Decorative Bindings (all items)
First editions and rare books in fine bindings and decorative bindings and manuscripts, including first editions bound by the Chelsea Bindery, and multi-volume library sets.
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[CLEMENS, Samuel Langhorne] TWAIN, Mark.
The Writings. 1899–1903
£25,000
Limited edition, number 96 of 620 sets of the "Author's Edition de Luxe" signed "SL Clemens (Mark Twain)". In this set, volume I has three items of original autograph material bound...
25 volumes, octavo (206 × 144 mm). Contemporary full ochre morocco, covers panelled in gilt to a geometric art-nouveau design, spine with four raised bands,... Read more
[CLEMENS, Samuel Langhorne] TWAIN, Mark.
The Writings. 1929
£25,000
Memorial edition. Limited to 90 sets with a page of original manuscript material bound in. Signed by the publisher.
37 volumes, octavo (217 × 144 mm). Finely bound by Bayntun, mid twentieth century, in crimson full crushed morocco, spines gilt in compartments between five... Read more
ROWLING, J. K.
Complete set of Harry Potter Collector's Edition Deluxe. 1999–2007
£22,500
First Deluxe Editions. Signed by J. K. Rowling on the dedication page of Philosopher's Stone.
7 volumes, large octavo. All finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full morocco in their original colours of red, blue, green, purple, maroon, navy blue and black.... Read more
(SANGORSKI, Alberto) TENNYSON, Alfred, Lord.
Illuminated manuscript A Dream of Fair Women. c. 1910]
£22,500
Alberto Sangorski (1862-1932), one of the early twentieth century's most highly regarded illuminators, developed his skills at calligraphy and illumination working with his brother...
Manuscript on vellum (225 × 165 mm), 14 leaves plus 4 blanks, in disciplined calligraphic hand in black and red ink to recto and verso. Contemporary blue-green... Read more
(COSWAY STYLE BINDING) FRANKAU, Julia.
The Story of Emma, Lady Hamilton. 1911
£22,500
Limited to 250 copies signed by the author.
Folio. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full navy blue morocco, with a portrait of Horatio Nelson in the centre of the front board surrounded by a further 12... Read more
(RACKHAM, Arthur) IBSEN, Henrik.
Peer Gynt. A Dramatic Poem. 1936
£19,500
Signed Limited Edition. Special Copy. Number 9 of a special deluxe edition of ten copies containing an original watercolour by Rackham. One of the charming aspects of the watercolour...
Quarto. Bound for the publishers by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in full green morocco, with raised bands and vignettes of Rackhamesque goblins in gilt. The watercolour... Read more
(RACKHAM, Arthur) WALTON, Izaak.
The Compleat Angler, [1931]
£19,500
Signed Limited Edition, Special Issue. The book is signed on the limitation page by Rackham and opposite is an humorous original ink and watercolour image, signed in full by the...
Quarto. Beautifully bound for the publishers to Rackham's design by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in full red morocco, covers elaborately panelled gilt with fish design in... Read more
(RACKHAM, Arthur) ROSSETTI, Christina.
Goblin Market. 1933
£18,500
Signed limited de-luxe edition, no. 6 of approximately 8 special copies with an original watercolour, this of a goblin offering a selection of fruit, watched by a rat-like creature.
Octavo. Bound for the publishers by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in green morocco, spine lettered and date gilt, gilt rules either side of raised bands, ornamental rolls gilt... Read more
(COSWAY-STYLE BINDING) SLOANE, William Milligan.
Life of Napoleon Bonaparte. 1896
£18,500
First edition. William Milligan Sloane was professor of history at Princeton University, and editor of both the Political Science Quarterly and the American Historical Review.
4 volumes, large quarto (294 × 207 mm). Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full burgundy morocco; spines gilt in compartments with Napoleonic devices between... Read more
![The Workes. [The second Volume. Containing these Playes, Viz. 1 Bartholomew Fayre. 2 The Staple of the Newes. 3 The Divell is an Asse.]](/content/store/products/4977/2/361.jpg)
JONSON, Benjamin.
The Workes. [The second Volume. Containing these Playes, Viz. 1 Bartholomew Fayre. 2 The Staple of the Newes. 3 The Divell is an Asse.] 1616–40
£18,500
First editions of the three volumes comprising Jonson's collected works. The first volume was published between 6 and 25 November 1616. Jonson took an unusually close interest in its...
3 volumes in 2, folio (287 × 183 mm). Bound uniformly in brown crushed morocco by Rivière & Son, spines lettered and decorated in gilt, five raised bands,... Read more
DOYLE, Arthur Conan.
A Study in Scarlet. 1888
£17,500
First edition in book form, second issue (with the first and last signatures reset), of Conan Doyle's first book, the first appearance in book form of Sherlock Holmes.
Octavo (170 × 111 mm). Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full crimson morocco, titles and elaborate decoration to spine gilt, raised bands, triple rule to... Read more
FLEMING, Ian.
Complete set of the Bond novels and stories. 1953-66
£17,500
First editions, first impressions. Complete set of all the original Bond novels starting with Casino Royale (1953) and ending with Octopussy (1966).
14 volumes, octavo. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in black morocco, spines and covers blocked in red, silver, gold and blind after the original cloth cover... Read more
WHITMAN, Walt.
The Complete Writings. 1902
£17,500
Author's Manuscript Edition. Limited to 32 numbered sets on Whatman paper of which this is number 28, signed by the publisher, with a page of Whitman's manuscript and a notarized...
10 volumes, large octavo. Contemporary full black morocco, titles and floral decoration to spines gilt, decoration to boards gilt, twin rule to turn-ins gilt, marbled... Read more
[CAVE, Edward, (ed.)]
The Gentleman's Magazine: or, Monthly Intelligencer. 1731–1814
£17,500
An excellent run from the first volume onwards of the work that gave birth to one of the major publishing forms of the modern era, the magazine. "It began modestly as a digest of...
116 volumes, octavo. Late 18th- and early 19th-century calf, sides ruled with a double gilt fillet, smooth spines with gilt centre-tools, red morocco lettering-pieces,... Read more
KIPLING, Rudyard.
The Works. 1937
£17,500
The Sussex Edition, the definitive edition of Kipling's works. One of a limited edition of 525 numbered sets signed by the author on the limitation leaf. During the last years of his...
35 volumes, large octavo. Original full tan niger morocco, titles to spines gilt, raised bands, double line rule to boards gilt, top edges rough gilt, other edges... Read more
HARDY, Thomas.
The Works. 1920
£17,500
The Mellstock edition. This edition consists of 500 copies signed by the author on the limitation page of volume 1. This collected edition is named after the mythical "Mellstock" of...
37 volumes, octavo (226 ×150 mm). Finely bound by Whitman Bennett, N.Y, in dark blue crushed morocco, titles and decoration to spines in compartments, raised... Read more
(RACKHAM, Arthur) BROWNING, Robert.
King of the Golden River 1932
£16,500
Signed limited deluxe edition. In an edition of 570 copies, 550 of which were for sale.
Octavo. Bound for the publishers by Sangorski & Sutcliffe in full green morocco, titles and decoration to spine gilt, gilt fillet to boards gilt, twin rule to... Read more
(COSWAY BINDING) LAWRENCE, T. E.
Seven Pillars of Wisdom a triumph. 1935
£15,000
First trade edition of Lawrence's great work, in an elegant and suitably dramatic Cosway binding, number 964 of the Cosway bindings according to the printed sheet signed by J. H....
Quarto (249 × 186 mm). Fine contemporary Cosway binding by Rivière and Son of red crushed morocco, spine gilt in compartments between five raised bands;... Read more
KIPLING, Rudyard.
The Bombay Edition. 1913–38
£15,000
The Bombay Edition, one of only 500 complete sets from a limited edition of 1500 sets signed by the author on the half-title. The Bombay edition was initially published in 20 volumes...
31 volumes, octavo. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full red morocco, titles and centre tools to spines gilt, rule to boards gilt, twin rule to turn-ins gilt,... Read more
THOREAU, Henry David.
The Writings. 1906
£15,000
The Manuscript Edition. Limited to 600 numbered sets only, signed by the publisher on the limitation page. With a leaf from an original draft manuscript entirely in Thoreau's...
20 volumes, octavo (220 × 147 mm). Contemporary green half crushed morocco, titles and elaborate floral decoration to spines in compartments, raised bands,... Read more
![[The novels and short stories, comprising:]](/content/store/products/2863/2/4222.jpg)
WOOLF, Virginia.
[The novels and short stories, comprising:] 1915–40
£15,000
First Edition, First Impressions.
10 volumes, octavo. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full dark blue morocco, titles and decoration to spines gilt, raised bands, single rule to boards gilt, twin... Read more
DOYLE, Arthur Conan.
The Works. 1930
£13,500
The Crowborough edition, limited to 760 numbered sets. Signed on the limitation page by Arthur Conan Doyle in volume one. "The Crowborough Edition was intended to be a complete and...
24 volumes, octavo. Recent dark brown morocco, twin morocco title labels burgundy and green, titles and decoration to spines gilt, single rule to boards gilt, marbled... Read more
![Alice's Adventures in Wonderland [together with] Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There.](/content/store/products/18935/2/22207.jpg)
[DODGSON, Charles Lutwidge] CARROLL, Lewis.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland [together with] Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. 1866 & 72
£12,500
First editions. A handsomely bound set.
2 volumes, octavo (187 × 120, 180 × 120 mm). Recent red morocco by Bayntun-Riviere, spine gilt in compartments, marbled endpapers, pictorial decorations to... Read more
COOPER, James Fenimore.
The Complete Works. 1859-61
£12,500
Townsend edition. A particularly handsome set of the American author, including his most famous novel, The Last of the Mohicans. Tipped into "The Deerslayer" are two autograph signed...
32 volumes, octavo (191 × 129 mm). Finely bound in bright blue crushed morocco, titles and decoration to spines, raised bands, the head of a red Indian blocked to... Read more
[CLEMENS, Samuel Langhorne] TWAIN, Mark.
The Complete Writings. 1922
£12,500
The Definitive Edition, signed "S L Clemens / Mark Twain" in volume 1, limited to 1024 numbered sets. The publisher states that Twain intended a definitive collected edition and so...
37 volumes, octavo. Bound in recent full burgundy morocco, crimson and dark green labels, decoration to spines, raised bands, roll to boards, marbled endpapers, top... Read more
