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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The Wind in the Willows. View Details Add to Wishlist

GRAHAME, Kenneth.

The Wind in the Willows. 1924

£6,850

Sixteenth edition, signed by the author on the half-title. Signed copies of this book are rare.

Octavo. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in blue morocco, titles and elaborate tooling to spine, rasied bands, decorative rules to boards with corner-pieces, twin... Read more

Henry VIII. View Details Add to Wishlist

(COSWAY STYLE BINDING) POLLARD, A. F.

Henry VIII. 1902

£6,750

First edition. One of 1,150 numbered copies. The initial letters of each of the six chapters are designed after those from the original edition of Henry VIII's diatribe against Luther.

Quarto. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full red morocco, miniature portrait of Henry VIII set into the front board and a miniature portrait of Henry's second... Read more

The Collected Works. View Details Add to Wishlist

CONRAD, Joseph.

The Collected Works. 1925

£6,750

The Memorial Edition, the last edition of Conrad's works published during his lifetime. One of 99 signed sets out of a planned limited edition of 377. Unfortunately, Conrad died...

23 volumes, octavo. Recent full brown morocco, titles and decoration to spines gilt, raised bands, marbled endpapers, roll to boards and top edges gilt, others... Read more

The Old  and  New Testament. View Details Add to Wishlist

(HOLY BIBLE; English) MACKLIN, Thomas.

The Old and New Testament. 1800

£6,750

"The Macklin Bible endures as the most ambitious edition produced in Britain, often pirated but never rivalled" (ODNB).

Folio, 6 volumes. Contemporary green morocco, spines gilt in compartments with sun-in-splendor tools, elaborate greek key roll and cornerpieces to boards, marbled... Read more

The Works in Prose and Verse. View Details Add to Wishlist

HARDY, Thomas.

The Works in Prose and Verse. 1919–31

£6,750

The Wessex Edition, the definitive edition of Hardy's works, and a finely bound set. Macmillan became Hardy's publishers in 1902 and "in 1912 they undertook a new and definitive...

24 volumes, octavo. Recent full burgundy morocco, blue and black morocco spine labels, marbled endpapers, decorative roll to boards and top edges gilt, others... Read more

The Works. View Details Add to Wishlist

STEVENSON, Robert Louis.

The Works. 1894

£6,750

Edinburgh edition. Limited edition of 1,035 copies initialled by the publisher on the limitation page. Due to the quality of the printing and paper, the Edinburgh edition is widely...

33 volumes, octavo. Finely bound by Lauriat's of Boston in dark blue half morocco, titles and decoration to spines, raised bands, matching cloth boards, blue... Read more

The Works. View Details Add to Wishlist

CONRAD, Joseph.

The Works. 1920

£6,750

The Sun-Dial Edition, one of a limited edition of 750 sets signed by the author on the limitation leaf in volume I. A beautifully bound set.

24 volumes, octavo. Recent brown morocco, spines gilt in compartments, burgundy and green morocco labels, marbled endpapers, single line rules to boards and top edges... Read more

The Writings. View Details Add to Wishlist

[CLEMENS, Samuel Langhorne] TWAIN, Mark.

The Writings. 1899

£6,750

The Autograph Edition, one of a limited edition of 512 numbered sets signed by the author on the limitation leaf. Very handsomely bound.

25 volumes, octavo. Recent brown morocco, spines gilt in compartments, red and green morocco labels, marbled endpapers, single line rule to boards and top edges gilt,... Read more

The Writings. View Details Add to Wishlist

HARDY, Thomas.

The Writings. [1915]

£6,750

The Autograph Edition. One of a limited edition of 153 sets, this set printed ad personam for Katherine Fay and signed by Hardy and the publisher in volume I. This edition, the...

20 volumes, octavo. Recent tan morocco, spines gilt in compartments, brown and green morocco labels, marbled endpapers, decorative roll to boards and top edges gilt,... Read more

[Complete set of the novels to 2001.] View Details Add to Wishlist

FRANCIS, Dick.

[Complete set of the novels to 2001.] 1962–2001

£6,750

First editions, first impressions. Of the 39 volumes, ten are signed or inscribed by the author and all are handsomely bound in deep green morocco.

39 volumes. Recent dark green morocco, spines gilt in compartments, marbled endpapers, single line ruling to boards and all edges gilt. Some minor browning to page... Read more

Représentation des fêtes données par la ville de Strasbourg pour la Convalescence du Roi, View Details Add to Wishlist

LOUIS XV.

Représentation des fêtes données par la ville de Strasbourg pour la Convalescence du Roi, [1745]

£6,500

First edition of this famous fete book, a record of the festivities given by the city of Strasbourg to celebrate the visit of Louis XV, and also his recovery from a dangerous illness...

Large folio (630 x 470 mm). Original binding by Padeloup (see below) of contemporary mottled calf, covers with a gilt border roll enclosing arms at each corner, in... Read more

The Bibliophilist's Library. View Details Add to Wishlist

BOCCACCIO, Giovanni, & others.

The Bibliophilist's Library. [c.1898]

£6,500

Edition de Grand Luxe, limited to seven copies numbered with roman numerals, of which this is copy V, printed and bound for Mark P. Robinson. The whole set of this collection of...

20 volumes, octavo (210 × 133 mm), comprising 8 works. Publisher's deluxe binding of grey-green crushed morocco, spines richly gilt in compartments, gilt titles... Read more

Aldine Edition of the British Poets. View Details Add to Wishlist

(BRITISH POETS)

Aldine Edition of the British Poets. 1866

£6,000

First Bell and Daldy edition. The celebrated Aldine Edition of the British Poets was begun by William Pickering (1796–1854) in 1830, with the reputable scholars Alexander Dyce,...

52 volumes, octavo. Bound in late 19th-century half calf, with gilt titles, gilt decoration and raised bands on spines, marbled paper boards, marbled endpapers, top... Read more

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. View Details Add to Wishlist

[DODGSON, Charles Lutwidge] CARROLL, Lewis.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. 1866

£6,000

First London edition.

Octavo. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in full red morocco, titles to spine gilt on green morocco lables, double rule, Alice and the Cheshire Cat motifs to boards... Read more

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. View Details Add to Wishlist

[DODGSON, Charles Lutwidge] CARROLL, Lewis.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. 1866

£6,000

First London edition.

Octavo. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in crimson morocco, titles and Alice motifs to spine, raised bands, single rule to boards, Alice devices to boards, twin... Read more

Complete set of her novels in first edition. View Details Add to Wishlist

ELIOT, George.

Complete set of her novels in first edition. 1858-85

£6,000

All first editions. All half-titles present with the exception of Romola. Includes her seven novels, poetry, essays and other literary works, as well as the three volumes of her life...

30 volumes, octavo (190 mm × 123 mm). Near-contemporary dark blue half morocco, titles and decoration to spines, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt.... Read more

Dubliners. View Details Add to Wishlist

JOYCE, James.

Dubliners. 1914

£6,000

First edition, first impression. 1,250 copies were printed of this the first edition with 746 copies bound by Richards and 504 sent to America for the US issue. The collection...

Octavo. Finely bound by The Chelsea Bindery in burgundy morocco, titles and decoration to spine, raised bands, single rule to boards, inner dentelles, marbled... Read more

Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes View Details Add to Wishlist

PURCHAS, Samuel.

Hakluytus Posthumus or Purchas His Pilgrimes 1905–7

£6,000

Limited Edition, one of 100 copies only on handmade paper for sale in Great Britain and Ireland, an exact reprint of the best 1625 edition with modernised orthography, references to...

20 volumes, octavo. Publisher's quarter vellum, spines lettered and decorated gilt, gilt medallions to front covers, blue cloth sides, top edges gilt, others uncut.... Read more

The Complete Writings. View Details Add to Wishlist

HAWTHORNE, Nathaniel.

The Complete Writings. 1900

£6,000

The Autograph Edition. One of a limited edition 500 numbered copies signed by the author's daughter, Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, and the publisher. A very handsomely bound set.

23 volumes, octavo. Finely bound by Lauriat's of Boston in burgundy half morocco, spines gilt in compartments, raised bands, matching cloth sides, pink endpapers, top... Read more

The Fountainhead; [together with:] Atlas Shrugged. View Details Add to Wishlist

RAND, Ayn.

The Fountainhead; [together with:] Atlas Shrugged. 1943 & 1957

£6,000

First editions, first printings.

2 works, octavo. Finely bound by the Chelsea Bindery in red (The Fountainhead) and green (Atlas Shrugged) morocco, titles and decoration to spines, raised bands,... Read more

The novels and letters. View Details Add to Wishlist

AUSTEN, Jane.

The novels and letters. 1906

£6,000

Stoneleigh edition. Limited to 1,250 numbered sets.

12 volumes, octavo (207 × 136 mm). Contemporary green half morocco, titles and decoration to spines, raised bands, marbled boards and endpapers, top edges gilt,... Read more

The Old Régime, court, salons and theatres. View Details Add to Wishlist

(COSWAY STYLE BINDING) JACKSON, Catherine Charlotte, Lady.

The Old Régime, court, salons and theatres. 1880

£6,000

First edition. From the library of W. A. Foyle at Beeleigh Abbey, with his leather book label.

2 volumes, octavo (197 × 132 mm). Finely bound by Bayntun, mid twentieth century, in rich brown crushed morocco, spines gilt in compartments between five raised... Read more

The Principle Navigations [together with] Purchas His Pilgrimes. View Details Add to Wishlist

HAKLYUT, Richard & Samuel Purchas.

The Principle Navigations [together with] Purchas His Pilgrimes. 1903–07

£6,000

A handsomely bound set of voyages and travels. Hakluyt took such patriotic pride in his countrymen's exploits in the fields of travel and adventure that he devoted his life to...

32 volumes, octavo (218 × 140 mm). Mid 20th-century brown half morocco, spine compartments in black and gilt, brown cloth sides, marbled endpapers, top edges... Read more

The Works. View Details Add to Wishlist

GREENE, Graham.

The Works. 1970

£6,000

The collected edition.

22 volumes, octavo. Recent green morocco, titles and decoration to spines gilt, raised bands, single rule to boards gilt, marbled endpapers, gilt edges. A fine set. Read more

The Works. View Details Add to Wishlist

DICKENS, Charles.

The Works.

£6,000

A beautifully bound set of the collected works of Charles Dickens, with illustrations throughout.

30 volumes, octavo. Bound by The Harcourt Bindery in brown half morocco levant, spines gilt in compartments with red flower onlays, raised bands, marbled sides and... Read more