Plays / Novels and Fairy Tales / Prose / Essays / Poems (Oscar Wilde in Five Volumes). by Wilde, Oscar; Decorations and Types specially designed by Frederic W. Goudy - 1914

London: The Cornhill Magazine , 1860. The first appearance of these essays, preceeding the 1861 book publicatios, the original publications in The Cornhill Magazine, are dated June-October 1860. In a fine early 20th c. full black morocco binding, gilt lettering and rules, four gilt decorations, one at each corner, four raised bands, ribbon marker, gilt-patterned end pages, the binding signed with the stamped initials O.B. at bottom front turn in. Paginated 1-20; (2 illus.): 175-192; (1 illus.): 257-278; (1 illus.): 385-406: (1 illus.) 4. Each with illustrations,14 in all, 5 of which are full page (those in parentheses) Following the Four Georges is a 4 page article from The Cornhill Magazine, dated January, 1923, titled "Esmond and General Webb: A Letter from Thackeray". The binding is Fine, contents Very Good, faint dampstain not affecting readability. . First Printing. Morocco. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Paris: D. Jouaust, 1868. Limited and Numbered Edition, this one of only 12 copies ( # 12) on papier du Chine, there were 2 copies printed on parchment, 12 on Whatman paper, and 500 on papier du verge. This copy additionally contains bound in the original prospectus of the series, "Le Cabinet du Bibliophile", of which this is # 1. (4), x, Errata, 224 pp. Edited and published by D. Jouaust, containing a true reprint of the original text of 1688. Finely bound by J. Larkins ( signed verso front flyleaf) in contemporary full carmel crushed moroccom covers with gilt rules, back in six compartments with second and third containing title and publisher, the other four with a central gilt flower bordered by ornate gilt, wide ornate gilt dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled end papers. Near Fine, the binding Fine, internally foxed at plain paper end pages, no foxing to China paper. Prior owner names in pencil front end page, old bookseller's description pasted to verso front flyleaf, with the number… Read More

Boston: Phillips, Sampson and Co., 1856. SCARCE, Parkman's only novel, and quite uncommon in such lovely condition and in fine binding. With binder's label rear paste down " Bound by Peter Paul & Bro, Booksellers, Stationers, Printers, and Binders 420 Main St., Buffalo". In half morocco over marbled boards with matching marbled end pages, gilt lettering and rules, top edge gilt. Near Fine, small rubs at tips, scant scattered toning throughout. BAL 15451. . First Edition. Half Morocco. Very Good/No Jacket, As Issued. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

London: John W. Parker, 1844. RARE, Worldcat shows 12 institutional holdings worldwide. Four volumes bound in contemporary half vellum over marbled boards, matching marbled end papers and edges, backs with black morocco labels lettered in gilt. Near Fine, scattered light toning at end pages, top edges of page block darkened, gift inscriptions dated 1847 in two volumes. viii, 336, 320, 360, 392 pp., with numerous illustrations. . First Edition. Half Vellum. Near Fine/No Jacket, As Issued. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall.

London: John Murray, 1835. Frontispiece portrait Vol. I, frontispiece engraving of Coleridge's library with table Vol. II. lxxi, 267, 364 pp., no ads present. Two volumes, 6 3/8" x 4 1/8", bound in contemporary half polished black calf over marbled boards, the backs with ornate gilt tooled floral decorations, plain brown end papers with small bookseller's labels front paste downs of Harding & Prichard, Chester, a firm which dissolved in 1837. Very Good Plus, moderate toning at engraving and title page of Vol. II only, light rubbing to marbled covers. An excellent set in fine contemporary binding, the interiors clean, unmarked and lovely, and SCARCE with both engravings present. . First Edition. Half Calf. Very Good Plus/No Jacket, As Issued. 16mo - over 5¾" - 6¾" tall.

Paris: D. Jouaust, 1868. Limited and Numbered Edition, this one of only 12 copies ( # 12) on papier du Chine, there were 2 copies printed on parchment, 12 on Whatman paper, and 500 on papier du verge. This copy additionally contains bound in the original prospectus of the series, "Le Cabinet du Bibliophile", of which this is # 1. (4), x, Errata, 224 pp. Edited and published by D. Jouaust, containing a true reprint of the original text of 1688. Finely bound by J. Larkins ( signed verso front flyleaf) in contemporary full carmel crushed moroccom covers with gilt rules, back in six compartments with second and third containing title and publisher, the other four with a central gilt flower bordered by ornate gilt, wide ornate gilt dentelles, all edges gilt, marbled end papers. Near Fine, the binding Fine, internally foxed at plain paper end pages, no foxing to China paper. Prior owner names in pencil front end page, old bookseller's description pasted to verso front flyleaf, with the number… Read More

London: Victor Gollancz, 1937. Handsomely bound in half dark green crushed morocco over marbled boards, gilt decorations, rules and lettering with five raised bands back, marbled end papers, top edge gilt. Near Fine, light rubs at corners, some soiling for edge of page block. Fold out table at rear with 2" tear at one fold, small corner creases. . First Edition. Half Morocco. Near Fine/No Jacket. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

Londini: Longmans, Green & Co., 1881. SCARCE in lovely fine binding stamp signed by Sangorski & Sutcliffe, London for Marshall Field and Co. Thomas Carlyle, 1795-1881, was a Scottish essayist, satirist, and historian. Published a month after Carlyle's death by his literary executor, James Anthony Froude, to much controversy over the editing. They were republished in 1887 with Harvard professor Charles Eliot Norton as the editor. Two volumes in contemporary half calf over marbled boards, the calf undyed at the spines and dyed green at the covers to harmonize with the green marbled boards, backs gilt, marbled end papers, top edges gilt, wear showing at joints yet still holding nicely, small rubs at corners, interiors clean and bright. A handsome set. . First Edition. Half Calf. Very Good -/No Jacket, As Issued. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall.

New York and Boston: H. M. Caldwell Company, 1900. The Green Room Edition, "illustrated by photographs from the life of Mrs. Fiske and her company in the play of Becky Sharp, by Byron and Sarony, also 186 illustrations by Author". iv, 770 pp., 8vo. Near Fine in decorative cloth boards featuring a peacock in intricate gilt and green, the back also intricately decorated in gilt, top edge gilt, two small faint dull spots front board, very faint soiling rear boards, initials and date in ink front end page at gutter, small stain frontispiece and tissue guard. The play referred to is "Becky Sharp", a play in four acts by Langdon Mitchell, presented by Mrs. Fiske, founded on Thackeray's "Vanity Fair, first presented at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, New York, September 12, 1890, starring Tyrone Powers , Maurice Barrymore, and Minnie Madern Fiske as Becky Sharp. An edition made most pleasing to read with its combination of the play's photographs interspersed with… Read More

London: Harding, Triphook, and Lepard, 1824. Printed by W. Nicol at the Shakespeare Press. li, [1], 400, Part Second title page, 401-912 pages. Finely bound by Whitman Bennett of New York in mid 20th c. half red morocco over red buckram boards, gilt back in five raised bands, marbled end papers, top edge gilt. Near Fine, small rubs at corners and edges, toning primarily at first several pages front and back. A quite handsome copy, "The Bennett Book Studios of New York City was established in the late 1920s by bookman and binder Whitman Bennett (b. 1884 in Cambridge, MA; d. 1968 in New York). The business sold rare books, particularly first editions and sets of American and English literature classics, and also operated as a fine bindery. Bennett Studios was known for crafting fine leather bindings, and the term "Bennett copy" arose in the book trade to refer to the binder's work in upgrading a second or third issue text with a first edition binding" (Lilly Library, Bennett… Read More