Rare books from Fine Book Cellar Ltd.

First edition, first impression (Heinemann, 1967). Illustrated by Janet and Anne Grahame-Johnstone. Signed, inscribed and dated by the author in the year of publication on the front blank: 'To Cicely Courtneidge, from Dodie Smith "Dear Octopus", Theatre Royal, Haymarket, 1967'. The inscription refers to Smith's play 'Dear Octopus', which was revived in 1967 for the fiftieth wedding anniversary of the comedy actors Dame Cicely Courtneidge and Jack Hubert. Dodie Smith's married name, 'Mrs Beesley', Dodie Smith's married name is also written in ink in another hand to the front flap of the dust jacket. Additionally a postcard from the author is loosely inserted: 'Dearest Cis, Here is "The Starlight Barking" as a tiny first night present. It's also intended as a get well present to your dear poodle - I trust you'll be able to use Bill's line and say "The dog liked it". Bless you and thank you for your lovable, funny and altogether admirable performance as "Dora". Much love as ever, Dodie". 8vo, publisher's… Read More

First UK edition, first impression (Collins Clear-Type Press, 1958). Originally published in the US the previous year. Signed and inscribed by the author to front endpaper verso: 'for the children of Battersea with Best Wishes... Dr Seuss'. Rare thus.Publisher's original turquoise pictorial boards. Rubbing to edges and to spine with some bumping to corners; very slight bowing to upper board; contents clean and free from names and inscriptions.A good copy of an edition that is rare to find bearing a unique inscription from the author.

First UK edition, first impression (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1953). Originally published in the US in 1951. The first book in the Foundation series, which won the Hugo Award for Best All-Time Series in 1966 and forms the basis for the 2021 Apple TV series.Publisher's original black cloth with silver lettering to spine. A near fine book with some of the usual moderate spotting to edges and off-setting to endpapers and half-title; light pencil impressions to top of front endpaper. The original and price-clipped dust jacket has a little bit of minor rubbing to edges in places and a couple of very tiny chips to corners. A near fine example of a rare edition of an iconic and influential work in the science fiction genre.

First edition, first impression (Hogarth Press, 1933). Half-bound in green morocco with five raised bands and lettering to spine in gilt and marbled boards. A little toning to edges with some browning to half-title and reverse of final page of text, contents nice and clean throughout otherwise. A near fine copy in a very attractive binding.

First edition, first impression with 'violent' for violet on p. 317, and no name on the street sign on the upper board. Illustrations by Sidney Paget. Some light spotting, floral endpapers, publisher's light blue cloth with gilt edges. Spine ends repaired with some of the often-seen rubbing and soiling to the boards and spine and previous owner's bookplate to front paste-down.

First UK edition, first impression. Published in the same year as the first US edition and seemingly less common with striking cover art. Publisher's original black cloth with silver lettering to spine and motif to bottom corner of upper board. Light spotting to top edge and some off-setting to endpapers with a previous owner name to front endpaper and a few ticks in red biro next to some of the titles listed on half-title verso, otherwise very good. The original dust jacket is price-clipped and has some wear and a few tears to top edge with some rubbing and chipping to spine panel, primarily to the top. A good or better copy of an uncommon edition.

First edition, first or second impression (Frederick Warne & Co, 1906).
A very good copy with some areas of unobtrusive rubbing to board surface and corners and a very small retailer sticker to bottom corner of rear paste-down. Some cracking to binding at page 30-31, but all pages still holding firm throughout. Contents very nice and clean and free from any previous owner names or inscriptions.

First Canadian edition, first impression (McClelland and Stewart, 1985). Signed and inscribed by the author to half-title: 'For Nancy - Best Wishes - Margaret Atwood'. Featuring striking dust jacket artwork by Tad Aronowicz. The true first edition, preceding that of the UK and the US. Winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award and more recently adapted into a successful TV series.

Quarter-bound in maroon cloth with cream boards and white lettering to spine. A fine and clean copy with some of the seemingly always present rubbing to the spine ends.

The original and unclipped dust jacket has a nick to spine foot, but is otherwise beautifully crisp and sharp.

A uniquely superior example of a classic of dystopian fiction.

First edition, first impression (Michael Joseph, 1968). Signed by the author and Ken Loach - who directed the film adaptation - to bookplates affixed to the title page. Original blue cloth with silver lettering to spine. A near fine book with a little toning to edges in a better than very good, unclipped dust jacket that has some rubbing to spine foot and fore-edges. An excellent copy.

Fifth edition (Chapman & Hall, 1844). Issued the year after the first edition, which was published in December 1843. Hand-coloured etched frontispiece and a further three plates by John Leech with four wood-engravings by W.J. Linton. Two pp advertisements at rear. Gilt edges with publisher's original cinnamon vertically ribbed cloth stamped in blind and gilt. Previous owner name to half-title dated 1844. Small stain on page 25 and one plate detached. A little light soiling/spotting to leaves here and there with some rubbing to edges. Hinges starting and binding a little exposed towards the rear of the book, but all pages, save for the one aforementioned plate, still firmly in place. A very good example.

First edition, first impression (Collins Clear-Type Press, 1963).Original red cloth with black lettering to spine. A very good book indeed with some spotting to edges and 'Xmas 1963' written in biro on front paste-down, but concealed by the upper flap of the dust jacket. The original and unclipped dust jacket is very good or better with a few tears to edges and spine head, where there is an associated crease to top edge of lower panel. A very good copy indeed.

First edition first impression and first state with 'Joanne Rowling' to the copyright page and dropped text on page 7. It has been confirmed by the publisher that all states of the first impression consisted of 5,150 copies in total, of which, it is believed, 2,500 pertained to the first state. Original pictorial boards. A fine book with the slightest hint of spotting to top edge in a beautiful fine dust jacket without flaws. Rare in such superior condition.

First edition, first impression in first issue dust jacket.

Original publisher's cloth. Some rubbing to label on spine with toning to edges and a small area of browning to edge of of paste-downs and endpapers. Contents beautifully clean throughout otherwise.

The original and unclipped dust jacket has a little soft crease close to fore-edge of upper panel, else in beautiful, fine condition.

A fantastic example of one of the author's highlight titles.

First edition, first impression. Signed and inscribed by the author to the dedication page: "To Laura and Kat, Who, I hear, are Harry fans - making me like them a lot! J K Rowling". Inscribed copies of this title are exceptionally rare and were usually given to people who were involved in arranging the signing events or had a personal connection with the author.
Some fading to the spine of the book and top edge of upper board with tanning to edges and barely visible pencil impression to the front endpaper from a previous retailer.
The original and unclipped dust jacket has a little fading to spine and a couple of soft creases to spine ends, near fine otherwise.

First UK edition, first impression in first state dust jacket without reviews to verso. Winner of the Pulitzer Prize in 1953 and the last of the author's novels to be published in his lifetime.
Original blue cloth with dark red lettering to spine and upper board. A near fine book with the slightest hint of fading to spine. Beautifully clean and bright internally with no previous owner names or inscriptions.
The original and unclipped dust jacket - featuring striking artwork by Hans Tisdall - has some chipping to corners and spine tips with some rubbing and the usual sunning to spine panel. A lovely example.