His Dark Materials1.Northern Lights [aka The Golden Compass] 2.The Subtle Knife 3.The Amber Spyglass.
Pulman, Philip
Published by Scholastic Point
Publication Date: -2000, 1995
1.Northern Lights [aka The Golden Compass] 2.The Subtle Knife 3.The Amber Spyglass.
Pulman, PhilipPublished by Scholastic Point
Publication Date: -2000, 1995
An extraordinary copy of the first British edition, first printing of George Orwell's iconic masterpiece. Bound in the publisher's original pale green cloth with maroon lettering to the spine. Aside from the faint trace of an erased pencil inscription to the front free endpaper and rear pastedown, this example is easily Fine, with remarkably bright cloth and spine lettering, a vivid top stain, and a Fine, unclipped dust jacket.
Among the defining works of twentieth-century literature, Nineteen Eighty-Four is notoriously difficult to acquire in such exceptional condition. Copies retaining their original dust jackets almost invariably exhibit fading, rubbing, or other signs of wear. This example is a rare exception—preserved to a standard that is seldom encountered.
A true once-in-a-generation copy, and without question the finest example we have ever handled.
The Handmaid’s TaleAtwood, Margaret
Published by Johnathan Cape, London.
Publication Date: 1986
Published by Johnathan Cape, London.
Publication Date: 1986
Details
A remarkable collector’s copy of Margaret Atwood’s landmark dystopian masterpiece, The Handmaid’s Tale — a first UK edition, first printing, signed and personally inscribed by the author.
Presented in the publisher’s original black cloth binding with elegant gilt spine lettering and housed in the striking Fred Marcellino illustrated dustwrapper, this is a fine example with exceptional appeal. The binding remains square and firm, with bright, fresh cloth and gilt. The contents are clean throughout, with only the expected toning to the paper stock, and there are no previous owner markings.
The dustwrapper is complete and well preserved, with only light creasing and no fading, tears, or loss. The original price of £9.95 remains intact on the lower front flap.
The half-title bears a charming red-ink inscription from Margaret Atwood:
“For Amanda / with best wishes - / Margaret Atwood”
A landmark of twentieth-century literature, The Handmaid’s Tale won the inaugural Arthur C. Clarke Award, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and was later adapted into acclaimed screen productions. Signed first editions of this influential and enduring work remain highly sought after by collectors.
A superb opportunity to acquire a fine, author-inscribed example of one of the defining novels of modern literature.
The Holy Blood and The Holy GrailBaigent, Michael; Leigh, Richard; Lincoln, Henry
Published by Jonathan Cape, London.
Publication Date: 1982
Published by Jonathan Cape, London.
Publication Date: 1982
A desirable first edition, first printing of this fascinating and influential work, published by Jonathan Cape in London in 1982.
This near fine copy is presented in its original dustwrapper, retaining the publisher’s £8.95 net price. The boards remain clean and well preserved, free from notable marks or chips, with only slight bumping to the spine tips. The text block is bright and crisp throughout, and the book is free from previous owner inscriptions or annotations.
The dustwrapper shows a small tear to the upper right-hand corner, with light creasing and minor surface scratches, but remains complete and attractive.
An unofficial follow-up to the three BBC Two Chronicle documentaries, this work expanded on the themes explored in the acclaimed television series. The paperback edition followed from Corgi Books in 1983, with a sequel, The Messianic Legacy, published in 1986. The original title was later revisited in an expanded illustrated hardcover edition with new material in 2005.
A strong example of an important early edition, ideal for collectors of alternative history, ancient mysteries, and influential works of popular archaeology.
The House of The SpiritsAllende, Isabel
Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
Publication Date: 1985
Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York.
Publication Date: 1985
Details
A scarce and desirable first American edition of the author’s debut work, translated from the Spanish by Magda Bogin.
This near fine copy has a slightly cocked spine but is otherwise well preserved, housed in a near fine dust jacket showing some light toning and edgewear. The book is signed by the author and accompanied by an Advance Review Copy, with the publisher’s original material laid in.
A significant early appearance of a major literary voice, this first book represents an important collectible edition, particularly in signed form with its original review materials. A compelling addition for collectors of contemporary literature and author-signed first editions.
The Joy of Sex
Comfort, Alex
Published by Crown Publishers, New York.
Publication Date: 1972
Comfort, Alex
Published by Crown Publishers, New York.
Publication Date: 1972
A scarce first edition of the groundbreaking illustrated sex manual that became one of the most recognizable and widely discussed books of the 1970s.
Published under the now-iconic name of Dr. David R. Comfort, JOY helped transform public conversations around sexuality by presenting the subject in an accessible, informative, and candid format. Its frank illustrations and straightforward approach made it a cultural phenomenon, selling millions of copies across subsequent editions — while first editions remain notably elusive.
This attractive copy measures 10.25" x 7" and is presented in the publisher’s original brown paper boards with gilt lettering to the spine, housed in the original unclipped white typographic dust jacket priced at $12.95. Illustrated throughout with black-and-white and colour artwork, the book contains 256 pages.
The dust jacket shows light rubbing and edgewear, with a few small closed tears to the top edge and a short crease to the front flap. The book itself has light corner bumping, a faint unobtrusive stain to the front flyleaf, and a few minor scattered marks, but remains a very good plus example overall.
An important artefact of 1970s publishing and social history, this first edition offers a fascinating glimpse into the changing attitudes toward intimacy, education, and popular culture of the era.
The JungleSinclair, Upton
Published by Doubleday, Page & Company, New York.
Publication Date: 1906
Published by Doubleday, Page & Company, New York.
Publication Date: 1906
Details
A significant signed first edition, second issue of one of the most influential American novels of the twentieth century.
Published in 1906, this copy of Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle is signed by the author on the front free endpaper and inscribed to H. M. Meyer. The second issue is identified by the battered type on the copyright page. The volume is presented in the publisher’s original green cloth binding, with striking pictorial stamping in black and white.
The book is in very good condition, with a dulled spine, edge rubbing, and light bumping. The rear hinge is starting and tender, and a bookseller’s ticket is affixed to the front pastedown. The dust jacket is not present.
Sinclair’s groundbreaking exposé transformed public awareness of the harsh realities of Chicago’s meatpacking industry. After spending seven weeks investigating the stockyards, Sinclair fictionalized his findings into a powerful indictment of dangerous working conditions, exploitation, and industrial abuse. The novel became an international bestseller and helped spur major food safety reforms, including the passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act in 1906.
A rare signed example of a landmark work of American literature and social history — a book whose impact reached far beyond the world of fiction.
The Last Temptation of ChristKazantzakis, Nikos
Published by Difros Press, Athens.
Publication Date: 1955
Published by Difros Press, Athens.
Publication Date: 1955
A rare and highly desirable presentation copy of the first Greek edition of Nikos Kazantzakis’s most famous and controversial novel, The Last Temptation of Christ.
First published in French translation in 1954, this Greek edition represents an important appearance of Kazantzakis’s profound exploration of faith, humanity, and spiritual struggle. The octavo volume is elegantly bound in full cloth with a morocco spine label lettered in gilt, complemented by patterned endpapers.
This exceptional copy is inscribed by Nikos Kazantzakis in the year of publication on the third free endpaper, dated 26 April 1955, and presented to his dear friend D. Fotiadi. The warm inscription, written in Kazantzakis’s own hand, expresses personal affection and devotion, concluding with his signature.
The book is in near fine condition and represents a rare opportunity to acquire a signed and inscribed example of one of the defining works of twentieth-century European literature.
In The Last Temptation of Christ, Kazantzakis presents a deeply psychological and unconventional portrait of Christ, focusing on the tension between human desire, suffering, doubt, and divine purpose. The novel provoked intense controversy, was placed on the Catholic Church’s Index of Forbidden Books, and later inspired Martin Scorsese’s acclaimed 1988 film adaptation.
A landmark work of existential and religious literature, and an extraordinary association copy bearing the author’s personal inscription.
The Lovely BonesSebold, Alice
Published by Little, Brown & Co, Boston.
Publication Date: 2002
Published by Little, Brown & Co, Boston.
Publication Date: 2002
Details
A superb inscribed first edition of Alice Sebold’s bestselling literary phenomenon, accompanied by the original invitation to the book’s launch party — an exceptional example with notable provenance.
Released to immediate acclaim, The Lovely Bones became a worldwide sensation with its haunting and original portrayal of grief, loss, and healing. Sebold’s unforgettable narrator, a murdered young girl, recounts events from the afterlife while exploring the profound impact of her death on her family, friends, and community. Both heartbreaking and deeply moving, the novel established Sebold as a major contemporary literary voice.
This first edition is presented in the publisher’s original blue boards and housed in the unclipped ($21.95) pictorial dust jacket. The book is bright, sharp, and crisp throughout, with an author inscription on the title page:
“7/29/2020
To Amber
VIVA
Alice Sebold”
Laid in is the original postcard invitation to the launch party for the book, adding a remarkable piece of publishing history and provenance. The invitation shows minor wear, while the book itself remains in excellent condition.
A highly desirable signed first edition of one of the most memorable and influential novels of the early twenty-first century, enhanced by a unique association with the book’s original publication.
The MetamorphosisKafka, Franz
Published by Kurt Wolff Verlag, Leipzig
Publication Date: 1915
Published by Kurt Wolff Verlag, Leipzig
Publication Date: 1915
An exceptional first edition, first printing, first issue of Franz Kafka’s Die Verwandlung (The Metamorphosis), preserved in the original case-bound issue with the rare dust jacket — an extraordinary survival in this condition.
Kafka’s first great masterpiece, The Metamorphosis tells the unforgettable story of Gregor Samsa, who awakens one morning to discover that he has been transformed into an “ungeheuren Ungeziefer” — famously rendered as a “monstrous insect.” A defining work of literary modernism, the novella remains one of the most influential and widely discussed texts of the twentieth century.
This superbly preserved copy is the scarce first issue, lacking the censor’s official stamp that was later applied to unsold copies. It is one of two known binding variants, with serif lettering to the spine and front board. Published simultaneously with a wrappered issue, the case-bound edition is considerably more elusive, particularly with its original dust jacket intact.
The striking Expressionist dust jacket illustration by Ottomar Starke deliberately avoids depicting the creature itself, in accordance with Kafka’s own instruction to the publisher that “the insect itself must not be illustrated by a drawing. It cannot be shown at all, not even from a distance.”
The octavo volume is bound in the original quarter japon, with black lettering to the spine and front board, blue laid-paper sides, and blue top edge. It is housed in a custom black quarter morocco solander box by the Chelsea Bindery.
The book shows only minimal signs of age, with slight bowing to the boards, light rubbing at the extremities, and a couple of minute marginal tears to the opening leaves. The dust jacket is remarkably well preserved, with only light toning, tiny marks and minor nicks to the top edge; the flaps are without price as issued. Overall, a fine copy in a like dust jacket.
A landmark rarity in twentieth-century literature: a first issue of Kafka’s The Metamorphosis in exceptional condition, complete with its original and famously scarce dust jacket.
The Naked and The DeadMailer, Norman
Published by Rinehart, New York and Toronto.
Publication Date: 1948
Published by Rinehart, New York and Toronto.
Publication Date: 1948