June 2001 (14 results)

Paperback. Condition: Very Good.

Softcover. Condition: VG. Color wraps. [36] pp. 16 color plates. Essay by Leon Wieseltier accompanied by the lovely illustrations.

Softcover. Condition: VG. Pictorial wraps. 82 pp. Profuse bw and color plates. Text in Spanish.

Softcover. Condition: VG. Grey wraps. 23 pp. 8 color plates. Essay by Joseph Leo Koerner.

Softcover. Condition: VG. White wraps. [22] pp. 8 color plates. Includes a three-page essay by Gail Levin, a biographical chronology, and the lovely illustrations.

Condition: Very Good. First UK edition hard back binding in publisher's original brick red cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 8'' x 5½''. Contains 255 pp. Very Good condition book in Good condition dust wrapper with rubbing across the spine ends and corners, not price clipped, 16s. Dust wrapper protected. Member of the P.B.F.A. RUSSIAN & SOVIET HISTORY.

Softcover. Condition: VG. Blue wraps. 95 pp. Profuse color plates.

Softcover. Condition: VG. Color wraps. [11] pp. 7 color plates. This tiny catalogue contains a two-page introductory essay, charming illustrations, and an exhibition checklist.

Softcover. Red/black wraps with color illustration. Unpaginated. Numerous color & bw plates. Text in French and English. Innovative catalogue of two overlapping exhibitions. VG-(overall light shelfwear to covers, very small tear at top of one page).

Condition: Near Fine. First edition hard back binding in publisher's original blue cloth covered boards, blocked and lettered gilt back. 8vo. 9½'' x 6¼''. Contains (xii), 244 pp with monochrome archive photographs throughout. Fine condition book in very near Fine condition dust wrapper, not price clipped. SIGNED dedication by the author to the title page 'To Les Colquhoun who was also shanghaied by the AOC Malta and who likewise was commissioned there and who thereafter never looked back | With best wishes Tony Spooner and Ivor Broom | February 1995' + Double sided letter to Les Colquhoun on George Cross Island Association letter headed paper dated 10th February 1995 from the author who at the time was the Vice President | SIGNED 'Tony Spooner'. Dust wrapper supplied in archive acetate film protection. Housed in Fine condition marble paper covered open-fronted slip case. Member of the P.B.F.A. ROYAL AIR FORCE (RAF).

Hard Cover. Dust Jacket Condition: Dust Jacket. First Edition. First UK edition (ie first impression of the first UK Edition) in dustwrapper. 192 pp. Text illustrations by the author. Translated by Elizabeth Portch. Publisher's original cream cloth boards with red designs and titling. Spine tips bruised. Slight darkening at the tip and tail of the spine. Minor foxing to the page block edges which has crept into the text in places. Front free end-paper professionally replaced using matching paper stock of a similar vintage. Offsetting to the rear free end-paper. No inscriptions. Some light pushing at the spine ends and tiny bumping at the lower front corner. Some light age related markings to the boards. Mild toning and spotting to the text-block. The scarce dustwrapper is unclipped showing the original publisher's price of 7s 6d net to the inside flap. The dustwrapper has a small chip at the top left-hand corner of the spine (not affecting any lettering) and is toned to the rear panel. Otherwise the artwork is uncommonly bright. The second in Tove Jansson's series of 'Moomin' books. Profusely illustrated in black and white by the author. Published in Swedish in1946, it marks the first appearance of several main character, such as Snufkin and the Snork Maiden. The English translation, published here in 1951 is a translation of the first version of Jansson's book, which she was later to revise. Rare in this the first English edition. A serviceable copy in an uncommonly vivid and complete dustwrapper which importantly is not price-clipped.

First UK edition hard back binding. Rebound in banana yellow buckram covers, red title lettering to the spine, red vignette to the front cover of Moomintroll and Sniff, new pale yellow end papers, all page edges gilt. 8vo. 7¼'' x 5''. 'Comet in Moominland' is the second in Tove Jansson's series of Moomin books. Originally published in 1946, it marks the first appearance of several main characters, such as Snufkin and the Snork Maiden. This first English translated edition, published in 1951, is a translation of the first version of Jansson's book, which she was later to revise. The revised version was published in 1968 and contains a number of minor differences; for instance, the Silk Monkey character is changed to a kitten. Contains 192 printed pages of text with splendid monochrome illustrations throughout. Some of the illustrations have been neatly coloured-in with water-colours, name to the half-title page, in matching slip case. Member of the P.B.F.A. CHILDREN'S & JUVENILE.

Condition: Poor. Used, hand writing first page, some outer edges have minor scuffs, cover has light scratches, some outer pages have marks from shelf wear, book content is in very good condition.

See her entry and that of her husband Neville Braybrooke in the Oxford DNB. 'Peggy Stanford' is Derek Stanford's first wife Margaret (née Holdsworth), who wrote under the pen name 'Margaret Philips' (see his Guardian obituary, 26 March 2009). Two long letters, written in a neat close hand. Both in good condition and folded for postage. ONE (22 September 1973): To 'Dear Derek and Peggie' and signed 'June'. 4pp, 12mo. With envelope addressed to the Stanfords at Seaford in Sussex. Having enjoyed their meeting the previous week she 'kept saying to Neville: how I wished that you lived in Cowes'. (According to her ODNB entry 'From 1969 the Braybrookes divided their time between Gardnor Road and a house they bought at 29 Castle Road in Cowes on the Isle of Wight.') She continues: 'There are not many of one's friends (either old or new), that it would be possible to envisage (with joy), sharing a small seaside town with'. She thanks him for 'the lovely piece you have written about me. I found it nostalgic and moving - you have a very good memory; and the long backward glance is so very much in foccuss [sic] & so clearly defined'. She is flattered and praises his 'perceptive' assessment of her character, 'and the perennial battle I fight against fear of being actually afraid . . . .' Regarding Muriel Spark she writes: 'Over Muriel: I did not consciously feel that I was ever deferring to her - not in those early days anyway. Later, it could have been the case, but by that time I would have done it more to placate her, in her new found glory: and because I am something of a chameleon; [sic] & if people are very certain of the kind of thing they want said t them - either in praise or agreement; then I will probably say it!' She apologises over having 'nicked' his poem '& used it in Breath of Love'. She anticipates forthcoming reviews of her latest book (the collection of short stories 'Life after All') from 'Kg' in the Scotsman and Francis King in the Sunday Telegraph. 'Did Neville tell you that I had a very nice & flattering letter from William Plomer a week ago last Monday. He wrote it on the Sunday. I had planned to answer it last Saturday; & then, I saw the Orbituary [sic] notice in the Times. I felt very sad.' She ends by urging them to 'come to the Island again soon', recommending 'a sort of shabby-grand & rather cosy hotel'. TWO ('Tuesday'): To 'Dear Peggy' and signed 'June', with postscript signed 'J.' 4pp, small 4to. Bifolium of ruled paper extracted from exercise book. With respect to the Braybrookes' two cats, she thanks the Stanfords for agreeing to 'come and look after our Boys while we are away in Menton. I am dreadfully nervous about everything: the right clothes to pack, appearing in public, and finally the speech which I must make on Sunday at 5 pm - in French.' Although 'Neville will be very good at giving all the details about the running of the house & the feeding of the Boys' she has decided to 'add a few points'. These relate to heating and cover the following thirty-three lines, indicating an anxious and obsessive disposition. An eleven-line postscript concerns the animals' movements ('Both cats are very quick at running into wardrobes or drawers & also the airing-cupboard in the kitchen.').