19th Century and Prior Classics

Memoirs of a Coxcomb – John Cleland – Numbered Limited Hand-Made Paper – 1926

A fine edition by Fortune Press, London 1926. Original quarter mottled calf over marbled papers, gilt titles. Number 389 of a limited 575 copies printed on Verge Montgolfier hand-made paper by Maurice Darantier. Very light rubbing a very good if not fine copy.

John Cleland the author of Fanny Hill, which he wrote in debtors prison. Memoirs of a Coxcomb was first published in 1751 and contains a parody of Mary Wortley Montagu who is famous for her Turkish letters (her description of nudes inspired Ingres in his famous painting of same), spurning Alexander Pope and other “love affairs”.

A witty and complex portrait of aristocratic life in the 18th century through the memoirs of our vain dandy our coxcomb, Sir William Delamore. A sophisticated examination of masculine identity in direct contrast to Fanny Hill.

Coxcomb Memoirs Proudly Presented – beautifully written.

$90.00

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Forbidden Books (Victorian Erotica) – An Old Bibliophile – 1902 Privately Printed 375 Copies.

Notes & Gossip on Tabooed Literature … The Old Bibliophile was John S Farmer. This book published for the author and his friends in Paris 1902.

Limited edition of 375 copies. Small quarto 227 pages khaki marbled paper covered boards vignettes at chapter headings. Very good condition.

Summaries of banned books largely with an erotic content. John Farmer was a brilliant lexicographer and this book is supposedly based on publications by Charles Carrington who was known for his naughtiness.

Rare and naughty from the Old Bibliophile

$140.00

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The Complete Works of Francois Villon – Translated by J.U. Nicolson – Illustrated by Alexander King – Fine First Editions 1928

Superior two volume set published by Covici, New York in May 1928 part of limited set of 960 this copy numbered 427 signed by the translator J.U. Nicolson. Typography by C. McMurtie.

Royal Octavo 809 pages all up after preliminaries. A near fine set rich red cloth covered boards with gilt title to spine and front unmarked, fully protected by complete heavy black dust jackets with a slight edge crease and a small closed tear. Top edge rich gilt very clean internally pages bright as new. Dust jackets nearly always missing with this set. Lovely full page sepia-tone illustrations as frontispiece and throughout the volumes. A heavy set near 3 kgs so may require some extra postage dependent on your location.

The volumes are set out side by side original French and English translation. Villon (1431 to c1463) by far the best-known French poet of the late Middle Ages, a renowned and shady character whose verses chronicle his escapades. He was born in Paris and disappeared from “historical” view in 1463. He had multiple encounters with the law. His real name may have been Francois de Montcorbier or Francois des Loges. Whatever, his nom de plume “Villon”’ appears everywhere in his writing. His work suggests he was born into poverty and raised by a foster father (from whom he adopted the name Villon). He was bright and received qualifications from the University of Paris at an early age. His first real skirmish with the law came in 1455 when he “accidentally” killed a man during a scuffle. He was banished and then pardoned when evidence was produced that the dead party had forgiven him before the lights went out. Shortly afterwards he was involved in a serious robbery and after various complexities was banished and wandered the country supposedly as part of a gang of thieves. In 1461, he spent the “summer” in the Bishop’s prison at Meung-sur-Loire and dodgey things went on from there.

All of this makes for interesting poetic accounts of life as Villon experienced it. Le Testament written in 1461 is regarded as his greatest work, His work is sprinkled with mystery and hidden jokes and include much slang from the underworld he inhabited. His texts include the real names of many influential people of the time … the rich, royal officials, lawyers, police and prostitutes. The most quoted refrain “Mais ou sont les neiges d’antan?” (Where are the snows of yester-year?) comes from the Ballade des dames du temps jadis and has been quoted from Rossetti to the hit TV program Downton Abbey. We cannot write about Villon’s influence in Film, Theatre, Poetry etc. as we would be here all year!

All of Villon in French and English in Fine Presentation.

$180.00

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The Poems of Longfellow

A lovely Modern Library edition. The authoritative introduction has some careful underlining and annotation by a “scholar” (none in the book itself) we like it so we think it is still an attractive offer.

Longfellow and “The Song of Hiawatha”, “Tales of a Wayside Inn”, “Voices of the Night”, “The Seaside and the Fireside” – over 700 pages of the great American poet.

“When thou smilest, my beloved – Then my troubled heart is brightened – As in sunshine gleam the ripples – That the cold wind makes in rivers”

Comprehensive Longfellow

$40.00

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Camille – Alexander Dumas

A nice period Modern Library Edition in very good condition.

A love story but with heartache that is guaranteed to draw a tear. Dumas passion shines through

For romantics

$30.00

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Victorian Fine Binding – Galatea: A Pastoral Romance – Miguel de Cervantes.

A literal translation from the Spanish (the first) by Gordon Willoughby James Gyll. Published by Bell and Dalby, London in 1867.

Originally published in 1588 before the much celebrated Don Quixote. Under the guise of pastoral characters, the book represents and examination of love. This edition 349 pages after preliminaries finely bound in full orange morocco, inner gilt dentelle with marbled endpapers by respected London Bookbinder of the period – Jeremiah Larkins. A very fine copy. A lovely gift.

About the bookbinder

Jeremiah Larkins (1833-1907) was of Irish descent. He became a bookbinder at the age of seventeen and soon had his own business first as a partnership and then under his own name. He married Ann who was described as a book-folder so they must have met through the business. He became highly respected for the quality of his work amongst the London book elite of the Victorian era.

$160.00

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Memoirs of a Coxcomb – John Cleland – Numbered Limited Hand-Made Paper – 1926

Forbidden Books (Victorian Erotica) – An Old Bibliophile – 1902 Privately Printed 375 Copies.

The Complete Works of Francois Villon – Translated by J.U. Nicolson – Illustrated by Alexander King – Fine First Editions 1928

The Poems of Longfellow

Camille – Alexander Dumas

Victorian Fine Binding – Galatea: A Pastoral Romance – Miguel de Cervantes.

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