Hardcover
Licence Renewed
London: Jonathan Cape, 1981. Approximately 5 1/4 x 8". Pictorial jacket is in near fine condition, with only a tiny bit of wear at the bottom of the spine, not price-clipped. Black cloth over boards with crisp gilt lettering on spine, slight bumping to spine bottom, some slight foxing to page edges, otherwise in near-fine condition. Overall, a lovely copy of this first edition of the first James Bond continuation novel by John Gardner.
John Edmund Gardner (1926 - 2007), was a British novelist who not only wrote fourteen original James Bond novels, but also wrote the novel versions of two Bond films. The exciting plot of this book, from the jacket, involves the deranged Dr. Anton Murik, a terrorist named Franco, and a beautiful woman, of course, named Lavender Peacock.
Little Tales (4 volumes)
Guben & London: F. Fechner and A. & Joseph Myers & Co., [ca. 1861]. Approximately 2 x 3 1/4". Later printing. Four little volumes, each with a unique decorated cover which includes a textured piece of fake greenery pasted down, all four have a previous owner's name in ink on front free endpaper, all have some moderate wear, all have a beautiful colored frontispiece illustration and 3 of the volumes have another illustrated plate, in very good condition. (Welsh 2800, Spielman 152)
These miniature books were most likely printed in Germany for the English juvenile market. According to Spielman, Fenelon (1651 - 1715) was a famous French ecclesiastic who tutored Louis XIV's grandson, the Duke of Burgundy. It is no surprise then, that these little tales are moral and religious teachable moments for young children. The illustrations have "quite exceptional charm" and are beautifully colored.
Little Tree
Dallas, TX: Aredian Press, 2022. Approximately 2 x 3". LIMITED EDITION of 10 copies, this being #6. Design binding by Patrice Miller of Aredian Press, red and gold patterned paper over boards with paper label on removable band, red felt spine, book is not rectangular - rather top right edge is slanted in, Christmas tree inside opens up, poem inside enclosed in its own little section, signed and numbered by the publisher on the colophon, in fine condition.
Lovely poem by e.e. cummings (1894 - 1962) about how cherished a Christmas tree is. Patrice Miller's work has found its way to private and university collections, in the states and abroad. Human foibles, nature’s panoply, and artistic cleverness cannot help but inform future work. She continues to bind, and rebind, in Dallas, Texas.
Lives of the Hunted, Containing a True Account of the Doings of Five Quadrupeds & Three Birds, and, in the Elucidation of the same, Over 200 Drawings.
(New York): Charles Scribner's Sons, 1901. 360 pp. Approximately 5 1/2 x 8 1/2". Olive green boards, gilt-stamped and decorated title in gilt on cover and spine, stated 1st Impression, October 12, 1901, many illustrated pages and several full-page pictures, deckle edges, spine slightly faded, in near fine condition. No dust jacket.
A charming book that portrays legends and stories of various animals. These include Krag, the Kootenay Ram; A Street Troubadour: Being the Adventures of a Cock Sparrow; Johnny Bear; The Mother Teal and the Overland Route; Chink: The Development of a Pup; The Kangaroo Rat; Tito: The Story of the Coyote that Learned how; and Why the Chickadee Goes Crazy Once a Year.
London Almanack for the Year of Christ 1818
(London): (Printed for the Company of Stationers), 1818. Unpaginated. Approximately 1 1/4 x 2 1/4". Original red morocco slipcase with onlays in cream and green, gilt-tooled throughout, in fine condition; Pink outer wraps, most likely replacing a cover that usually matched the slipcase, first page called "Common Notes", all edges gilt, a good copy.
These miniature booklets have been published from the late 17th century until the Victorian era, and give monthly information for eclipses, phases of the moon, saints days, as well as lists of Royals and Lord Mayors, bank transfer days and other banking rates. In this copy, there is a folding view of the Royal Dramatic College.
London Almanack for the Year of Christ 1868
(London): (Printed for the Company of Stationers), (1867). Unpaginated. Approximately 1 1/2 x 2 1/4". Original red morocco with onlays in cream and green, gilt-tooled throughout, some parts of covers and spine missing, all edges gilt, gift inscription on rear endpaper, matching slipcase partly faded and a few chips to edges, else a very good copy.
These miniature booklets have been published from the late 17th century until the Victorian era, and give monthly information for eclipses, phases of the moon, saints days, as well as lists of Royals and Lord Mayors, bank transfer days and other banking rates. In this copy, there is a folding view of the Royal Dramatic College.
London in Miniature. With Engravings of its Public Buildings and Antiquities, from Drawings by Alfred Mills
London: Darton, Harvey, & Darton, and J. Harris, 1814. 96 pp. 2-1/2 x 2-3/8". 47 plates. Original printed pink boards, worn and lightly toned, interior bright with only occasional minor soil. Welsh and Bondy describe this as having 48 plates, but records in OCLC and elsewhere indicate that it is complete in 47 plates. In Very Good condition. (Welsh 4988; Bondy 65)
One of a series of titles illustrated with engravings of drawings by Alfred Mills, and issued in either these slightly cheaper boards or in roan. Includes brief introductions and detailed engravings for many major landmarks, including London Bridge, the Monument, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Royal Academy, the Admiralty, etc., as well as Whittington's and Oliver Cromwell's houses.
Love, 1 Corinthians: 13
Santa Cruz, CA: Peter Thomas, 1989. (14) pp. accordion fold. Approximately 15/16 x 13/16", oblong. LIMITED EDITION of 200 copies, this being #A/P. (32 printed on parchment and bound with wodden boards). Printed paper over boards, letterpress on handmade paper, in fine condition. (Bradbury, Peter & Donna Thomas, 29; P&D Thomas Bibliography A57)
A lovely microminiature book that was created by Peter for his wife, Donna's birthday. The text is about what love should be and is a lovely accolade to Donna. The book was inspired by Ian MacDonald of the Gleniffer Press who had previously held the Guiness Boolk of World Records for the world's smallest book for many years.
Medea: Freely adapted from the Medea of Euripides
New York: Random House, 1946. 107 pp. Approximately 6 x 9 1/2". First Edition, first printing. Dust jacket has some darkening to the spine and sun fading on both covers, some chipped and rough edges with a missing small piece at the top of the spine, otherwise in very good condition; Orange paper over black cloth boards,copper lettering crisp on spine, Paul Elder & Co. Bookstore label on rear pastedown endpaper, first printing indicated by the missing word "least" on line 21 of p. 99, in near fine condition.
Medea is a Greek play by Euripides (first produced in 431 BC) that poet Robinson Jeffers has modernized. For instance, he replaces the Greek chorus by three women who represent women in their youth, middle age, and elder years. The play centers around a deeply flawed but strong and powerful heroine with themes of racism, sexism, political power, and justice. Robinson Jeffers (1887 - 1962) was an American poet best known for his work about the central California coast.
Medieval Labours
Sorbie, Scotland: Final Score, 2007. Approx. 2 x 2 5/8". LIMITED EDITION of 25 copies, this being #3. Brown cloth over boards with gilt-bordered paste-down label on cover, each copy individually illustrated using egg tempura paint on vellum with gold, signed on the colophon by both authors, in fine condition.
This beautiful book contains 13 illuminated illustrations accompanying each month of the year plus the title page. The text describes the work to be completed for each month in medieval times. For example, January described bread baking with a medieval recipe, while June talks of estate management. Only one OCLC holding at this time, from the collection of Muriel Underwood - a US Marine, member of the Caxton Club, longtime member of the Miniature Book Society and miniature book publisher herself.