITED EDITION of 400 copies, this being #2. Light brown leather over boards, Title in black on cover with chess board and knight piece illustration, seven black and white photographs, many chess diagrams, slight wear to cover, otherwise in near fine condition.
One of the best known printing houses in Budapest for the last 40 years, the Alföldi Printing House prints both large books and miniatures for both foreign and domestic markets. Their talent, inventiveness, and artistic ability were noted by Louis Bondy in his miniature book reference (p. 176).
Christmas in the Olde Coaching Days
[Manteno, IL]: Bronte Press, 1989. Approximately 2 3/4 x 2 1/8", oblong. (22) pp. First Edition. LIMITED EDITION of 75 copies, this being #61. Decorated paper boards with printed labels, letterpress, hand-colored illustrations by the author, signed and numbered on the colophon by Pruchnicki, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Bronte Press 21)
Printing since 1981, Bronte Press miniatures are notable in that all of the illustrations are original works and are often hand-colored. This beautiful miniature tells a charming story of a coachman's adventures during the Christmas season.
Goethes Briefe an Charlotte von Stein. Herausgegeben von Jonas Fränkel. Kritische Gesamtausgabe. 3 Bände.
Jena, Germany: Eugen Diederichs, 1908. 3 volumes in German. Approximately 4 3/4 x 7 1/2". Red cloth over boards, gilt lettering and design stamped crisply on spine, top edges gilt, illustrated endpapers, ribbons intact, some minor rubbing and wear, 1 portrait, 2 facsimiles and 26 hand drawings by Goethe on mounted panels, in near fine condition.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749 - 1832) was a German writer and statesman. His writings were diverse and included poetry, prose, dramas, memoirs, criticisms, treatises on some sciences, letters, and an autobiography. A friend to the Duke of Save-Weimar, Goethe went to live in Weimar where he met Charlotte von Stein in 1776. She was an older, married woman but they had an intimate bond which lasted for ten years. Von Stein was a lady-in-waiting at the court in Weimar and a close friend to both Friedrich Schiller and von Goethe, whose work and life were strongly influenced by her. Geothe abruptly abandoned Charlotte without telling her anything and she was heartbroken although they eventually reconciled. This work of 3 volumes is separated into distinct time periods - Vol 1: 1776 - 1780, Vol 2: 1781 - 1784, Vol 3: 175-85 - 1826.
A History of the London Hospital
London: Edward Arnold, 1910. 292 pp. plus index and advertisements. 5 1/2 x 8 1/4". Later Edition. Green cloth over boards with gilt lettering and design on cover and spine, some wear to spine ends and slight corner bumping, front and rear hinges cracked, foxing primarily limited to end papers, frontispiece with tissue guard intact, black and white illustrations, 5 plans from 1752 to 1900s, in very good + condition.
Sir Ernest William Morris CBE (1866 - 1937), served as secretary and house governor of The London Hospital from 1903 - 1930. This detailed history describes the hospital starting from its foundation, the new Whitechapel site, the hospital management, a history of the Jewish wards, the medical school, and the administration of a modern hospital. The illustrations and plans help the reader visualize the hospital even more readily.
Kerr & Co.'s Color List
New York: Kerr & Co., ca 1850. Approximately 4 1/2 x 7". Red cloth over boards, very rubbed and bare in spots, gilt title and design on front cover, blind stamped title and design on back cover, 45 still vibrant colored thread samples, in very good condition.
Thread manufacturer Clark & Co. was formed when J & J Clark & Co. and Kerr & Clark, of Paisley, Scotland, were amalgamated in 1865 as Clark & Co. This likely salesman's sample is scarce, with no copies found on the market or in Worldcat (as of 9/20).
The Pioneer History of Meigs County
Columbus, OH: Berlin Print Co., 1908. Approximately 5 1/2 x 8". Black cloth over boards, gilt lettering on cover and spine although very faded on spine, some ink and wear to front cover, overall edge wear and rubbing, ink writing on front free endpaper, frontispiece, many black and white plates, index, a few notes and fingerprints throughout some foxing, otherwise in very good condition.
Stillman Carter Larkin (1808 - 1891) was a member of the Meigs County Pioneer Society and they worked to collect and keep the history and stories of the early pioneer settlers of Meigs County, Ohio. With an excellent index, you can find biographies, name, photos of graveyards and homesteads, along with fascinating stories of these early settlers.