Chelsea Rare Book Fair. 3-4 November 2023

A LITTLE LIST WITH SOME NEW THINGS FOR THE KING’S ROAD

Jonas Hanway’s first binder 1.

Order of the Bath. Statutes of the most honourable Order of the Bath.

London n.p. 1725 [1727] 4to. 225x168mm. pp. viii, 67, [1bl].

With a new statute dated 20th April 1727. Beautifully bound in near contemporary red morocco, gilt.

Upper and lower covers with a border of dotted lines and a single fillet framing a border of rococo curlicues and five different fan and petal motifs. Inside this is a pattern of fine interlinked waves and between them a flower motif crowned by a bird with outstretched wings (looking not unlike a phoenix). At the inner corners are flowers and ribbons. Spine with five raised bands, compartments decorated in gilt. Turn ins decorated with a hatched pattern in gilt, marbled endpapers. All edges gilt.

Plaited ribbon bookmark. Front pastedown has armorial bookplate of E.G.Fanshawe. Internally very good although there is some foxing, heavy in a few places.

A very smart binding almost certainly made for an aristocratic client, particularly given the subject matter: the Order of the Bath was a British order of chivalry founded by George I in 1725, the first recipients of which were almost exclusively peers, and especially those useful to Robert Walpole for whom the Order was an additional means of shoring up and extending his power. The bird atop a flower is found on two bindings at the BL made for George II or Queen Caroline (shelfmark 223i1) and George III (shelfmark 58c6). The absence of a coat of arms makes a provenance difficult to prove but, as George II’s youngest son Prince William Augustus was one of the Founder Knights of the Order of the Bath, it could be that the binding was done for him. The BL does not identify the binder. However, the bird motif is also found on a binding attributed to Jonas Hanway’s first binder (see Maggs’s Catalogue 1212 Part One, Bookbinding in the British Isles, p208, item 121) dated 1757. Hanway, a successful merchant, an enthusiastic philanthropist and the first man to carry an umbrella in London, presented handsomely bound books to his patrons including George III. Major Abbey noted that Hanway used two binders with the change coming around 1765. We would therefore date this handsome binding to the 1750s or early 1760s, tentatively propose an attribution to Hanway’s first binder and, as tentatively, suggest a presentation from Hanway to an aristocratic or even a Royal patron who was a Knight of the Order of the Bath.

ESTC: N22384 [4057]

£1,750

Blood-sucking aristocrats 2.

[POLIDORI, John]. The Vampyre.

London: Printed for Sherwood, Neely, and Jones. 1819 First edition, third issue. 8vo, 204x132mm. pp, iii-xxv [i.bl] (lacking half-title), [27]-84.

Recently rebound in tan half calf, marbled paper covered boards, flat spine ruled in gilt and with red morocco label lettered in gilt.

Slight marking to title page and a little spotting and foxing elsewhere but overall a very nice copy of this celebrated begetter of an entire genre.

All the conventions of vampire fiction beautiful young women, callow young men and parasitic, blood-sucking aristocrats - owe their existence to this book. The origins of the The Vampyre are well known as is its initial attribution to Byron, whose doctor Polidori was. While Polidori was gracious enough to acknowledge Byron’s inspiration he was keen that the public recognise that “the development [of the tale] is mine”. Later printings include Polidori’s name on the title page but early ones such as this third issue, set in twenty three lines and with “lmost” in the last line of p.36, are silent on the matter of authorship thus adding to the atmosphere of vampiric mystery.

[4074]

£3,750

from item 3 below

The Power of Music with some fine engravings attached 3.

BICKHAM Jr., George. The Musical Entertainer.

London: Printed for & sold by Charles Corbett. [c.1740]

Two volumes bound in one. Folio. 365x235mm. ll. [2], 100; [2], 100. Twentieth century crimson morocco. Upper and lower covers with roll-tooled border in gilt and panels and lozenges in gilt to centre. Spine with five raised bands, compartments decorated with a geometric design and Tudor roses, second compartment lettered in gilt. Gilt turn ins, all edges gilt. Front pastedown has the burgundy morocco bookplate of W.A.Foyle of Beeleigh Abbey. Engraved title pages to both volumes and each of the 200 leaves of music has a vignette at the head engraved by George Bickham which seeks to capture the subject matter or the spirit of the song. Table of contents of volume one has been repaired and reattached. Repaired closed tear to bottom edge of leaf 35 of volume one. Fore-edge of leaf 56 of volume one has been repaired and the paper used for the repair is discoloured. Repair to bottom outer corner of title page of volume two, not affecting the engraving. Some soiling and spotting but overall a very nice copy of this collection of 175 songs which includes music by Handel, Purcell, although most of the songs are light affairs as well as some folk and hunting songs. But it is Bickham’s wonderfully atmospheric engravings, full of life and detail, many framed with elaborate rococo cartouches that are the main attraction.

[4075]

£5,750

A pretty little French Psalter 4.

Les Psaumes de David mis en vers, revus et approuvés. Nouvelle edition, où la musique est très exactement corrigée.

Lausanne Chez Henri Vincent 1825 12mo. 145x90mm. pp672. Prettily bound in red morocco, gilt decorative border to upper and lower covers, spine decorated in gilt with harp motif and neo-classical designs and lettered in gilt.

All edges gilt, marbled endpapers. Blank preliminary page has the ownership inscription “S. Mayor née Von dem Bruch. a Gordanne par Allaman”. This inscription is repeated on the title page next to the printer’s device. Some very slight rubbing to the corners, to the top edge of the lower cover and to the head and foot of the joints but in excellent condition. Internally near fine, with a little browning. This is a very attractive little book of Psalms with additional Canticles and Prayers in a handsome contemporary binding.

[4077]

£395

Where have all the flowers gone?

5.

ANONYMOUS. Herbier Medicinal. n.p. late 18th-early 19th century Folio. 440x290mm. 337 leaves with a total of 201 specimens of dried, preserved plants fixed onto 178 leaves with the remaining leaves blank to provide protection. The specimens are fixed with thin paper strips and accompanied by small handwritten labels giving the name of the plant in Latin and French.

Green vellum covered boards, decorated with a gilt panel on upper and lower covers. Red morocco label to spine, lettered in gilt. Apart from a small worm track between leaves 284 and 320, the album is in very good condition throughout and the dried plants beautifully preserved.

[4076]

£2,500

The first complete edition of the earliest Linnean study of Indian plants 6.

ROXBURGH, William. Flora Indica; or, Descriptions of Indian Plants Serampore: Printed for W. Thacker and Co. Calcutta, and Parbury, Allen and Co. London 1832 First complete edition. Three volumes. 8vo. 218x130mm. pp. [vi], 741 [1bl]; [vi], 691 [1bl]; viii, 875 [1bl]. Lacking half-title to volume one. Green half morocco, purple cloth, spines with four raised bands, decorated in gilt to the bands, lettered in gilt.

Corners slightly rubbed and bumped, rubbing to head and foot of spines and some marking and slight scuffing to spines but otherwise very good. Internally excellent save for a repaired tear and a closed tear to 3S2 of volume II. All three volumes have neat marginal annotations in pencil and black ink.

Volumes II and III have ownership inscription of “J.M.Moyle (?) Esq. 26 Dec 1842. Liverpool”.

William Roxburgh (1751-1815) went to India in 1776 and remained there (save for two brief breaks) until forced to leave in 1813 for the sake of his health. For twenty years, from 1793, he was the Superintendent of the Botanic Garden in Calcutta.

During these years, he wrote descriptions of about 2,600 species of plants. Part of Roxburgh’s vast manuscript was issued in two volumes of 1820 and 1824 but it was not until 1832 that his work was published in full. As soon as it appeared, the importance of Flora Indica was recognised. A work on Indian plants of 1834 noted: “Dr William Roxburgh was the first to describe fully, accurately, and reduce to the form of a Flora, according to the Linnean system, the riches of the East...”. Roxburgh also ensured that all the plants described by him were drawn. There are 2,500 illustrations and had there been space in the book, they would have appeared alongside Roxburgh’s text. It is a pity that they do not but Roxburgh’s brilliant, detailed and lively descriptions are a treat in themselves. Rare in commerce, only one copy appearing at auction in the last ninety years, this is a very nice example of an important book.

[4079]

£750

From item 5

Wild Thing 7.

[SMOLLETT, Tobias George] The Adventures of Roderick Random In Two Volumes London: Printed for J. Osborn. 1748 First edition. 12mo. 163x95mm. pp. xxiii, [1], 324; xii, 366.

Variant with I9 of volume one as a cancel omitting “Locke” and with the direction line “Vol. 1” but with p182 signed 1 (not P) so it seems to be a combination of the two first edition variants noted in ESTC. Nineteenth century speckled calf, French fillet border to upper and lower covers. Spine with five raised bands, compartments decorated in gilt, red and green morocco labels, lettered in gilt. Turn-ins decorated in gilt, marbled endpapers. All edges coloured yellow. Front pastedowns have booklabel of Christopher Clark Geest and Winston H. Hagen. Chipping to head of spine of volume one, some very slight scuffing to boards and spine but otherwise an attractive binding in excellent condition. Internally very good with some annotations and corrections in black ink and the bottom edge of G4 of volume two has been repaired. Overall a very nice copy of the first edition of Smollett’s famously raucous picaresque novel.

[4065]

£650

Cock and Bull 8.

STERNE, Laurence The Works of Laurence Stern London n.p. 1769 First collected edition and third edition of Tristram Shandy. Five volumes. 12mo in 6s. 171x100mm. pp.

347 [1bl]; 333 [1bl]; 275 [1bl]; 286; 150, [151-153], cliv-clxvi, [167], 168-306. Volumes 1 and 2 are the third edition of Tristram Shandy, Volumes 3 and 4 are the Sermons and Volume 5, The Sentimental Journey and A Political Romance. A piece of marbled paper is pasted onto volume 1, p232. Volumes 1 and 2 lack the half titles reading “The Works of Laurence Stern A.M.” but have the “Tristram Shandy” title pages.

Lacking divisional titles to parts II and V of Tristram Shandy and the date and volume number of the divisional title to part VIII has been neatly clipped.

First volume of Tristram Shandy has the engraved frontispiece portrait of Sterne. Bound in contemporary calf, spines with five raised bands, compartments decorated in gilt, morocco label to second compartment lettered “Stern” in gilt. Edges sprinkled red.Volumes 1-4 have the book label of Christopher Clark Geest. Save for some light shelfwear, all five volumes are in very good condition and internally excellent. A smart set published the year after Sterne’s death. ESTC: T14715 [4047]

£475

“a beautiful puzzle” 9.

NABOKOV, Vladimir. Lolita Paris: The Olympia Press. 1955 First edition, first issue with the price “Francs: 900” on the lower cover. Two volumes. 179x111mm. pp.

188, [2]; 223, [1]. First volume mispaginated (as issued) so that pp.11/12 appear to be absent but pagination is complete. Original green and white wrappers lettered in black. Spines creased and some wear to head and foot of spine. A scratch mark to upper cover of volume two and some scuffing to joint with upper cover. Slight creasing to corners.

Some soiling to edges, stain to bottom corner of pp.

153-175 of volume one, not affecting the text.

Overall a good copy of one of the great, albeit most controversial, novels of the twentieth century. One reviewer described it as “the filthiest book I have ever read” while Nabokov himself argued for it as “a serious work of art”. But of course the two positions are not mutually exclusive.

[4080]

£1,500

Inscribed by the author 10.

[HUGHES, Thomas] Tom Brown's School Days. By an Old Boy. and; Tom Brown at Oxford.

London: Macmillan and Co. 1882 and 1883 Two volumes. 8vo.

(187x121mm). pp. xx, [2], 376, [4pp adverts]; xii, [2], 546, [2pp adverts]. Seven engraved plates in each volume. Brown cloth decorated with two bands of leaf and flower motifs with gilt borders to upper cover and spine with the design continued in blind on the lower cover. Spine lettered in gilt. Corners bumped and a small crease to spine of volume one and a small tear to head of spine of volume two. Foxing to title pages and a tear with loss to foot

of C8 of volume two (not affecting the text) but overall very good copies. The half title in both books is inscribed “J.N.Brocklehurst from the author with all good wishes. April 1883”.

A nice set of the two Tom Brown novels with gift inscriptions from Hughes. Tom Brown’s Schooldays was intended by Hughes to be an exercise in “preaching” rather than an amusing entertainment. Although one tends to remember the cricket matches, the bullying, Tom and Arthur’s touching friendship and the general atmosphere of life at Rugby, it was the muscular Christianity and ethical probity that appealed to many early readers. Although Tom Brown at Oxford was less popular than its predecessor, it is regarded as one of the best and most accurate fictional portrayals of life at an English university in the mid-nineteenth century.

[4048]

£1,650

"this triune person of mystery, poet, lover, theologian, and mystic."

11.

MORGAN, Evan. Some Aspects of Mysticism in Verse. John Donne - Lover and Priest.

Two lectures by Evan Morgan Delivered before the Royal Society of Literature on November 28th 1928, and October 29th, 1935.

London: Adlard and Son. n.d. [1936] [2], 65 [1bl]. Black paper wrappers, upper cover lettered in gold with the figure of an angel carrying a cross printed below the title. Tear to bottom right corner of upper cover and first 14 pages of the book with some some loss (but not affecting the text) and some small closed tears and chips to edges of wrappers but overall in very good condition. A rare book, nine recorded

by Worldcat and none appearing at auction. The first lecture was published initially in 1930 but the present book appears to be the first printing of the second lecture and the first (and only) edition of the two lectures together.

Evan Morgan (2nd Viscount Tredegar) was a Bright Young Thing, a poet, a Roman Catholic convert and an enthusiastic occultist - Aleister Crowley gave him the title “Adept of Adepts”.

Morgan was also devoted to John Donne whom he described as "this triune person of mystery, poet, lover, theologian, and mystic." Regarding himself as Donne’s representative on earth, the eccentric and brilliant Morgan was probably better qualified than anyone to discuss not only Donne’s poetry but the subject of mysticism more broadly. A fascinating little work.

[4016]

£75

Annotated by the author for a never-to-be second edition 12.

BROOK, Nelsie [Ellen Edith Alice Ross]. Gertrude Winn: or, Our Nation's Curse: How it works in Homes. A Story from Real Life.

London: William Tweedie. 1863 The author’s own annotated copy. 8vo. 161x103mm. pp. [4], 295 [1bl]. Publisher’s maroon cloth, tooled in blind to covers and foot of spine which is also decorated and lettered in gilt. Corners rubbed, marking and staining to upper cover, head and foot of spine bumped. Waterstain to front endpapers but otherwise very good. The front free endpaper has the ownership inscription “Ellen Ross. April 2 1870”. Ellen Ross is the true name of Nelsie Brook and this copy is extensively and heavily annotated throughout mostly in black ink but with the occasional mark in blue crayon and pencil. Given that seven years had elapsed between this first (and apparently only) edition of Gertrude Winn and the author’s recording of her ownership, we assume that the amendments were intended for a, never-to-be-published, second edition. Interesting though annotated copies always are, a cursory glance at Nelsie’s sentimental and schlocky prose confirms that the publisher was right to resist a revised edition of this hackneyed tale of the evils of the bottle.

[4044]

£350

A collection of signed works by P.C.Wren 13.

WREN, Percival Christopher Dew and Mildew. Semidetached stories from Karabad, India. London: Longmans, Green and Co. 1912 Presentation copy. First edition. 8vo. 192x130mm. pp. viii, 424. Original green cloth, title and author stamped in dark green on upper cover, lettered in gilt to spine. Minor shelfwear and very slight rubbing to joints. Foxing, heavy at the beginning and end but otherwise in very good condition. Front free endpaper is inscribed: “To Miss L.E.Shovelier from her respectful adviser, brother-in-law, & guide, the Author P.Wren.

May 1914”.

Dew and Mildew is Wren first work of fiction, a collection of linked but separate short stories (hence semi-detached) of the supernatural at the heart of which is a haunted bungalow by the alarming name of Sudden-Death Lodge.

[4045]

£475

14.

WREN, Percival Christopher Snake and Sword. A Novel.

London: Longmans, Green and Co. 1914 First edition. 8vo. 193x130mm. pp. [8 including 2pp adverts], 342. Original green cloth, title and author stamped in dark green on upper cover, lettered in gilt to spine. Minor shelfwear and tiny tear to head of spine. Foxing, heavy at the beginning and end but otherwise a very good copy of an early work by Wren and his first full length work of fiction .

Inscribed on the front free endpaper. “To my beloved sisterin-law Louisa E. Shovelier. P.Wren. May 1914”.

[4049]

15.

£350

WREN, Percival Christopher Explosion.

London: John Murray 1935 First edition. Signed by Wren and with his bookplate. 8vo. 187x120mm. pp. 464, [4pp publisher’s list]. Original red cloth lettered in gilt to upper cover and spine. Lacking the scarce dust jacket but the striking front cover of this has been pasted onto the front free endpaper. Fading and soiling to spine and some slight foxing but otherwise in excellent condition throughout. Front pastedown has the armorial bookplate of Wren which is signed by the author. The title page is stamped with the name “F.N.Ablewhite”. Wren’s purpose in this colonial adventure novel can perhaps be best summed up by reference to its dedication to the “Friends of India, the real India of three hundred million unrepresented peasants, whose sole “political aspirations” are that the peace, the security, the justice, and the protection provided by the British Raj may for ever remain to them undisturbed, unweakened and unchanged”.

[4067]

£350

16.

WREN, Percival Christopher Beau Geste.

London: John Murray. 1927 Edition de Luxe. Limited to 1000 copies of which this is number 359, signed by Wren.

223x155mm. pp. [12], 579 [1bl], [4]. Twenty illustrations (four in colour) by Helen McKie. Original blue cloth, backed with red cloth, paper label lettered in blue to spine. Lacking dustjacket. Some slight soiling to covers and foxing to fore-edge but otherwise a very good copy in excellent condition. Wren’s most famous book, charmingly illustrated and complete with “The Song of the Legion” used as the March Theme from the film.

[4068]

£350