It’s that time of year again… the time after our exhibiting fairs of Sacramento and Seattle… the time when we place our new items up on our website and tempt you to look at them with blog posts, that is! Check out this post for an in-depth view of some of our newest (and hottest) items!
Dickens’s Works, Diamond Edition (1880). An original Dickens in original publisher’s binding in an original publisher’s box! Yes, that’s right ladies and gents… we nabbed a 1st edition thus of Chapman and Hall’s Diamond Edition of Dickens’s [sic] Works! This 16 volume set shows only modest wear, garnering it our VG+ rating! As we tell you, this economical edition in pocket format quite rare as it is offered here – a complete set with the original publisher’s box. You know what? I’m not doing it justice. See it here>
Our next item [regrets, this item now SOLD]: The Old Manor House (1822) in Two Volumes… Did you know that the founder of the famous Chiswick Press is often credited as one of the first printers to come up with the idea of printing cheaper, handy editions of standard authors for the common man? Even stated on the rear panel of a volume here is “[The publisher] means that his edition shall combine correctness, neatness, portability and cheapness…” This set a rare double-survivor, as the cheapness of the printing meant being issued in drab boards and on cheaper paper. Read more here>
Now, are you one of those collectors who like the more personal items? Are photograph albums and inscriptions your thing? Check out our Personal Guest Book of Ralph and Violette Lee. This guest book belonged to a California jeweler and art patron, and the founder of the Gensler-Lee Jewelry Company, one of the largest jewelry chains in the state of California around the beginning of the 20th century. This guest book is filled with personal signatures and inscriptions praising the patrons and their beautiful California home! See more on it here>
A 1st edition of David Copperfield from 1850? Sounds great! This 1st volume edition a VG+ copy in a later full blue calf binding (binding by Bayntun), spine only slightly sunned. Did you know that David Copperfield is a primarily autobiographical novel? In the preface to the 1867 edition, Dickens went so far as to state “like many fond parents, I have in my heart of hearts a favourite child. And his name is David Copperfield.” This eighth novel of Charles Dickens is beloved by many. Is it beloved by you? Look at it here>
Are you expecting? We don’t mean to be intrusive, but take a look at our Mother’s Book! This 1831 1st edition by Mrs. Lydia Maria Francis Child is a primer for the new mother! Our attention is held by Chapter VII: “Advice Concerning Books” followed by “List of Good Books for various ages” where Child gives 10 pages full of recommended titles for ages 4 to 16. This title has everything a lady would need to know in the early 19th century about the “joys” of motherhood! Read more here>
