Literature
Crime & Detective
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Spies Espionage James Bond 007
Austen Bronte
Conrad & Kipling
Dickens & Shakespeare
Greene & Orwell
Hemingway & Steinbeck
Maugham & Waugh
Wodehouse
Antiquarian
Modern
American
Poetry
La Divina Commedia -
Dante Alighieri, Henry F. Cary (translator), Sandro Boticelli (illustrator)
1928 - The Nonesuch Press, London - Limited edition of 1475 copies of which this is number 442.
‘Midway upon the journey of our life I found myself in a dark wood, where the right of way was lost.’ – Hell.
‘To run over better waters the little vessel of my genius now hoists her sails, as she leaves behind her a sea so cruel.’ – Purgatory.
‘In the heaven which most of His light I have been, and have seen things which he who descends from there above neither knows how nor has power to recount.’ – Paradise.
A gorgeous large limited edition of this medieval epic, combining Botticelli’s 42 sepia drawings (34 on double sheet, 8 on single sheet) with Dante’s Divina Commedia in both Italian and English. Showing only a modicum of the usual spine fading to which this vellum is notoriously prone, and in the original matching leather trimmed and felt lined slipcase.
Reportedly based on Dante’s experiences during his banishment from Florence, this reinterpretation of Christian themes had a seminal influence on philosophy, literature, and art, inspiring Chaucer, John Milton, Salvadore Dali, and T.S. Eliot, among many others.
‘Dante and Botticelli represented the Florence of two very different generations. No Renaissance artist contemplated the verities of Christianity with a depper faith. Botticelli’s drawings are so much more than a commentary on, or a two-dimensional summation of, the Divina Commedia. They are breathtakingly beautiful. And in realising his project, Botticelli refined his own mysticisim and thus anticipated the intense lyricism of his final years’ – Francis Russell on the 2001 Botticelli exhibition at the Royal Academy (Country Life).
More details
Price HK$ 19,000
1928 - The Nonesuch Press, London - Limited edition of 1475 copies of which this is number 442.
‘Midway upon the journey of our life I found myself in a dark wood, where the right of way was lost.’ – Hell.‘To run over better waters the little vessel of my genius now hoists her sails, as she leaves behind her a sea so cruel.’ – Purgatory.
‘In the heaven which most of His light I have been, and have seen things which he who descends from there above neither knows how nor has power to recount.’ – Paradise.
A gorgeous large limited edition of this medieval epic, combining Botticelli’s 42 sepia drawings (34 on double sheet, 8 on single sheet) with Dante’s Divina Commedia in both Italian and English. Showing only a modicum of the usual spine fading to which this vellum is notoriously prone, and in the original matching leather trimmed and felt lined slipcase.
Reportedly based on Dante’s experiences during his banishment from Florence, this reinterpretation of Christian themes had a seminal influence on philosophy, literature, and art, inspiring Chaucer, John Milton, Salvadore Dali, and T.S. Eliot, among many others.
‘Dante and Botticelli represented the Florence of two very different generations. No Renaissance artist contemplated the verities of Christianity with a depper faith. Botticelli’s drawings are so much more than a commentary on, or a two-dimensional summation of, the Divina Commedia. They are breathtakingly beautiful. And in realising his project, Botticelli refined his own mysticisim and thus anticipated the intense lyricism of his final years’ – Francis Russell on the 2001 Botticelli exhibition at the Royal Academy (Country Life).
More details
Price HK$ 19,000
RESERVED - Quality Street: A Comedy in Four Acts -
J. M. Barrie, Hugh Thomson (illustrator)
1901 - Hodder & Stoughton, London - Number 542 of 1000 limited copies. First Edition Illustrated by Hugh Thomson
Large limited edition of J. M. Barrie’s play, in magnificently gilt decorated vellum binding. Illustrated throughout with line drawings and twenty-two mounted colour plates by Hugh Thomson. Number 542 of a limited edition of 1,000 vellum bound copies signed by the illustrator Hugh Thomson. Housed in later bespoke felt lined slipcase.
The premiere of Quality Street in 1902, two years before Peter Pan, was a big enough hit to inspire a line of chocolates which where advertised using its characters... Quality Street has inspired a number of films, one with Katherine Hepburn, and is still enacted on stage today, using modern parlance it would be referred to as a ‘RomCom’.
‘Valentine Brown is trying to persuade Phoebe Throssel that age is no barrier to their romance. She might regret the decade that has passed since he abruptly left to fight in the Napoleonic wars, leaving their love unrequited, but he’s having none of it. “Instead of growing older you shall grow younger,” he says, promising to heal the wounds of time.’
More details
Price HK$ 3,000
1901 - Hodder & Stoughton, London - Number 542 of 1000 limited copies. First Edition Illustrated by Hugh Thomson
Large limited edition of J. M. Barrie’s play, in magnificently gilt decorated vellum binding. Illustrated throughout with line drawings and twenty-two mounted colour plates by Hugh Thomson. Number 542 of a limited edition of 1,000 vellum bound copies signed by the illustrator Hugh Thomson. Housed in later bespoke felt lined slipcase.The premiere of Quality Street in 1902, two years before Peter Pan, was a big enough hit to inspire a line of chocolates which where advertised using its characters... Quality Street has inspired a number of films, one with Katherine Hepburn, and is still enacted on stage today, using modern parlance it would be referred to as a ‘RomCom’.
‘Valentine Brown is trying to persuade Phoebe Throssel that age is no barrier to their romance. She might regret the decade that has passed since he abruptly left to fight in the Napoleonic wars, leaving their love unrequited, but he’s having none of it. “Instead of growing older you shall grow younger,” he says, promising to heal the wounds of time.’
More details
Price HK$ 3,000
Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect -
Robert Burns
1794 - Printed for T. Cadell, Edinburgh - A New Edition Considerably Enlarged
A fine set in contemporary bindings, with half-titles and the frontispiece portrait of Burns after Alexander Nasmyth engraved by John Beugo. This two volume Edinburgh edition, published two years before Burns’ death, expands on the first edition of 1786 and the first Edinburgh edition of 1787.
In 1786 at the age of 27, although he had never published anything before, Burns decided to publish a volume of his poems. 612 copies were printed for him by John Wilson of Kilmarnock. They sold out within a month. There are estimated to be less than 70 complete Kilmarnock copies in existence today. Encouraged by this success, and by a letter from an Edinburgh minister, Dr. Blacklock, Burns moved to Edinburgh instead of emigrating to Jamaica. He became a celebrity and in 1787 a new edition of 1500 copies, to be sold by subscription, was agreed upon with an additional 17 poems and five new songs.
More details
Price HK$ 7,000
1794 - Printed for T. Cadell, Edinburgh - A New Edition Considerably Enlarged
A fine set in contemporary bindings, with half-titles and the frontispiece portrait of Burns after Alexander Nasmyth engraved by John Beugo. This two volume Edinburgh edition, published two years before Burns’ death, expands on the first edition of 1786 and the first Edinburgh edition of 1787.In 1786 at the age of 27, although he had never published anything before, Burns decided to publish a volume of his poems. 612 copies were printed for him by John Wilson of Kilmarnock. They sold out within a month. There are estimated to be less than 70 complete Kilmarnock copies in existence today. Encouraged by this success, and by a letter from an Edinburgh minister, Dr. Blacklock, Burns moved to Edinburgh instead of emigrating to Jamaica. He became a celebrity and in 1787 a new edition of 1500 copies, to be sold by subscription, was agreed upon with an additional 17 poems and five new songs.
More details
Price HK$ 7,000
Hudibras. With Dr. Grey’s Annotations -
Samuel Butler
1819 - Charles & Henry Baldwyn, London - New Edition, Corrected and Enlarged
Three volumes finely bound in early 20th century full tan calf. In addition to Butler’s ‘satirical polemic upon Roundheads, Puritans, Presbyterians and many of the other factions involved in the English Civil War’, this edition includes ‘The Author’s Life’ and an extensive introductory preface, combined with Zachary Grey’s details annotations throughout.
Illustrated with numerous woodcut vignettes and eight plates.
More details
Price HK$ 3,000
1819 - Charles & Henry Baldwyn, London - New Edition, Corrected and Enlarged
Three volumes finely bound in early 20th century full tan calf. In addition to Butler’s ‘satirical polemic upon Roundheads, Puritans, Presbyterians and many of the other factions involved in the English Civil War’, this edition includes ‘The Author’s Life’ and an extensive introductory preface, combined with Zachary Grey’s details annotations throughout.Illustrated with numerous woodcut vignettes and eight plates.
More details
Price HK$ 3,000
![Advice from a Lady of Quality to her Children, in the Last Stage of a Lingering Illness, In a Series of Evening-Conferences on the Most Interesting Subjects. Translated from the French [by Samuel Glasse].](http://lokmanbooks.com/fmp/images/103257a.jpg)
Advice from a Lady of Quality to her Children, in the Last Stage of a Lingering Illness, In a Series of Evening-Conferences on the Most Interesting Subjects. Translated from the French [by Samuel Glasse]. -
Louis-Antoine Caraccioli
1778 - Glocester: Printed by R. Raikes and Sold by J. F. and C. RivingtonFirst edition in English
The 18th century ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’
A popular courtesy book written in a series of ‘conferences’ in the place of chapters. These include Virtue, Pride, Generosity, Female Conduct, Friendship, Love of Truth, Brotherly Love, Study, Pleasure, Ambition, Vanity, Relative Duty, Patriotism, Social Duties.
Unlike most courtesy books, Caraccioli's has the semblance of a plot and reads somewhat like a novel, which ends with the death of the main character. Advice from a Lady went through numerous editions in England and America.
More details
Price HK$ 8,500
1778 - Glocester: Printed by R. Raikes and Sold by J. F. and C. RivingtonFirst edition in English
The 18th century ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’ A popular courtesy book written in a series of ‘conferences’ in the place of chapters. These include Virtue, Pride, Generosity, Female Conduct, Friendship, Love of Truth, Brotherly Love, Study, Pleasure, Ambition, Vanity, Relative Duty, Patriotism, Social Duties.
Unlike most courtesy books, Caraccioli's has the semblance of a plot and reads somewhat like a novel, which ends with the death of the main character. Advice from a Lady went through numerous editions in England and America.
More details
Price HK$ 8,500
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland – signed by the engraver Frederic Warde - with - Through the Looking Glass – signed by the "Original Alice," Alice Hargreaves -
Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], Bruno Rollitz after John Tenniel (illustrators)
1932 - Limited Editions Club, New York - Each copy is number 1300 of a 1500 limited edition
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with the illustrations by John Tenniel engraved on wood by Bruno Rollitz. Printed for the publisher by the printing house of William Edwin Rudge, Mount Vernon, N.Y. Typography and binding by Frederic Warde. Introduction by Henry Seidel Canby.
Through the Looking Glass with the illustrations by John Tenniel re-engraved by Frederic Warde. Printed for the publisher by the printing house of William Edwin Rudge, Mount Verson, N.Y. Introduction by Carl Van Doren.
More details
Price HK$ 21,000
1932 - Limited Editions Club, New York - Each copy is number 1300 of a 1500 limited edition
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with the illustrations by John Tenniel engraved on wood by Bruno Rollitz. Printed for the publisher by the printing house of William Edwin Rudge, Mount Vernon, N.Y. Typography and binding by Frederic Warde. Introduction by Henry Seidel Canby. Through the Looking Glass with the illustrations by John Tenniel re-engraved by Frederic Warde. Printed for the publisher by the printing house of William Edwin Rudge, Mount Verson, N.Y. Introduction by Carl Van Doren.
More details
Price HK$ 21,000
The Hunting of the Snark, An Agony in Eight Fits -
Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], Henry Holiday (illustrator)
1876 - Macmillan and Co., London - First Edition
‘Just the place for a Snark!’
A finely bound first edition of the author’s magnificent nonsense verse, the tale of the Bellman and his crew’s strange voyage in search of a Snark, and featuring an unlikely cast of characters drawn from his other works, Jabberwocky and Through the Looking Glass Wonderfully illustrated with nine imaginative woodcuts by Henry Holiday.
‘The Hunting of the Snark is a poem over which an unstable, sensitive soul might very well go mad.’ - Martin Gardner, The Annotated Snark.
More details
Price HK$ 6,000
1876 - Macmillan and Co., London - First Edition
‘Just the place for a Snark!’A finely bound first edition of the author’s magnificent nonsense verse, the tale of the Bellman and his crew’s strange voyage in search of a Snark, and featuring an unlikely cast of characters drawn from his other works, Jabberwocky and Through the Looking Glass Wonderfully illustrated with nine imaginative woodcuts by Henry Holiday.
‘The Hunting of the Snark is a poem over which an unstable, sensitive soul might very well go mad.’ - Martin Gardner, The Annotated Snark.
More details
Price HK$ 6,000
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - together with - Through the Looking-Glass, and what Alice found there -
Lewis Carroll [Charles Lutwidge Dodgson], John Tenniel (illustrator)
1870 1872 - Macmillan and Co., London - Early Edition, First Edition
“Whilst Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass were intended for children “fresh from God’s hand”, it is equally enthralling and delightfully magical for adults as they follow Alice on her vibrant adventures escorted by her famous companions. Who can possibly not have been carried away into the fantastically crazy world of the Mad Hatter? Or never have heard of Tweedledee and Tweedledum? Who cannot have been struck by Carroll’s love for sophisticated play with words?.” - Stephanie Chan.
A finely bound pair, in which Tenniel’s illustrations, 42 in Wonderland and 50 in Looking-Glass, perfectly capture Alice’s upside-down world and are considered to be his finest and most enduring achievement.
More details
Price HK$ 15,000
1870 1872 - Macmillan and Co., London - Early Edition, First Edition
“Whilst Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass were intended for children “fresh from God’s hand”, it is equally enthralling and delightfully magical for adults as they follow Alice on her vibrant adventures escorted by her famous companions. Who can possibly not have been carried away into the fantastically crazy world of the Mad Hatter? Or never have heard of Tweedledee and Tweedledum? Who cannot have been struck by Carroll’s love for sophisticated play with words?.” - Stephanie Chan.A finely bound pair, in which Tenniel’s illustrations, 42 in Wonderland and 50 in Looking-Glass, perfectly capture Alice’s upside-down world and are considered to be his finest and most enduring achievement.
More details
Price HK$ 15,000