Libros raros de John Atkinson Books

Heinemann, 1934. Hardcover. Very Good. First edition, first printing. Published by Heinemann in London, 1934. This is a very good (or better) copy. The supplied dust wrapper, designed by Youngman Carter being the true first issue (7/6) has some mild creasing throughout, and some moderate separation at the spine tips. The rear panel is markedly bright. Internally, there is some slight foxing to the preliminaries and also some to the latter pages. Bound in the original black cloth, with the publisher's device blind-stamped to the lower front board, with a slight ring to the front. The hinges are tight and unrestored. The author's signature is present on the front fly leaf, inscribed to 'Clive, affectionately' in black ink. The recipient Clive Francis is a British actor, known for his roles in Stanley Kubrick's 'Clockwork Orange', 'Inspector Clouseau' and 'The Crown' and was a friend of Greene's. Provenance: Christie's, Nov. 1994. Though at first it… Leer más

London: Cape, 1959. A rare, final proof for the novel Goldfinger by Richard Chopping. The proof is believed to be one of fewer than ten copies and feature the iconic trompe l'oeil skull embedded with $20 gold coin eye sockets together with a rose stem beneath the skull's teeth and is signed in pencil by Richard Chopping (1917-2008), who designed a number of James Bond first edition book covers. The proof is lighter in colour to the final dust wrapper artwork finally used by Cape. The piece was commissioned by UK publisher Jonathan Cape and is custom-framed in a light oak satin-wood frame. "The Chopping jacket was a tremendous success, both in England and America, and from that day on he and I and Michael Howard of Cape's have devised all the James Bond jackets, which have now become something of a hallmark with the book trade and have earned prizes for Cape's." Ian Fleming (1964). Mr. Chopping felt so little warmth for Fleming that he sold his autographed copies of his… Leer más

London: Cape, 1935. A first edition, first printing, published by Cape in 1935 - first trade edition. A near fine book in very good (or better) supplied dust wrapper. PRESENTATION COPY FROM LAWRENCE'S GREAT FRIEND, THE WRITER AND ONE OF THE VERY FEW EARLY READERS OF 'SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM', E M FORSTER: 'T. H. M from E. M. F in memory of Clouds Hill, July 1935'. This work was published on July 30th, 1935, two months after the death of T. E. Lawrence and E M Forster has inscribed it to their mutual friend 'T.H.M' either on, or the day after, publication day and this was followed by Forster's review of this first trade edition which appeared in 'The Listener' magazine on July 31st 1935. The simple, humble inscription in this copy, 'T. H. M from E. M. F in memory of Clouds Hill, July 1935' can be interpreted with much greater depth. Lawrence had purchased his Clouds Hill home whilst stationed at the nearby Bovington Camp. The recipient is Lance… Leer más

London: Cape, 1961-. A set of first edition, first printings published by Cape between 1961-64. A very good/near fine set of books (some light spotting to the edge of the pages on 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'). No inscriptions whatsoever. All in near fine unclipped wrappers. SIGNED without dedication to the front free endpapers by Fleming. The books were given to Una Trueblood by Fleming in 1960s. Una Trueblood was Fleming's secretary at Kemsley. She typed up the television treatment that Fleming later developed into the novel Doctor No and, like many of Fleming's acquaintances, she gives her name to a character in the novel: Mary Trueblood, secretary to the MI6 station in Jamaica. In the story, Mary Trueblood was a former Chief Officer WRNS and secretary to John Strangways, the head of the British Secret Service's Caribbean station based in Jamaica. After assassinating Strangways for prying into Dr. Julius No's business, his killers proceed to the station and… Leer más

London: Cape, 1961. A first edition, first printing published by Cape in 1961. Very slight bumping to the boards and a touch of spotting to the top edge otherwise a near fine copy in like dust wrapper. Inscribed by the Author on the front endpaper: "To/ Wing Commander Dobson/ for/ his very kind help!/ from/ Ian Fleming". Wing Commander Dobson was introduced to Fleming by Joan Saunders who ran the Writers and Speakers Research Agency. In "The Man with the Golden Typewriter" he is mentioned in a letter dated 5th September 1961 from Fleming to Saunders. A superb Association Copy with the - unusual - full use of Ian Fleming's name. He tended to use more often than not the rather more formal "The Author" or the jocular "Ian" in his inscriptions. Exceptionally rare.

London: Cape, 1959. A first edition, first printing published by Cape in 1959. 8vo - original black cloth with skull motif, dust wrapper not price-clipped, author's inscription and signature to Henry Cotton, 'Peterffi' armorial bookplate. A British Book Centre ticket neatly attached to the front flap of the dust wrapper. The dust wrapper is in near fine (or better) condition with only some extremely minor nicks to edges at creases and spine ends and a very light mark above the 'E' of Fleming. An inscribed and signed copy of "Goldfinger" in superb condition. Ian Fleming has personally inscribed this first edition copy of "Goldfinger" to the British golfer, Sir Henry Cotton. Winning the Open in 1934, 1937 and 1938, Cotton is recognised as the leading British player of the time. Inscribed on the front free-endpaper: "To Henry Cotton, Who may be amused by pp.92-113, Ian Fleming". The pages in question detail James Bond's victory in a $10,000 grudge… Leer más

London: Chapman and Hall, 1928. A first edition, first printing published by Chapman and Hall in 1928. A very good copy with sunning to the spine with some light wear and a little chipping to the spine tips, a little spotting to the contents and crease to page 81. SIGNED by Evelyn Waugh in his elaborate hand without dedication. beneath Waugh's signature is the inscription 'Stolen from John Betjeman' in Betjeman's own hand. In the supplied dust wrapper which is near fine (or better) with a little wear to the spine tips and corners. The titles are strong. A very nice example of the Author-designed dust wrapper. On the relationship between Waugh and Betjeman (taken from p. 73 of A. N. Wilson's 'Betjeman'): "Waugh, three years older than Betjeman, had been introduced to him at Biddesden by Diana Guinness. he moved in the sam circles of Bowra, Irish country houses, and upper-class bohemia. By the time Betjeman came down from Oxford, Waugh had published his remarkable… Leer más

London: Collins, 1958- 1970. A set of nine first edition, first printings published by Collins between 1958 to 1970 - with accompanying archival material. All books are inscribed, with the exception of 'Paddington Goes To Town' which has a note inserted, to Jennifer Snowden, daughter of the director Alec Snowden, a film director first briefed by Michael Bond, with bringing Paddington The Bear to screen. They are all in very good condition. The books are also accompanied by a collection of letters, some typed and hand inscribed by Michael Bond to Alec, as well as to his daughter Jennifer, along with ephemeral photos and pieces, such as a theatre programme, greetings card signed by Bond and photos of Alec with the 'original' Paddington Bear played by Kenny Baker. Jennifer Warner, in her book 'The Unofficial History of The Paddington Bear' (2014), quotes Michael Bond as describing Snowden as 'of the old school tradition', as his [Snowden's] specialism had been… Leer más

London: Cape, 1953. A first edition, first printing published by Cape in 1953. Some light spotting to edges, endpapers lightly toned with ink ownership name, original black boards with heart motif in red to upper cover, spine lettered in red, first issue dust-jacket without Sunday Times review, light toning to spine, lower panel with light marking and toning, neat and expert restoration to spine ends and corners but in effect a near-fine copy overall, 8vo, 1953. The first novel by Fleming and the first appearance of James Bond, one of the 20th Century's most enduring characters.

London: Bloomsbury, 1997-2007. A complete set of FIRST EDITION, FIRST PRINTING paperback novels, variously dated, including the true 1997 FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" with all relevant issue points. Softcover octavo's in pictorial card wraps. Tidy ownership inscription inside, otherwise contents clean. All volumes are Very Good to Near Fine and are clean and bright with minimal faults - volume two has some fading to the spine. A rare opportunity to purchase a complete set of the ever-popular Harry Potter novels in First Edition paperback. The paperback First of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" was printed on the very same day as the hardcover First Edition (of which only 500 copies were printed) and neither has bibliographical priority.

London: Cape, 1962. A first edition, first printing published by Cape in 1962. A very good book without inscriptions, stained to the top of the spine and front board. In unclipped wrapper with corresponding staining. Small faded patch to the foot of the spine. INSCRIBED to the front endpaper: "To Claude, who holds the fort. From Ian." Inscribed to Clude Taittinger, head of the Champagne family with whom Fleming was friendly; Taittinger received an advance copy of his next novel and had sponsored the Pinewood celebration to mark the first day's filming of 'From Russia, With Love' 1st April 1963. Following his brother Francois' untimely death in an accident, Claude stepped in to direct business from 1960 to 2005, steering the house to world renown. Based at Chateau de la Marquetterie, a former command post during World War I, the nature of the inscription would confirm this. PROVENANCE: From Fleming's bibliographer, Jon Gilbert's collection.

London: Cape, 1954. A first edition, first printing published by Cape in 1954. Raymond Chandler's ownership stamp to flyleaf (dated May 24 1954), original black cloth, lettered in gilt, design to upper board in gilt. In the dust wrapper with Kenneth Lewis' acknowledgement to the front flap. With very minor wear to edges, rear cover slightly toned - unclipped to the corners suggesting proof state. A superb association copy between the two masters of their genres. Ian Fleming and Raymond Chandler began a friendship in 1955, during a dinner at Stephen Spender's, and it lasted the remaining four years of Chandler's life. He inscribed a copy of his final novel, Playback for Fleming and received a warmly inscribed copies of Moonraker and Goldfinger from the Bond creator. Their relationship had perhaps the most profound effect on Fleming and his literary career. By the time the two men meet, Fleming was finished with Bond, having "convinced himself that he had gone as far as with… Leer más

London: Simon Schuster/Applause/New York Times, 1964-1991. A superb collection of first edition, first printing books relating to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Comprising: (1) Gerald R. Ford 'Portrait of the Assassin' - INSCRIBED by Ford to the half-title ('To Paul Hartunian/As sole surviving member of Warren/ Commission I fully endorse two basic/ conclusions of Commission/1) Lee Harvey Oswald was the assassin/2) The Commission found no/ evidence of a conspiracy/ foreign or domestic/ Gerald R. Ford/11/8/1994'). (2) 'Report of the Warren Commission' - SIGNED without dedication to the front endpaper by Gerald Ford (Gerald R. Ford) (3) JFK - SIGNED by Oliver Stone to the title page; (4) 'Untitled JFK Project' - Typescript, SIGNED to the first page by Stone; (5) McCarry, Charles 'The Tears of Autumn' - SIGNED to bookplate on the front endpaper; (6) Sloan/Hill 'JFK - The Last Dissenting Witness' - Inscribed by BOTH authors to the title page; (7)… Leer más

London: Cape, 1953. An exciting collection of 17 books, with 10 of the collection signed and inscribed by Ian Fleming, as well as later (posthumous) titles signed by Sir Roger Moore, the ornithologist James Bond and actress Maud Adams (Octopussy). Comprising: <strong>CASINO ROYALE:</strong> A first edition, first printing published by Cape in 1953. A near fine book without inscriptions. A little light pushing to the spine tips. No foxing. A lovely copy. SIGNED and INSCRIBED to the front endpaper by the Author - 'To Lisl/Despite whose loving/care this book was/written/X/Ian/. In a very good, unclipped first issue dust wrapper with no overprinting to the front flap of the wrapper. Some light chipping to the head of the spine. A little light handling marks to the rear panel. Ian Fleming first met Lisl Popper (then Lisa Jokl) at age nineteen during the "Golden time" at Kitzbuhel in Austria in 1926. She was eight years older than Fleming, and worked in a local cafe. Fleming… Leer más

London: Geoffrey Bles/The Bodley Head, London, 1950-56. Seven Volumes, all first edition, first printings in original first issue dust wrappers, illustrated by Pauline Baynes. The set comprises of The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and His Boy, The Magician's Nephew, and The Last Battle. A set of first edition, first printings published by Bles and The Bodley Head between 1950 and 1956. A very good set. Some light restoration to the tips of the spine and extremities of volume one and four. Volumes two, three, six and seven are neatly price clipped. Some wear to the spine tips and corners. A very good set overall. Please do contact us for further detailed descriptions and photos. First published in the 1950s, this seven-book series blends fantasy, adventure, and Christian allegory, captivating readers of all ages. Its timeless themes of courage, friendship, and the battle between good and evil resonate globally. The… Leer más