Paris: Librairie Hachette et cie, 1875. A lovely copy of this limited edition. One of 150 copies on China paper (large paper). Three quarters brown leather with marbled boards. A little rubbing to the spine and board edges. This copy is embellished with a tipped in signed autograph letter (ALS) on headed note paper. Original edition of this monograph on the new Opera by its archivist. Portrait by Maunoury, photographer (photoglypty by Lemercier) mounted on the frontispiece. 59 engravings and 3 plans (including 1 on double-page). The question of an opera for the city of Paris gave rise to several projects, before its construction was entrusted to Charles Garnier. Front end paper has a small split to the bottom edge. Overall a lovely copy. 255 pages. 260 x 170mm (10¼ x 6¾ inches). Bel exemplaire de cette édition limitée. Un des 150 exemplaires sur Chine (grand papier). Trois quarts de cuir marron à plats marbrés. Un léger frottement au dos et aux bords des plats. Cet exemplaire est agrémenté d'une lettre autographe signée (ALS) contrecollée sur papier à en-tête. Edition originale de cette monographie sur l'Opéra nouveau par son archiviste. Portrait par Maunoury, photographe (photoglypty de Lemercier) monté en frontispice. 59 gravures et 3 plans (dont 1 sur double-page). La question d'un opéra pour la ville de Paris a donné lieu à plusieurs projets, avant que sa construction ne soit confiée à Charles Garnier. Le papier frontal a une petite fente sur le bord inférieur. Dans l'ensemble un bel exemplaire. 255 pages. 260 x 170 mm

Montréal: H. E. Heinemann, 1965. Softback illustrated covers. This is a limited edition of 368 signed copies. This copy is # 117, with the translator's, author's and illustrator's signatures to the colophon. From Volume 63 of Queen's Quarterly. Text in English and French (bilingual edition). Illustrated by Marie Koehler. Translated by Germaine Gabélier. Queen's Quarterly is a Canadian quarterly peer-reviewed academic journal of cultural studies that was established in 1893. Covers are lightly rubbed, otherwise in a very good condition. 72 pages. 240 x 160 mm (9½ x 6¼ inches). Couverture souple illustrée. Il s'agit d'une édition limitée à 368 exemplaires signés. Cet exemplaire est le n° 117, avec les signatures du traducteur, de l'auteur et de l'illustrateur au colophon. Extrait du volume 63 de Queen's Quarterly. Texte en anglais et en français (édition bilingue). Illustré par Marie Koehler. Traduit par Germaine Gabélier. Queen's Quarterly est une revue académique trimestrielle canadienne d'études culturelles à comité de lecture qui a été créée en 1893. Les couvertures sont légèrement frottées, sinon en très bon état. 72 pages. 240 x 160 mm

London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1862. First edition. Original blue buckram with black designs and gilt titles. Folding map, frontis and three further plates. Signed by the author with an inscription to his wife: "Anna Flemyng, with the best love of her husband, the author. Glenfeulan, Dec. 1862". Also present is a Baptism and Holy Communion card for Beatrice Anna Flymyng - baptised July 17th 1869, Confirmed Feb. 29 1884 (at the Cathedral in Sodor, Isle of Man) and her First Communion was Whitsunday May 13th 1889. Presumably this is their daughter. The blue boards are tidy, but with a touch of darkening to them. Overall clean, with just a little marking. The gilt is bright, Very slight nicking to the edges of the gilt on the spine (the casing has possibly been repaired at some point). The gift inscription, to the verso of the end paper, is clean and bright. The rest of the book is in excellent condition - just a touch of darkening to the pages. Percaline bleue originale avec dessins noirs et titres dorés. Carte dépliante, frontis et trois autres planches. Signé par l'auteur avec une inscription à son épouse : « Anna Flemyng, avec le meilleur amour de son mari, l'auteur. Glenfeulan, décembre 1862 ». Est également présente une carte de baptême et de sainte communion pour Beatrice Anna Flymyng - baptisée le 17 juillet 1869, confirmée le 29 février 1884 (à la cathédrale de Sodor, île de Man) et sa première communion a eu lieu le 13 mai 1889. Il s'agit probablement de leur fille. Les planches bleues sont bien rangées, mais avec une touche d'assombrissement. Globalement propre, avec juste un peu de marquage. La dorure est brillante, Très légères entailles sur les bords de la dorure sur le dos (le boîtier a peut-être été réparé à un moment donné). L'inscription cadeau, au verso du papier de garde, est nette et lumineuse. Le reste du livre est en excellent état - juste une touche de noircissement sur les pages.

Barcelona: Luis de Caralt, 1970. Author's own copy! First Spanish language version. Signed by the author to the dedication page. In publisher's red cloth with dust jacket as issued. Book is a little dusty, and the dust jacket a little rubbed, but this was Leslie Thomas's own book and was signed in front of us before we purchased it. 254 pages. 200 x 140 mm (7¾ x 5½ inches). ¡Copia del autor! Primera versión en idioma español. Firmado por el autor en la página de dedicatoria. En tela roja del editor con sobrecubierta tal como se emitió. El libro está un poco polvoriento y la sobrecubierta un poco rozada, pero este era el libro de Leslie Thomas y estaba firmado frente a nosotros antes de que lo compráramos. 254 paginas.

London: Sampson Low, Marston and Co, 1892. First edition. Hardback red cloth with gilt titles and decorations to front board and spine. Unusually, compared to other copies online, this one is appears to be signed in black ink on the frontis photograph by the book's subject (Charles Keene). Not by the author. The signature appears genuine under a loop. Ordinarily we would discount this as a printed signature (as he died in 1891) - but we have seen other copies where the frontis photograph has no signature to it, so wonder if there were some with a genuine inscription. Many b/w illustrations, some full page with tissue guards. Boards are slightly faded, slight lean and sun fading to spine, corners bumped. Inside there is some light foxing, but overall the book is good and scarce with Keene's signature. Two full page bookplates to the inside board and front end paper. Including one for Sir Frederick Lobnitz, shipbuilder and government minister (of munitions) during World War One. Ix, 463 pp.
240 x 160 mm (9½ x 6¼ inches).

Hay on Wye: Aquarium / Kestrel Gallery, 2005. Signed limited edition (50 copies) book with hand painted original cover. Published by Aquarium & Kestrel Gallery, Hay-on-Wye. Signed and numbered to back board by Billy Childish, with Hangman gallows and Aquarium sea horse stamps. Book is number 33 of only 50. There is a second signature on a heavy paper (almost like a bookplate) tipped into the inside of the front board. This is also adorned with one of Childish's hangman block cuts (a different one to that on the rear board. There is also a small red stamp that looks Chinese, but is indecipherable.
16 pages on heavy stock. Poetry in red type. 12 full colour plates. Hand bound hardback in hessian boards. Red handmade paper endpapers. Book in very good condition with just a touch of darkening to edge of front board (from handling we suspect). 110 x 90 mm (4¼ x 3½ inches).

London: Weidenfeld, 1972. First UK edition. A lovely association copy (of sorts). From the library of Lord Harold Davies of Leek, with a tipped in TLS from Sir Harold Wilson to Lord Leek. The letter is a single sheet, on House of Commons note paper, and refers to his studying Cabinet memoranda during the summer recess of 1978. The book itself, in original blue and red dust wrapper. Red cloth with gilt titles. In addition to the letter from Wilson, there is the ownership signature of Rt Hon Lord Davis of Leek PC to the ffep. There are also some interesting marginalia, some are just penciled ticks or references, others more significant. For example he contradicts an American statement by Johnson with the comment "This was known when I went to Hanoi" Lord Leek was a Labour MP, and Wilson's PPS, who undertook a peace mission to Vietnam at Wilson's behest. His "secret" mission was revealed before he arrived, to the fury of the Americans, and led to him being ignored by Ho Chi Minh. His mission is referenced in this book p581. Dust wrapper is good, a little rubbed and some closed tears internally taped. Now held in an archival sleeve. The book is in very good condition. 24 x 16.5cm. 630 pages.