20th Century Classics

A Season in Hell – Arthur Rimbaud – special edition – c1930

With and introduction by George Frederick Lees. No date but circa 1930.

Small octavo, 78 pages, dust jacket shelf worn, chipped edges, fading to spine. Title page printed in red and black, limited to 600 copies. Previous ownership details on free end paper, still a pretty good copy of a sought after Rimbaud translation.

Arthur Rimbaud (1854-1891) a unique poet and writer, often described as the ‘Father” of modern poetry. This was his masterpiece. A long prose poem recording his spiritual revolt and struggle. Originally published in 1873.

If you are not familiar with Rimbaud, then you should get to know him. How could someone experience so much so early in life? Set out in nine parts of varying length differing markedly in tone and ease of understanding. Persevere though as here we have a sure piece of genius. At the time of writing Rimbaud had been through a tempestuous homosexual relationship with poet Paul Verlaine. Ending the relationship Verlaine shot Rimbaud and was imprisoned. Rimbaud went to London and took to opium and gin … returning to France to finish and publish A Season in Hell. He never wrote again after the age of twenty years. He then became a merchant and explorer overseas and sadly died of cancer at the age of 37.

Arthur Rimbaud’s Hell – such an influence

$60.00

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War Crimes – Peter Carey – First Edition 1979

A very good copy of the first edition of Peter Carey’s provocative short story collection published by the University of Queensland Press in 1979.

Octavo, 281 pages, with thirteen short stories of varying lengths. Titles include … the Journey of a Lifetime, Fragrance of Roses, Ultra- Violet Light, Exotic Pleasures, The Last Days of a Famous Mime, the title taker war Crimes and our favourite “The Uses of Williamson Wood”. Very good condition accepting ownership signature on end papers.

Peter Carey argued by many as Australia’s best modern era writer. Born in Bacchus Marsh in the 1940’s, living at various placed throughout Australia the New York, London etc. Married a number of times such relationships feeding his unusual story lines. Before becoming a literary success he worked for many years in the advertising industry writing pretty good copy.

To put this issue in perspective … Carey’s fist published work The Fat Man in History had been a roaring success … and this equally delicious collection was published before his first novel.

Carey went on to win the Miles Franklin award three times and is one of only five authors to have won the Booker Prize twice.

A First Edition of Peter Carey’s War Crimes

$80.00

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Bliss – Peter Carey – First Edition 1981

A first edition of Peter Carey’s first novel Bliss published by the University of Queensland Press in 1981. Also published that year by Faber in London and Harper in the New York. Our preferred edition the thoughtful Queensland Press.

Slightly larger octavo, 336 pages, with the unusual silvered dust jacket, just a little age to the top edge otherwise a very good copy.

Peter Carey argued by many as Australia’s best modern era writer. Born in Bacchus Marsh in the 1940’s, living at various placed throughout Australia the New York, London etc. Married a number of times such relationships feeding his unusual story lines. Before becoming a literary success he worked for many years in the advertising industry writing pretty good copy.

Unsurprisingly the protagonist of Bliss was an advertising executive Harry Joy. Harry dies from a heart attack but is brought back to life … as a consequence his view of what went on and what was around him changed. Life was Hell actually and it took meeting Honey to fix that. Bliss was received with great acclaim and won the Miles Franklin Award.

Carey went on to win the Miles Franklin award three times and is one of only five authors to have won the Booker Prize twice.

A First Edition of Peter Carey’s First Novel – the scarce Queensland Edition

$80.00

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The Black Bar – George Manville Fenn

A very nice copy of prolific writer George Manville Fenn’s “The Black Bar” a story of the British ship Nautilus patrolling the coast of West Africa deterring American slave ships.

Published by Sampson Low, London, octavo, 312 pages with the odd illustration. No date, a prize label at front suggests 1930’s – at the rear we have a Jules Verne promotion that suggest before 1928. The prized was given in Battery Point – maybe an indicator as to how long it took books to arrive at these distant parts.

Beautifully written as expected from Fenn. The story not at all uncivilised and a reminder of things that go on in the world – to this day.

The Nautilus off the Coast of Africa doing good work ..

$30.00

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Admiral of the Ocean-Sea (Columbus) – Mary Johnston – 1927

A very good copy of the 1927 edition published by Butterworth, London. Rare with the dust jacket.

A novelisation of the adventures and achievements of Columbus. Octavo, 319 pages, red cloth covered boards protected by a pretty good dust jacket – as we say a scarcity. Double page chart of the voyages near the front. Some age to page edges otherwise super.

The discovery of America funded by Isabella of Spain. Told through the eyes of Jayme de Marchena a common seaman who rises to be ship’s physician and Columbus’s trusted friend and adviser.

Columbus and his adventures and discoveries.

$40.00

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The Amber Spyglass – Philip Pullman – First Edition Signed by the Author

Published by Knopf, New York in 2000. A true first edition, the USA preceding the UK first.

Thick octavo, 518 pages. Super fine condition, signed nicely mid title page above the author’s name.

The third and final book in “His Dark Materials” series which included The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife.

Lyra has been hidden away by her Mother and Will is determined to find her. The pair on a pilgrimage to a realm devoid of all light and hope, embroiled in battles between forces of good and evil – the destiny of the Cosmos is at stake.

Winner of the 2001 Whitbread Book of the Year award and more. Sixth in the Guardian’s best 100 books since 2000.

Special book nicely presented and signed

$90.00

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A Season in Hell – Arthur Rimbaud – special edition – c1930

War Crimes – Peter Carey – First Edition 1979

Bliss – Peter Carey – First Edition 1981

The Black Bar – George Manville Fenn

Admiral of the Ocean-Sea (Columbus) – Mary Johnston – 1927

The Amber Spyglass – Philip Pullman – First Edition Signed by the Author

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