A Long Walk To Freedom : Limited Edition Signed By The Author by Mandela, Nelson - 1994

The sole UK Printing published by The Arcadia Press, London in 1972. Number '17' of only 100 copies issued (There was also an additional 10 deluxe copies bound in full vellum with a separate portfolio of plates signed by the illustrator). The BOOK is in near Fine condition. The book is entirely hand manufactured. Hand bound by Zaehnsdorf Ltd. in quarter vellum and handmade seaweed paper to the boards. Some light bumping to the front vellum corner tips. Gilt lettering to spine. Top edge gilt. Green endpapers. Housed in the publisher's Slipcase which has one minor bump to the bottom corner. The book itself is very clean and bright, with no marks to the endpapers or pages. The limitation page is numbered and signed by the calligrapher David Howells, the paper-maker Philip Rowson and the illustrator Errol Le Cain. Illustrated with 10 full-page striking mounted colour plates by Errol Le Cain. The publisher's Prospectus is loosely inserted and is in Fine condition. A sumptuous production from The Arcadia… Read More

The sole UK printing privately printed (at Rampant Lions Press) in 1983, as a surprise 80th birthday tribute to Douglas Cleverdon. This is number '1' of only 230 copies printed for subscribers and well wishers only, who are all listed. This copy is number '1' as it was presented to Douglas Cleverdon on the evening of a memorable Party at Carlton House Terrace, London. It bears a fine calligraphic inscription : 'Very many happy returns Douglas from your friends within. January 17th 1983'. It is fully bound by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in brown leather, with gilt borders and 'DC' in gilt in a roundel to the front. Marbled end-papers and presented in a matching, fleece lined box. The BOOK is in Fine condition. The other copies from this edition were bound in wrappered card covers. Loosely inserted are the original subscription form, the invitation to the party, Douglas Cleverdon's printed thank you letter, the memorial address by John Wells for Cleverdon's funeral in 1987, an obituary, and a copy of Will… Read More

The First UK printing published by Heinemann, London in 1965. The BOOK is in near Fine condition with just some very light toning to the text-block. A hint of spotting to the lower text-block. Free from inscriptions. The WRAPPER is neatly price-clipped and is in near Fine condition. Some very light edge-wear at the upper spine end. The colouring to the spine remains very bright with no fading of the red colouring to the spine (Please ignore the white patches in the images which are just reflective glare). The wrapper is protected in a removable Brodart archival cover. The book has been double signed (without dedication) by the author to the title page : 'John Le Carre a.k.a. David Cornwell'. A very collectible copy of the author's fourth title and very scarce to find double signed. Ashton Rare Books welcomes direct contact.

The sole UK printing published by Omega Workshops Ltd, London in 1915. This is number '69' of only 500 copies printed (penned in black ink to the lower front blank end-paper as called for). The BOOK is in Very Good++ condition with light wear to the tips and edges. Slightly rubbing to the boards. The binding remains tight. The usual toning to the endpapers, with one neat penned previous owner's name to the front end-papers. Original brown cloth-backed black paper boards with woodcut illustrations to sides, pages untrimmed. 3 full-page wood-engraved illustrations, numerous head- and tail-pieces, and decorative opening initials by Roald Kristian. 'Simpson's Choice' was the first work to be published at the Omega Workshop, which was founded in July 1913, and was to be one of only four books completed by the Press. The original prospectus (not present here) stated the intention of this enterprise, declaring that the press intended to publish works 'of a special character and to give to the setting of the… Read More

The First UK printing published by Nisbet & Co. Ltd, London in 1920. Number '97' of 100 special deluxe copies signed by the artist to the limitation page. The BOOK is in near Fine condition with original white paper-covered boards with gilt titles to the front and a vellum spine with gilt titles. The vellum spine remains very clean and bright. The boards have lightly darkened in places to the edges. Internally clean and free of inscriptions. All ten tipped in colour plates and their printed tissue guards are present as called for and are in fine condition. The very scarce WRAPPER is complete and is in near Fine condition. The gilt titling and decoration remains very bright to the front cover. A small closed tear to the upper front edge and a little age related marking but it remains in exceptional condition for its age. The wrapper is protected in a removable Mylar archival cover. Léonard Rosenthal was a famed Parisian jeweller who personally commissioned Dulac's illustrations; they first appeared in… Read More

Published by Clover Hill Editions, London in 1977. Number 'XXX1' of only 80 special copies, printed by Will Carter at the Rampant Lions Press on Barcham Green handmade paper, watermarked 'Clover Hill' (made for Douglas Cleverdon in 1936). The BOOK is in Fine condition, bound in quarter-morocco and marbled boards. Illustrated with ten wood engravings by David Jones, this title is considered by many to be the artist's most significant work. These engravings were initially printed in the Golden Cockerel edition in 1927. Jones, however, felt that the some of the delicacy of his wood engravings had been lost, as the paper was not properly dampened by the Press as they hurried to meet a deadline. According to the Publisher's Note by Douglas Cleverdon, Jones acquired the ten blocks in order to ensure that they would not be reprinted without his approval. In 1977, Jones agreed to 'Clover Hill Editions' reprinting the book using his original blocks, in the manner that he originally intended. In this present… Read More

The First full colour illustrated edition, deluxe issue, number '170' of 250 copies signed and numbered by E.H. Shepard, published by Methuen Children's Books, London in 1971. The BOOK is in near Fine condition with the original publisher's full green morocco by Zaehnsdorf and protected by publisher's printed slipcase. Raised bands and gilt titles to spine. The upper cover has a gilt stamped illustration of the characters from the books. All edges gilt. Slight toning to the spine as usually encountered. Free from inscriptions. Housed in the publisher's original pictorial slipcase which is in Very Good+ condition. A small stain to the front of the top edge, some slight age related markings with some light fading to the edges. Colour illustrations throughout by E. H. Shepard. Shepard, well-known by then for his illustrations of A. A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh series, was asked to provide B/W illustrations for a new edition in 1931. For this edition, Shepard redrew his illustrations, basing them on the… Read More

The First UK printing published by Heinemann, London in 1930. Illustrated by Joseph Lada and translated by Paul Selver. The BOOK is in Very Good++ or better condition with the publisher's original red cloth and gilt titling. Some light splitting, pushing and light fading at the spine ends. Mild toning and spotting to the text-block. Light spotting to the prelims and to the extreme page edges in places due to the quality of the paper stock used. Mild offsetting to the black end-papers. Free from inscriptions. The very scarce WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good- condition. Some loss to the spine ends, corners and upper rear edge (see images). A closed tear with associated creasing to the rear panel. The red lettering to the spine has faded but remains very legible. Mild edge-wear in places. The wrapper presents very well in the removable Brodart archival cover. Lada's striking cartoonish B/W illustrations match the irreverent tone of the text. First published in Czechoslovakia, this title was issued… Read More

The First UK printing published by Elkin Mathews, London in 1926. The BOOK is in Very Good++ condition with the original black cloth-backed boards, grey paper to sides, and gilt titles to the spine. A little pushing and rubbing at the spine tips. Light bumping and rubbing to the edges and corners. One previous owner's penned details to the upper blank end-paper. Early easing of the front lower hinge. Toning to the text-block and page edges due to the quality of the paper stock used. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good condition. Some loss at the corners and spine ends. The cover panels have become detached from the spine panel and one piece of the upper spine has become detached. The pieces however come together and present well in the removable Brodart archival cover. Some toning to the edges and the spine. The PORTFOLIO was published by John Gawsworth, London in 1936. The portfolio is in Very Good++ condition in printed brown/grey wrappers with the forty illustrations loosely inserted, as… Read More

The First UK Printing published by Jonathan Cape, London in 1962. The BOOK is in near Fine condition and appears unread. A hint of pushing at the upper spine tip and very slight toning to the text-block. Internally clean apart from one tiny foxing spot to the edge of the last 3 pages. The WRAPPER is complete and is in Very Good++ or better condition. Some very few tiny nicks and rubs to the edges. The spine is slightly faded and toned. The wrapper artwork looks striking in the removable Brodart archival cover. The book has been signed by the author to the upper blank endpaper : 'Best wishes from the author, Joan Aiken'. This title is the first in the acclaimed 'Wolves Chronicles' and is very scarce to find as a signed title. Joan Aiken 'made her name as an exceptional writer for children 'with 'The Wolves of Willoughby Chase', 'a dramatic gothic adventure with a strong Dickensian feel' (ODNB). Illustrated B/W frontispiece and numerous illustrations in the text by Pat Marriott. Now a children's classic… Read More