Books
Eliot, T.S. Prufrock and Other Observations
28-04-24
Eliot, T.S. Prufrock and Other Observations & two typed letters signed by Eliot
London: The Egoist LTD (Oakley House, Bloomsbury Street), 1917. First Edition, First Printing. One of only 500 copies. In fine condition in fine original wrappers, which are protected by a glassine wrapper that was probably added later on. Brentano’s Bookseller label at the bottom of the inside of the rear wrapper, some light browning of the paper, but no inscriptions or flaws whatsoever, a split to the spine and weak inner hinges, but still a most beautiful, spectacular, unrestored copy of one of the most fragile books – nowadays it is called a pamphlet – of one of the milestones of Modernism. Housed in a custom clamshell box.
There has been a remarkable change in collectors’ appreciation of this book over the last 30 years: in the 90s you could get one of the 1’000 copies of The Waste Land in fine condition and fine dustwrapper for less than the price of a Prufrock. Nowadays, the price of The Waste Land has skyrocketed, while Prufrock’s has remained stable. Still, we would always prefer Prufrock. It has so many wonderfully memorable lines and worked its way into popular culture much more than The Waste Land.
This copy is accompanied by two typed letters signed by Eliot. Though they are not directly related to the book, they enhance the value of this copy to a great extent since they feature Eliot’s later role as an editor at Faber’s and his affinity to the French (Prufrock is dedicated to “Jean Vernal – 1989-1915” and contains a poem with the French title “Conversation Gallante”):
1. Faber and Faber, London, 13th of October 1943. One page, approximately 350 words, to the art scholar Hartley Ramsden explaining at some length a delay in the publication of her essay, apparently in an anthology: “I have your letter of the 5th October and am distressed to learn the facts which you set before me. […] The delay is entirely due to circumstances arising out of the war. The available printers have limited resources and we have to have those books printed first which are needed first, and after printing there are often similar delays owing to the difficulties of the binders.” The book which took precedence was Education through Art by Herbert Read, with whom Ramsden had been at handbags drawn the previous year in the pages of Cyril Connolly’s Horizon magazine. Folded twice for mailing else in nice condition.
2. Written in Eliot’s capacity as President of the Fédération Britannique des Comités de l’Alliance Française (and on their letterhead which I have not seen Eliot use before), 21st of October 1953. One page, approximately 100 words, to the historian Sir John Pollock: “I have read your letter [...] with much regret, and I know that my feelings will be shared by the other members of the Council. I must submit your letter for their consideration at our next meeting, and will convey their response to you in due course. I must say, however, that your scruples about replying to notices of meetings, and your compunction at having failed to answer owing to your absences abroad, seemed to me exaggerated, and I am sure that our colleagues will agree with me in deprecating your emphasis on this point.” Folded twice for mailing, short closed tear to left margin else in nice condition.
Price: CHF 45’000
Four rare and beautiful James Bond novels by Ian Fleming
04-04-24
Fleming, Ian
1. Casino Royale. London: Jonathan Cape, 1953. First Edition, First Printing. A near fine copy in a near fine second issue dustwrapper (with Christopher Pym's review in the Sunday Times over-printed on front flap and "The Author" on the rear panel). A most collectable copy of this scarce title: no inscriptions or flaws, book and dustwrapper completely original, never ever having been touched by any restorer. Compared to the copies that have been on the market since 2015, this is one of the really desirable ones. Only 4728 copies (plus a few proofs and review ones) of the first edition were printed, 2400 of which came with the second state dustwrapper. Sadly, most collections of James Bond novels in first editions, first printings lack Casino Royale since its initial print-run was pretty low, sold out very fast and a considerable number of the very first edition went to libraries.
CHF 18’500
2. Goldfinger. London: Jonathan Cape, 1959. First Edition, First Printing. A near fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper which is darkened on the spine as usual.
CHF 1’800
3. Thunderball. London: Jonathan Cape, 1961. First Edition, First Printing. A near fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper which is darkened on the spine as usual.
CHF 800
4. The Spy Who Loved Me. London: Jonathan Cape, 1962. First Edition, First Printing. A near fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper which is darkened on the spine as usual.
CHF 500
Salman Rushdie – Midnight’s Children – Uncorrected UK Proof Copy signed by the author
11-01-24
London: Jonathan Cape, 1980. First Edition, First Printing. An almost near fine unread copy of the very rare and fragile uncorrected English proof, signed by Salman Rushdie on the title page. It is faded on the spine and there is some light discoloration of the edges. The English proof copy of Midnight’s Children is exceedingly scarce, much more so than the American one. Over the last thirty-five years we have now had five copies, including this one, and have established that in same time-span not more than around ten to fifteen (at the most) copies have been on offer. The book itself differs from the first English edition printed in the US in that it has an earlier copyright date (1980 and not 1981), was printed in England, has cut edges, is a different format (61/8 by 83/8 inches or 15.6 by 21.2 centimetres), has a different pagination 442 instead of 446 pages (this is because the recto and verso of the title pages of Book Two and Book Three – though present in the proof – were not paginated), does not have any page numbers for the individual chapters on the Contents page and the title page is printed in larger type. We have checked the first 40 pages for differences to the first published version and there are several. In short, this is a rare opportunity to buy a near fine copy of the earliest available state of the complete Midnight’s Children. Sold.
Kavanagh, Patrick - Collected Poems (signed limited edition)
07-06-23
London: MacGibbon & Kee, 1964. First Edition, First Printing. A near fine copy in the original near fine matching slip case. No. 10 of 100 copies signed by the author. The book appears unread and is in fine condition, but the green leather on the spine over the pink boards is slightly scratched, an issue that seeems common with this title. Really scarce: only very few books signed by Patrick Kavanagh have ever appeared on the market, and this item certainly the highlight of them all. Sold
Ian Fleming - Dr. No
05-11-22
London: Jonathan Cape, 1958. First Edition, First Printing. Top edges of the original black boards bumped, some minor spotting and foxing around the edges, else near fine with the spine lettered in silver and the brown “Honeychile” silhouette on the front. The first state dustwrapper (the author’s name in black on the spine) with some minor chips around the folding edges, but still near fine. Inscribed on the verso of the title page: “For James / from / Ian Fleming." Sadly, though, we have been told and have had to accept that this inscription is probably not genuine. However, it still is a very collectable edition of this book. From the library of Christian Heuer with his Ex Libris on the front past-down. CHF 1'100
James Joyce - Dubliners - First Edition 1914
26-12-20
James Joyce – Dubliners – 1914
London: Grant Richards Ltd., 1914. First Edition, First Printing. A very good to near fine copy. Spine slightly darkened and a few spots on the original binding, else a fine, very clean copy (internally without even the slightest of blemishes), and the gold on the binding still fresh. Despite the few issues, this is a beautiful and completely unrestored copy that you will love to add to your collection, and unlike most copies of Dubliners we have seen over the years, this one does not look like a cow has chewed on it. Also, the price for Dubliners has known only one direction: up – and steeply so.
CHF 24’000
Biblia Parenthetica – 1743
18-04-18
D. Joachim Langen (Herausgeber) – Biblia Parenthetica – 1743
Leipzig: Verlag Johann Friedrich Gleditsch, 1743. Erste Ausgabe, Erster Druck. Folio: Zwei Bände – Altes Testament (I) / Neues Testament (II) – beide im 18. Jahrhundert gebunden in Pergament, welches leicht verfärbt und teilweise eingerissen ist. Band I bis auf die erste leere Seite und den Schmutztitel vollständig (die Reihenfolge der ersten sechs Seiten unterscheidet sich vom Exemplar der Staats- und Universitätsbibliothek Dresden), Band II vollständig. Insgesamt ein sehr schönes Exemplar. CHF 1’500
F. Scott Fitzgerald - The Great Gatsby
07-03-18
F. Scott Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby – 1925
New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1925. First Edition, First Printing (with all the known issue points). Apart from an ownership inscription on the front free endpaper, a near fine copy in a fine facsimile dustwrapper. To many The Great American Novel. Sold
Anamaria Novak - Feuervogel
01-01-18
Anamaria Novak – Feuervogel
Deiningen: Privatdruck, 2017. Erste Ausgabe, Erster Druck. Bei einer Gesamtauflage von 500 Stück ist dies Exemplar 26 der 150 von der Autorin in roter Tinte signierten und nummerierten. CHF 40. (Wir haben auch unsignierte Exemplare zu CHF 20)
Tom Wolfe – The Bonfire of the Vanities
28-04-16
Wolfe, Tom. The Bonfire of the Vanities
New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1987. First Edition, First Printing. Copy Number 216 of 250 signed by the author. A fine copy in a near fine original slipcase. Sold.
Evelyn Waugh – Black Mischief
14-04-16
Waugh, Evelyn. Black Mischief
London: Chapman and Hall, 1932. First Edition, First Printing. Apart from a previous owner’s inscription on the front free endpaper, a near fine copy in a near fine dustwrapper, which has some minor creases along the edges and is slightly discoloured in small places, but is 99% intact. Sold.