The Hobbit : The Deluxe Edition by Tolkien, J.R.R - 1976

The First UK printing published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1982. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Original burgundy boards, lettered in gilt to spine. Light offsetting to the end-papers. Illustrated with B/W photographs throughout. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition with a photographic portrait of Cynthia Payne to rear panel. Wrapper design by Craig Dodd. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. The publisher's Tom Maschler's copy, doubly inscribed to him by both the author and Cynthia Payne : 'for Tom -- who has been here before -- with love from Paul'. And beneath: 'October 13th 1982. To the most brilliant publisher in the world and I must say with the most guts to take me on! Cinders xxx one for John Thomas'. When Streatham brothel-keeper Cynthia Payne was prosecuted in 1980 for keeping a disorderly house, the trial's tales of red-arsed vicars, enslaved Members of Parliament and payment for sex with luncheon vouchers transfixed the country. It also… Read More

The First UK printing published by Hodder and Stoughton, London in 1993. The BOOK is in near Fine condition with light pushing at the spine ends. A hint of toning and very light spotting to the text-block. Free from inscriptions and erasures. The WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition with just a tiny nick at the upper rear spine fold (the white patches on the images are just glare reflected from the shiny wrapper). The wrapper is protected in a removal Brodart archival cover. The book has been signed (without dedication) in the year of publication by the author to the title page : 'John Le Carre, June '93'. The basis for the hugely successful BBC TV dramatisation starring Trevor Hiddelston, Hugh Laurie and Olivia Colman. Scarce with such attributes.Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.

The sole UK printing published by The Golden Cockerel Press, Waltham St. Lawrence, Berkshire in 1925. Number '22' of only 450 copies issued. The BOOK is in Fine condition. The book has been rebound by James Brockman in full black morocco, with two raised bands, gilt titling and ruling, and marbled end-papers. A James Brockman Bindery sticker to the upper verso of the front end-paper. Eight wood engravings (3 full-page) by Eric Gill, and the cockerel device in gold on the colophon. The first book Eric Gill illustrated for the Cockerel Press (Chanticleer 25; Physick 281-88). James Brockman set up his own bindery in Oxford in 1976. From 1982 1983 he was the University of Wales Arts Fellow at The Gregynog Press and Bindery. From 1985-87 he was the President of Designer Bookbinders, and then 2001-05 he was the President of The Society of Bookbinders. In 1999 he was awarded accreditation by The Institute of Paper Conservators. James has written many articles on bookbinding technique and has given numerous… Read More

The First UK printing of this illustrated edition, published by Paul Elek, London in 1947. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition. Slight cocking with light pushing at the spine ends. Gilt titling to the spine remains bright. Light toning to the text-block and page edges. Free from inscriptions. The fragile wrapper is complete and is in Very Good+ condition. Edge-wear with a little loss in places. Light fading and toning to the spine. Some creasing and rubbing in places. The colour panel images are all complete. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. Striking B/W illustrations throughout by John Minton who was also responsible for the wrapper artwork. The author's only book which was based on his childhood, and originally published in 1928. It has twice been made into a film. One of John Minton's highlight titles and very scarce to find with the wrapper in any condition. This copy's wrapper is one of the best I have handled. More images available on request. Ashton… Read More

The First UK Printing published by Hamish Hamilton in 1984. The wraps format with laminated coloured covers. Issued simultaneously with the scarcer hardback format. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Free from inscriptions and erasures. Some very light bumping at the spine ends and corners. Light creasing to rear cover edges and rear lower corner. Light toning to the extreme page edges. Inscribed by the author to the title page : 'For Jane, with best wishes, Raymond Briggs , 1985'. Profusely illustrated in colour throughout by the author. Briggs satirises the conflict that was the Falklands war while capturing the devastation war brings to those caught up in it. Collectible. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.

The First UK printing published by Weidenfeld & Nicolson in 1975. The Book is in near Fine condition. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is in Very Good++ condition with light edge wear. A closed tear to the upper rear edge associated with some creasing and rubbing. A small closed tear to the lower front edge which has been repaired with a small amount of tape to the verso. The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. The book has been signed (without dedication) by Stephen Spender to the title page. Contributors to the book include Stephen Spender, John Betjeman, Cyril Connolly, Christopher Isherwood, Geoffrey Grigson et al. Accompanied by a loosely inserted H/W letter dated 'Nov 13 '73' addressed to a 'M Dosse' in which Spender writes : ' I think it would be absurd to destroy these letters. But then I think it was absurd of Auden to make a request to his friends in such unqualified terms. These letters are gifts to you and I do not think a donor has the right, unless in very… Read More

The First UK printing published by The Golden Cockerel Press, Waltham St. Lawrence in 1935. Number '25' 0f only 212 copies issued of the special limited edition. The BOOK is in near Fine condition. Printed in Perpetua type on hand made paper and signed by L.A. Strong to the limitation page as called for. There were also 1000 unnumbered and unsigned copies. Original blue morocco spine slightly sunned and marbled boards. Very light spotting to the text block with the occasional light spot to the page edges in places. Free from inscriptions and erasures. The fragile original plain Glassine WRAPPER is in Very Good condition. It is split at the spine with some loss of the spine portion. The scarce glassine wrapper is now protected in a removable Mylar archival cover. Illustrated by Eric Ravilious with a full page frontispiece, first leaf engraving, and a series of repeated decorations (bandeaux). One of three books illustrated by Ravilious for The Golden Cockerel Press. Sanford called this work, 'one of… Read More

The First UK printing published by by Martin Secker, London in 1931. The BOOK is in Very Good++ condition. Light pushing at the spine ends with some light fading to the board edges and the spine. Some toning to the text-block with an area of staining confined to the upper text-block and not affecting the pages. Light offsetting and spotting to the prelims and rear blank endpaper. Free from inscriptions. A bookplate designed by Edmund Dulac for 'The Book Society' to the lower front pastedown which is clean. This is likely to be the first design for the Book Society before being replaced by the more commonly encountered Rex Whistler designed bookplate. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good+ condition. Light edge-wear and rubbing to the spine tips. Toning to the folds and the spine. Light spotting in places. A small stain to the lower rear flap fold. The period wrapper artwork (uncredited) looks striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. 'A remarkable contemporary novel by the author of The… Read More

The First UK printing published by Constable, London in 1928. The BOOK is in near Fine condition in the original variant binding of terracotta cloth, upper board and spine lettered in black. Some faint spotting to the edges and prelims. Free from inscriptions and erasures. The fragile WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ or better condition. Some light markings and slight edge-wear. The wrapper is protected in a removable archival protector and carries a striking period design signed with the initials 'EJIA'. These initials must be those of Edward Jeffrey Irving Ardizzone and this wrapper artwork must have been one of his earliest commissions. Born in Ireland, this is O'Leary's best known work, a science fiction novel in which 'a woman is given a drug that induces a range of Identity Transfer experiences, including life as a mouse and as her own betrayed husband ' (Science Fiction Encyclopaedia, online). A very scarce survivor. More images available on request. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.

The First UK printing published by George Harrap & Co. Ltd., London in 1947. The BOOK is in Very Good++ condition. Publisher's original illustrated boards have some light toning to the edges and some spotting in places. The binding remains tight. Some very slight rubbing at the corners with light toning to the text-block. Internally, some offsetting to the illustrated end-papers but free of inscriptions. Light toning to the page edges in places. The scarce WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good+ condition. Light toning to the folds, edges and the spine. Some mild edge-wear with only a little loss at the spine ends and edges in places. Some splitting and closed tears to the spine and spine folds. The illustrated wrapper remains striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. Profusely illustrated throughout by Franciskza Themerson. 'My First Nursery Book' tells the stories 'Who Killed Cock Robin?', 'The Gingerbread Man', 'Three Little Pigs' and 'The Three Bears' with uniquely striking period… Read More