20th Century Classics

The Tailor of Panama – John Le Carre – First edition

A very good copy of the first Australian edition published by Hodder in 1996.

Octavo, 336 pages in very good condition very good dust jacket.

Le Carre’s amusing entertainment set in Panama and a homage to Graham Greene and his equally brilliant Our Man in Havana. The tailor experiences all sorts of difficulties … personal, financial and professional … he is a fine hand with the scissors.

Panama when it was edgy first time round … a long way from Savile Row.

$40.00

Updating cart…

The Grand Adventure Book for Boys – 1931

No publication date but a nice prize inscription of 1931 so we can be pretty confident that that is the year. Published by Thomas Nelson, London etc as part of their “Jolly Bookshelf” series.

Largish format with the striking pictorial cover which continues on to the spine. 96 pages of thoroughly jolly stories … the magic Matchbox; Billy’s Story; Mizuna the Witch; How Howard Slew the Bear … our favourite – the Wreck of the Pirate Ship. Nice full-page illustrations in colour. Thick spongy paper, nice font, the tiniest bit of foxing due to the paper type, Generally, a super copy.

Some good old jolliness for boys … The Art Deco design of the hunted Leopard to the front is worth a million dollars.

$40.00

Updating cart…

Bad Girl – Vina Delmar – 1929

A 1929 edition of this popular novel having been printed a number of times since its issue the previous year. Published by Grosset and Dunlap, New York. Octavo, 275 pages, art deco dust jacket designed by Arthur Hawkins. A very good if not better copy.

A story about New York and a young couple, Dot was from the Bronx and Eddie from Harlem. A book about first relationships in a thoroughly American 1920’s setting. She’s not at all bad by any standards – unusual title?

Deco era novel set in New York – would make a lovely gift

$40.00

Updating cart…

The Ballad of Reading Gaol – Oscar Wilde [John Vassos Illustrated Edition First of Type - Special] – Published by Dutton New York 1930

Oscar Wilde was convicted of gross indecency in 1895 and spent two years in Reading jail in England. He was released in May 1897 and went into self exile in Berneval-le-Grand, France where he wrote this work the Ballad of Reading Gaol.

It was first published in 1898 and re-issued many times and still in print today. This edition is something special.

Published by Dutton, New York, 1930, a first of type. Quarto, 124 pages, with 16 striking monochrome plates by John Vassos (1898-1985). Vassos had designed promotional material for the Oscar Wild play “Salome” and had been spotted by Dutton who brought him in to add his special touch to the Ballad.

Black over blue papered boards, scarce dust jacket in black and gold. A very good copy.

Oscar Wilde – Ballad of Reading Gaol – Striking Presentation.

$290.00

Updating cart…

Daphnis et Chloe By Longus with aquarelles by G. P. Jornard – Surely the world’s prettiest book

Published on the Champs-Elysees, Paris in the 1920’s by Editions Nilsson.

This superb book contains six mounted watercolours (aquarelles) that match the quality of the watercolour adorning this beautiful onion skin paper front cover.

Small quarto, 154 pages. This book often found as effectively a soft cover – this copy hard bound, pretty basic half red cloth over brown papered boards, top edge gilt. Whilst we say basic it’s done a good job in protecting the aquarelles … the odd bit of spotting in the text. Overall, a very worthwhile copy.

A Greek pastoral novel written by Longus during the second century AD. Based on the island of Lesbos a young couple having been brought up adopted by a goat herder and a shepherd respectively having been abandoned at birth eventually find love. It was a difficult road but it ends well.

The artist was Germaine Paule Jounard, she was a highly respected artist of the period and completed many illustrations particularly for the frencg fashion industry at the time.

What better romantic gift than this

French 1920’s with beauty and style

$190.00

Updating cart…

Summer Storm – Frank Swinnerton – First Edition 1926

1926 First US Edition in very good condition. Published by George Doran, New York. Octavo, 341 pages, complete decorative dust jacket.

Frank Swinnerton (1884-1882) nearly made the century and was a prolific writer with over 50 novels. He was a contemporary of Wells, Bennett et al. His first real job was as a receptionist at Dent publishers, London .. and it all went from there. Later he supplemented his income with editorial work and worked with/on Aldous Huxley.

Summer Storm is a swift dramatic story about two young women in the summertime of their lives. A story about growing up. Swinnerton detested false overblown language which makes this book all the more readable and maybe unlike its period.

1926 First Edition in gift worthy condition

$60.00

Updating cart…

The Tailor of Panama – John Le Carre – First edition

The Grand Adventure Book for Boys – 1931

Bad Girl – Vina Delmar – 1929

The Ballad of Reading Gaol – Oscar Wilde [John Vassos Illustrated Edition First of Type - Special] – Published by Dutton New York 1930

Daphnis et Chloe By Longus with aquarelles by G. P. Jornard – Surely the world’s prettiest book

Summer Storm – Frank Swinnerton – First Edition 1926

Product Categories